Cancún vs Havana

Cancún

Cancún has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round and high humidity. Two main seasons: dry (November–April) and wet (May–October). Hurricane season runs June–November, with September being the most active month. Even in the wet season, rain is usually an afternoon event, leaving mornings sunny.

Havana

Havana has a tropical climate with a dry season (November-April) and a wet season (May-October). Temperatures are warm year-round. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October being the highest-risk months.

Cancún

The Hotel Zone is a 23km strip with a single main boulevard (Kukulcán) running its length. Public buses (Route R-1) run the entire length of the Hotel Zone for MXN 12. Uber works throughout the city. Taxis are ubiquitous but do not use meters — negotiate before boarding. The ADO bus terminal connects Cancún to the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Walkability: The Hotel Zone is not walkable end-to-end — the strip is 23km long and the heat makes long walks impractical. Individual beach and hotel clusters are walkable within a few blocks. Downtown Cancún's market and restaurant areas around Mercado 28 and Parque Las Palapas are pleasant on foot in the evening.

Havana

Havana's transport is a fascinating mix of vintage American cars, Chinese buses, coconut-shaped taxis, and horse-drawn carts. There's no ride-hailing app that works reliably. Getting around requires a mix of walking, negotiating with taxi drivers, and patience.

Walkability: Old Havana, Centro Habana, and the Malecon are all walkable, though sidewalks are uneven and sometimes missing. The 3-4 km walk from Habana Vieja to Vedado along the Malecon is one of the great urban walks. Beyond central areas, distances become too large for walking.