My boyfriend and I recently found a cheap flight out of Fort Lauderdale and decided to take a spontaneous trip to Mexico. I’ve been before—a cruise stop when I was younger, a COVID-canceled visit, and for my mom’s wedding—but I’d never really seen the country in a meaningful way. This time, I was determined to experience something different.
We knew we wanted to visit Chichén Itzá and, if we had time, swim with whale sharks. To make that happen, we split the trip between Cancún and Tulum. I get that both places are super touristy, but we tried to explore beyond that. Our schedule ended up shifting because of weather, so we did our whale shark tour at the beginning instead of the end. The new plan turned into one night in Cancún, two in Tulum, and one more in Cancún before flying home. I definitely wish we had more time, but we made it work.
One of the things I loved most about this trip was staying in hostels again. In Cancún, we stayed at Nomads Rooftop & Pool Hostel, which had a fun vibe and friendly staff. It was within walking distance to the ADO bus stop, which was a game changer for us. If you’re ever traveling in Mexico, use the ADO buses—they’re cheap, comfortable, and reliable. In Tulum, we stayed at Mimosa Hostel, which felt peaceful and magical. June is off-season, so it was quieter than expected, but the staff made up for it with how helpful and welcoming they were.
The highlight of the trip for me was hands-down our day at Chichén Itzá. We booked a tour through iTour Tulum Mexico, but prices vary a lot depending on where you ask—some people paid as low as $40 or as high as $150. We ended up paying $70 with help from our hostel. The tour included a stop at a cenote (cold but refreshing), lunch with a Mayan ceremony, a guided tour of the ruins, and time to explore Valladolid, a colorful and historic town. If you go, be prepared to walk a lot and pack snacks, water, sunscreen, and lightweight clothes—it was hot and sunny the entire time.
We ended up doing a whale shark tour through Blue H2O Cozumel. It’s whale shark season from June to mid-September, when they migrate to feed on fish eggs near Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox. The boat ride out was long and rough—definitely bring motion sickness meds if you need them—but the tour was well-organized and respectful of the animals. I’ve actually swam with whale sharks before in Thailand, so while it was still a cool experience, it didn’t feel completely new.
Food-wise, we kept it pretty simple but found a few great spots. In Cancún, Parque Las Palapas is a must. It has cheap, authentic street food and a fun local vibe—especially on weekends. There’s also a spot nearby where you can paint your own clay sculpture, which made for a cute evening activity. In Tulum, we had the best açaí bowls at Raw Love, and a great casual dinner at Amor Burrito. The whole area felt like a little slice of boho Bali, which I wasn’t mad about.
If you’re planning a trip like this, I’d recommend packing light and sticking to breathable clothing—it’s super humid. Also, use Wise or a similar card for a better currency exchange rate instead of dealing with airport kiosks. And honestly, don’t overplan. Some of our favorite memories came from adjusting last-minute and just going with the flow.
Even though this was a short trip, I left feeling like I got to experience a more grounded and meaningful version of Mexico. I’d absolutely go back—next time, hopefully for longer.