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The sargassum flooding into the Mexican Caribbean does not seem to be letting up this year but tourists are still flocking to the area and there are five places near Cancun for those tourists to explore when the beaches are full of sargassum. While the beaches are the main draw of the popular vacation destination, there is a lot more to see in and around the city. Other beautiful, more secluded beaches, ancient history, and spectacular natural wonders await those who dare to explore this amazing Caribbean paradise and we’ll list some of those places here.
- Ruta De Los Cenotes – Ruta De Los Cenotes is actually a series of cenotes that begins only 30 minutes outside of Cancun and tourists can get there by taxi, rental car, or by taking a local bus, called a Colectivo. A cenote is a naturally occurring sinkhole that fills with cool groundwater and makes for a fantastic swimming spot on a hot day. The cenotes that sit along this route, include Cenote Kin Ha, Cenote Las Mojarras, Cenote Siete Bocas, Cenote La Noira, and Cenote Selvática, are each a little bit different and some offer other adventure activities on site as well, such as zip lining and ATV tours.
- Park Kabah – Tourists don’t have to go far to get to this jungle-like paradise which is located in the center of Cancun and has over a mile of nature to explore. Visitors to the park will have the opportunity to see all different types of flora and different species of animals and reptiles, including iguanas, fish, turtles, birds, rabbits, and even spider monkeys and crocodiles. It is free to enter the park, which is open from 6 am to 6 pm every day except for Sunday, but although it is in Cancun, it’s a little ways from the Cancun Hotel Zone, so visitors without a rental car will have to take a taxi for around $40 each way or catch a bus, which will cost less than a dollar each way.
- Isla Blanca – Isla Blanca is a beautiful secluded beach that is about 12 miles north of Cancun’s downtown area and will require a car or bus to get to, but it is well worth the trip. What makes this beach so special is that on one side is the beautiful turquoise Caribbean Sea and on the other Laguna Chacmuchuch and between the two areas a plethora of wildlife can be found, including toucans, flamingos, and monkeys. While the park is free to enter the beach clubs do charge a nominal fee of anywhere from a few bucks to around $10 and visitors that want to go further down the beach will run into these and have to pay, but there is also a bus that leaves from Cancun three times a day to Isla Blanca as well.
- Coba Ruins – Many tourists visit the more popular nearby ruins of Tulum or Chichén Itzá so visiting the Coba Ruins is a very different experience, with fewer crowds, four natural lakes, and more dense vegetation. The importance of the ruins has only recently been discovered, as archaeologists now believe that it may be one of the Yucatán Peninsula’s largest Mayan Ruins and much of it has yet to be excavated. The Coba Ruins are about 2.5 hours from Cancun, so visitors will have to book a tour or rent a car to get there but it will be worth the trip.
- Holbox Island – Many tourists visiting Cancun right now are flocking to Holbox Island because it doesn’t have the sargassum that is invading the beaches in the more popular Mexican vacation destination, and it is only a few hours from Cancun. Not only are the beaches spectacular, characterized by bioluminescent waters and the presence of whale sharks, but there is a lovely downtown area with an authentic Caribbean vibe. Holbox is located a few hours north of Cancun and visitors will have to go to Chiquila first and then take a 20-minute ferry ride over to the island, which costs about $7.
While each of these destinations requires transportation to get to, there are plenty of options for those that don’t rent a car. Taxis are always available but tourists should clarify the price before getting in one so as to not be overcharged. Private transportation is also available but will be a bit more expensive, and private tours are also a great option and can vary in price.
Nobody wants their Cancun vacation to be ruined by sargassum and it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of other places and adventures to be explored in the beautiful Mexican paradise and this list is just the beginning of what there is to explore.
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