Renee, where to next?

It’s a new year and we are off to a great start, travel wise. As an expat living in China we are privileged to receive time off during the Chinese New Year celebrations, and I definitely make the most of this time every year. After heading to New York City and realizing it was even colder than Wuhan, some sun was needed. Without hesitation we decided to head to Cancun, Mexico. Five days of sun shine is always a great idea in my opinion.

I’ve always wanted to visit Mexico, and after things not working out with my Tulum plans during the summer of 2024, I was happy to finally check Mexico off the list. Undoubtably, after just my first day there I told myself this will be one of those places I will be returning to several times. Its absolutely beautiful landscape, clear waters and delicious food makes this a destination worth experiencing more than once. This trip was for relaxation, but it was not short of a series of events making it a bit more than the intended relaxing trip. From an earthquake to having to pop my head out an Uber to throw up, Mexico was amazing and I can’t wait to return.

Where to stay

If you are seeking a relaxing beach centered vacation then I would definitely recommend the Presidente InterContinental Cancun. Whether you are a couple, a family or a group trip, this hotel can definitely give you what you are looking for. With its stunning and well kept beach front, you could spend your days comfortably laying on the beach without a care in the world. You have no need to worry about getting drinks or food while laying on the beach. Their beach restaurant Le Cap, has servers walking the beach ready to take your order. That in every way screams relaxation.

Everything I ate

Let’s start things off with their version of a Hamburger. I alway go for a medium temperature on my burgers, and they did this perfectly. Layered with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onion jam, a side of truffle fries and jalapeños if you like it spicy, this Hamburger was just mouth watering. We were completely surprised when we tasted this and thought to ourselves why did we even hesitate to order it.

The Grilled Chicken also impressed us. The seasoning, flavor and the juiciness were all simply perfection.The chicken was served similarly to a filet, but there was still some bone, (butterfly style) that made the flavors soak into every section of the chicken. It came with some grilled vegetables, my favorite were the potatoes. Covered in the sauce juices and seasoning from the chicken and then combined with the spicy sauce that came with the meal, made it tantalizing to our taste buds.

If you are a fish lover, I would highly recommend the Catch of the day. It’s generally a whole fish that’s grilled Mediterranean style. It’s served with a Mediterranean salad and a lemon butter risotto, that absolutely blew our minds. This was our second time having risotto and I must say this will be something I have to continue exploring in different restaurants. The texture and combination of flavors, were new to me and I loved it. Now, on to the star of the show, the grilled fish. Tender, juicy and flavor packed are just a few ways I would describe it. I love having new takes on meals that I have previously had, is always such a great experience. because who could have told me I would be sitting on the beach in Mexico having Mediterranean styled grilled fish?

We close off Le Cap with their Tokoyo Roll. Yes, my friends sushi rolls while laying on the beach, looking at the most stunning blue waters. A combination of foie gras, cucumber, fresh salmon, eel and ginger, was just delectable. A treat that was worth the price.

Next up, we travel to Socio Naiz, for the absolute best tacos, I ever had. Each order is accompanied by an array of sauces, but our favorite had to be the Salsa de Tamarindo, which was a tamarind sauce, with a great sweet and sour combination. The best taco we had was definitely the Pa Miguelito (skirt steak), and the Pa Miguelito with shrimp. Both were topped with an onion jam, wrapped in a flour tortilla stuffed with Gouda Cheese.

I always opt for the steak tacos because they have never disappointed, but if you are seeking variations they have a variety for you to select from. For my pork lovers I would recommend a Pastor taco, and their Del Trompo Naiz is just perfect. It is a marinated Pastor pork taco, topped with grilled pineapple, cinnamon, and onion jam. In my opinion I think the Del polludo was my least favorite, paired with some the different sauces that are offered it can become more flavorful. It is a crispy chicken taco, with coleslaw, coriander pesto and curly peppers.

After we had those amazing tacos we had to take a walk, we were entirely stuffed. And just by chance we stumbled on the Park Las Palapas. We walked through what seemed to be shopping alley way, that had more local taco spots and bars. Then we found ourselves in what looked like a park and we were pretty much the only foreigners there. It was such a great experience though, to just walk around and see how the locals were just out with their families.

There were several food carts and we opted for some churros for dessert. They were freshly made and still warm, and I topped them with some chocolate syrup. Best churros I’ve ever had, but I couldn’t finish them all, I was still full from the tacos and I’m not the biggest sweet treat fan. That sugar was just a bit too much for me. They also had some corn dogs for sale and we even stumble upon an empanada restaurant. I wish I had space to try it there but it would just have to wait until another time.

For each vacation I generally try to have different food experiences at differing prices. This just makes experiencing countries more fulfilling to me. I need to eat how the locals do and also have the opportunity to experience the touristy over priced food as well. Mexico in my opinion, has an array of restaurants that offer you an immersive experience. If you get easily overwhelmed, these may not be your cup of tea.

For our fine dining night we selected Rosa Negra. It’s described as a steak house, offering quality meats, expertly grilled, served with exceptional service in a vibrant atmosphere. Let me tell you, that was a very vibrant environment. Be ready to party. It seemed as if there was a designated even for every ten minutes. We were either being escorted outside to witness a fire show, or we were being given sparklers at our table or it was time to wave our napkins to the beat of some house or techno beat. We even witnessed a proposal while we were there. If you get easily over stimulated, or looking for a quaint romantic dinner spot, this may not be the best atmosphere for you to dine in.

Let’s get things started with our appetizers. First up were the fish tacos. I think I made an effort to try tacos every where I dined, while in Cancun. It was served topped with avocado, a habanero alioli and coriander. As a Jamaican it gave me sardine on crackers or bread vibes. It was a very light tasting fish and it didn’t pack much flavor on its own, but we are in Mexico, and one thing for sure is that you will be given an array of sauces to pair with your meals. Our second appetizer was the Street Corn on the Cob. I generally love corn, but this was a disappointment for me. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was charcoal grilled, with epazote aioli and dusted with worm salt and Tajin. All I can say is that it was a large serving and it was just too tart for me, I didn’t expect it to be so sour, needless to say we didn’t finish it.

Our entrees consisted of the Nordic Salmon as well as the Rack of Lamb. The salmon was cooked to the perfect temperature. They describe it as being done in a skillet with olive oil and sea salt. It is then paired with mashed sweet potato with creole sauce. I loved the fact that they added onions with both our entrees because I love me some onions. The rack of lamb was absolutely tasty. It was an actual surprise when we tasted it and it was flavorful and tender. It was paired with what they described as a creole sauce and topped with worms salt. Along with the mashed sweet potatoes it came with peanuts, pickled onions and an aioli on the side. They didn’t ask what temperature I wanted it to be cooked at, and it came at what seemed to a medium temperature.

We ended the night with a signature cocktail severed in a light bulb shaped glass. I had never had Mezcal before my trip to Mexico so I tried it a few times while I was there. The Bacal comprised of spiced syrup, passion fruit, lime and hibiscus salt. It was both fruity and smokey and I loved every drop of it. The night was a very memorable night because at the end of this exquisite meal, both me and my partner got sick. I don’t know if it was the food or what but something didn’t sit well with us at all. But that still didn’t take away from the fact that we had some delicious food at Rosa Negra.

While taking a walk to buy siuvenirs one night we came upon a restaurant on the strip and decided to try it. I forgot its name but it’s pretty hard to miss if you are walking in the hotel zone. There is generally a hostess outside, dressed in a traditional Mexican outfit. There are two of these restaurants next to each other, but we went to the one that was more packed and seemed to have been there longer. The seating was all out doors which was suitable for the time of year that we went. The weather was perfect. I highly recommend visiting Mexico during late January or February. Its sunny and cool, its the best of both worlds.

It was very packed when we arrived so we opted to sit at the bar. We weren’t entirely hungry but we wanted to grab a quick bite before heading back to our hotel. After looking at the menu I saw they had a quesadilla and I realized I hadn’t had one since I arrived, so immediately that was my choice. My partner opted for a grilled fish that came with grilled vegetables and rice. They had this very energetic server that was carrying three large margaritas on his head to the tables. It was so crazy but fun to see.

That beef quesadilla was amazing! flavor packed and filled with cheese. The simplicity of the food is what really does it for me. Simple flavors paired with fresh sides and dips, that marry to form an exceptional meal. My partner’s grilled fish was not the most amazing but after adding some habanero sauce, it became just right. We couldn’t finish the night without some drinks, and when in Mexico we have mezcal and tequila! A tamarind Mezcalito was the choice of the night along with a margarita, and they were large. I love anything that gives me a combination of sweet and sour and the tamarind Mezaclito did exactly that.

What to do in Cancun

Mexico is undoubtedly what you make it to be. If you aim for a relaxing get away or an adventurous, party filled vacation, you can achieve all these things there. The excursions are plenty and all vary in prices to suit your budget. Unfortunately, while on this trip I got sick so we were only able to do one excursion, but it was something I had never done before and that made it even more memorable.

After talking with the concierge at our hotel we decided to do the Rio Secreto Tour. Our other tour was supposed to be a party boat or a catamaran at sunset, but we will get those done next time for sure. It’s a fairly new tour located in Playa Del Carmen, because the underground river was only discovered by a farmer in 2004, and the attraction was opened in 2016. The tour includes hotel pickup, lunch and all the gears that you will need to explore the cave. The drive from the hotel zone to the caves was about 45 minutes depending on where on the strip your hotel is located.

When you arrive you are assigned to a group, a tour guide and a photographer. After changing into our wet suites we get a run down of the does and dont’s when inside the cave. We then begin our walk to the caves but first we stop for a Mayan pray and blessing then we enter the caves. They provide canes for those who need the extra help getting around. The guides help those like myself that are not very skilled swimmers in the areas that may be too deep. We make our way around in complete darkness only lit by the lights on our helmets. The wondrous rock formations are something to marvel at as you make your way throw these caves that were once completely submerged by the ocean.

This was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it. At the end of the tour we were given a traditional Mexican meal buffet style, which included: rice, beans, shredded pork tortilla and more. In total I think the cost was about $120 per person. One thing to keep in mind is the exorbitant cost for the pictures they will take. You aren’t allowed to take your phone with you and each picture is $30USD or $120USD for the whole package. That’s a bit crazy to me.

Top activities to do while in Cancun include: Sailing on a catamaran to Isla Mujeres, swim in one of the many Cenotes, take a day trip to one of the seven wonders of the world Chichen Itza, visit the Xcaret Park and for the party lovers a visit to Coco Bongo. There is a plethora of things to do while in Mexico, take the time to visit and make the most of your trip. Until next time, lets see where to next?