Looking for a magical adventure on your next trip to the Mexican Caribbean resort of Cancun?
Plan a day trip to one of the three nearby magical towns and get closer to the culture and traditions of Mexico that they preserve.
Isla Mujeres
There are 132 magical cities to explore spread throughout the country of Mexico. They all have special cultural and natural characteristics that earned them the right to bear the special designation of the Mexican government.
But few can claim to be a truly magical island like Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres is a short ferry ride from Cancun, yet it feels much further away than the urban tourist spot on the mainland.
Life is slower and more traditional on Isla Mujeres. Time is measured in grains of beach sand and distance is what can be traveled on the golf cart roads.
Isla Mujeres feels like the Mexican Caribbean and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area where you can work on your tan with a drink in your hand and your toes in the sand.
Playa Norte is the place most visitors like to go when exploring Isla Mujeres. Not only is it a beautiful beach for lazing in the sun, but it is also a great place to swim or snorkel in the crystal clear turquoise waters.
If beach clubs aren’t quite your thing, Playa Norte also has some great restaurants and bars with views you’ll remember forever.
Tulum
Driving south to the next magical city in the Mexican Caribbean, travelers come to Tulum.
While Tulum is becoming the booming development epicenter of the southern part of the Mexican Caribbean, with the opening of its own international airport in December, it also has some historical features that are magical.
A vast archaeological zone that would even inspire Indiana Jones to think of fortune and glory welcomes travelers to Tulum.
Ancient 13th-century Mayan temples and pyramids highlight a magical historical adventure where visitors can see more than 70 artifacts of the culture.
Tulum is definitely one of the most popular magical towns in the area, with more than two million visitors every year. It will become even more popular in December when new Mayan Train stops accompany the opening of the new airport.
Bacalar
For the latter we travel to the far south of the Mexican Caribbean. In fact, if you were to go a little further, you would actually end up in Belize.
The Lake of Seven Colors is the highlight in Bacalar, where the mesmerizing hue of the water is fascinating to see.
There is an interesting 18th-century Fuerte de San Felipe fortress nearby where you can explore the area’s pirate heritage, along with plenty of colonial-era weapons and loot to view.
Tourists can also enjoy connecting with nature by visiting Cenote Azul and its underwater caves for an adventure in sustainability.
The nearby border town of Chetumal is also a nice highlight of a trip to the southernmost magical town in the area.
Tips for tourists
The three magical towns surrounding Cancun make for an interesting day trip from the urban tourist hotspot to explore a closer connection to the deep culture and traditions of the local region.
Each of the three requires different modes of transportation to reach the visitor area.
Since it is an island, tourists must take one of the local ferries to visit Isla Mujeres.
Tulum is accessible by highway and will soon also be accessible by the brand new Mayan Train.
In fact, Tulum can be a good base to visit all three cities, especially as a brand new airport opens in December.
Bacalar is probably the most remote of the three magical city day trips from Cancun. Visiting the area near the Belize border requires a car or bus to reach it.
