For my first (longer) trip of the year, and the first international trip EVER with my sister, we decided on an all-inclusive since we wanted to take time to relax and bond. Initially, all three siblings were supposed to go on this excursion, but life rarely goes according to plan.

Day 1:

We got up at 04:30 in the morning to get ourselves ready for the day ahead. It didn’t take long for us to get to the airport. A couple of ladies approached us at Terminal 1, gate B16, because they got lost. I was able to direct them to their gate since I know O’Hare very well inside and out. We flew on a United 777-200 and got to our destination about 20 minutes early, which was surprising considering the news about delays and cancellations from ORD in Chicago. Once we landed, we got to the Hilton in Quintana Roo and checked in. This particular hotel used wristbands to act as key fobs for the rooms, and they were color-coded based on all the different memberships. 

After we were checked in, we decided to hit the buffet to keep things simple and quick after the flight we had. It was my sister’s first time traveling internationally in over twenty-five years, so I wanted us to eat ASAP, that way we’d have some time to enjoy the swim-up pool in the room she’d booked for us. Breakfast selections were similar day-to-day, but the lunches and dinners involved different themes such as Caribbean, Bollywood, Mexican, etc. For the time we were there, not a single one was repeated. The buffet and some of the other restaurants (e.g Maxal) are included in the price. Compared to the buffet, Maxal was awful. The desserts in the buffet were alright, but if you do end up finding some Pavlovas, I would try them in a heartbeat if I were you. When we finished up at the buffet, we headed to the room for a 4-hour nap before heading off to La Churreria for some ice cream. It was one of my favorite parts of the day because we were able to snack and roam around the exterior of the hotel for a bit. We stumbled upon a couple partaking in some god-awful drunk karaoke, and of course, we had to get some pina coladas. I’ve never had such a strong “girly” drink in my life. You’ve been forewarned. As I am typing this out, it’s currently 01.29am. We’ll see where the rest of this trip decides to take us.

Day 2:

Shortly after getting breakfast, we went to the infinity pool to swim and tan. Nearby, there was an outdoor restaurant where I got myself some Papas Al Pastor and a TexMex burger that was unexpectedly bigger than my head. Both were incredible. I noticed a couple of large birds flying above the hotel, thinking they were just vultures. I was REALLY far off. They were hawks, and the handlers worked for the hotel to keep seagulls and other small birds away from the resort. I spoke to a handler named Helamán to ask if I could take some photos of him and his bird (her name is Athena), and he agreed. Boy, was that bird a chick magnet. About 7 other women came up to bombard him with questions, one of which being if it was easier to train the females. Surprisingly, no. The female Harris’s Hawks are the more dominant sex and have higher testosterone than the males. 

 

Day 3:

On our third day, we got a tour to Yucatan to visit Chichén Itzá – the only wonder of the world I’d seen so far. Walking around the Mayan ruins was a delight. Every angle of El Castillo was perfect, and each part had a meaning. One thing you’ll learn on this tour is that snakes and jaguars bore much significance to the Mayans. We did the stupid thing and wandered away from our group three times, and got lost at the outdoor market, only to circle and find our path back. We seen the thousand pillars, but to be clear, there are around 200 of them!

During the middle part of the tour, we wound up at the Oxmán Cenote. We took a bunch of photos with parrots and hit the buffet. They offered different varieties of protein, as well as hibiscus and tamarind juices. At this point, we were not in the mood to swim; we just felt like hiking around for a bit. Luckily, our lovely tour guide, Karina, convinced us that we’d regret it if we didn’t at least give swimming a shot, and that it’s necessary to experience. It was a lovely time! The cenote was over 200 meters deep, therefore everyone was required to wear a life vest.

To end the day trip, we went to the city of Valladolid for a tequila tasting. Honey is extremely expensive due to the miniature size of the Melipona bees. They are only able to produce about a liter of honey a year, which can cost upward of two hundred USD. Once back at the resort, we explored some of the nightlife and got some ice cream after the Latin show to end the night.

Day 4:

We got up at 06:00 to get some double espressos from Azulinda. It’s the most popular spot in the mornings, but luckily, we got there pretty early before going on our second tour. This time, we went to Yucatan to explore more Mayan ruins. This area had gorgeous ocean views and many more iguanas. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see any monkeys or crocodiles the entire duration of the trip. We were, however, able to see some brightly decorated fish and turtles while snorkeling in the ocean. So, for me, that makes up for it greatly.

We were even able to see huge groups of bats in the cave cenote (Van Balam). I was able to see 15+ feet under the water. The visibility in the first cenote was much greater in comparison. After our short-lived swim tour, we had some Mayan tacos, and we got to try our first-ever fried grasshoppers. Surprisingly, they weren’t terrible. We made a reservation at Maxal for day 5 once we returned.

Day 5:

On our final day, we hung out at the hot spa, the infinity pool, and the beach. The day was full of mango tangos, mojitos, and Coke Zeros. We spent about half the day in the water. Around 5 p.m., we went to Maxal. Truthfully, I was expecting a lot more out of a restaurant that requires a reservation. The majority of the menu was included in the all-inclusive price. Lamb chops, steak, and lobster were not. The portion sizes also weren’t great. My sister got mole and enjoyed it, I got the quesabirria tacos and hated them. Altogether, we spent about ten minutes here before going to the buffet for the day’s Caribbean theme. That part was excellent.

Day 6:

Our flight was later in the afternoon, so we estimated having around 4-5 hours of time left if we got up at 6 to enjoy the pool and some of our last drinks before landing in -3°F weather. We weren’t able to keep our bracelets as souvenirs after checking out, but we did share one last coffee before being transported to Cancún Int’l airport. Our flight got delayed, our tequila got confiscated, and I got to try a berry Dr. Pepper. We landed at ORD, went through Terminal 5, and here I am, three weeks later, barely finishing up with this post. In my defense, I had to separate my phone photos from my camera photos, and I never have enough downtime.

The question stands: would I return?

Absolutely. This trip consisted of all the components that make a trip unforgettable. We had incredible food, we learned about the amazing history of the region, saw some art and animals, scratched things off our bucket lists, and got to relax. I guess it’s not just about the trip, but who you share it with that makes it special.