Mexico is to the south, so its climate is almost tropical. A local official at our hotel informed us that Cancun’s weather changes quickly. It can go from sunny and warm to cloudy and rainy, and then back to sunny again. Generally, most of the year feels like summer. Even in winter, the weather is mild, more like spring. We visited in late February and stayed for four days. The first three days were sunny with a few clouds and temperatures around 28-30 degrees Celsius. On the last day, it rained a bit and the temperature dropped to 22-25 degrees. The sea was also warm, as the Caribbean is known to be the warmest sea globally. Despite it being February, the beaches were crowded. If you’re considering a winter trip, worry more about the rain than the temperature. It’s a good idea to check the weather forecast for the days you’ll be there. We did, and it was spot on, which helped us decide what clothes to pack. We brought summer clothes and only light jackets for the last day.
Traveling to Mexico doesn’t require a visa. Upon arrival at the airport, you go through Immigration, where you receive a card identifying you as a tourist, allowing you to stay for up to 180 days. Cancun now has its own International Airport. It’s not huge, so be prepared for long queues when flying back home. The check-in lines are long because of the high traffic and limited check-in points. There are no machines for automatic check-in, and international flight passengers sometimes wait up to three hours. However, domestic flights are better. We flew through Mexico City and didn’t have to wait because there was no queue. We booked transportation from Cancun Airport in advance. Their website was user-friendly, and they were there to meet us with our names and quickly took us to our hotel. They have a Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor. If you’re going to Tulum, the Cancun to Tulum shuttle is also very convenient.
Be sure to check out the seaside clubs! Most of them are open from dusk till dawn. Look for posters about parties and events. You’ll find loud music, lots of drinks, and beautiful people partying.
The main reason we chose Cancun was the beaches. The entire coastal zone, where most hotels are located, has great beaches with white sand and turquoise waters. The sea is warm and clean, and it doesn’t get deep quickly—you have to walk about 80-100 meters. The bottom is sandy, which gives the water its beautiful color. Each resort has its section of the coast with sunbeds and umbrellas, free to use even if you’re not staying at that resort. I was impressed by the hotel employees who constantly maintained the beach’s cleanliness.
The beach in Cancun provides a sense of calm and serenity. There were no beach bars with blaring music; you could relax under an umbrella or a palm tree’s shade and enjoy the beautiful sea.
By Kate Nikolaou