Cancún and Chichén Itzá: the wonder of the world I expected more from
4 daysJune 2026Chichén Itzá
I went to Cancún mainly for Chichén Itzá, one of the seven wonders of the world. Getting there left me with a different feeling than the one I expected, and here I tell you why. Mexico was country 21 of my challenge of 30 countries before turning 30.
In front of Chichén Itzá, one of the seven wonders of the world.
A short but memorable trip
I was in Cancún only a few days, but they felt complete. I went in June 2026, with temperatures around 31 °C and lots of humidity, something to keep in mind for all the trip logistics, and the plan revolved mainly around visiting Chichén Itzá, one of the seven wonders of the world.
Trip facts
Duration4 days
Trip dateJune 2026
Approx. temperature~31 °C, high humidity
What I loved mostCenote Xcajum
Chichén Itzá is about 200 km from Cancún, around three hours by road.
Chichén Itzá and the magic I felt was missing
When I got to Chichén Itzá, honestly I expected a bit more. The path to the pyramid is straight, you arrive and that's it, you see it all at once, with no prior mystery. And since 2008 it can only be admired from below, because climbing El Castillo is forbidden.
Comparing it with other wonders I've visited, like Tikal (which I found much more impressive) or Machu Picchu (where the effort to get there makes the reward feel more satisfying), I felt Chichén Itzá lacked that build-up, that mystery before seeing it.
I don't know how it felt before, but for me, arriving directly and seeing it all at once meant missing part of the magic.
Even so, it's lovely, beautiful and worth visiting. It's just that my expectations were different.
Cenote Xcajum, the peninsula's bonus
Yucatán is full of cenotes, natural freshwater sinkholes, and the one I visited was Cenote Xcajum, in Dzitás, just 10 km from Chichén Itzá. Its name in Maya means "the place of sounds", and it's the only cenote in Yucatán with four different viewpoints to see it from several angles.
Cenote Xcajum, 10 km from Chichén Itzá.
Hotel Zone, Playa Delfines and Playa del Carmen
Besides Chichén Itzá, I made three more stops during these four days. The Hotel Zone is the strip of hotels between the Caribbean Sea and the lagoon. Playa Delfines is a public beach with free access, at kilometer 18 of Kukulcán Boulevard, where the CANCÚN letters are also located. And Playa del Carmen has its pedestrian Fifth Avenue, full of shops and restaurants.
June in Cancún, heat and humidity
In June Cancún hovers around a high of 31 °C and it's rainy season, so the heat feels even stronger because of the humidity. The best thing is to plan the big visits, like Chichén Itzá, for the first hours of the day, bring water, sunscreen and a cap, and leave the beaches for when the sun goes down.
My tips for Cancún
01
Adjust your expectations about Chichén Itzá. It's lovely and worth it, but you arrive directly, so enjoy it for what it is.
02
Protect yourself from the heat. Water, sunscreen and early schedules.
03
Pick a public beach. Playa Delfines is free and has a view of the CANCÚN letters.
04
Combine culture and sea. Chichén Itzá, Cenote Xcajum and Playa del Carmen fit in a few days.
What I take away from Cancún
Cancún wasn't the trip that marked me most, but it's one of the most memorable for being different, with the heat, the shortness of the trip and that feeling of having ticked a wonder of the world off the list with expectations different from the ones I had.
Travel map
Planning to go to Cancún and Chichén Itzá?
Here's the complete route I did through the Hotel Zone, Chichén Itzá, Cenote Xcajum, Playa del Carmen and Playa Delfines, with the logistics ready so you don't waste time in the heat.
Yes. It's one of the seven wonders of the world and it's very beautiful. In my case I expected a bit more compared to Tikal or Machu Picchu, but I still recommend it.
How long does it take from Cancún to Chichén Itzá?
It's about 200 km, roughly three hours by road.
Can you climb the Chichén Itzá pyramid?
Access to the pyramid has been restricted since 2008; it can only be admired from below.
How many days do I need in Cancún?
My itinerary is 4 days and includes the Hotel Zone, Chichén Itzá, Playa del Carmen and Playa Delfines.
Are there free beaches in Cancún?
Yes, Playa Delfines is public and free to access, in the Hotel Zone.
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