Looking for some magical adventure on your next trip to the Mexican Caribbean beach resort destination of Cancun?
Plan a day trip to one of the three nearby magical towns and get closer to the culture and traditions of Mexico they preserve.
Isla Mujeres
There are 132 magical towns to explore spread across the entire country of Mexico. Each one holds special cultural and natural features that earned them the right to carry the special designation by the Mexican government.
But few can claim to be an entire magical island like Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres is a quick ferry ride away 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 covered in its golf cart roadways.
Isla Mujeres feels like the Mexican Caribbean, and it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area to 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 head to when exploring Isla Mujeres. Not only is it a beautiful beach for lounging in the sun, but it’s also a great place to swim or snorkel in the crystal clear turquoise waters.
If beach clubs are not quite your scene, Playa Norte also has some great restaurants and bars with a view you will remember forever.
Tulum
Heading south to the next magical town in the Mexican Caribbean will lead travelers 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.
An expansive 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 more popular magical towns in the area, with more than two million visitors per year. It will get even more popular in December when new Maya Train stops accompany the opening of the new airport.
Bacalar
For the last one, we journey to the far south of the Mexican Caribbean. In fact, if you were to venture a little bit further, you would actually end up in Belize.
The Lake of Seven Colors is the highlight in Bacalar where the enchanting hue of the water is mesmerizing to see.
There’s an interesting 18th Century Fuerte de San Felipe fort nearby to explore the areas pirate heritage along with plenty of colonial-era weapons and booty to view.
Tourists can also enjoy connecting to nature by visiting Cenote Azul and its underwater caves for an adventure in sustainability.
Nearby border town Chetumal is also a fun highlight of a trip to the southernmost magical town in the area.
Tips For Tourists
The three magical towns around 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.
Being an island, tourists should plan to take one of the local ferries to visit Isla Mujeres.
Tulum is accessible via roadway and will soon also be accessible by the brand new Maya Train.
In fact, Tulum may make a good center place to position to visit all three towns, especially since it will have a brand new airport opening in December.
Bacalar is probably the most remote of the three magical town day-trips from Cancun. Visiting the area near the Belize border will require a car or bus to reach.