Cancun, Mexico

Heading to Cancun this year? Plan your trip with my tips on the best places to stay in Cancun, including neighborhoods suited to your budget and vacation goals!

Mexico’s beautiful Yucatan Peninsula home to beautiful sandy beaches and Mayan Ruins. One of the most popular places to base yourself is the city of Cancun, known as a gateway to to the Riviera Maya.

Formerly known as Nizuc or ‘point of grass’ to its Mayan inhabitants, the city now called Cancun means ‘enchanted snake’ or ‘nest of snakes’. 

But its far from a nest of snakes. Being the entry point to Mexico – Cancun is a vibrant city that is home to crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, luxurious resorts, and a thriving night scene.

The perfect base to explore the Mayan Riviera, Cancun is also well connected to Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Playa del Carmen and more. 

Your stay in Cancún will introduce you to Mexican delicacies, nightlife, and street food. It’ll also be the perfect chance to go scuba diving, snorkeling, explore nearby Mayan ruins, go shopping, and join some cultural experiences.

If you’re looking for the best hotels in Cancun to enjoy your stay, read this free guide to the best areas in Cancun and find the perfect accommodation for your budget!

Mexico Travel Restrictions 2022

Mexico is open to most travelers again, including American tourists. However you do need proof of your COVID-19 vaccination(s) or a negative test result before being allowed entry.

Many hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and you still have to follow certain guidelines.

You can find the latest updates on traveling to Mexico here.

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Best Places To Stay In Cancun Guide

Top Neighborhoods In Cancun

Zona Hotelera

Zona Hotelera is Cancun’s main tourist district where you’ll find the higher-end resorts that cater to tourists. Stay here and you’ll find restaurants, shopping malls, and a happening night-life scene. Extending all the way from Puerto Cancun to Punta Nizuc. It’s also where some of the best beaches in Cancun are located.  

El Centro (Downtown) Cancun

The place to be if you want to feel the heartbeat of the city. Watching busy locals go about their days, eating street food at stalls, or visiting affordable night clubs and restaurants. El Centro offers more affordable budget accommodation options than other parts of Cancun.

Costa Mujeres

At the far North end of the Zona Hotelera sits Playa Mujeres (Costa Mujeres) – a newer developed luxury resort area of Cancun. A bit closer to El Centro and Puerto Juarez, this area is not as crowded as Zona Hotelera. If you’re looking for a bit more peace and quiet on a holiday with the family, Playa Mujeres is a top choice. 

Puerto Juarez

Situated about 2 km from the center of Cancun, Puerto Juarez is another good place to stay in Cancun if you’re on a budget. It’s quieter than the city center, but not as touristy as Zona Hotelera. It’s also the perfect place to stay if you plan to visit Isla Mujeres, since the Ultramar Ferry to the island leaves from here twice and hour.

Zona Hotelera – Where To Stay For First Time Visitors

Luxury Hotels In The Hotel Zone ($200+ USD)

• Ritz Carlton Cancun – The luxury AAA Five Diamond Award winner, the Ritz Carlton is within walking distance of popular beaches Playa Marlin and Playa Ballenas. Guests will enjoy the 2 swimming pools, Kayanta Spa, 7 onsite restaurants, kids club and a teens club. Elegantly decorated rooms with the best amenities, Ipod docking stations, Egyptian cotton sheets, private beach cabanas, what more can you ask for?
• Nizuc Resort & Spa – Situated on Boulevard Kukulcan in Zona Hotelera’s Punta Nizuc, the Nizuc Resort is one of the best places to stay in Cancun. Guests at this 29-acre beachfront resort can soak in the most luxurious environment catering to all their needs. Enjoy access to 6 international restaurants, 2 swimming pools, a top-grade fitness center, spa and wellness treatments, thermal experiences, free parking, free WiFi, and the best amenities.

Mid-Range Hotels In The Hotel Zone ($150 – $190 USD)

• Renaissance Cancun Resort – Located in the Puerto Cancun section of Zona Hotelera, the Renaissance Cancun is within walking distance of the Marina Town Center, restaurants and a shopping center. There’s a free shuttle to the beach, a sauna, infinity pool, beach club, and spacious rooms and suites with every amenity you need. 
• Marriott Cancun Resort – Set on the beachfront of the Caribbean sea, the large spacious rooms at the Marriott are perfect for a luxurious stay at not-so-luxurious prices. Guests have access to 8 international restaurants including Japanese and Thai, free WiFi, fitness center, and the top amenities. Day care programs to take care of kids too.

Budget Hotels In The Hotel Zone ($50 – $100 USD)

• Mayan Monkey Hotel & Hostel – Previously known as Senor Frog, and right in the heart of Zona Hotelera, the Mayan Monkey Hostel is within walking distance of beaches, restaurants and bars. You can either choose from dorm rooms, double rooms, or a suite. Free WiFi, free private parking, barbecue facilities, a lounge, bar, and pool make this hostel perfect! 

El Centro Neighborhood – Cancun On A Budget

Mid-Range Hotels In El Centro ($150 – $190 USD)

• Selina Cancun Downtown – Within walking distance of the Cancun Bus Station and Cristo Rey Church, this Selina Hotel offers a swimming pool, free WiFi and free onsite parking. Pets are allowed at a charge, and guests have access to a shared kitchen, breakfast at the onsite restaurant, as well as access to a co-working space. Whether you choose the dorms, apartments or rooms, you’ll enjoy your stay at this colorful hotel. 
• El Rey Del Caribe – Located right in the heart of downtown Cancun, this eco-hotel has a hot tub, terrace, swimming pool and garden area. They have solar water heaters, and recycle all waste water, and use rain-water collection systems. Just one mile from Cancun’s famous beaches.

Budget Hotels In El Centro ($50 – $100 USD)

• Casa Blanca Boutique – You’ll love the bright and colorful rooms and furnishings at this El Centro bed & breakfast which allows pets on request. Guests have access to the onsite pool, continental breakfasts, rooms with balconies, and friendly advice from an accessible host. And in keeping with its organic mantra even the coffee here is organic!
• Gaia Studios – The rooms at Gaia come with kitchens, flat-screen TVs and a private bathroom. Some rooms have air conditioning and/or a balcony. Located in a nice area of downtown Cancun, close to the family-friendly park “Parque las Palapas”. They also offer airport shuttle service for an extra fee.
• Nomads Hotel – Featuring a rooftop pool and huge bar, this hostel is set 3-minutes from the main bus stop in Downtown Cancun. Apart from free WiFi and parking, this adults-only hostel offers access to a shared kitchen, loungers, and is within walking distance of good nightlife.

Puerto Juarez – Cancun’s Newest Area

Luxury Hotels In Puerto Juarez ($200+ USD)

• Dreams Vista Cancun – A super nice luxury resort in Cancun’s Puerto Juarez area, it boasts a private beach, huge swimming pool, children’s playground, fitness center, and free WiFi. They have a spa, golf course, and water slides too.
• Planet Hollywood Resort Cancun – This fancy all-inclusive resort is adults only, and just a 10-minute walk away from Cancun’s Playa Blanca beach. The offer free parking, multiple outdoor swimming pools, bars, a spa and a fitness center. There’s also an in-house movie theater.

Budget Hotels In Puerto Juarez ($50 – $100 USD)

• Hotel Del Sol – Offering free continental breakfasts at their onsite restaurant, Hotel Del Sol is just 450 meters from Playa Blanca and a world of water activities. The affordable compact bedrooms include free WiFi and air conditioning, and has the best amenities for a budget hotel.

Costa Mujeres – Luxury Beach & Golf Resorts

Luxury Hotels In Costa Mujeres ($200+ USD)

• Secrets Playa Mujeres – An adults-only all-inclusive resort offering Junior Suites and ocean-front Master Suites. They have a private beach, luxuriously decorated rooms, 7 international restaurants, an elegant spa, top-notch fitness center, and everything you need for a fantastic holiday. It’s pet-friendly too! 

FAQ: Top Cancun Questions

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READ MORE MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide on where to stay in Cancun! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• Fun Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen
• The Ultimate Travel Guide To Cancun
• How To Visit Chichen Itza Ruins
• The Best Mayan Ruins In Mexico
• Useful Tips For Visiting Tulum
• Best Cenotes For Swimming In Mexico

Do you have any questions about where to stay in Cancun? Are you planning a trip to Mexico? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

One of my favorite things to do in Mexico is swim in the beautiful cenotes of the Yucatan. Here are tips for visiting a cenote in Mexico, and how to enjoy them responsibly.

Cenotes in Mexico are super cool! The Mayan people used cenotes to supply their ancient cities (like Chichen Itza) with fresh water, as well as a sacred place to conduct sacrificial offerings to their gods.

Ancient artifacts and even human bones have been discovered in many.

Offerings were made to the Mayan god Chaac, the god of rain, when drought threatened the area. The Maya also believed these underground wells were entrances to the afterlife.

Despite their slightly creepy history, these days cenotes in Mexico are enjoyed by foreigners and locals alike as refreshing jungle swimming holes and cave diving hot-spots. No trip to Mexico is complete without swimming in a cenote!

Here you’ll find details about Tulum cenotes, as well as cenotes near Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Valladolid too.

After spending years living in and regularly traveling to Mexico as a digital nomad, I wanted to put together a helpful guide to my favorite cenotes throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

Mexico Cenotes Map

HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you’ll find a map of cenotes in Mexico. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!

Mexico Travel Restrictions 2023

Mexico has removed all COVID-19 entry requirements, including for Americans. It’s the perfect time to visit Mexico!

You can find the latest updates on traveling to Mexico here.

Get Travel Insurance

Protect yourself from injury, illness, or theft. SafetyWing offers affordable travel insurance that covers COVID-19 too!

Click For Details

Best Cenotes In Mexico

What Exactly Is A Cenote?

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its amazing cenotes — natural pools of fresh water located in limestone caves. These pools are connected to each other through the world’s largest underground river system.

Rain water seeps through the porous limestone, collecting underground.

Cenotes themselves are created when the limestone surface collapses, creating a cave opening into this river system. Some cenotes are “open air” meaning the roof has completely collapsed, while “cave cenotes” may have most or all of their roof still intact.

Many cenotes in Mexico are home to a variety of fish and plant life, some even have turtles!

There are supposedly over 6000 different cenotes located in Mexico. Some have been turned into swimming holes for tourists, others are used for technical cave scuba diving, and many more are simply inaccessible – hidden in the remote Mexican jungle.

Best Cenotes In Tulum

Casa Cenote (Cenote Manatí)

One of my favorite Tulum cenotes, Casa is an open-air cenote that looks more like a river than a typical cenote. Jungle plants go right up to the edge of it, and it’s an excellent spot for snorkeling. It’s narrow but VERY long, so you might want to use a life jacket (they have them) if you’re not a strong swimmer.

Locals call it “Cenote Manati”, because there used to be a population of Manatees living in it. While they are no longer there, a friendly crocodile named “Panchito” does sometimes make appearances to swim with tourists. I wouldn’t pet it, but otherwise there’s nothing to be afraid of!

Entrance Fee: 150 MXN ($7 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Dos Ojos

Dos Ojos Cenote is one of the coolest cenotes near Tulum. It’s very popular for scuba diving, due to its “two eyes” (sinkholes) separated by a 400m long underwater tunnel. But it’s also fun for snorkeling, as there are plenty of caves to explore that are just above the water line.

Because Dos Ojos is one of the most famous cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, it can get crowded fast. It’s actually part of a huge cenote complex, and there are many different ones you can visit in the area.

Entrance Fee: 350 MXN ($17 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Gran Cenote Tulum

Gran Cenote (aka Great Cenote) is one of the closest cenotes to Tulum. In fact it’s possible to ride a bike here if you want to. It’s not super big, but has two cool chambers separated by a cave tunnel. They also have a mini turtle sanctuary!

A nice cenote for swimming and snorkeling, they also have showers and restrooms on site. It’s grown in popularity over the years, and can see huge crowds sometimes.

Entrance Fee: 180 MXN ($8 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Taak Bi-Ha

This cenote hidden in the jungle of Tulum is a special one. A full on cave cenote, it’s lit with led lights, but still kept looking natural, which I love. The water is super clear, and snorkeling here makes you feel like a cave diver. Which, by the way, you’ll see plenty scuba divers disappear into the abyss beyond.

It’s generally one of the less-crowded cenotes in Tulum, partly due to its steep price to enter compared to others.

Entrance Fee: 500 MXN ($24 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)

The Car Wash Cenote is located right off the road from Tulum to Coba, and used to be where locals would wash their cars! Now it’s a proper Tulum swimming cenote where you’ll see tons of fish, water lilys, iguanas, and even some turtles from time to time.

Car Wash has a few wooden jumping platforms, a rope swing, and is another cave diving spot. There are a lot of downed trees at the bottom too, making for a unique underwater world to view while snorkeling around.

Entrance Fee: 200 MXN ($10 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Calavera (Temple Of Doom)

Cenote Calavera gets its name from the appearance of a skull, with three openings into the ground. It’s a very deep cenote in Tulum which cave divers love. Perfect for jumping from the sides (there’s even a narrow opening you can drop into).

It’s sometimes called The Temple Of Doom by professional scuba divers. There is a swing, as well as a climbing rope. They have lounge chairs for sunbathing too.

Entrance Fee: 250 MXN ($12 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Choo Ha

This shallow water cave cenote is located next to the ruins of Coba (about 45-minutes from Tulum). It boasts crystal clear blue water and many stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. It’s a dramatic looking cenote, and one of my favorite cenotes near Tulum.

The shallow water makes this a great cenote to visit with a family or small kids, although the stairs down are pretty steep and slippery. So just be extra careful! Choo Ha is actually one of 3 cenotes located around Coba, and it’s possible to buy a ticket that covers all of them.

Entrance Fee: 100 MXN ($5 USD)

Location: Click For Map

Kaan Luum

Laguna de Kaan Luum is a clear shallow lake with bright blue water which encircles a deep cenote (sinkhole). With a depth of approximately 262 feet, the waters of this cenote supposedly have magical properties.

Kaan Luum is also perfect for scuba diving or freediving with the deeper area cordoned off to prevent entry to swimmers. There are water hammocks, swings, and small tower that you can climb for a great view of the whole area.

Entrance Fee: 300 MXN ($15 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm

Location: Click For Map

Tulum Cenotes Tour

Prefer a guided tour? Explore some of Tulum’s beautiful cenotes as well as some Mayan ruins.

Book Online Now

Best Cenotes In Cancun

Cenote La Noria

The best cenotes near Cancun are located along the Ruta De Cenotes (Cenote Route) just outside the city of Puerto Morelos. La Noria was my favorite of these cenotes. It boasts milky blue water, some rope swings, a jumping platform, and dramatic cave stalactites hanging from the roof.

Entrance Fee: 300 MXN ($14 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm

Location: Click For Map

Verde Lucero

Cenote Verde Lucero is a fun one, with different cliff jumping spots and even a zipline! A very popular cenote that many tours stop at. They also have kayaks to rent here. If you are staying at a hotel in Cancun, these are some of the closest cenotes to go to.

Entrance Fee: 300 MXN ($15 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Sol & Luna

Cenote Sol y Luna is the first cenote you’ll encounter on the Ruta de Cenotes. It’s a big complex, featuring the cenote itself, as well as a pool, waterslides, temazcal sauna, ATV rides, and more. The cenote is large and green, with fun zipline and some jumping platforms. Lifejackets are provided (and required) here.

Entrance Fee: 350 MXN ($15 USD)

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Boca de Puma

A super fun cenote to visit near Cancun is called Boca de Puma (Mouth of the Puma). It’s actually comprised of two different cenotes, one in a cave, the other open-air. They also have a zipline course here, as well as a handful of rescued spider monkeys who roam free in the jungle, but aren’t afraid of people at all. One of them wouldn’t leave Anna’s side!

Entrance Fee: 400 MXN ($20 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Ojo de Agua

This cool cenote called Ojo de Agua has multiple openings (eyes) into the crystal clear water below. There are jumping platforms up to 20 feet high, and swimming through the caves below is super fun. You have to shower before getting in, and there’s a little place to buy lunch here too.

Entrance Fee: 250 MXN ($12 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Adventure Tour

Visit 4 different cenotes on a guided tour from Cancun. Includes kayaking, zip-lining, rappelling, and more!

Book Online Now

Best Cenotes In Playa Del Carmen

Garden Of Eden Cenote

Cenote Jardin del Eden (Garden of Eden) is a large open-air cenote just outside Playa del Carmen. It’s pretty popular with locals and expats, with lots of shady trees, multiple decks for jumping or sunbathing, and plenty of little fish swimming around. A great spot for snorkeling!

Depending on the time of year, and time of day, it can get crowded here. However because it’s big, there is usually plenty of room to spread out.

Entrance Fee: 100 MXN ($4.75 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Azul

Located right next to Garden of Eden, Cenote Azul has stunning blue water. The “blue” cenote boasts a nice small cliff you can jump from, a wooden boardwalk, and a few shaded areas to hang out.

There’s lots of small fish in this cenote too, who will nibble on your dead skin if you put your feet in the water. A natural Mexican fish spa! Make sure to walk the jungle path that circles the cenote too, it’s super cool.

Entrance Fee: 100 MXN ($4.75 USD)

Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Yax Kin

Cenote Yax Kin is a wonderful cenote in Mexico for families and kids. This is due to its large shallow areas, something that most cenotes don’t have. They also have lounge chairs, and pathways that take you to even more cenotes that are part of the same complex.

There are grills and campsites available to rent too. Keep an eye out for all the HUGE iguana lizards who like to hang around this cenote! Sometimes they chase each other up trees. It’s pretty entertaining.

Entrance Fee: 150 MXN ($7 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Best Cenotes Near Valladolid

Ik-Kil Cenote

Cenote Ik-Kil is a super popular cenote near the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, and is often included as a stop on guided bus tours. As such, it’s often packed with people. Massive vines stretch down to the water, making it look very dramatic. While cool, due to the crowds, it’s not my favorite cenote in the area.

Entrance Fee: 350 MXN ($17 USD)

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Zaci-Ha

Cenote Zaci is located right in the heart of the Mexican town of Valladolid, and an easy bike ride from anywhere in town. It’s not quite as popular as others, but has a few different cliff jumps, some big black fish swimming around, and sometimes a little waterfall.

Entrance Fee: 30 MXN ($1.50 USD)

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Suytun

One of the most photogenic cenotes in the Yucatan, Suytun Cenote has become an Instagram sensation. Sunlight streams down from a hole in the ceiling, making for a very dramatic scene. Due to its popularity, it can get quite busy as everyone waits in line for a photo on the circular walkway.

Each person gets about a minute to pose on the walkway for photos, before they blow a whistle and let the next person in line get their turn. Makes a wonderful photo, but is not a very magical experience like some other cenotes can be. A bit of a tourist trap.

Entrance Fee: 150 MXN ($9 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote X’Canche

X’canche cenote is next to the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam, and part of the archaeological site. It’s pretty cool, and looks like a circular crater in the ground with steep sides. It’s about a mile (1.5 km) walk from the Mayan ruins, but they also offer bicycles to rent.

To get down to the water itself, you need to walk down a couple of very steep wooden staircases. The water is less clear than some other cenotes, so there isn’t much to see with snorkeling gear. There are some jumping platforms, a free rope swing, plus ziplines & a rappel that you do for an extra fee.

Entrance Fee: 70 MXN ($3.50 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 3:30pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Palomitas

This cenote in Mexico is a bit off the beaten path, about 30-minutes from Valladolid. It doesn’t see as many tourists as others do. It’s actually part of a 3-cenote complex. It’s a massive cave cenote, with a single hole in the top that allows sunlight to stream in. There’s also a knotted rope hanging down for climbing!

Entrance Fee: 150 MXN ($7 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 4:30pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Sac-Aua

One of the most unique cenotes I visited in Mexico, Sac-Aua has a giant island in the middle of it, creating a doughnut shape. They rent kayaks here, so you can cruise around the island. There’s also a jumping platform, and a bunch of iguanas hanging around. They also have a cavern (cave) you can visit, and will cook a traditional Mayan meal for lunch too.

Entrance Fee: 345 MXN ($17 USD)

Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

Cenote Secreto Maya

There’s lots to do at this cenote near Valladolid. A 22 meter jumping platform, 10 meter rope swing, caves to explore, and when you enter, you’re treated to a traditional Mayan blessing. There is also food, a swimming pool, hammocks, and a massive colorful mural to enjoy when you’re done with the cenote. Loved this one! It wasn’t too crowded either.

Entrance Fee: 200 MXN ($10 USD)

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm

Location: Click For Map

How To Visit Cenotes

Rental Car

The best site to book a rental car in Mexico is with Discover Cars. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car and drive in Mexico.

Renting a car offers the best flexibility for exploring and visiting some of the more remote cenotes around the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s my favorite way to get around! You can use my Mexico cenote map at the top of this article to help you find them all.

Take A Guided Cenote Tour

There are several tour options for visiting cenotes leaving from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Some are part of Mayan Ruins tours, while others combine cenote visits with ziplining, ATV’s and other adventure activities. One popular option leaving from Cancun is the Xenote Experience.

Bicycle Or Taxi

Some of the Tulum cenotes can be reached by bicycle, as well as some cenotes near the town of Valladolid. For most others, unless you have your own rental car, you’ll need to hire a local taxi to take you. Often taxi drivers will give you their business card, allowing you to call them when you’re done visiting the cenote to get a ride back into town.

Tips For Visiting Cenotes In Mexico

• To avoid polluting the water in cenotes, most places require you to shower before entering. Please don’t use sunscreen either, as it can be harmful to wildlife.
• Many cenotes in Mexico provide life jackets for people who are not strong swimmers. Most cenotes don’t have a shallow area — they can be super deep.
• Some cenotes include rope swings, jumping platforms, zip lines, and will rent you snorkeling gear.
• Cave divers frequent some cenotes, so make sure to give them plenty of room, and be careful where you jump!
• Some cenotes can get very crowded, depending on the season and time of day. If you arrive at a cenote and see a bunch of tour buses, it might be worth looking for another if you want to avoid crowds.
• The water in most cenotes is pretty cold, as they are fed from underground sources.

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Tulum, Mexico

Once an idyllic sleepy village, Tulum has been transformed into a celebrity vacation playground. From cenotes to chilling on the beach — here are the best things to do in Tulum, Mexico!

Home to an ancient Mayan city, Tulum was once called Zama or “City of Dawn”.

Where is Tulum? This tropical paradise is located about 2-hours south of Cancun, along Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Boasting beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear water, Tulum is also a scuba diving paradise with many cenotes and caves to explore. 

Tulum is a place where the ancient and the modern world blend together. Today you’ll find a mix of ancient Mayan ruins, yoga retreats, shopping, restaurants, and plenty of famous people who flock here to refresh their mind, body, and soul.

In fact, the Mexican government is opening a new international airport in Tulum (as well as a train) sometime in 2023.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Tulum over the years while living on and off in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and wanted to put together a guide on what to do in Tulum for first-time visitors.

My Tulum itinerary is completely free! I’ve worked hard putting it together for you. If you find it useful, please use my affiliate links when you book hotels, rental cars or activities. I’ll get paid a small commission, at no extra cost to you! Thanks.

Tulum Highlights Map

HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you’ll find a map of highlights in Tulum, Mexico. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!

Mexico Travel Restrictions 2023

Mexico has removed all COVID-19 entry requirements, including for Americans. It’s the perfect time to visit Tulum!

You can find the latest updates on traveling to Mexico here.

Get Travel Insurance

Protect yourself from injury, illness, or theft. SafetyWing offers affordable travel insurance that covers COVID-19 too!

Click For Details

Tulum Mexico Travel Guide

1: Visit The Tulum Ruins (Archeological Site)

The Tulum Archeological Site is an impressive 13th-century cliff-top Mayan city which is the highlight of any trip to Tulum. Set 12-meters high overlooking the shimmering Caribbean sea, the ruins are the perfect backdrop for photos.

The 5-meter tall walls that surrounded the city, may have something to do with the name Tulum, which is the Maya word for fence. 

Some important structures at the Tulum ruins are the Templo Dios del Viento or Temple of the God of the Wind, Pyramid El Castillo, Temple of the Descending God, and the Temple of the Frescoes. 

Gates open at 8 AM, but the lines can be long so I recommend arriving about an hour earlier, if you want to be first in line. Or you can also join a guided tour.

➜ Read My Guide To Visiting Tulum’s Ruins Here

Tour Of Tulum & Coba

Explore 2 archaeological sites in one day, as well as a Mayan village and swimming in a cenote.

Book Online Now

2: Explore Tulum Pueblo (El Centro)

Tulum is actually split up into 3 different areas, all commonly described as “Tulum”, which can make things a bit confusing for first time visitors.

Tulum Town (aka Tulum Pueblo, or El Centro) is where locals in Tulum actually do business. Here you’ll find grocery stores, local restaurants, and other Mexican shops.

Tulum Beach (aka Tulum Hotel Zone) is where all the beaches, resorts, and tourist shopping is. This is actually a 5-10 minute drive away from Tulum Town. Walking this distance would take about an hour (not recommended). A bike or taxi should be used instead.

And finally there are the Tulum Ruins, which I described above. The ruins are located North of both the town and the beach.

A few good places to stop in Tulum Town to get a feel for local Mexican life include La Chiapaneca for street tacos, Del Cielo for breakfast or brunch, and Huerto del Eden if you love fresh juice and coffee.

3: Relax On Tulum’s Best Beaches

Tulum has so many lush beaches with soft sands and dazzling waters, it’s difficult to choose which beach to get some sun at. While Mexican law guarantees public access to all beaches, many hotels in Tulum attempt to charge tourists a fee to “use their lounge chairs”.

Here are our top choices amongst Tulum’s white sandy beaches. 

• Playa Paraisao boasts powder white sands, clear shallow waters, beach bars and coconut palms. 
• Playa Ruinas is the isolated beach directly below the Tulum Ruins. Only accessible from the archeological site, it opens around 10am.
• Ziggy’s Beach is a beach club that costs $35 USD to enter, but includes use of a lounge chair. This family friendly beach is perfect for travelers with kids.
• Santa Fe Beach is a relaxing public beach north of Playa Paraisao, and just South of the ruins. It’s dotted with tiny beach bars to grab a bite or drink.
• Mirador Tulum Beach is the place to go for sunrise if you’re looking for a quiet place to chill.

One thing most people don’t know is that Tulum can sometimes get hit with a sargassum seaweed invasion, making the pristine white sand beaches — a little less pristine. The seaweed comes and goes each year, and if you’re unlucky, it may be around during your visit.

Hotels and resorts try to clean it up from the beaches when they can, but sometimes it can overwhelm an area. The seaweed is harmless, but it can start to rot and smell bad if it isn’t removed right away.

4: Sian Ka’an Biosphere

Sian Ka’an means “gate to heaven” or “origin of the sky”. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere is located just south of Tulum, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. 

Sian Ka’an covers 5280 km² and is home to over 300 species of birds, 120 km of coastline, diverse flora and fauna, coral reefs, a lagoon and around 23 Mayan archaeological sites.

A popular activity is to book a Sian Ka’an boat tour or kayaking tour to explore the jungle mangroves and saltwater lagoons. There are also snorkeling trips too. It’s possible to see dolphins, turtles, manatees, and all kinds of bird life on these trips.

5: Swim (Or Scuba Dive) In Cenotes

You can’t visit Tulum, Mexico and not visit a cenote. The Tulum cenotes are natural limestone sinkholes that provide access to Mexico’s underground river system for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Some of the cenotes also include underwater archaeological sites and relics. 

With the Riviera Maya being home to the largest underground cave system in the world, connecting thousands of different cenotes, there are many beautiful underground caverns and caves to explore. Some of my favorite cenotes near Tulum include:

• Gran Cenote – The most popular cenote in Tulum with waters that are considered sacred, it’s the entrance of the Sistema Sac Actun.
• Casa Cenote – Surrounded by mangroves with a tunnel that heads right out to the sea.
• Dos Ojos Cenote – Called Two Eyes Cenote, this one has great snorkeling and cave diving (if you’re a licensed scuba diver).
• Carwash (aka Aktun Ha) – Located right off the road to Coba, Carwash was once used for washing cars, but now it’s just for swimming or cave diving.
• Calavera (aka Temple Of Doom) – Looks like a skull from below, and is a popular spot for divers. But there’s a ladder and rope swing too.
• Cenote Taak Bi Ha – One of my favorite cenotes in Tulum, this giant cave boasts crystal clear blue water. Another cenote popular with cave divers.

➜ Read My Guide To Mexico’s Best Cenotes

Cenote & Ruins Adventure

Prefer a guided tour? Explore some of Mexico’s Mayan ruins, and go swimming in a beautiful cenote.

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6: Take A Yoga Class

Tulum is a popular destination for hippie/bohemian/new-age types, and as such, you’ll find plenty of yoga retreats, music therapy sessions, and other kinds of health and wellness activities.

If you’re looking to unwind and immerse yourself in some yoga sessions during your visit, check out Naga Tulum or the beachfront yoga studio at Sanara.

7: Climb The Mayan Ruins Of Coba

About 45 minutes away from Tulum you’ll find Coba. Tall pyramids look out over the surrounding jungle. Once inhabited by almost 50,000 souls, these ruins date back to the Middle and Late Classic periods (500 to 900 AD) of the Mayan civilization. However, Coba has been inhabited as far back as 50 BC.

The most visited sites at Coba include the Nohoch Mul Pyramid, Sacbe, Coba Group, Coba Stelae, Macanxoc Group and Conjunto de Pinturas. One of the unique features of this Mayan site is the ability to actually climb the main pyramid — something you can’t do at other ruins.   

➜ Read My Guide To Visiting Coba Ruins Here

8: Visit Yal-Ku Lagoon

Just a 30 minute drive from Tulum, the beautiful Yal Ku Lagoon is a popular spot for snorkeling and sunbathing. What’s different about Yal Ku? It’s a cenote that flows into a lagoon that is also an inlet for the sea.

Because of the mix of sea water and fresh water, the lagoon is the perfect snorkeling spot. The shallow waters near the cenote teem with small fish, while the deeper waters near the sea are filled with turtles, rays, and bigger fish. 

There are stores nearby that offer snacks, plus snorkeling and diving gear that you can rent.  

9: Go Shopping In Tulum

Tulum is a popular shopping destination too. Boutique shops sell souvenirs, traditional Mayan clothing, and even some eclectic & bohemian Western designs.

Some popular stores to visit in Tulum are Wanderlust, Pura Vida Tulum, Arte Sano, and La Troupe. You’ll also find great buys at the street-lined stalls. Be prepared to pay Western prices though!

10: Eat At Local Restaurants

You don’t have to visit the best restaurants in Tulum, Mexico to get a taste of local food. Grab someamazing bites some of the local shacks instead. Here are our favorites. 

• Matcha Mama serves plant based smoothies, kombuchas and acai bowls, they’re very popular on Instagram. 
• Burrito Amor has some of the best burritos in Mexico!
• Raw Love is a vegan cafe with a hippie vibe that’s popular for raw chocolate and vegan delicacies.  
• Mexican Dining Experience is a unique restaurant where you eat at a communal table for a 7-course dinner and free-flowing alcohol while the hosts explain the food to you.
• Origami Tulum – Go here for the best gelato!
• Hartwood is one of the best restaurants in Tulum, where you’ll enjoy fire cooked meals made with local ingredients.

11: Check Out The Nightlife!

The nightlife in Tulum is happening, and beach bars are full almost every evening with weekends getting quite crowded. Here are some of the best bars in Tulum. 

• Gitano – Grab drinks at this open air jungle bar while snacking on appetizers!
• Papaya Playa Project – Popular for the full moon and weekend parties. 
• Todos Santos – Good vibes and spectacular cocktails!
• Batey – Popular for the blue-colored beetle parked outside, this bar is famous for its local cocktails using fruits like the prickly pear! 
• Mateos – This place is great for drinks, or lunch. They often have live music at sunset on their rooftop terrace!

And don’t forget to drink some Mexican Mezcal at any of the local bars. It’s an agave liquor that you’ll find in many Mexican cocktails. 

12: Visit A Mexican Adventure Park

Throughout the Riviera Maya you’ll find a series of outdoor adventure theme parks that were built to take advantage of the natural landscape in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Some of the most popular ones are Xcaret, Xel Ha, Xplor and Rio Secreto. They’re like organized adventures that will take you zip-lining through the trees, swimming in caves, driving ATVs, or snorkeling with colorful fish.

A great way for families to spend a day in Mexico, but adults will have a good time at these theme parks too. I think my favorite was Rio Secreto, because it feels a little more authentic and less touristy.

13: Water Sports Activities

The crystal clear waters of Tulum are perfect for water sports. Paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, wind surfing, and boating are popular. So are river tubing, and snorkeling and diving in the cenotes. But the most touristy thing to do is kite boarding or kite surfing, as there can be a lot of wind on the coast. 

On land, there are also jungle tours, zip lining and rappelling adventures in nearby ranches. 

14: Find Tulum’s Famous Instagram Spots

Tulum has attracted the interest of many famous artists & designers, so there’s lots of cool art & sculpture in the Tulum Hotel Zone. The Azulik Museum feels like you’re walking around in an acid trip.

Ahau Tulum has a giant wooden sculpture that invites you into its bosom. The Macondo restaurant in Nomade looks like a Moroccan Dream. 

And then there are the murals by local artists that can be found all around Tulum Town. It’s an Instagram addict’s dream come true!

Some of my favorite Instagram spots in Tulum include:

• Ven a La luz sculpture (Ahau Resort)
• The Colorful Tulum Sign
• Crooked Palm Tree (Playa Paraiso Beach Club)
• Beach Swings (Coco Tulum)
• Matcha Mama
• Follow That Dream Sign (Lolita Lolita Tulum)
• Sfer Ik (Azulik Resort)

15: Join A Temazcal Ceremony

One very unique thing to do in Tulum while getting a taste of Mayan culture is take part in a Temazcal ceremony. This traditional Mayan ceremony of purification takes place in a tiny hut made of stone or wood. You strip down to your underwear (or swimsuit), and enter the sweat lodge which is heated with hot rocks & water, turning it into a steamy sauna.

The ceremony is led by a local shaman, who conducts the ritual and takes care of participants. The temazcal ceremony takes place in complete darkness, as the shaman pours water over the hot rocks, chanting and using different herbs to summon spirits.

Temazcal was performed since ancient times, and seen as a purification ceremony that cleans the body, mind, and soul. As your body is sweating in the tiny hut, you enter a deep state of meditation, enhanced by the shamanic chanting.

16: Laguna De Kaan Luum

Looking like the blue hole in Belize, the Laguna Kaam Luum is one of the best kept Tulum secrets. The waters of the lagoon supposedly have magical properties and you’re allowed to take a swim for 300 MXN ($15 USD). For an extra 150 pesos you can also fly a drone here.

Kaan Luum is also perfect for scuba diving or freediving with the deeper area cordoned off to prevent entry to swimmers. There are water hammocks, swings, and small tower that you can climb for a great view of the whole lagoon.

17: Drive To Chichen Itza

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also the most visted Mayan ruins in Mexico.

The massive city complex built by the Mayans thrived from 525 AD to 1200 AD. Entrance costs about 80 + 417 pesos.

One of the most popular places to visit while staying in Tulum, Yucatan, it’s a two hour drive from Tulum Town in a rental car, but there are also many organized tours that will take you there. 

Chichen Itza Tour

Skip the line at Mexico’s most famous archaeological site, visit a colonial town, and swim in a cenote.

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18: Rent A Bicycle

Hire a bike and peddle through Tulum on your own two feet. A bike is also useful to visit most beaches and restaurants that are a 15-30 minute bike ride from Tulum Centro (Downtown). Bike rentals cost about $5-$10 USD per day.

You can also choose to book a bike tour of Tulum to experience local culture, stop by some ruins, and hop into a cenote that may be off the beaten path a bit.

Classic Tulum Bike Tour

Visit the Tulum’s ruins via bicycle, cruise around town, try some fresh tacos, and hop into a refreshing cenote.

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19: Visit Pablo Escobar’s Beach House

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord who founded the Medellin Cartel and was shot dead in 1993. His mansion in the Tulum jungle was bought by art collector Lio Malca in 2012 and turned into an art hotel called Casa Malca.

Stop by to see contemporary pieces of art from Leo Malca’s collection as well as vintage furniture. But remember, if you’re not actually a hotel guest and would like to visit — you’re required to spend at least 1000 pesos (about $50 USD) on drinks, food, etc. 

20: Check Out The Muyil Ruins

Located inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, the Muyil Ruins displaying Peten architecture date as far back as 350 BC. Set along an old trade route to Coba, the ruins also known as Chunyaxché are very close to the Sian Ka’an Lagoon.

Apart from the main ruins such as the 17-meter tall Castillo, you can also climb to an observation deck to see the surrounding countryside. 

21: Head To Bacalar

Bacalar is a massive beautiful blue lagoon located about 3 hours South of Tulum. Also known as Laguna de Siete Colores, it’s a wonderful spot go sailing, kayaking, or check out a unique cenote. There’s even a shipwreck you can visit!

A trip to Bacalar is best done as an overnight adventure, and you can return to Tulum the next evening. You can drive yourself in a rental car, or take an ADO bus.

Best Time To Visit Tulum

January – April

Excellent weather, with lots of sun and mild temperatures in the 80’s F. However this is also the high season, so there are many more tourists. Lots of Canadians and Americans come down for the winter.

May – October

These are the hottest and rainiest months of the year. The heat and humidity can be too much for some people. September and October is also hurricane season for the area. Far fewer tourists though.

November – December

This is my favorite time to visit Tulum, because the weather isn’t super hot, hurricane season is over, but the high season for tourists hasn’t started yet.

Where Is Tulum (Getting There)

Tulum is located 131 km South of Cancun, about a 2-hour drive away. Most people get to Tulum after flying into Cancun International Airport. Search for the cheapest flights to Cancun on Skyscanner.com.

From the airport, you can book a private shuttle to Tulum or take the public ADO bus (much cheaper). Buses leave every 30-minutes and cost about 300 pesos ($15 USD).

NOTE: Traffic is terrible along Tulum’s beach road. A crowded mix of taxis, supply trucks, and tourists on bicycles makes it a mess. Be VERY careful on the road here, and don’t expect to get anywhere fast in a car during the high-season.

Rental Car

The best site to book your car is with Discover Cars. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car and drive down to Tulum, Mexico.

Renting a car offers the best flexibility to explore more remote and less touristy spots on the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s my favorite way to get around Tulum!

Tulum Taxis

There are no Ubers in Mexico, but there are taxis. Taking a taxi is what most tourists do, but beware that the Yucatan has a “taxi mafia” that charges high prices whenever they think they can get away with it. Always settle on the price before getting in.

Bike 

Cycling is a popular way to get around locally. For about $10 USD ($200 MEX) you can rent a bike for the entire day. Your hotel might have free bikes to rent too. If not, you can rent them from Ola Bike Tulum or IBike Tulum. 

Shuttles 

There are a bunch of airport shuttle services offering rides from Cancun airport to Tulum, and they’ll be sure to harass you at the airport exit. The most popular one is probably Cancun Airport Transportation. 

ADO Buses

Buses in the Yucatan Peninsula are run by the ADO bus company. You can use these buses to get from Tulum Town or Tulum Centro to the Tulum Ruins or Tulum Zona Arqueológica, or literally anywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula. You can buy tickets in advance if you want to, but most times you’ll be fine buying a ticket just before entering the bus. 

Other local buses include the Mayab that goes to the Coba ruins where ADO doesn’t reach.

Colectivos 

Colectivos are local minivans that transport a group of people to and fro. This is the cheapest way to get around Tulum and the Yucatan Peninsula. These are what the locals use to get around the city, but routes can be confusing if you don’t speak Spanish.

Rent A Car In Mexico

Search both local and international car rental companies to help you find a good deal.

Check Latest Prices

Where To Stay In Tulum

Accommodation in Tulum can range from backpacker friendly to luxurious. The best areas to stay are Col Huracanes for the pubs and nightlife, Tulum Playa for the beaches, or Tulum Pueblo for something budget friendly.

Tulum Travel Tips & Advice

• Tulum has a persistent on-and-off seaweed problem, and it can cover the beautiful white sand beaches. Resorts try to clean it up, but aren’t always successful.
• Tulum is not like other parts of Mexico, it can be super expensive. It has also become a popular vacation spot for celebrities.
• January to March is usually very crowded and June to October is rainy. To avoid the crowds, it’s best visit in November or December. 
• Don’t expect amazing internet access in Tulum since WiFi is really slow in most places.
• There are only a few free public beaches in Tulum. The best beaches will require you to pay for entrance at a beach club.

FAQ: Top Tulum Questions

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

New York City, New York

New York is an amazing city to visit as a tourist. I’ve been a handful of times now, and always look forward to it. There’s so much to do! But it’s also expensive.

Today, my friend & travel author Matt Kepnes shares tips for things to do in New York City on a budget after living there for many years. Tips are his, photos are mine. Here’s Matt:

New York is one of my favorite cities. In fact, I love it so much I lived there for close to five years. I can never get enough of it!

To me, NYC is the center of the world, with people, foods, and cultures from everywhere. It has a wild nightlife scene, and there’s a never-ending list of things to see, do, and experience.

You can never be bored in NYC. 

But, as awesome as it is, it can easily break the most hardened of budgets without proper planning.

Tourists often decry New York’s cost, but this is also place of starving artists and underpaid interns. To be a local is to know where the deals are. 

Despite what most people think, it’s actually possible to have a fun, budget-friendly trip to the Big Apple without breaking the bank — if you know where to look.

So, if you want to take it in without spending a fortune, here are the best things to do in New York on a budget:

1: Take A Free Walking Tour

The first thing I do in a new destination is take a walking tour. They’re the best way to orient yourself, see the main sights, and interact with an expert local guide who can answer all your questions. 

If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend Free Tours by Foot. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!

For paid tours, go with Take Walks, which has specific ones that focus on art, food, and history; they are pretty affordable too (starting at $60 USD).

2: Wander Central Park

The heart of New York City, Central Park spans over 150 square blocks (840 acres). You can easily spend all day relaxing and wandering around. During the summer, there are often free concerts and theater productions (arrive early for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park).

From the late spring to the early fall, there also are free guided walks organized by the parks service on Saturdays. Central Park is the best place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Bring a book, pack a lunch, and come lounge the day away. 

3: Walk The High Line

This is one of my favorite things to do in New York. Made from a converted elevated train track, the High Line is an urban walking park on the west side of town. The path stretches over twenty blocks (1.45 miles) and is extremely popular in the summer.

Lined with overlooks, gardens, public art, and food stalls, this linear park is one of the best things to do on a nice day. Just avoid the weekends, when it gets extra busy!

4: See The Statue Of Liberty

Visiting the Statue of Liberty up close will cost over $20 USD and involve waiting in a long line. If that doesn’t sound appealing, simply hop on the free Staten Island Ferry. It crosses the harbor and provides a decent view of both the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. The ride takes about 25 minutes.

5: Visit Trinity Church

Built in 1698, Trinity was originally a small parish chapel constructed by the Church of England. When the British seized New York after George Washington’s retreat during the Revolutionary War, it was used as a British base of operations. In 1776, a massive fire swept through New York and consumed the original church (as well as 25% of the entire city). The new building was consecrated in 1790 and was regularly attended by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. 

The graveyard has many a famous American buried in it, such as Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth, Francis Lewis (a signatory of the Declaration of Independence), John Alsop (a Continental Congress delegate), Horatio Gates (a Continental Army general), and Lord Stirling (also a Continental Army general).

6: See The 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial was built to commemorate the nearly 3,000 people who died in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. There are two massive reflecting pools where the Twin Towers once stood, along with the names of all the victims.

There is a museum as well, with all kinds of multimedia exhibits about the attacks, including survivor stories and artifacts. While the memorial is free, admission to the museum is $26 USD. 

7: Attend A Broadway Show For Cheap

You can’t go to Manhattan and not see a Broadway show, of which there is a wide variety, from modern musicals to Shakespeare to quirky, offbeat plays. There’s nothing better than live theater, as it’s such an integral part of life in New York.

If you’re on a budget, don’t settle for full-priced tickets. Instead, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square to get half-price tickets. You’ll need to wait in line, but you’ll save a ton!

8: Wander Times Square

As touristy as it is, no visit to NYC is complete without a stop at Times Square. No matter when you go, it will be packed with people (usually other tourists). If you aren’t shopping or eating or seeing a show, there isn’t much to do in the area (and no locals hang out there), but it’s still a neat place to people-watch and get a feel for just how vast and bustling the Big Apple is. 

9: Visit The Museum Of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art is home to some beautiful (and weird) modern art. Personally, I dislike that style (call me old-fashioned, but I just don’t get it), but the MoMA also has Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” as well as other impressionist and post-impressionist art. So, even if you’re not a modern-art fan, it’s still worth a visit.

And if you do love contemporary and modern art, this is (apparently) one of the best places in the world to experience it. To keep your budget afloat, on Fridays after 4pm, the museum is free!

More Free Museums In NYC

New York City is full of some of the best museums in the world. In addition to MoMA, many offer pay-what-you-wish entry on certain days of the week.

• Whitney Museum of American Art (Thursdays)
• The Guggenheim (Saturday Afternoons)
• Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design (Saturday Nights)

10: Relax In Battery Park

Battery Park is where the Dutch built Fort Amsterdam in 1625 to defend their settlement. Located on the southern tip of Manhattan, the fort’s cannon battery (hence the name) wasn’t used until 1776, when American forces seized it after declaring independence.

The fort was destroyed during the Revolutionary War; however, the battery was expanded afterward. Today, there are over 20 monuments and plaques in the park, covering everything from the War of 1812 to the War of Independence to immigration and much more.

11: Visit The Bronx Zoo

Admission to the Bronx Zoo is free on Wednesdays at one of the oldest and biggest zoos in the United States. Opened in 1899 and now welcoming over 2 million visitors each year, it encompasses almost 300 acres and is home to over 650 different species, including gorillas, birds of prey, tigers, elephants, anacondas, bison, and much more! It’s a great place to visit, especially with kids.

12: Attend A TV Show Taping

If you’re planning your trip in advance, try getting tickets to a TV taping. Shows like Saturday Night Live, The View, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon all offer free tickets.

But they need to be reserved in advance, as there is a limited number, so be sure to submit requests for multiple shows to increase your chances of securing one or more. See each show’s website for details and to make reservations.

13: See Federal Hall

Federal Hall is one of the most overlooked museums in town. Originally built in 1700, it is where George Washington took his oath of office (you can see the Bible he was sworn in on). It was also the site of the US Customs House in the late 1700s and was the first capitol building of the United States.

The original building was demolished in 1812; the current one dates to 1842. I especially love the old vaults. Best of all, admission is free!

14: Walk The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world’s most iconic sights. It offers an easy 25-minute stroll into (or out of) Brooklyn, though expect to spend closer to 40 minutes if you stop to snap photos. You’ll get a wonderful panorama of Manhattan as you make your way across — especially if you go at night when the skyline is all lit up. (There are fewer crowds then too.)

15: Explore Grand Central Terminal

Aside from being a transit hub, Grand Central is also a landmark and an attraction unto itself. The main concourse is 88,000 square feet, which on sunny days is bathed in sunlight from its giant arching windows.

The terminal’s 12-story-high ceiling is painted with stars and gilded zodiac constellations. This station also has incredible food and drink options, including its famous oyster bar and The Campbell Bar (a cocktail bar). 

Extra Money-Saving Tips For NYC

To help you save a few extra bucks during your visit to New York City, here are some money-saving tips to keep your budget under control:

• Get a MetroCard -You’ll be taking the subway a lot in New York, and fares can add up. Get an unlimited MetroCard and save yourself a bundle. A week’s pass pays for itself after 11 trips, which you can easily make, even if you are only visiting for a few days.
• Hit happy hours -NYC is awash in $1-2 oyster happy hours, $4 drink specials, bottomless brunches, and much, much more. Some of my favorite spots include: The Mermaid Inn, Jeffery’s Grocery, Carroll Place, Ofrenda, and The Frying Pan.
• Eat cheap – Between the food carts, dollar-a-slice pizza shops (literally $1 for a cheese slice), kebab joints, and ethnic eateries, you can eat really affordably in New York. Some of my favorites are The Dead Rabbit (cheap oyster happy hours), Percy’s Pizza ($1 slices), Noodle Q (Chinese food in big portions), and Gray’s Papaya (cheap hotdogs).
• Get a discount pass -If you’re planning on seeing a lot of the main attractions, get a discount pass. The CityPASS, the Explorer Pass, and the New York Pass all offer discounts to the main sights, such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock (the observatory at Rockefeller Center), the 9/11 Museum, the Met, and more. Passes start around $100 USD, so you’ll need to make sure you’re going to see a lot to get your money’s worth. 
• Embrace the sharing economy -NYC has a huge Couchsurfing community. As long as you send your request well in advance, you shouldn’t have a problem finding someone to host you for a couple of days. This will drastically cut down on your accommodation costs. If staying with a stranger isn’t your cup of tea, there are also plenty of fun, cheap hostels too.

While it’s an expensive destination, there are tons of free and cheap things to do in New York that won’t blow your budget.

Follow the list of above, fill your days (and nights) with fun, and leave with memories…and not an empty wallet. ★

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Key west, Florida

The highlight of the Florida Keys Islands, Key West is situated at the very end of Florida’s Overseas Highway. Here’s what to do in Key West to have an amazing trip.

Popular for its sunny days, quirky residents, wild nightlife, pastel colored homes, and beautiful coral reefs — driving the Florida Keys from Miami to Key West on the Overseas Highway is one of America’s classic road trips.

First explored by Ponce de Leon in 1521, Key West became a US territory in 1822, and has since been an island home to greats like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

The self-proclaimed Conch Republic is probably the best known island of the Florida Keys. After multiple trips to the Florida Keys, I’ve found that there are many cool things to do in Key West that most people miss…

If you’re planning to spend some time in Key West, I wanted to recommend some of my favorite fun and unusual things to do, no matter what time of year you visit.

My Key West itinerary is completely free! I’ve worked hard putting it together for you. If you find it useful, please use my affiliate links when you book hotels, rental cars or activities. I’ll get paid a small commission, at no extra cost to you! Thanks.

Best Things To Do In Key West Guide

1: Ernest Hemingway House & Cats

Built in 1851 in the French Colonial style, the home of the famous author Ernest Hemingway is located near the Key West Lighthouse at 907 Whitehead Street. It was turned into a museum after his passing and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968.

Hemingway owned a polydactyl (six-toed) cat named Snow White, given to him by a ship’s captain. These days the house is full of 6-toed cat descendants which can be seen lounging around the grounds!

Visiting the house, seeing some of Hemingway’s old stuff (like his typewriter!) along with these funny cats with six toes is one of the most popular things to do in Key West.

2: Climb The Key West Lighthouse

Built in 1848, visiting the Key West Lighthouse and climbing up the 88 steps to check out the view is one of the top things to do in the Keys. When it first opened with a female lighthouse keeper in the 19^th century, it was quite a rarity.

While it hasn’t been used as a functioning lighthouse since 1969, the museum stands testament to the maritime heritage of the island. And you can visit the Keeper quarters which are now home to a museum.

Rent A Car In Florida

Search both local and national car rental companies to help you find a good deal.

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3: Take A Sunset Sailing Cruise

One of the most popular activities to do in Key West is book a sunset sailing cruise, and have a few drinks while sailing around the harbor and watching one of Key West’s legendary colorful sunsets.

You can join a large catamaran style party boat, or charter a private experience on a smaller sailing yacht. Either way, it’s a worthwhile experience. Some of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen, like in my photo above, were here in Key West!

Sunset Sailing Cruise

Watch the sunset over Key West from the deck of an elegant sailing yacht. Drinks included!

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4: Ride The Conch Tour Train

This world famous train starts at Front Street Depot and the train engineers try to delight guests with popular legends and stories on a 75-minute journey through Old Town Key West.

Running since 1958, the Conch Train Tour is one of the most popular things to do in Florida Keys. It’s a bit cheesy, but you learn a lot about the history of the area, and get a feel for the island and how to get around.

5: Eat Like A Local

Florida is the home some delicious food like fresh oranges, Key Lime Pie, Conch Fritters, Stone Crabs, Dole Whips, and fried Gator Bites. Which is why you can’t skip eating any of these popular foods while in Key West. 

Some great restaurants in Key West you’ll definitely want to check out include:

• Sloppy Joe’s
• The Green Parrot
• Louie’s Backyard
• Blue Heaven
• Schooner Wharf
• Cuban Coffee Queen
• Bo’s Fish Wagon
• Better Than Sex Desserts

And make sure you don’t miss the Key Lime Pie Company. Or just take one of the local Key West Food Tours that give you a taste of seafood and Cuban food at the old ‘mom and pop’ type eateries. 

Key West Food tour

Explore the intoxicating flavors of Key West’s food. Sample the island’s best while guided by a local foodie.

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6: Check Out Fort Zachs Beach

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, locally called Fort Zachs or Fort Taylor is a historic landmark from the Civil War era named after US President Zachary Taylor.  

Built between 1845 and 1866, the fort is home to excavated armaments and other Civil War exhibits. It’s also home to a beach that’s perfect for snorkeling and a large park covering 54 acres.

Other popular beaches in Key West include:

• Smathers Beach is the largest Key West beach at half a mile long, it’s also the most crowded, but perfect for water sports and biking.
• Higgs Beach is where you’ll find the African Refugee Cemetery. 294 refugees were buried here after being rescued from slave ships in the 1860’s.
• Rest Beach (or CB Harvey Memorial Rest Beach) is a 300-yard strip of beach backed by some sand dunes and vegetation. Parking is free, and there’s shade!

7: Bar Hopping Duval Street 

If you ready to party and experience Key West’s famous nightlife, Duval Street in Downtown is where to go. This popular street in Key West Downtown is filled with local shops, restaurants, bars and live-music clubs.

One of the most popular tourist activities in Key West is spending time bar hopping on Duval Street. The nightlife here is legendary, with amazing live music and some weird & funky bars.

• Sloppy Joe’s Bar was a favorite hangout for Ernest Hemingway. First called the Blind Pig, then the Silver Slipper, it opened on December 5th, 1933 — the same day prohibition ended in the United States.
• The Green Parrot
• Schooner Wharf
• Bull & Whistle Bar (Garden of Eden)
• Bourbon St. Bar
• Hog’s Breath Saloon
• Captain Tony’s Saloon

Key West Pub Crawl

Party on famous Duval Street in Key West. Visit 5 pubs with a cocktail scheduled at each stop, a great way to make new friends!

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8: Mile Marker Zero

You can’t visit Key West without stopping to get your photo (along with thousands of other people) with the Mile Marker 0, which marks the end of the 2,369 mile long US 1 Highway.

Stretching from upper Maine to Key West, US 1, known locally as the Overseas Highway, connects most major cities in the eastern U.S. The highway officially starts here, in Key West!

9: Harry S Truman Little White House

Built in 1890 and located in the Truman Annex section of Old Town, the house has been home to President William Taft, and later a vacation home to President Truman. Even Thomas Edison stayed here while contributing to the WWI efforts. 

The house has also hosted the likes of General Eisenhower, President Kennedy, President Carter, Colin Powell, President Clinton, and more. Nicknamed as Florida’s only Presidential Museum, you’ll be able to see many historic records and photos. 

10: Dry Tortugas National Park

About 109 km west of Key West, seven islands form Dry Tortugas National Park. It’s home to beautiful coral reefs, abundant sea life, tropical birds, and some submarine banks. It was named Tortugas by Ponce the Leon in the 16^th century because of the number of turtles or ‘tortugas’ found on the islands. 

The highlight of the park is the unfinished Fort Jefferson, that covers 16 acres on Garden Key and is made of over 16 million bricks. The park is a great place to go picnicking, swimming, diving, snorkeling, boating, bird watching, or walking.

To get here, most people take the Yankee Freedom III high speed ferry from Key West. But if you’re looking for an even more unique adventure, arriving by seaplane is also an option!

Dry Tortugas Day Trip

Take a boat over to Dry Tortugas National Park, and spend the day swimming, snorkeling, or sunbathing in the crystal clear waters.

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11: Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum features exhibits on piracy and the slave trade, along with a collection of artifacts from 17^th century shipwrecks of the Spanish slave ship Henrietta Marie and the treasure ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha.

Artifacts from other ships such as the Guerrero & Nimble, Santa Margarita, and Santa Clara are also present. The onsite conservation lab also offers tours showing how items recovered from wrecks and other artifacts are preserved. It’s pretty cool!

12: Sunset Parties At Mallory Square

Mallory Square is another popular hangout in Key West. It’s perfect for shopping for crafts and souvenirs, or relishing food at the local eateries. 

Every evening there is a sunset celebration where crowds gather to watch some of the best sunsets ever over the Gulf of Mexico.

Try to get to the square about two hours before sunset to watch live performances from musicians, clowns, magicians, jugglers and other artists from across the globe. 

13: Visit The Southernmost Point Buoy 

The line to get photos at this red, yellow and black colored buoy are pretty long. Why? This concrete “buoy” is the Southernmost point in the continental USA, and everyone wants evidence that they’ve been here. Go really early to skip the lines. 

The signage on the buoy reads “The Conch Republic, 90 Miles to Cuba, Southernmost Point Continental U.S.A., Key West, F.L., Home of the Sunset”.

Key West Walking Tour

See Key West through the eyes of a local as you visit some of the island’s most popular sites and learn about its rich history.

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14: First Legal Rum Distillery

Originally started as Jack’s Saloon in the year 1900, the people at Key West First Legal Rum Distillery consider themselves chefs first and distillers second. Apart from “Chef Distilled” rums, they also sell mouth-watering rum cakes. Take a tour here to taste their Cuban Coffee Rum, Vanilla Brûlée Dark Rum, and the famous Key West First Legal Rum. 

Other rum distilleries you can visit include the Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery to taste Papa’s Pilar, the rum that Hemingway drank; and the Key West Trading Co for their famed Temple Pent’s Revenge Blacklisted Rum. 

15: Attend Key West Fantasy Fest

Fantasy Fest is a weird and wild annual costume festival held in Key West that attracts thousands of people every year. I attended a few years ago, and it was one of my favorite festivals ever!

It’s basically a 10-day costume party that’s like a combination of Burning Man, Mardi Gras, and Halloween on a tropical island. Body painting and elaborate costumes are on show, along with a lot of skin… its definitely an adult celebration.

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16: Visit The Key West Aquarium 

The Key West Aquarium is home to many species of fish, alligators, sting rays, jelly fish, turtles, and sharks. If you’re traveling with kids, the Touch Tank has sessions where the kids can pet conchs, sea stars, slate pencil sea urchins, sea cucumbers, giant hermit crabs and horseshoe crabs.

Aquarium Tickets

Get a hands-on experience like never before as you see, feel and touch amazing animals at the Key West Aquarium.

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17: Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

The only “frost-free” tropical garden in the US, the Key West Tropical Forest & Garden also serves as a wildlife refuge and arboretum. Called the “keeper of the trees”, it opened in 1936 and covers 63 hectares on Stock Island.

You can stroll through 2 butterfly habitats and 2 wetland habitats, and see exotic trees and tropical as well as subtropical plants, neo-tropical birds, and other rare finds. 

18: Explore The Historic Seaport 

A sailor’s delight, the Key West Historic Seaport is home to hundreds of yachts and boats. The marina is full of shopping stores and restaurants such as the Schooner Wharf where you can enjoy a meal.

There are also rental stores where you can rent boats for whale watching, cruising, sailing, or hire equipment for fishing, parasailing, jet skis. It’s a lively place, and well worth spending some time wandering around.

19: Go Snorkeling Or Scuba Diving!

Right beside Key West you’ll find the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, making it wonderful destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. Scuba diving is a big deal around here, and many divers come down specifically to dive the famous Shipwreck Trail.

The Shipwreck Trail includes 9 historic shipwrecks scattered along the coral reefs and buried in the sand a few miles off shore. The best snorkeling in Key West can’t be done from the beach, you’ll need to book a boat to take you out to the local offshore reefs.

Snorkeling Around Key West

Go snorkeling from a sailboat at some of Key West’s best spots, and maybe see some wild dolphins!

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20: Fort East Martello Museum & Gardens

The Fort East Martello Museum opened in 1862 and displays exhibits of military effects, Cuban and early settlement artifacts, sponging  and fishing exhibits, junk art by Stanley Papio, and local folk art. 

The museum is also home to the haunted Robert the Doll which used to belong to eccentric artist Robert Eugene Otto. The doll is said to have moved voodoo figurines around a room, caused car accidents, broken bones, and other misfortunes. 

If you’re truly up for a challenge, go on one of the Haunted Museum and Civil War fort ghost tours.

21: The Oldest House In Florida

Called the Oldest House in South Florida, it was built in 1829 by Captain Francis Watlington, a famous wrecker. Wrecking is the practice of taking valuables from shipwrecks, which there were many of around Key West.

These days the home is a museum that showcases life in the 19th century through portraits and furnishings as well as colonial architecture found in the Caribbean. At one time, Key West was the richest city in the United States!

22: Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden

Key West local Nancy Forrester has been rescuing and caring for orphaned parrots for 35 years in her backyard garden. Visitors can interact with, feed, and pet the bright and colorful parrots and other birds while learning more about them.

23: Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is home to about 60 species of butterflies and 20 species of exotic birds. Walk through a magical and inviting environment filled with hundreds of the most beautiful winged creatures in nature (including pink flamingos!)

Their “Wings of Imagination” art exhibit offers original works by artist Sam Trophia. Acrylic shadow boxes depict the butterfly’s beauty preserved and suspended in art form in a spectrum of colors, shapes and sizes.

24: Ghost Hunting In Key West!

Key West is filled with ghost stories. From lost lovers to ghastly murders, the island has a long history of haunted tales. The most famous is probably Robert The Doll. A gift from a Bahamian servant skilled in voodoo, this doll is said to have turned over furniture, screams, and talks.

Captain Tony’s Saloon has a long history of death. The former site of a morgue, the building has seen many hurricane deaths, and the tree growing in the middle of the bar has been used for 17 hangings. They say a Lady in Blue, who was hung from this tree, still haunts the Saloon to this day.

Key West Ghost Tours

Climb aboard the Trolley of the Doomed for a spooky evening tour of Key West’s dark side. Guided by an actual gravedigger!

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Transportation Around Key West

Most people get to Key West by driving down from Miami, Florida. It’s an awesome little road trip on the overseas highway through multiple islands in the Florida Keys. However there is also a ferry, as well as a small airport.

Rental Car

The best site to book your car is with Discover Cars. They search both local and national car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car and drive down to Key West from Miami.

Renting a car offers the best flexibility to explore more remote and less touristy spots in the Florida Keys. It’s my favorite way to get around!

Taxi Or Uber

You can book taxis in Key West using Uber, Lyft, or TaxiASAP.

Walking

The main attractions in Key West are very close to each other, with most of them within a 2 mile radius of Old Town. So you could get almost everywhere walking. 

Bike

If you don’t want to take a cab, but don’t want to walk either, bicycles are the perfect answer. The most popular variety are the one-speed bikes locally known as Conch Cruisers. 

Pedi-Cabs

These bicycle rickshaws are often seen in Old Town areas, but are a tad expensive at about $1.50 a minute. 

Trolley

There are trolleys that run through different areas in Key West and cost above $20 for a day-pass. 

Duval Loop

Run by the city, these pink and blue colored buses circle historic stops in the Old Town quarter and are free to hop on and off. 

Where To Stay In Key West

Key West has tons of accommodation options available for tourists, everything from budget backpacker hostels to luxury hotels. Below you’ll find suggestions for good places to stay during your trip to Key West depending on your budget.

Key West Travel Tips & Advice

• Pick up a Key West Sightseeing Flex pass for deals on water sports activities like jet skiing and paragliding.
• Download the Florida Stories App created by the Florida Humanities Council and take one of their free walking tours around the island.
• If you need one, pick up a free paper map of Key West from any of the Visit Florida tourist centers.
• Try to avoid traveling to Key West during Spring Break – usually March and April. Unless you want to deal with drunken college students creating havoc.

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Kauai, Hawaii

While the garden island of Kauai is certainly a lush green tropical paradise, it also boasts a massive red & orange canyon called Waimea — the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Waimea Canyon is not the kind of landscape most people associate with the islands of Hawaii. Stretching 14 miles long, one mile wide, and around 3,600 feet deep — it’s quite impressive.

One of the reasons Kauai is my favorite Hawaiian Island is because of the diversity of things to do there. You could easily spend a whole day just visiting the different viewpoints and hiking trails in Waimea Canyon State Park if you wanted to!

The Grand Canyon Of The Pacific

Carved by the Waimea River over millions of years, the canyon’s name means “Reddish Waters” in Hawaiian. The river water is stained red/orange by the canyon’s red, eroding volcanic walls.

While much smaller than Arizona’s famous Grand Canyon, the views are equally impressive — which led writer Mark Twain to nickname the area “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” after he saw it for the first time.

Waimea Canyon Lookout Points

Red Dirt Waterfall – To the right, Waimea Canyon opens up below. To the left is a quirky little waterfall pouring over red volcanic dirt with a few short trails.

Hohonu Awawa Lookout – The first large established platform overlooking Waimea Canyon State Park.

Waimea Canyon Lookout – This lookout probably has the best view of the canyon. They’ve built a large viewing platform here.

Pu’u Ka Pele Lookout – One of the best viewpoints of Waipo’o Waterfall.

Pu’u Hinahina Lookout – A final stop that gives you some more great views, with a slightly different perspective. Also the start of the popular Canyon Hiking Trail which I mention below.

Kalalau & Puu O Kila Lookouts – These aren’t technically part of Waimea Canyon, they are located in Kokee State Park a few miles further North. Just make sure to keep driving and check out these incredible viewpoints of the famous Na Pali Coast!

Waimea Canyon Hiking Trails

Iliau Nature Loop – A short 1/4 mile loop hike that showcases some of the area’s plant life and bird watching. Keep an eye out for the local Iliau Plant! If it’s in bloom, you’re super lucky.

Kukui Trail – This trail takes you down to the river at the very bottom of the canyon. It’s steep, and can get very treacherous when wet due to the red clay. Recommended for experienced hikers who might want to camp at one of the campgrounds at the bottom of the canyon.

Canyon Trail (Waipoo Falls) – This hike takes you to the top of Waipoo Falls, the stunning 800 foot waterfall you see as you drive along the canyon rim. Standing at the top isn’t the best place to be for a photo of this waterfall, however the hike still has great views, and only takes about an hour round-trip.

Flying Over The Canyon

Another cool way to experience the immensity of Waimea Canyon is flying through it in a helicopter! The gorge is often part of island helicopter tours, and whipping through the canyon, especially with the doors off, is pretty amazing.

Flying up close to the massive Waipoo Falls was fantastic, and our pilot flew super close to the canyon walls, which was quite a thrill too.

Getting to Waimea Canyon State Park

There are two routes for driving up to Waimea Canyon from the town of Waimea — Waimea Canyon Drive or Kokee Road (Highway 550). They eventually meet before you enter the canyon rim, so it really doesn’t matter which you choose.

Entrance into Waimea Canyon State Park is free (no permit required), however there may be a fee for parking in certain popular areas near viewpoints.

Useful Tips For Visiting Waimea Canyon

• The temperature gets much cooler on the high canyon rim. Bring a rain jacket or windbreaker. Wear shoes with traction to handle rocky, muddy terrain.
• Parking spots at lookout points can fill up fast, as it’s a popular tourist destination. Try to arrive early, before 9am if possible.
• How much time do you need to explore? I’d set aside at least half a day, but if you want to do a bunch of hikes, you could easily spend a full day here.
• After exploring Waimea Canyon’s trails, continue driving North and visit Kokee State Park. If the weather’s good, you’ll have awesome views looking down on the Na Pali coastline!

READ MORE HAWAII TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to Waimea Canyon on Kauai! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• 30 Best Things To Do On Kauai
• Experience A Helicopter Tour Over Kauai
• Planning Your Trip To The Big Island
• Island Hopping Around Hawaii

Have you ever heard of Waimea Canyon? What’s your favorite Hawaiian Island? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Campeche, Mexico

Calakmul is an ancient Maya ruined city located deep within a jungle biosphere on the Yucatan Peninsula. Here’s why it’s my favorite archeological site in Mexico!

Not many people make it down to the ruins of Calakmul compared to the other famous Mayan pyramids in Mexico like Chichen Itza or Tulum — mostly due to its very remote location near the border of Guatemala.

Calakmul is far away from any tourist cities, requiring a pretty long & dedicated trip out there to visit the site.

It’s a real hidden gem for those who wish to get off-the-beaten-path!

Located in the Mexican state of Campeche on the Yucatan Penninsula, the ruins are extensive and cover 2 square kilometers (0.77 sq mi).

Many sections have never been excavated, and because it only receives about a dozen visitors per day, it feels like a true “Indiana Jones” kind of experience.

In this travel guide, you’ll learn tips for visiting Calakmul, along with some interesting history about my favorite Mayan ruins in Mexico.

Calakmul Maya Ruins Travel Guide

The ancient city of Calakmul is thought to have been populated with about 50,000 people. It was “re-discovered” and named by a biologist named Cyruss Lundell, who flew over the area in 1931.

Calakmul means “two adjacent mounds” in the Maya language — which makes sense as I’m sure the two main pyramids just looked like two mountains in the middle of a very flat jungle!

The city was the capital of a large regional state at the time. The Calakmul kingdom included 20 secondary cities such as La Muñeca, Naachtun, Sasilha, Oxpemul and Uxul. The population of the whole kingdom is estimated to be about 1.7 million people!

The equally large city of Tikal in what’s now Guatemala regularly fought with Calakmul — until Tikal won and took over in 700 AD. Eventually the city was abandoned and consumed by the jungle over hundreds of years.

Calakmul’s ruins and the surrounding jungle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Opening Hours & Entry Fees

The ruins of Calakmul are open daily from 8am to 5pm. However remember that the drive to the ruins through the jungle takes over an hour from the nearest town.

There are a few different fees involved when visiting Calakmul. First, there is a highway toll of 40 pesos per person to use the 186 Highway which takes you to Calakmul.

After about 20 kilometers, you’ll reach another booth where you’ll pay the National Park Fee, which is 65 pesos per person. Finally, at the ruins themselves, the entrance ticket costs 55 pesos per person.

So the total fee to visit the Calakmul Ruins is about $160 MXN ($10 USD).

Calakmul Ruins Highlights

Pyramid Structure 1

Among the many interesting structures found there are two gigantic pyramids — called Structure 1 & Structure 2. Structure 1 is the second highest pyramid at Calakmul, reaching a height of 130 feet/40 meters.

One thing that makes Calakmul stand out from other sites is that you can actually climb these pyramids!

The steps of the pyramids are steep, and not very wide — maybe just the length of your foot. Some are narrower than that! You need to be careful climbing, and preferably not afraid of heights. Falling would be a disaster…

Pyramid Structure 2

The most impressive building in Calakmul is called Structure 2. This pyramid was built up a number of times over centuries to reach a final height of around 150 feet/50 meters.

It is the highest and largest structure in the Maya world. Nine royal tombs have been found inside the pyramid, some containing rich artifacts like jade masks.

The Mayan Ball Court

Calakmul has its own Maya Ball Court, where athletes put a rubber ball (representing the sun) into a small stone circle perched very high on a wall, without using their hands OR feet.

Some carvings suggest that the winning team’s captain was decapitated, which was a sign of honor. The ball game is over 3,500 years old, making it the first organized game in the history of sports.

Games were played to resolve arguments between rival cities or as an alternative to all-out war.

Chiik Nahb Acropolis

The Chiik Nahb Acropolis, or “Place of the Water Lilly” is an area to the North of the site. Climbing this Acropolis gives you an excellent view of Structure 2 for photos.

This complex is famous for incredible painted murals recently discovered inside.

Ancient Stone Stelae

Many great stelae can be found at this site too — large slabs of limestone that have been intricately carved with pictures and glyphs.

Unbelievably some of them still have their original color pigments showing! It’s crazy that the color has lasted so long…

The Biosphere Reserve

The ruins of Calakmul are located inside the massive Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, encompassing 2,792 square miles of protected jungle.

You’ll find all sorts of wildlife living within the reserve, including Ocellated Turkeys, Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Baird’s Tapir, Tucans, and if you’re SUPER LUCKY — the very elusive Jaguar!

The best time to see wildlife on the drive up to the ruins is early in the morning, or right before sunset in the late afternoon.

Getting To Calakmul

Calakmul is much more difficult to reach than other Mayan ruins in Mexico. I’ve visited 3-times now, once through a combination of bus, taxi, and bicycle. Plus twice more with a rental car (it’s much easier!)

Rental Car

The best site to book your car is Discover Cars. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car in Mexico.

CANCUN – Calakmul is 464 km (6 hours) from Cancun by car.
TULUM – The ruins are 334 km (4 hours) from Tulum by car.
CAMPECHE – Calakmul is 300 km (4 hours) from Campeche by car.

By Bus/Taxi

The closest town to Calakmul is a small city called Xpujil. There are buses that run from Campeche and Tulum to Xpujil via the Mexican ADO Bus Service.

Once in Xpujil, you can then hire an expensive taxi (the trip still takes an hour or so) to take you to the Calakmul ruins — they will wait while you explore for a few hours.

Rent A Car In Mexico

Search both local and international car rental companies to help you find a good deal.

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Where To Stay Near Calakmul

Because Calakmul is basically in the middle of nowhere, you’re going to need to spend a night or two nearby. The closest towns are Xpujil and Chicana. Here are some suggestions for good places to stay during your trip to Calakmul…

Camping In The Calakmul Biosphere

If you’re up for an adventure, I highly recommend camping within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. There are a few campgrounds located inside, and you can even rent a tent if you don’t have your own. The place I’ve stayed during all my trips is called Campamento Yaax Che.

Just be aware that camping overnight in the jungle is a very LOUD experience! Walking around in the dark with howler monkeys screaming at you from the tree tops is something you’ll never forget…

More Tips For Visiting Calakmul

• The ancient ruins of Calakmul are HUGE. Plan to spend at least 4 hours exploring the site, if not more.
• If driving from Xpujil, first you’ll have to enter the Biosphere Reserve. From here you still have a winding hour-long drive to the ruins.
• Yes, you can climb the ruins! Just like the ones at Coba. This is rare in Mexico these days, but I think it’s because this site gets so few tourists.
• You can hire a tour guide at the entrance for about $600 MXN pesos who will explain the history and culture of the site.
• If you go on a weekday around 8am when they first open, you may be the only ones there!

READ MORE MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to exploring the remote Calakmul Mayan Ruins! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• Ready to party in Mexico? Here are my top things to do Cancun.
• Road tripping the Riviera Maya? Read my favorite things to do in the Yucatan.
• Save money on your vacation with my ultimate guide to budget travel in Mexico.
• Stay safe out there with these important travel safety tips everyone should know.
• Upgrade your camera with my useful guide to the best travel cameras for any budget.

Have any questions about Calakmul? What are your favorite Mayan ruins? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Asheville, North Carolina

America’s largest private home is located in Asheville, North Carolina. Welcome to George Vanderbilt’s incredible Biltmore Estate! Here are some tips for visiting.

When you think of Asheville — good craft beer, bohemian vibes, and rolling green mountains generally come to mind. It’s one of my favorite small cities in the United States.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Asheville, visiting the historic Biltmore Estate should be at the top of your list.

It’s claim to fame is America’s largest privately owned mansion.

George Vanderbilt, an heir to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune, decided to build his dream home in the Blue Ridge mountains of Asheville, and his Biltmore Estate has everything you would expect from a Gilded Age mansion.

Sitting on 8,000 acres, this massive complex includes the 250-room Biltmore House, 75-acres of manicured gardens, the country’s most visited winery, hiking trails, restaurants, and 5-star accommodations too.

The Biltmore is a popular tourist attraction in Asheville, and it’s easy to see why it stays busy all year long. Here are my best tips for visiting!

How To Visit The Biltmore Estate

How To Buy Biltmore Estate Tickets

You need to buy tickets in order to visit the Biltmore Estate. Daytime admission starts at $86 USD per adult when purchased online. Weekend tickets are a bit more expensive. In the Fall (October-November), prices are a little less, starting at $76 USD. Youth ages 10-16 receive discounted admission. Kids 9 years old and under are free.

Visiting the Biltmore is a self-guided affair, however they do offer an audio guide option.

There is also a custom two-hour tour of the home led by an expert tour guide for $319 USD.

What’s Included With Your Biltmore Ticket

• Entrance to the Biltmore House
• Biltmore Gardens Railway
• The latest Art Exhibition
• Biltmore Winery (wine tastings)

Opening Hours

Biltmore House: 10am – 4pm

Biltmore Garden & Grounds: 9am to Dusk

Biltmore Winery: Monday – Thursday: 11am – 6pm, Friday – Sunday: 11am – 8pm

How Long Does It Take?

While a self-guided tour of the main house typically takes 1-2 hours, there is a lot more to see than just the house. To fully enjoy the Biltmore experience (gardens, grounds, Antler Hill Village) you should set aside 6-8 hours for a complete visit.

What To See At Biltmore Estate In Asheville

The Biltmore House

New York architect, Richard Morris Hunt, designed the home in the Châteauesque style, a revival of French Renaissance architecture known for ornaments like elaborate towers, gargoyles, spires, and steep roofs.

The home has four floors, a bachelor’s wing, and a basement. On exhibit inside is the family’s original collection of art and furniture.

Biltmore Gardens & Grounds

The Biltmore’s grand gardens are truly impressive, featuring thousands of ancient trees, rose bushes, and colorful blooms. Koi Fish swim in the lily ponds at the Italian Garden.

The four-acre Shrub Garden has hundreds of ornamental ferns. The rose garden contains over 50 varieties of roses, maintained to look as it did when the Vanderbilts first built the mansion.

Hiking Trails

The estate contains over 22 miles of hiking trails that wind along the French Broad River through woodlands and open meadows. You can explore on your own, or join one of the guided hikes. Stop by the Bike Barn or Outdoor Adventure Center for a trail map.

Antler Hill Village

Antler Hill Village has live entertainment, shopping, 7 restaurants, and more educational opportunities. Enjoy live music and dining, perfect for after a tour of the house.

The Winery At Antler Hill

George Vanderbilt’s grandson, William Cecil, founded the estate winery in the early 1970s. Located at Antler Hill Village, the historic winery offers complimentary tastings and tours (which must be booked in advance).

An indoor/outdoor wine bar serves charcuterie and locally-made truffles, perfectly paired with Biltmore reds, whites, and rosés.

The Vanderbilt Family

Cornelius Vanderbilt was among the railroad tycoons that rose from rags to riches during the Gilded Age, along with the likes of John D. Rockefeller, Henry Flagler, Andrew Carnegie.

Born in 1794, Vanderbilt joined his father’s business operating the New York ferry as a young man.

He eventually worked his way up the ranks to become the owner of the New York Central Railroad. He would later become the wealthiest person in the United States, and the second-wealthiest person ever in US history to date.

Construction Of The Biltmore House

Mr. Vanderbilt’s youngest grandson, George Washington Vanderbilt II, fell in love with the scenery and climate of Asheville, where he began building a summer home in 1889.

He created a mountain paradise surrounded by natural forests and productive farms.

Today, the Vanderbilt family still owns the estate. It first opened to the public during the Great Depression at the request of the City of Asheville as a way to attract tourism.

It eventually became a National Historic Landmark in 1963 and now welcomes 1.4 million tourists annually.

Fun Facts About Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned home in the United States at 178,926 square feet (16,622.8 m) of floor space. With 135,280 square feet of living area! How big is your home?

The basement is the largest in the country and includes a heated swimming pool with underwater lighting, bowling alley, and gymnasium as well as a kitchen with living quarters for staff.

The Biltmore was a pioneer in sustainable farming in 1895 and has long operated its farm-to-table program.

Extra Tips For Visiting The Biltmore Estate

• Over 75,000 tulips bloom in the spring, colorful annuals in the summer, and mums in the fall. The rose garden is best to visit around late May.
• You can stay overnight at one of the on-site hotels: The Inn at Biltmore Estate or the Village Hotel.
• Stop by the library on your tour of the house. George Vanderbilt amassed a collection of over 22,000 books — including over 3,000 he read himself.
• The Biltmore is Asheville’s top tourist attraction, so it can get very busy. I recommend arriving as early as possible to try and beat the crowds.
• Biltmore Estate is kid friendly. There is a playground on site, as well as guided bird walks, and even a falconry class that you can book.
• The Biltmore grounds are dog friendly. Pets are not allowed in any buildings, but are allowed on the estate grounds and trails as long as they are leashed.

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I hope you enjoyed my guide to Asheville’s Biltmore Estate! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• Top Things To Do In Asheville, NC
• Miami To Key West Road Trip
• Hitchhiking Across America
• How To Choose A Travel Backpack

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Any questions about visiting the Biltmore Estate? Do you have any other suggestions for the area? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Kauai, Hawaii

The Hawaiian island of Kauai is the perfect place for active travelers looking to escape to a tropical paradise. Here are some of the best things to do in Kauai during your visit!

Not as touristy as Oahu and much smaller than The Big Island — Kauai is actually one of the oldest islands in the Hawaiian chain.

The lush wet landscapes and unique wildlife on Kauai has earned it the nickname “The Garden Isle”.

You can explore dense jungles with rare orchids and other flowers. Trek along steep cliffs for breathtaking views. Then sip Mai-tais and snack on the best poke bowl you’ve ever had while watching monk seals sunbathing!

If you’re planning to visit Hawaii soon, I wanted to recommend a few fun and unusual things to do on Kauai, no matter what time of year you’re there.

Kauai Highlights Map

HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you’ll find a map of Kauai’s highlights. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!

Best Things To Do In Kauai Guide

1. Kayak The Wailua River

Kauai’s Wailua River weaves 20 miles through the lush Wailua River Valley. Paddle your way into the center of the island, passing by waterfalls and ruins of old Hawaiian temples, called heiau, along the way.

Many tour operators run through here, but you can also rent a kayak, SUP, or outrigger canoe from your resort or Airbnb host for a self-guided excursion, which is what I did.

If you aren’t up for a trip on the river itself, you can also get a great view overlooking a dramatic bend in the river from the Wailua River Overlook.

Kauai Kayaking Adventure

Join a kayaking adventure tour on Kauai, with professional photos and lunch included.

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2. Waimea Canyon (Hawaii’s Grand Canyon)

Drive to Kauai’s west side for some great hiking and photo opportunities through beautiful Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. This unique red and green volcanic formation is 10 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 3,500 feet deep.

High elevations mean the temperature changes noticeably from the bottom as you head to the top. So bring a rain jacket or windbreaker. Wear hiking boots with lots of traction to handle the rocky, muddy terrain.

Even if you aren’t a hiker, driving along the canyon walls and stopping at lookout spots is super fun. Keep in mind that parking at popular areas can fill up fast, so try to arrive early, before 9 AM.

➜ Read My Waimea Canyon Travel Guide Here

Kauai Hiking Trip

Hike along Waimea Canyon to the stunning Napali Coast via Kōkeʻe State Park on the cliffs above the ocean.

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3. Explore The Nāpali Coast

A must on your Kauai travel itinerary is to see the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, with one of the most recognizable coastlines in the world. Defined by spectacular green mountains that rise dramatically from the ocean.

There are a few ways to enjoy this coastline: by land, sea, or air.

The Kalalau Trail

Advanced hikers with their own gear can attempt an 11 mile hiking adventure along the famous Kalalau Trail, which involves some overnight camping. The trek can get intense and requires a special permit at least a day in advance through the Hawaiian Park’s website.

Sail The Coastline

Get an up close view of the Nāpali coast on a sailing catamaran boat. Dolphins sometimes play alongside the catamaran, and most boats offer snorkeling too. Keep an eye out for humpback whales breaching during peak whale watching season, December through April. A great way to see the coastline!

Napali Sailing Trip

Set sail along Kauai’s majestic Napali Coast on a custom sailing catamaran to witness the beauty of Kauai.

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Napali Helicopter Tour

Finally, although pricey, a Kauai helicopter tour gives you a 360 bird’s-eye view of the lush greenery and cascading waterfalls of Na Pali. For the adventurous, they even offer open-door flights! This is what we did — it was amazing.

Napali Coast By Air

Enjoy Kauai from above in a private luxury airplane. Get views of Waimea Canyon, the Napali Coast, and more.

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4. Cool Off With Hawaiian Shave Ice

No visit to Kauai is complete without a stop at the famous Kalalea Juice Hale for some classic Hawaiian Shave Ice. You can also pick up all kinds of fresh organic juices, or a tasty Acai Bowl to get recharged for the rest of your day.

Hale (pronounced HA-leh,) means house, and this bright orange building sits right under Kalalea Mountain (aka King Kong Mountain). Shave ice is a staple dessert in Hawaii, with little shacks selling the tasty treat in every town. Not to be confused with a snow-cone, which is crushed ice (rather than shaved).

Kauai Food tour

Embark on a tasting adventure through Kauai’s vibrant neighborhoods and visit local foodie hot spots.

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5. Hiking In Kokee State Park

After visiting Waimea Canyon, keep driving North and you’ll end up in Kokee State Park. This is basically the backside of the Na Pali, where you can look down on the coast from high in the mountains.

Kokee has a bunch of cool hiking trails and lookout points to explore. Some notable ones include the popular Kalalau Valley Lookout, Kalepa Ridge Trail, Puu O Kila Lookout, plus there are campsites in the park too.

Because parts of the park sit above 4000 feet, it’s much cooler than other parts of the island, and gets a lot of rain too. So make sure to bring a rain jacket!

Kauai Hiking Trip

Hike along Waimea Canyon to the stunning Napali Coast via Kōkeʻe State Park on the cliffs above the ocean.

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6. Meditate At Kauai’s Hindu Temple

Between the jagged peaks, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife, a visit to Kauai feels a bit like a spiritual experience in and of itself. Which makes the Kauai Hindu Temple a perfect addition to this tropical paradise.

The hand sculpted, white granite Iraivan temple overlooks the banks of the Wailua River before a backdrop of the Kapa Mountains. About 35-40 minutes from Kukui‘ula, people from all walks of life come to admire the peaceful scenery and impressive architecture.

The temple features a rare 700-pound quartz crystal and impressive granite sculpture of the six-faced deity, Lord Shanmuga, standing in front of a giant banyan tree. The monastery asks that guests dress modestly by wearing loose fitting attire and covering legs and arms.

7. Swim At Tunnels Beach

Probably my favorite beach on Kauai, Tunnels Beach (Makua in Hawaiian) on the North Shore is a wonderful place to go snorkeling or scuba diving. It has a very large and shallow reef full of colorful fish.

However the real highlight at Tunnels is the very dramatic jagged green mountains in the background. If you want that perfect Hawaiian postcard photo for Instagram, this is the place to get it!

The parking sucks though, and spots fill up quickly, so get there early or you’ll have to park half-a-mile away. Waves get big and rough here in the winter, so the snorkeling gets dangerous (but it’s great if you want to watch pro surfers).

8. Visit Famous Jurassic Park Falls

Movie fans will recognize Kauai from the iconic scene of Jurassic Park, when the helicopter lands at the base of a cascading waterfall. You can recreate the cinematic experience by taking a chopper tour to Manawaiopuna Falls.

Some special helicopter tours will even land here and let you walk around, but because it’s located in a very remote part of Kauai’s Hanapēpē Valley, the only way to see this dramatic waterfall is via helicopter.

9. Eat A Hawaiian Poke Bowl

Poke is my favorite Hawaiian food, and I even learned how to make fresh ahi-tuna poke with a professional chef once. So whenever I visit Hawaii, I can’t resist a chance to eat plenty of this diced raw fish Hawaiian cuisine.

I usually go for the traditional style made with sashimi grade ahi tuna, sweet onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, chopped macadamia nuts, and scallions. It’s sooooo good! You can find it at many restuarants and some dedicated food trucks on Kauai.

I suggest heading to some of the local markets, like in The Ishihara Market in Waimea, which some consider the best poke joint on the island. Try a mix of fish flavored with shoyu, citrus, and spicy mayo. You can even find quality poke at the island’s grocery stores too.

Kauai Food tour

Embark on a tasting adventure through Kauai’s vibrant neighborhoods and visit local foodie hot spots.

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10. Surfing At Hanalei Bay

Beautiful mountains overlook coconut palms and a sparking surf at Hanalei Bay. This laid back, surfer town is known for its art galleries, beaches, great food, and live music venues.

The crescent shaped beach inspired the 1960’s folk song Puff the Magic Dragon, based on the legendary sleeping dragon in the mountains that protects the bay. If you plan to hit the waves, the surf can get intense, so make sure to check advisories.

Cool off on a hot day at the Aloha Juice Bar Hanalei with a Reefer Smoothie made of blended strawberry, mango, banana, and guava. At night, head over to Tahiti Nui to dine on Tahitian cuisine, listen to nightly live music, and sip mai tais.

While in the area, also check out Hanalei Valley Lookout in Princeville to admire the green taro fields, one of the most photographed areas on the island.

11. Kīlauea Point Lighthouse

Just a 20 minute drive from Hanalei Bay sits Kilauea, a tiny historic town on the island’s northeastern shore. Escape from the crowds for snorkeling, swimming, and windsurfing at exclusive beaches like Kauapea (Secret’s Beach), Anini Beach, or Ka‘aka‘aniu (Larsen’s Beach) in Kīlauea.

The town grew up around a sugar plantation from the late 1800s and attracted migrant workers from countries from Portugal to Japan. Experience the cultural heritage at the Kong Lung Historic Market Center which hosts uniquely local art exhibitions, restaurants, and craft vendors.

You’ll also spot the 52-foot Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse. Built in 1913, the lighthouse has become a part of the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for the island’s many rare bird species.

12. Watch A Hula Dance Performance

For thousands of years, hula dance has been a part of Hawaiian culture. The dance tells the history of Hawaiian people through movement, often with slow, sentimental music or lively beats.

Rumor has it that the dance may originate from Kauai, and you can catch an authentic show during a visit. Dancers perform at many of the resorts. But for a truly authentic experience, visit Keahualaka Heiau, an area dedicated to Laka, the goddess of hula, just around the corner from the Kalalau trailhead.

Another popular spot to watch a hula performance is the Grand Hyatt Resort Kauai if you happen to be staying there.

Luau Kalamaku Experience

A traditional Luau featuring graceful Hula dancers, fire dancing, buffet of local delicacies and vivid storytelling.

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13. Sunbathe At Poipu Beach

Listed as the Travel Channel’s Top 10 Beaches In The World, Poipu Beach sits on the island’s south side. Nicknamed “the sunny side of paradise”, this is a haven for aquatic wildlife like seals, whales, dolphins, and giant sea turtles.

On an island with mostly rocky beaches, Poipu Beach welcomes sunbathers with its sandy shores. Poipu actually consists of two beaches, split in the middle by a narrow sand bar. To the left: calm, shallow waters offer a spot ideal for families with kids. Small swells to the right side invite body boarders and beginner surfers to hit the waves.

The west facing beaches give perfect views of the sunset over the water. Rent a surfboard or snorkel for the day. You might even catch one of the beach natives: a Hawaiian monk seal.

Poipu Beach Surf Lessons

Pick up some wave-riding skills, gain awareness of the ocean, and improve your surfing ability.

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13. Cliff Jumping At Shipwreck’s Beach

Not far from Poipu, make sure to stop by Shipwreck’s Beach (no, not the one in Greece) located next to The Grand Hyatt Kauai. This rocky beach earned its name after an old wooden ship sank off the coast many years ago. It’s also access the start of the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail, a hiking route that explores the coastline.

The beach itself is full of local surfers, which can be fun to watch if you don’t surf. There’s also a large 40 foot cliff nearby that’s used for cliff jumping. However it’s not a great spot for beginners, as the waves can get rough and the swim back to shore after jumping is pretty long. Be very careful!

14. Visit Queen’s Bath

On Kauai’s north shore in Princeville sits the Queen’s Bath, a rocky tide pool surrounded by black lava rock. The hereditary rulers of Hawaii, called ali’i, would come to these sacred waters to bathe.

If you plan to visit, be very careful: the turbulent tide pools and strong waves make this a dangerous place for swimming. Rouge waves have been known to knock people off the rocks too — there’s a sign listing all the drownings. Bring proper footwear and keep your guard up.

15. Sample The Food Trucks

The food truck scene is a must during a visit to Kauai to enjoy the local cuisine, at a bargain. You can try them all over the island, but the charming town of Kapaa stands out as one the best spots to feast on food trucks.

Like Nixtamal Kauai, a Kapaa favorite serving Mexican street food and seafood. Known for their tamales served with spicy habanero salsa, the chicken tamale contains shredded machaca marinated chicken with roasted green chile.

Or try the refreshing Shave Ice Tege Tege serving hand cranked shaved ice mixed with condensed milk and local mango, dragon fruit, and passion fruit.

16. Hanapepe’s Historic Art Walk

Take a break from the sunshine with an artistic evening in Hanapepe. On Friday nights, the historic town hosts an art night featuring vendors, live music, and, of course, more food!

Taste one of OnoPop’s Ulu (breadfruit) popsicles, a non-dairy vanilla flavored ice treat. For something heartier, head to Midnight Bear Breads Bakery and Cafe for your choice of homemade pizzas, breads, and pastries, like the sweet, nutty macadamia nut cinnamon swirl roll.

For another food truck, head to Porky’s Kauai, voted one of the best local restaurants. Keeping it simple, the truck serves just 3 dishes: tangy, sweet Kalua pork pineapple sausage, the beef frank and pulled pork bun, and Hawaiian style pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich.

17. Bike The Koloa Heritage Trail

Admire lava cliffs dating back 5 million years along the Kola Heritage Trail. Located in the historic town of Koloa, the pathway takes you past 14 different stops and monuments including sugar and pineapple plantations dating back to the mid 1800s.

There’s also the Spouting Horn blowhole—or puhi, as the locals call it. More stops include Pu’uwanawana Volcanic Cone, and Harpa Road, an emergency route dating back to World War II.

For some Hawaiian fusion food, stop by Kiawe Roots, a family owned restaurant serving dishes like Hawaiian jerk pork ribs with spiced Kauai honey barbecue sauce.

18. Visit Kauai’s Moir Gardens

Also one of the stops on Kola Heritage Trail, make sure to swing by Moir Gardens located on the grounds of the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation. Open daily with free entry.

These rich gardens are full of exotic succulents, cacti, bromeliads, orchids, and water lilies which grow on the 35-acre historic estate. While much of Kauai gets battered with rain each year, Poipu is a dry part of the island. So most of the plants here thrive in dry conditions.

19. Check Out Alekoko Fishpond

The Hawaiian Islands have passed on legends of ghostly stories for generations. So you don’t want to miss your chance to see some of the local mythological landmarks, like Alekoko Fishpond.

According to legend, mischievous little people called the Menehune inhabit the island. These mythical creatures allegedly build the fishpond in one night by lining up over 25 miles and passing lava stones hand to hand!

True or not, this man-made pond has been used for fishing for 1,000 years, and it’s a cool example of ancient Hawaiian aquaculture. Today, you can see the Fishpond from a viewing platform near the road to Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, home to many endangered bird species.

20. See The “Wettest Spot On Earth”

Often called the wettest spot on earth, Mount Waialeale averages 450 inches of rainfall annually. In 1982, 666 inches of rain were recorded on the peak, establishing an official record, which explains why the locals call it Wai’ale’ale, meaning “overflowing water”.

Clouds often enshroud the 5,000 foot mountain, and many legends surround this mystical peak. Although it seems impossible to climb, stone ruins at the 5,000 foot high summit, Kawaikini Peak, suggest that ancient inhabitants would climb to the top to give offerings.

Tourists can view the dormant shield volcano by helicopter or explore the two trails on the eastern side of Waialeale.

21. Wailua Falls

Further up the Wailua River mentioned earlier is a large waterfall called Wailua Falls. This is probably the most popular waterfall on Kauai, due to its easy access right next to a road. No hiking required!

This beautiful 80 foot tall double waterfall is located in Eastern Kauai behind the Kalepa Mountain Forest Reserve in Hanamā‘ulu. Legends tell of Hawaiian royalty who used to test their endurance by jumping from the top of the falls into the shallow pool below, and some didn’t survive.

There’s an unofficial (illegal) trail that winds down to the base of the falls from the road, however it is extremely slippery and steep. Attempt it at your own risk.

Waterfall Paddleboard Trip

Explore the secret rivers and waterfalls of Kauai alongside a trained naturalist and wildlife photographer.

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22. Beachfront Camping At Polihale Park

Hawaii draws tourists from all over the world looking to reconnect with the natural beauty of this tropical paradise. Those who love the outdoors can’t pass on a trip to Polihale State Park.

Locals spend weekends here, often riding ATVs along the 2 mile stretch of beach. Set up your tent along the beach to enjoy saffron and crimson sunsets before sleeping underneath the stars. Added bonus: alcohol and campfires are permitted.

The strong current means swimmers should take caution. But the southwestern side has a cove, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The 5-mile road getting here is rough, and only suitable for 4X4 vehicles.

23. Kauapea Beach (AKA Secret Beach)

Secrets is a massive beach on the North Shore of Kauai near the town of Kilauea. The beach is located at the bottom of steep cliffs, and isn’t the easiest place to access. There’s a well-used trail, but it’s often muddy and tricky to get down.

But the hike down is worth it, because even if there’s 100 people on the beach, it’s so massive that you can find a quiet place all to yourself if you just keep walking. If you walk for long enough, you’ll eventually stumble onto a cliff-side waterfall and a “clothing optional” area of the beach.

24. Grand Hyatt Resort Pools

Even if you don’t stay overnight at Kauai’s beautiful Grand Hyatt Resort, it’s still possible to visit their amazing tropical pools, lazy river, and private beach with a special Day Pass. A wonderful place to relax in the sun.

The area behind the resort is an oasis of flower gardens, freshwater pools, waterfalls, shaded cabanas, a salt water lagoon, multiple jacuzzis, watersides, and even a lazy river! You can easily waste hours here, ordering fancy drinks and taking dips in the pools.

25. Wai’oli Hui’ia Church

Waioli Church in Hanalei stands out from many other churches I’ve visited around the world. Founded by protestant missionaries in 1912, the green building blends in perfectly with the tropical Kauai mountains in the background.

It’s a popular stop for photos if you’re driving around the island. Feel free to go inside and have a look around if it’s open.

26. Kauai’s Glass Beach & Cemetery

This unique beach is located in the town of Eleele, in an industrial part of the island. Instead of regular sand, this beach is covered in small pieces of multicolored sea glass! Sea lions also like to hang out here, so you may catch a glimpse of them too.

The beach isn’t big, and it’s not a nice place for sunbathing (big ugly oil tanks behind it), but if you’re already in the area, it can be an interesting stop for a photo. Make sure to check out the nearby cemetery too, with old red headstones carved in Japanese writing.

27. Visit Mark Zuckerberg’s Beach

Sick of Facebook invading your privacy and selling your personal data? Why not give Zuck a taste of his own medicine, and invade HIS privacy by visiting the public beach under his 700-acre estate on Kauai!

Pila’a Beach is very difficult to get to, because it’s surrounded by Zuckerberg’s private land, however if you’re up for a challenge, it’s possible. There’s a hidden access road that leads to a cliff side, which if you climb down, you can then walk along a rocky shoreline for about 1200 feet to reach the beach.

Sorry Zuck. It’s totally legal! Maybe you should have read the island’s complete terms of service before you bought land on Kauai… all beaches are public.

28. Maliuhi Tree Tunnel

On the south shore of Kauai there’s a long road lined with green eucalyptus trees. It’s called the Maliuhi Tree Tunnel, and it’s pretty cool to drive through. The trees cover about a mile of highway 520 as you drive to Poʻipū.

The tree tunnel was planted back in 1911 as a gift to the community from Walter McBryde, a rich and powerful pinapple baron. At one point it was 3 times longer than it is now.

29. Wild Chicken Spotting

When we first got to Kauai, I was struck with the island’s wild chicken population. There are thousands of feral chickens roaming around EVERYWHERE. You’ll find them in front yards, crossing roads, parking lots, etc.

As is the case for many islands, once a non-native species gets brought over, sometimes it can lead to unintended consequences. Other Hawaiian islands have exploding populations of wild pigs and cattle — Kauai has chickens.

Between the original Polynesians, the voyages of Captain Cook, and Filipinos working on sugar cane plantations who kept birds for cockfighting, the island’s chicken population grew. A series of hurricanes in the 80’s set them all free!

30. Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail

The scenic cliff-side hike of Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail starts from Shipwreck Beach and winds its way along the undeveloped coast of the South Shore. The trail is not too difficult, but very exposed to the elements.

While hiking this rugged part of Kauai, you’ll encounter sand dunes, caves, ancient ruins, and eventually you’ll reach Mahaulepu Beach, a remote stretch of sand that doesn’t see many visitors. While it’s not a great beach for swimming, Humpback whales and sea turtles can often be spotted around here.

South Shore Cliff Hike

Hike from ocean cliffs down to caves along the shore while looking out for giant land tortoises sunbathing.

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Transportation Around Kauai

Rental Car

The best site to book your car is with Discover Cars. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car and drive on Kauai.

Renting a car offers the best flexibility to explore remote spots on the island. Kauai has two major highways, Kaumualii and Kuhio. It can take an hour to get to the other side of the island.

Bus

The Kauai public bus system runs from Kekaha to Hanalei. A ride costs $2 per trip. You can also purchase a one day pass ($4) or monthly pass ($45). Although inexpensive, the bus system is more for locals going to work, and they don’t stop at many tourist attractions.

Taxi

Although you will find taxis near the Lihue Airport, you won’t likely see many throughout the island. That said, the island has its local taxi service, although difficult to hail. LYFT and Uber also run on the island. You can also book shuttles or private tours. Fares start at $3 for the first tenth mile then becomes $0.30 cents for every tenth mile thereafter.

Rent A Car In Kauai

Search both local and international car rental companies to help you find a good deal.

Check Latest Prices

Where To Stay On Kauai

Accommodation on Kauai is expensive. There’s just no way around it. Kauai is a small island, so hotels can charge a premium. Here are suggestions for good places to stay during your trip to Kauai Hawaii…

Useful Kauai Travel Tips & Advice

• Bring a pair of hiking boots that you don’t mind getting dirty for some of the many rocky, muddy trails on the island.
• Known as the rainiest island in Hawaii, Kauai’s tropical climate means daytime showers. The weather is always changing from sunshine to rain, so pack an umbrella and windbreaker or light rain jacket.
• Car rentals are in high demand, particularly during peak tourist seasons in the winter and summer, so make sure to reserve your rental in advance.
• Kauai locals are pretty territorial, and don’t take kindly to tourists showing up on their private property or roads, so pay particular attention to signs and stay off other people’s land.

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I hope you enjoyed my guide on what to do in Kauai! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• An Open Door Helicopter Tour Of Kauai
• Visiting Waimea Canyon State Park
• Top Things To Do On The Big Island
• The Best Travel Blogs On The Internet
• Travel Quotes To Inspire You

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Any questions about things to do in Kauai? Do you have other suggestions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Lone Pine, California

Carefully planting one foot in front of the other, breathing heavily and climbing in snow with my ice axe, I push on to summit California’s highest mountain — Mt Whitney.

Mount Whitney is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet. Yes, California is home to both the lowest point in the United States (Death Valley), as well as one of the tallest!

The mountain has also become one of the most popular hikes in the state — so popular that you need to enter a lottery in order to win a permit to hike Whitney.

Well, at least during the summer months.

Rather than deal with 100 other hikers and the very real chance I wouldn’t win a permit, I decided to climb Mt. Whitney during the winter (technically early spring) month of April, when a permit isn’t required.

Of course, this meant hiking through snow and camping overnight in freezing temperatures. I also choose a more difficult trail called The Mountaineer’s Route.

This path requires basic mountaineering skills and isn’t for beginners.

Mt Whitney Hiking Guide

Don’t Underestimate This Mountain!

Before I get into the details of my hike up Mount Whitney, I want to emphasize how difficult this hike can be for those who are unprepared.

Approximately 30,000 people attempt to hike this mountain every year, and only about 30% of them make it to the top.

It’s not a particularly long hike, but it is VERY steep. You gain altitude extremely quickly. And if you don’t hike or train on a regular basis, it might just kick your butt.

Hiking in the winter or early spring, like I did, adds an extra level of difficulty with the snow. Many people have been injured or killed over the years trying to climb steep snow-covered sections without proper gear (or the skills to use it).

Whitney’s Different Hiking Routes

1. Mount Whitney Day Hike

DISTANCE: 22 miles (Round Trip)
ELEVATION GAIN: 6500 feet
TIME: 12-18 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
SUMMARY: Easy Class 1 hiking, but a lot of it and at high elevations. It’s a very long day, and you need to start before sunrise to make it down before dark.

2. Mount Whitney Overnight

DISTANCE: 22 miles (Round Trip)
ELEVATION GAIN: 6500 feet
TIME: 2 days
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
SUMMARY: Spending a night on the mountain helps break up the hike, but you’ll also need to pack camping gear, which means a heavier backpack.

3. The Mountaineer’s Route

DISTANCE: 5 miles (Round Trip)
ELEVATION GAIN: 6600 feet
TIME: 2-3 days
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
SUMMARY: This is a more physically demanding Class 2 & Class 3 hiking route that requires some scrambling. It’s much shorter distance-wise, but with the same elevation gain. So you’re hiking straight up. This is the route I describe here.

Securing A Permit For The Hike

If you plan to climb Whitney during the normal permit season, between May 1st and November 1st, it requires signing up for their lottery system.

Only about 160 hikers are allowed on the trail per day.

Permits cost $15, and they can be hard to come by, especially if you’re trying to hike over a weekend. You can begin applying for a permit for the summer season on February 1st. Lottery winners are announced in March. If you’re one of the lucky ones to win, you can purchase the actual permit starting April 1st.

An alternative option, which is what I did, is to self-issue yourself a free permit in the off-season. Permits are free if you hike during the winter months between November 2nd and April 30th.

However hiking in the winter requires a bit more experience & specialized gear.

Climbing Mt Whitney (DAY 1)

My own Mount Whitney adventure began by driving to the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine, CA during the 2nd week of April and self-issuing myself an overnight permit. If you don’t own a bear-proof container and WAG Bag (for pooping), you’ll have to pick up those too. Bear canisters can be rented here.

With my permit set, I jumped back into my jeep drove up to the closed gate on Whitney Portal Road. The upper part of the road leading to the Whitney Portal Campground and Campsites is closed this time of year.

There are two gates. The first one was open, but eventually, you’ll hit the closed one. The road is closed for maintenance as they clean up the annual spring rock falls with heavy machinery.

After parking on the side of the road, I gathered my gear and began walking up the pavement under the late afternoon sun. Hiking about 2000 feet of elevation gain over 2 miles to reach the official trailhead.

The road ends at the Whitney Portal Campsite where I set up camp for one night of acclimatization (at 8,300 feet). This early in the season, the campsite is closed but they have open bathrooms and freshwater.

Climbing Mt Whitney (DAY 2)

The next morning I was packed up and on the trail by 7am, ready to officially start my hike up the main Mt Whitney trail. Soon veering off to the right onto the North Fork Trail and The Mountaineer’s Route.

This is the same route that John Muir took on his solo summit of the peak on October 21, 1873.

My first obstacle was crossing the fresh spring runoff of the North Fork creek multiple times, through thick brush and saplings. Occasionally it was difficult to find the best route through this mess of vegetation.

Next up, the Eversbacher Ledges. This section of trail sends you zig-zagging up a steep wall (hiker’s right) via a series of narrow and exposed ledges. As long as it’s not icy, you’ll be fine. There’s one particularly sketchy section that requires a bit of a scramble up.

After you clear the ledges, you’ll find yourself at Lower Boyscout Lake. You can camp here if you need to, but a better location is further on, at Upper Boyscout Lake.

The more distance you can cover now means a quicker summit attempt tomorrow.

Overnight On The Mountain

I decided to push on past Upper Boyscout Lake in the afternoon and began looking for a suitable campsite in a rocky open area between it and Iceberg Lake, which sits at the bottom of the “chute”.

If you were hiking this route in the summer, most people spend the night next to Upper Boyscout Lake or Iceberg Lake to take advantage of a water source.

But with all the snow around to melt for water, there was no need for me to camp beside a lake.

I’d packed an avalanche shovel to use for building a snow wall if the wind was strong, but I lucked out with a clear, calm night. Got up in the middle of the night to take a few star photos too!

Climbing Mt Whitney (DAY 3)

Waking up at 6am, I re-packed my backpack to prepare for the summit push. Leaving behind my tent, sleeping bag, cooking kit, and additional overnight items I wouldn’t need to haul all the way up to the top.

Once you reach Iceberg Lake (12,621 feet), you’ll easily spot Mountaineer’s Gully, the steep 35 degree snow chute that’s next. In the winter, crampons and an ice axe are definitely required for this section. A slip here would send you falling over 1000 vertical feet down the chute…

A climbing helmet should be used too, as hikers above you often knock pretty large boulders loose or ice chunks that come tumbling by. Which happened a few times during my own ascent — luckily nothing came too close.

The Chute is a slow, steep slog. The high elevation doesn’t help either. I was resting after every 10 steps or so to catch my breath.

At the top of the chute, the snow clears to reveal a Class 2/3 rocky scramble up to the “notch”, a pillar of stone where the ground levels out a bit.

This is a good place to rest and have a snack while you plan your next move.

Reaching The Summit

From The Notch, there are a few different routes you can take to the summit. For the “True Mountaineer’s Route”, you head straight up a 400 ft Class 3 section of climbing, where ropes may or may not be used depending on your skill level.

As I was hiking solo, without ropes, and this was my first time up here, I decided to play it safe and take the alternative route — a longer alpine Class 2 traverse around the backside of the mountain and up to the summit.

Which turned out to be plenty sketchy in its own right!

Traversing the steep mountain face is pretty straightforward with crampons and your ice axe, except in a few sections where the snow was pretty thin, where you’re forced to down-climb steep sections attempting to find solid footing on the rocks just beneath the snow.

My adrenaline was certainly pumping in overdrive while trying to make it across…

With the traverse over, I began hiking up the backside. Pretty soon the Mount Whitney Summit Hut came into view, aka the Smithsonian Institute Shelter.

Built in 1904, this hut was used by scientists to study high-altitude phenomena, astrophysics, and for waiting out storms.

With the sun shining and a perfect blue-bird day, I ate lunch enjoying the incredible 360 degree views from the summit. I’d made it!

Hiking Mount Whitney solo in the late winter/early spring — the top of California (and highest point in the lower 48 states) at 14,505 feet.

Additional Hiking & Packing Tips

My Winter Packing List

Packing for a winter hiking adventure up Mt. Whitney is different than a summer day trip. You’ll need more backpacking gear than usual. My 50-liter backpack weighed 37 pounds using the free scale at the trailhead.

Mount Whitney Hiking Tips

• If you plan on camping, please keep in mind that wood fires are not allowed. Not that you’ll find much wood above the treeline anyway…
• Store your food outside the tent in a bear canister or Kevlar bag. You’re unlikely to see a bear, but marmots (large rodents) are a problem.
• This is not a quick & easy day hike, and reaches high altitudes. Know your personal limits, and don’t feel bad about turning around to stay safe.
• You really need to pay attention on timing your summit climb, and leave the top early enough that you’re not hiking down in the dark.
• Hiking the Mountaineer’s Route took me 2 full days (one night), plus another half day to hike up the closed Whitney Portal road and camp out at the trailhead the night before.

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.