Why We Want to Travel: Chasing Adventure and Life Experiences in the Yucatán

Why We Want to Travel

First and foremost, for the life experience. We need a moment to step away from reality and immerse ourselves in the beauty of the unknown. Traveling allows us to explore different cultures, meet and learn from amazing people, see sights we once only dreamed of, and try new experiences. We want to become educated through our own adventures.

What We Expect to Gain
I definitely expect to catch the traveling bug from this trip. Even though this adventure may be different from others, I plan to save every penny when we get back so we can plan the next one. Just thinking about the trip already makes me feel more alive. I hope this experience will build our confidence, help us understand what makes us truly happy, and show us how to carry that feeling into our everyday lives once we return home.

Inspiration Along the Way
I found a blog with some fun and inspiring articles, including one called “Why You Should Quit Your Job and Travel Around the World.” While we aren’t planning a global trip (yet!), it offered great insight and inspiration on how to make big travel dreams a reality. For now, exploring the Yucatán Peninsula is more than enough to get us excited!

And So It Begins: Planning Our Life-Changing Trip to Mexico for Día de los Muertos

And So It Begins…

Yesterday, my boyfriend put in his two-week notice at work! It’s both nerve-racking and thrilling at the same time. He has to leave early because it takes about a month to cash out his 401(k). I’m planning to wait until the end of next month or early October to put in mine, but I am more than ready to take the leap.

I also caught up with a good friend I hadn’t had a chance to fill in, and it was amazing to realize how fast this all came together. At the start of the month, I was just daydreaming about a life-changing move. Now, it’s becoming reality. I am so glad I started this blog! What began as a way to motivate myself to plan a trip has turned into a place to plan, share, and get feedback from everyone.

Please feel free to leave feedback or ask questions, because I know I’ve skipped a few details along the way.

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On Vacation Related Subjects:

One thing I’m especially excited about is being in Mexico for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). I first learned about this holiday after moving to Tucson, where it is celebrated with face painting and the All Souls Procession. People honor the deceased, but the skeleton face painting and artistic expression are what catch everyone’s attention—it looks like a lot of fun!

I’m aware that the Tucson celebration is quite different from how it’s observed in Mexico. In Mexico, it is a deeply meaningful holiday devoted to remembering loved ones who have passed. Families and friends gather at graves, bringing favorite foods, gifts, and possessions of the departed.

Día de los Muertos can be traced back 3,000 years. Today, November 1st honors infants and children, while November 2nd is devoted to adults. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate life and remember those who came before us.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

My friend Deva shared an article with me today called “Travel Is Only For The Rich.” Beyond getting me super excited for our upcoming journey, it made me reflect on what life might look like after we return.

I especially loved the advice at the end:

"Decide when you’ll take your trip. Research and plan. Do it over and over again."

I hope this trip is just the first of many adventures we’ll take. The site is full of inspiring quotes, and one really stood out for me today:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain

It’s a perfect reminder to take chances, embrace adventure, and live fully. 

Secret Beach - Xcacel

In Cancún, most beaches are calm and peaceful, which is lovely, but sometimes I crave a little more action like body surfing. While doing research, I discovered Xcacel Beach. Unlike many other beaches in the area, it is undeveloped, making it perfect for a relaxing day trip. Even better, there is a cenote on site and access is free of charge.

I found out about the beach on SAC-BE, which had plenty of other great travel finds. I’m sure I’ll be referring back to it again for future planning.

Anticipation - Sharing Our Plans

We are finally starting to share our travel plans with friends and family, and the reactions have been all over the map:

• “What are you doing quitting your jobs and taking out your 401(k)?”

• “Enjoy it while you can. I wish I would have done the same thing.”

• “Take me with you!”

• “Don’t get kidnapped.”

In the end, it comes down to what feels right for us. We are excited, ready, and happy. =)

Underground River Tour - Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto is a spectacular underground river in the Yucatán Peninsula, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The tour takes you deep inside the cave to experience the natural beauty of this protected reserve. Visitors will walk, swim, and float through the river, making it a truly immersive adventure.

The price is on the higher side, but from what I’ve seen, it might just be worth it for the unique experience.

Recap - Our Yucatán Adventure Plan

Here’s an update to keep everyone in the loop about our upcoming trip:

The Plan
Originally, we were going to drive to Cancun and back, but we decided to fly instead. This means we’re cutting out some stops we wanted to see along the way, but it allows us to spend more time exploring the Yucatán Peninsula and everything it has to offer.

We are aiming to depart from Hermosillo on October 31 and return around November 30, give or take a few days. Our budget is around $3,000, and even after slightly overestimating expenses, we are still within budget with a little to spare.

How Are We Making This Work?
Against some opinions, my boyfriend decided to take early retirement and access his 401(k). Some context: he has worked for the same company for just under 10 years and recently stepped down from his management role because he was unhappy. He owns his home, has a paid-off car, and is financially responsible with minimal bills.

As for me, I’ve been a bit vague about work. I’ve been in management for just about a year and with the company for four years. While I could continue climbing in retail, I feel capable of more and want to truly enjoy life. There’s a career out there that fits me better, and now is the perfect time to explore options.

When we return, we both have backup jobs through friends’ companies, but we also want to explore new opportunities. We aren’t tied to Tucson. If the right position came along elsewhere, we’d consider a change of pace.

A Little Defense
People often criticize taking out a 401(k) early, but we are smart with money and have thought about our futures. We have goals, we are prepared for consequences, and we are young with many options. Right now, we are making choices we can because the timing is right for us.

That’s it for now. Questions?

Exploring Coba - Mayan Ruins and Adventure

Coba is home to the largest pyramid in the Yucatán, surrounded by five beautiful lakes. It was a thriving Mayan city around 600 AD, though it was mysteriously abandoned a few hundred years later. Today, visitors can take tours to explore the ruins and enjoy a variety of activities, including zip lining, rappelling, swimming in cenotes, canoeing, and jungle walks.

The price for tours is a bit higher than I am personally interested in, but I plan to talk with locals about discounts or deals when we are in Cancun.

On a side note, I am dropping off my boyfriend’s passport information at the post office today. He currently has a Passport Card, but these cannot be used for air travel. Even within Mexico. They are only valid for ground travel between Mexico, the United States, and Canada and for sea port entry in Bermuda and the Caribbean. Luckily, we have enough time to get him a passport book with standard shipping, since expedited shipping is much more expensive than we want to pay.

View from Our Soon-to-Be Vacation Home!

I can’t wait to walk out our front door and onto the beach! Last night I finally spoke with the owners of the studio condo we will be staying at and got some more details.

The costs break down like this:

• $500 for the month

• $35 one-time cleaning fee

• $35 in taxes
  Total: $570

We will have the option to do our own laundry or have Bonnie, the property manager, handle it for $20. Bonnie is also available for any questions or issues that come up during our stay.

We are planning to rent a car, but public transportation is plentiful. There is a bus right outside the complex that goes downtown or toward the hotel zone.

For groceries, we will probably shop at Walmart and local markets and cook in as much as possible, though there are also plenty of good restaurants nearby. The condo comes with a 5-gallon water dispenser, which is very convenient.

Safety is not a concern. The property is gated and has security guards on duty, which is especially reassuring for my mom.

We are officially sold. I emailed the owners to request the rental agreement so we can sign and make our $200 down payment. Excitement is through the roof.

Caves and Cenotes Adventure - Indiana Joe’s

We’ve been looking into an amazing adventure spot called Indiana Joe’s, where they offer guided tours of caves and cenotes across the Yucatán Peninsula. If you search the area on Google Maps and check out the images, you’ll see stunning photos like this one all over—the kind of scenery that makes you stop and dream about being there in person.

Of course, before booking, we plan to talk to locals to see if there’s a better deal—or even a free spot to explore—but if not, Indiana Joe’s charges around $30 per person per tour. From everything I’ve seen online, the views and experiences they offer are definitely worth it. These are the kinds of places I’ve always pinned on Pinterest and fantasized about visiting, so the thought of actually being there is mind-blowing!

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to hear back about our studio apartment, so I might have another update on the blog soon if she calls.

Cozy Studio Condo Booked in Cancun!

You heard me right… we just booked a cozy studio condo for an entire month! 

I’m seriously so excited that this trip is finally starting to come together. The owner I had previously called ended up returning my message yesterday. She mentioned they’re currently on vacation in Canada and that international calls from her cell are pretty expensive, but she still wanted to reach out before we booked somewhere else- which I really appreciated.

We exchanged emails, and she plans to call again tomorrow so we can go over the final details.

The condo is $500 for the month and located right in the Cancún Hotel Zone in Cancún. The beach is literally seconds from the door, which is exactly what we were hoping to find. It sounds like the perfect spot for our stay.

I did send a quick email with a few follow-up questions. Mainly whether electricity and water are included in the monthly price, but overall everything sounds great. It feels amazing to finally have the ball rolling on this trip.

While doing some planning this morning, I also came across a really helpful travel site called TravelYucatan. It’s packed with tourist information, activity ideas, and trip-planning tools for the region. I have a feeling I’ll be using it quite a bit as we keep planning things to do while we’re there.

Things are starting to get real now!

First Things First - Considering a Vacation Rental (and Discovering Home Exchange)

Today I decided to finally call about one of the vacation rentals we’ve been really interested in. We’re at the point where we’re ready to take the first step—putting down a deposit or placing a hold on a place so we can rent it for a full month. Unfortunately, when I called, it went straight to voicemail. So now I’m waiting to hear back and hoping it’s still available.

Of course, once I got excited about the idea, I started browsing other rentals online… and somehow that turned into four hours of searching. At this point my eyes are definitely feeling the effects of staring at the computer screen for so long! There are just so many options out there to look through.

While going down the rabbit hole of vacation listings, I also stumbled across HomeExchange. It’s a service where people swap homes with each other instead of renting a hotel or vacation property. I’m not planning to try it right now, but it definitely caught my attention as something worth considering in the future.

Since we live in Tucson, it might actually work well for us. The area gets plenty of winter visitors—especially snowbirds—so it could potentially make for a great home swap opportunity. Who knows, maybe it could even help make a future ski trip happen someday.

For now, it’s just another interesting travel idea to keep in mind for later, but it’s definitely something worth checking out.