01/05/2025
23rd– 26th March 2025
Mexico… the trip which we though that we will realize in late autumn, but plans have changed.
During January and February, we were surprising family and friends back in the Czech Republic. We intended to combine our return to Canada with the activation of our visas. Everything was pretty much set—until, just few days before our flight home, the government decided to spice things up by announcing new visa regulations… set to kick in one week later.
Of course, the new rules were a disaster for us: under the updated conditions, spouse visas would only be granted if the visa sponsor had a work permit valid for at least 18 months. Not ideal, because our visa are no longer than for one year. Meanwhile, Lu was sorting out throught which company and how to secure a Young Professionals visa. But with the sudden rule changes, processing times exploded—limited options and a flood of new YP applications turned everything into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Naturally, we had bought non-flexible tickets, and we were set to return to Canada on March 1st. Even though the new conditions had been in effect for over a month, we still tried to process our original visas—a wildly optimistic idea, but at that point, it was either that or nothing. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.
Lu finally received her POE letter (the invitation to activate her visa) on March 20th, so we immediately kicked off emergency travel planning. 🚀
To make things even more fun, flagpoling (crossing the US border and activating visas there) was no longer allowed. And if that wasn’t enough, we couldn’t just fly to the US either—we had to leave North America altogether. I couldn’t take more than four days off, and after checking all of the flight tickets and date options, Mexico came out the winner—cheapest flights, short travel time, and bonus points for finding a night flight to save precious vacation hours. Even though we planned the trip to Mexico basically overnight, it turned out to be one of the most unforgettable adventures of our lives. 🌴🔥
Day 1st (March 23rd, 2025)
Let’s just say… nothing went smoothly at first — not during planning, not even after we landed. We had reserved a rental car through Booking.com, and of course, we saw the tiny note that they required an $11,333 USD deposit (yes, you read that right), only from a credit card. So, we transfered money onto a credit card with a limit about ten times lower — but we still hoped that since we had purchased full insurance, they wouldn’t require a deposit. Like in most other countries, right? Wrong!
Apparently, renting a car in Mexico is a whole different rodeo — and not in a fun, “yee-haw” kind of way. We tried the deposit five times. No luck. We even tried to check CIBC Bank conditions to find out if they could help, but nope — unless your credit limit covers the whole deposit, you’re out of luck. (Some Czech banks apparently allow it if you have the actual money sitting there, but not here.). They wouldn’t accept debit cards, cash, nothing. Unless, of course, we agreed to buy their super overpriced insurance — about $80 USD a day. Thanks, but definitely no. So we left and started searching again.
This time, Lu found a car through Economy Bookings, picking a company with a much lower deposit. Finally — car keys in hand, we were ready to hit the road!
Our first stop? Playa Delfines. There’s a colorful “CANCUN” sign above the beach with a gorgeous viewpoint — perfect for those first sunny selfies. The ocean looks absolutely stunning… from a distance. Up close, the water was full of seaweed, and although the beach was packed, barely anyone was swimming. We wanted to visit a few more beaches, but parking was a nightmare, so we decided to move on. Honestly, we’re not really “crowded beach” people anyway, so no love lost there.
Instead, we headed to a cute seaside restaurant Lu had found, called Pacho’s. Fresh fish, grilled to perfection, with the sound of the waves in the background? Absolute perfection. Another nice part of the experience was being able to choose your preferred fish, and we ended the restaurant time pleasantly with an old gentleman playing the guitar and singing for the restaurant guests.
With happy bellies, we continued our adventure to Isla Blanca — a beautiful, semi-secret peninsula that we had no idea you could even reach by car! The road turns into a dusty track at some points, and the last part you either walk or take a quad or buggy. We found a magical spot perfect for relaxing, swimming, or even throwing a beach BBQ party — crystal-clear water included. Only downside? Well, lots of other people had the same brilliant idea. We cooled off, took it all in, and then made our way to Mercado 28, a local market where we hunted for souvenirs and sampled some local tequila. One poor vendor tried to show us a fancy mezcal bottle and accidentally shattered another one — and when we saw the prices, we felt so bad for him!
Feeling like Cancun was a little too chaotic for us, we decided it was time to move on. We hit the road toward Valladolid. Next stop: crocodiles, colonial towns, and a whole lot more unexpected magic.
Pro tip: When setting your maps, make sure to AVOID toll roads! We didn’t, and accidentally ended up paying 212 MXN for just 50 km – Yikes. Could’ve been worse though (if we hadn’t exited the toll road fast), so lesson learned! So yeah, save your pesos and tick that little “avoid tolls” box!
🐠 Fun Fact – Playa Delfines:
Playa Delfines is one of the very few beaches in Cancun that has no hotels directly behind it. It’s public, free, and named after the dolphins you can sometimes spot jumping in the distance!
🎉 Fun Fact – Isla Blanca & Mercado 28:
Isla Blanca literally means “White Island,” though it’s not an island at all — it’s a long, narrow stretch of land between the ocean and a lagoon!
Mercado 28, meanwhile, is famous for its bargaining culture — locals say if you don’t haggle there, you’re doing it wrong!
Day 2nd (March 24th, 2025)
Today’s first mission is ATM. In Mexico, most of the activities still operate strictly cash-only. We had tried withdrawing money the day before at the market, but my card didn’t cooperate. Nor did it work at the supermarket. No big deal — we leaned on Revolut for a while.
Knowing that each ATM can charge wildly different fees, Lu found a spot where four different machines were conveniently clumped together. First try: 180 pesos fee. Uh, no thanks. We just continued to another one which was Banamex: just a 30 pesos fee!
💵 Fun Fact – Mexican ATMs:
In Mexico, it’s common to encounter ATMs that charge high withdrawal fees, but local banks like Banamex or Banorte often have significantly lower rates. Bonus tip: always decline the machine’s “dynamic currency conversion” — it’s a sneaky way to charge you extra!
Cash secured, so we were able to headed for a cenote — a natural sinkhole, often filled with stunningly clear water. Google Maps, however, had other plans, it’s “shortcut” was more suited for 4×4 vehicles (which we very much did not have), and after getting hopelessly lost, we stumbled across X-Butun, an authentic campsite near Cenote Koh.
Switching to mapy.cz (lifesaver!), we eventually found our destination — only to realize that Cenote Koh was closed. We climbed partway down the shaky stairs but decided against risking a dramatic headline like, “Two Tourists Died After unauthorized entry to Cenote. Stair Collapsed.” There are plenty of cenotes around, so we pivoted and continued towards Río Lagartos — crocodile territory.
🌊 Fun Fact – Cenotes:
The Yucatán Peninsula alone has over 6,000 cenotes! They were sacred to the ancient Maya, who believed these mystical wells were entrances to the underworld.
On the way, we popped into a souvenir shop called Artesanas Zacihual, which, while colorful and touristy, sold identical goods as at the markets (Mercado 28) — but for quadruple the price.
Nearby was a small “pyramid”, our first unofficial pyramid in Mexico.
We debated visiting Ek Balam, an archaeological site famous for its majestic Mayan structures. We just needed to gather some information because our priority were crocodiles. However, we found out that we will need approximately two hours for visit and it will cost 1,300 MXN in total.
As we continued and entered Río Lagartos, local tour sellers were everywhere. We just stopped to chat with one guy and we scored a boat trip for just 600 MXN for both of us — compared to the 800 USD per person horror stories we had read about.
The boat ride was a slow burn — at first, no crocodiles. Then, tiny glimpses. Then… finally, a hungry croc! Lu even held one by the tail. But honestly? It felt transactional. You could tell some of the guides cared more about money than about the creatures they were showcasing.
🐊 Fun Fact – Río Lagartos:
Río Lagartos is a protected biosphere reserve, famous for its flamingo colonies and crocodiles. Its name, meaning “River of Alligators,” actually comes from the Spanish conquistadors who mistook the local crocodiles for alligators!
Our real highlight? Visiting Granja de Cocodrilos — a crocodile sanctuary doing real conservation work.
Small group (only two of us) tours meant we could spend time feeding, holding, and learning about the crocs properly. Martin, our guide, spoke great English, cracked jokes, and taught us about their mission: raising crocodiles safely and reintroducing them into the wild to fight poaching and habitat destruction. Price? Just 400 MXN for two people — and worth every peso.
After all the excitement, we decided to treat ourselves to a little luxury: We found Xuux Peek by Tecnohotel, a peaceful spot tucked away from civilization. Bonus: it included access to two private cenotes! True, there was no restaurant or margarita bar on-site (tragic, I know), so we made a quick taco stop and stocked up on Corona beers. We arrived after dark, but the night’s plan was crystal clear: Shower, and pool with beer, and stars. 🌌
Day 3rd (March 25th, 2025)
Morning started with a chill breakfast, followed by an exploration of the two private cenotes within the Xuux Peek complex. One of them even had a small wooden boat you could paddle around the cenote — pure magic. We wandered through the entire property, amazed at the serene beauty surrounding us. Xuux Peek is a gorgeous, emerging eco-resort offering lots of potential. It’s clear that some areas still need development — for instance, instead of building more cabins, a café offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening cocktails could seriously boost their appeal. We could easily imagine this place becoming a hidden gem with just a little more infrastructure.
💧 Fun Fact – Cenotes and Eco-Tourism:
New eco-resorts are booming around cenotes because many developers now work under strict environmental regulations to protect the fragile underground river systems. Cenotes aren’t just pools — they’re vital parts of the Yucatán’s natural water network!
For today’s major stop, we debated pyramids: should we go classic with Chichén Itzá? Or choose something different? In the end, we opted for Ek Balam — mainly because at Chichén Itzá, you can no longer climb the pyramid, and it’s constantly overcrowded. At Ek Balam, not only could we climb to the top, but we could also enjoy the site with far fewer tourists around. Perhaps it’s not as internationally iconic, but honestly, we were thrilled with our decision.
🏛️ Fun Fact – Ek Balam:
Unlike Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam (“Black Jaguar” in Maya) remained hidden under dense jungle until the late 1980s! It’s famous for its remarkably preserved stucco sculptures — some of the finest in the entire Mayan world.
After soaking in the history and climbing ancient stones, we faced a long drive south towards Bacalar — the magical town by the Lagoon of Seven Colors. Our plan: rent a canoe and paddle to the Canal de los Piratas (Pirates’ Channel). En route, we realized a crucial mistake: time zones. Yucatán had a one-hour time difference, but heading back meant we lost an hour. Suddenly, our careful schedule was crumbling — most boat rental places closed at 6 PM. By the time we arrived, most rental shops were shutting down. Another twist: the central part of the lagoon is closed to boats and kayaks on Wednesdays to help the fragile ecosystem recover. What day is today? Tuesday, so we have to do it today. After pleading with one kind vendor, they agreed to let us have a canoe until 7 PM — with strict instructions to return promptly.
The water was pure paradise — shimmering in all shades of blue and turquoise. We lost our way a little on the return (all docks look suspiciously identical!), but we didn’t mind. Adventure comes in small moments too.
🏴☠️ Fun Fact – Canal de los Piratas:
In the 17th century, the “Pirates’ Channel” was a secret route used by pirates smuggling goods — and sometimes kidnapping locals for ransom. Bacalar was actually fortified with walls to defend against these pirate attacks!
Soaked but happy, we changed into dry clothes and hit the road again, slowly heading back toward Cancún.
Tomorrow: ferry to Cozumel!
We decided not to push too far in the dark. Instead, we set a simple mission: drive a reasonable distance, find a cozy restaurant, and celebrate a successful day with margaritas.
Lu found a spot in Felipe Carrillo Puerto — gluten-free tacos, affordable prices, and one-liter margaritas.
Honestly, no further discussion was needed. Dinner was fantastic: delicious tacos, perfect margaritas, and a friendly, relaxed vibe. If we hadn’t already accommodation day before, I could easily imagine staying the night here.
Day 4th (March 26th, 2025)
Our final full day in Mexico — and we had big plans!
We passed through the vibrant town of Tulum early in the morning, and I was on the hunt for my morning coffee. I discovered Coffee Bike Tulum, a charming mobile café run by a friendly older gentleman. Surprisingly — as English isn’t widely spoken here — he struck up a lively conversation and even offered a QR code linking to a curated list of recommended spots for tourists, including affordable local eateries. One recommendation led us to Lonchería La Esquina, a cozy cocina económica where we enjoyed an early lunch of traditional dishes, accompanied by a refreshing mango lemonade. We even picked up a papaya lemonade to go — because it was so delicious!
☕ Fun Fact – Coffee in Tulum:
Tulum’s local coffee scene is booming, with many cafés proudly serving organic, shade-grown beans sourced directly from Chiapas or Oaxaca. You’re not just buying coffee — you’re supporting small Mexican farmers!
Next, we headed toward Parque Nacional Sian Ka’an — a place we had high hopes for. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t quite match our expectations. Traffic jams, packed parking lots, limited access without overpriced tours, and, to top it off, murky water along the beach. We decided to skip it and move on, no regrets.
Our spirits lifted at our next destination: Blue Cenote, a hidden gem recommended by a friend who had traveled here before. It wasn’t too crowded, the water was crystal clear, and tiny fish gently nibbled at our toes as we relaxed — an unexpected spa treatment from nature herself!
🐟 Fun Fact – The Doctor Fish:
These little fish are called Garra rufa and are known for gently “kissing” dead skin away. While they’re native to the Middle East, their cousins here perform the same cute service — completely natural and ticklish!
Given our limited time, we had to move fast and adapt — some activities got shortened, and some plans canceled.
Flexibility was the motto of the trip. Next on our list was Cozumel, reachable by ferry from Playa del Carmen. We had researched prices and ferry times in advance, but reality hit hard: parking was a nightmare, ferries were overbooked, and opportunistic resellers were trying to charge nearly double the normal price. It was a frustrating reminder that sometimes touristy hotspots just aren’t worth the stress.
Realizing we wouldn’t have enough time on Cozumel anyway, we pivoted: goodbye island plans, hello spontaneity! It just so happened that the Beach Volleyball World Tour Elite 16 was taking place in Playa del Carmen.
We watched players warm up, strolled along the beach, and soaked up the energy of the tournament.
Then, embracing our chill vibe, we grabbed some groceries, picked up a few beers, and sought out a peaceful sunset spot. Though we weren’t on the ideal coast for sunset, we found a cozy beach in Akumal.
Sitting by the sea, chatting and laughing as the waves whispered onto the shore, was the perfect way to close out our adventure.
🌅 Fun Fact – Akumal:
The name “Akumal” means “Place of Turtles” in the Mayan language. It’s a prime nesting site for sea turtles — you might even spot them swimming close to the beach!
We made a pact to rise early for our final Mexican sunrise. And we did.
It was pure magic — a golden farewell to a country that had completely stolen our hearts.
✈️ Back to Canada… and a banking disaster
Landing back home, reality hit hard: my bank account was blocked.
Remember those ridiculous car rental policies I mentioned earlier in Mexico?
Well, it turns out that transferring 16,000 CAD to a credit card from my checking account triggered my bank’s fraud alert system. That explained why I couldn’t use my card in Mexico — and now I was stuck. It took seven business days, hours on the phone, endless transfers between debit and credit departments, and fraud department and repeating my story over and over to finally regain access to my own money.
Thank you, CIBC. What a welcome back. 🙃
✨
Small Wins of the Day:
Trusted intuition and skipped Cozumel stress.
Found unexpected joy at a volleyball tournament.
Ended our adventure with laughter, beach vibes, and a breathtaking sunrise.
📊 Travel Costs
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, but we also kept our budget under control.
Here’s a breakdown of our expenses:
🚗 Car (rental, gas, tolls) – 4,776 MXN
🍴 Food (restaurants + shopping) – 2,621 MXN
🎟️ Entrance fees and activities – 2,972 MXN
🏨 Accommodation (1 night) – 675 MXN
🎒 Other expenses – 1,305 MXN
✈️ Flights – 22,670 MXN
Total Budget: 35,019 MXN
💬 Budget Note:
Thanks to sleeping mainly in the car and carefully selecting our restaurants and activities, we were able to keep costs reasonable — even though the last-minute flight tickets were a higher expense.
Considering the number of experiences we collected over four days, every peso spent was definitely worth it.
🌎 For comparison:
If we had stayed in more accommodations or used tourist agencies for entry fees and tours, the budget could easily rapidly increase. Independent travel has its charm and advantage: freedom and authentic experiences at a reasonable price.