Cancun Destination Guide

While the natural splendour of Cancun – expansive white sandy beaches, clear greenish blue waters and the sunny weather – is undoubtedly the highlight of a Cancun holiday, this “planned” Mexican resort and its surrounding areas have a lot more attractions in store for the discerning traveller. The centuries old Mayan ruins scattered around the place, and a good museum, give you a peek into history and a great ancient civilisation.

Nearby attractions of Isla Mujeres and the coastal zone known as Riviera Maya make for exciting day trips. Cancun is a fabulous place for water sports; the city also offers adventure sports like bungee jumping and parachuting and has some good golf courses. Jungle tours and visits to ecological theme parks are other attractions, apart from plenty of shopping. Come night, the place really bursts into life with a nightlife that will stay in your mind for long.

Cancun is a world renowned tourist location and offers a wide range of things to see and do.

Cancun’s beaches, its biggest attractions, are absolutely stunning and the azure waters are crystal clear and pleasantly warm. The surf is gentle, except on the beaches facing the Caribbean where it can sometimes get a little rough, and conditions are ideal for swimming and an assortment of water sports. Jet skiing, parasailing, snorkelling and scuba diving are actively pursued by some tourists while others bask in the ever present sun.

Naturally most of the beaches have a good crowd through a major part of the day but a few secluded spots can still be found for those who prefer their privacy. Playa Tortuga, Playa Caracol, Playa Lina, and Playa Langosta are some of the best public beaches around.

Most of the tourist activity in the city is centred on the Zona Hotelera or the Hotel Zone which is a 22 km long island connected to the mainland with causeways at either end. This area is chock-a-block with swanky Cancun hotels, shopping centres and waterfront restaurants and also has a party zone full of discos and nightclubs that really come alive at night. On one side of the island, which is shaped like a “7”, is the vast expanse of the Caribbean Sea while on the other side it encloses the picturesque Nichupte Lagoon. The lagoon is perfect for a number of water sports as is the short side of the island facing Isla Mujeres where the surf is gentler.

The mainland part of Cancun, known as El Centro or Ciudad Cancun, is the older part of the city and quite unlike the hotel zone. It is less opulent and feels more Mexican whereas the hotel zone is all commercialised and American in spirit. Most of the local Mexican population live here and the place has a charm all its own with winding streets and green spaces. Known for its great shopping, visitors with good haggling skills can get good bargains here. Other attractions of Cancun City are the budget accommodation and inexpensive traditional food. Even taxi fares are cheaper here!

Many vestiges of the ancient Mayan civilisation are found in Cancun and the surrounding areas. While the ruins in Cancun itself are relatively small, those at Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza are bigger, more important archaeological finds and definitely worth visiting.

The El Rey ruins are in a small site right inside Cancun’s hotel zone. The site is believed to have been a burial place and ceremonial centre. The ruins at Chichen Itza are large and are thought to date back to 600 AD. The two cenotes (sink wells) at the site has yielded many artefacts including jade beads, gold bells and rings. The Kukulkan pyramid here is an impressive structure. Tulum, even though smaller, contains more than sixty structures and date back over seven centuries. It is a walled city with a spectacular location overlooking the Caribbean and is the only major Mayan site along the coast. A two hour drive from Cancun will get you to Tulum. Coba, bordered by tropical jungles is a beautiful location and houses the tall Nohoch Mul pyramid.

Playa del Carmen is a charming resort town on the Riviera Maya about 45 minutes from Cancun. The island of Cozumel is right opposite the town and can be reached by ferry. Cozumel is a wonderful tourist destination in its own right with some splendid beaches and is also a major cruise ship port. It is the largest island of Mexico and is a top location for snorkelling and scuba diving and the fishing here is some of the best in the area.

Isla Mujeres only a short hop from Cancun and is most famous for it beautiful beaches El Garrafon with its incredible snorkeling opportunities. This popular island retreat is a nice place to relax and has many beachfront restaurants. An assortment of water sports are on offer including scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming with dolphins. Scooters are available on rent here and they are great to explore the island. There are regular ferry services to Isla Mujeres from the hotel zone and from Puerto Juarez.

Isla Contoy is about 30km north of Isla Mujeres and apart from its natural beauty it is considered to be the most important nesting place for sea birds in the Mexican Caribbean with more than 150 species of birds.

Isla Holbox is separated from the mainland coast of Mexico by a shallow lagoon which gives sanctuary to thousands of flamingos, pelicans and other exotic birds and creatures. During July and August you even have the chance to swim with the whale shark - a phenomenon not be missed!

This is the place to go to learn about the history and culture of the region. The museum has some good exhibits from the Mayan period; a visit to the museum is advisable before going on to the Mayan ruins. The museum is located at the Cancun Convention Centre, Boulevard Kukulkan.

Cancun Adventure & Ecotourism tours can be fun for all the family. You can tailor make your tour to include driving through the jungle in an open top jeep, mountain biking through the undergrowth, and swimming in the cool, fresh waters of the cenotes.

There are many amazing ecological theme parks near Cancun. You can get to them easily by car or bus or take one of the choice of tours on offer.

The most popular ecological theme park near Cancun is Xcaret. Xcaret is a huge eco-park so it is worth getting there early in the morning to take full advantage of its beauty. You will get to see wildlife in it natural habitat surrounded by the most beautiful flora and fauna. There is safe snorkeling in the calm inlets, and there is even a natural underground river you can swim along to cool off. Don't miss the spectacular Mexican Folkloric Show in the evening. A must see for all the family!

Another very popular day out is to Xel-Ha, one of the world's largest natural aquariums which is made up of a series of inlet and lagoon systems. Xel Ha means ‘the place where water is born'.

For those of you that love snorkeling, El Garrafon will amaze you with its natural beauty and its plethora of coral and multicoloured fish found in the crystalline ocean.

Swimming with dolphins in Cancun is the highlight of many people's vacation and is an opportunity not to be missed. Children as young as three can enjoy this fun experience.

You can visit some of the most beautiful nature reserves and protected areas near Cancun. The flora and fauna is incredible and you will have the chance to observe wildlife such as monkeys, whale sharks, flamingos, crocodiles, marine turtles and so much more in their natural habitat.

You are guaranteed a spectacular day out at the Interactive Aquarium Cancun. You can swim with dolphins and even meet sharks face to face in total safety. You can also visit Xel Ha, the world's largest natural aquarium, or go to Xcaret to the Coral Reef Aquarium.

Scuba Diving
Even for beginners Cancun is a swell place for scuba diving with its warm waters, shallow reefs and colourful marine life. El Garrafon is a popular diving spot and at Punta Nizuc you have the Great Mesoamerican Reef, one of the largest coral reefs in the world that attracts scuba divers in droves. There are many professional dive operators and they even offer diving courses for beginners.

Fishing
Fishing in the waters off Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel can be quite an adventure with the natural splendour of the place and the great fishing around. Deep-sea fishing charters can be easily arranged with travel agencies or at the piers.

Snorkelling
The calm waters and the unimaginably beautiful underwater world make Cancun an exciting snorkelling location. The El Garrafon Natural Park and Punta Nizuc are two of the best places for snorkelling which is great fun and safe even for kids.

Cancun Hotels and Nightlife
It is party time at night in Cancun. Nightlife here is exciting and even wild, and few visitors go to bed early. The hotel zone in particular is noted for its lively nightclubs, discos, cantinas and bars that fill up by evening and stay open for much of the night. Many hotels have their own nightclubs with live music and dancing.