Local Experts Reveal 5 Places Not To Visit In Cancun This Winter

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Being Mexico’s most popular beach getaway, finding where to go is an easy task with just a little research.

On the flip side, whether it be sensationalized reviews or in-your-face guides pushing you towards certain restaurants so they can pocket some kickbacks, who are you to believe?

Here at Travel Off Path, we believe our pals at the Cancun Sun who have boots on the ground throughout the year.

Since now is the time of year where Cancun tends to be invaded by winter sun-seekers, their local experts have revealed 5 destinations not to visit on your next vacation — and some you likely didn’t expect to see!

5) Beware Of Pharmacies

We’re not here to play Doctor, but we what we can tell you are the cold hard facts about some of Cancun’s pharmacies.

Sure, Americans venture down to the closest border town every day to pick up medications on the cheap — and who could blame them?

But Cancun vacationers should be aware not all pharmacies are what they seem. The Tourist Zone is full of brightly advertised storefronts with funny Viagra quips and a laundry list of other well-known medications.

However, it’s been well-documented, even backed by the U.S. Embassy, that this industry is not regulated and has even been found to contain hardcore drugs, such as Fentanyl.

We suggest visiting these 3 pharmacies instead, rather than potentially risky hole-in-the-walls:

• Farmacia Guadalajara
• Farmacias del Ahorro
• Farmacias YZA

4) Chichen Itza Can Be Unbearable

Who wouldn’t want to bear witness to a true world wonder? Well, the answer is everybody — and that’s the problem…

You see, Chichen Itza has become one of the most popular add-ons to Cancun itineraries. By midday, the place is jam-packed.

The Cancun Sun has a beat on the best times to visit, and they say noon is the worst possible time to go.

Though, it’s not just the unsightly crowds who unintentionally photo-bomb all your pics.

Sun-seekers may be in for more than they bargained for — the Mayans may have left head-scratching structures behind but didn’t plan for us needing shade to cool down centuries later.

It’s best to visit as early as possible, say around 8am to beat the crowds and the beaming sun for an overall better experience.

But also don’t forget with the help of the Maya Train, there are many incredible ruins to check out in the region that don’t have near the crowds as Chichen Itza.

3) Breakfast Disguised As A Business Meeting

Look, we’re not realtors or lawyers here, but we have all heard the nightmare stories about timeshares…

Some resorts try to twist your arm into getting into the timeshare business by offering perks that seem to good to pass up, such as free tickets to Xcaret, for example.

Saying “no” to a friendly face passing out freebies can be uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as pushy timeshare pitches at what you thought would be a nice breakfast on vacation.

These so-called “breakfasts” can last for hours on end, slicing away huge chunks of your day when you could be relaxing seaside or at the swim-up bar.

If approached, maybe use my favorite line from Love on the Spectrum: ‘Very interesting, but I’m not interested’.

2) Market28 Is A Daytime Stop

Downtown Cancun is almost obligatory to visit at some point during your trip. However, very popular Market28 should only be a daytime shopping spree, according to the Cancun Sun.

Come sundown, vendors begin to close up shop and the busy streets become barren and a little sketchy to navigate since this maze of roadways is often unpatrolled.

During the day, it’s a blast to visit to scour endless souvenirs and hand-made goodies, as long as haggling doesn’t bother you.

There is one downtown market that sats open into the wee hours, and it’s well-lit and safe for the whole fam to visit — Parque Las Palapas.

1) Be Careful Which ATM You Choose

Even seasoned travelers like me forget to bring cash ahead of time. Thankfully, technology has our back with a simple “ATM” search on our map apps.

However, not all is as it appears to be in Downtown Cancun. Some street ATMs have been easy targets for crooks looking to steal tourists’ money.

Known as “skimmers”, these almost undetectable devices are implanted on typically more generic looking machines to steal your card information and drain your bank balance.

It’s best to avoid all outside ATMs and use the ones inside banks or supermarkets instead, especially major chains like Chedraui or Soriana.