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Visitor
Activities
Historical Sights
Chichen Itza
 Chichén
Itzá, arguably the most impressive Maya site on
the Yucatán peninsula, lies about three hours from
Playa del Carmen. Its famous pyramid offers a challenging
climb and a breathtaking view over the jungle...
Coba
This grand Mayan site lies less than two hours from Playa
del Carmen, and is different from the other big sites
in the Yucatan. First of all, it's situated by four natural
lakes, which is a rare sight in the Yucatan. These lakes
are believed to have given the city its name, which means
Waters stirred by wind...
Ek Balam
This little gem of a Mayan city is rarely visited and
you may very well end up strolling around all by yourself
among temples and jungle. It's a bit off the beaten path
since it's located about 20 minutes north of Valladolid.
Muyil
Only a short drive south of Tulum, there's a nice little
site with very few visitors. This site goes under two
names, Muyil and Chanyaxche. It is not big, but there
are a few interesting buildings and the historical significance
is apparent.
Tulum
The Mayan ruins of Tulum, only an hour from Playa del
Carmen, undoubtedly has one of the most breathtaking settings
of any city past or present. The only significant large
scale Mayan ruin on the coast, it is perched on a cliff
overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
Golf
For the Golf enthusiast Cancun is home to two beautiful
18 holes championship golf courses. One is the Pok-Ta-Pok
course which runs along the island, between the main Boulevard
and the Nichupté Lagoon. The second one is located
next to Ruinas del Rey.
Restaurants
The food in Cancun is similar to that of Yucatan, the
state neighbouring Quinatana Roo. The indigenous influence
on cuisine is perhaps greater than in many other parts
of the country. Corn is the staple food, and is made into
tortillas, tamales, and an infinite variety of snacks.
Tropical fruits are abundant, as are delicious varieties
of seafood like shrimp and lobster.
A fiery type of hot sauce is made from habanero peppers,
red onions, and vinegar, and a small amount goes a long
way. Tamales are different from the small variety wrapped
in corn husks that are served in most parts of the country;
this southern variety is larger, often a meal in itself,
and wrapped and steamed in banana leaves, with a filling
of pork or chicken.
A traditional dish is cochinita pibil, in which pork is
bathed in a mixture of bitter orange juice, achiote, oregano,
onions and spices and cooked wrapped in banana leaves
until the meat falls off the bone. The meat is then shredded
and served in tacos.
Another unusual dish is papadzules, a dish where a brilliant
green sauce is made from pumpkin seeds and other ingredients
and served over tortillas filled with chopped hard boiled
eggs.
There are several kinds of sauces typical of the region,
which are bases for cooking meat of all sorts, and which
are made from some of the dozens of varieties of chilis,
nuts, seeds and spices available locally. Chirmole and
pipian are two of these.
There is a traditional kind of fish prepared with achiote
and other spices and cooked on a barbecue or in an earthen
pit, and called tikinxic in Maya.
Of course, Cancun is a modern city, and you can find almost
any kind of food there: bakeries selling fresh bread,
supermarkets selling a variety of fresh and packaged goods,
restaurants serving foods traditional in other parts of
the country; open air markets selling fruits, vegetables
and snacks; taco stands, tiny corner stores, restaurants
preparing top notch international cuisine.
Nightlife
Cancun is a happening place with a busy night life. Some
say the city comes to life after 10 p.m. There are discos,
bars, and places to dance or listen to anything from rock
to salsa to reggae.
Cancun has drawn people from all over Mexico, and has
an eclectic variety of music to match its diverse population:
sones from Veracruz, rancheras from the northern states,
mariachis from central Mexico; as well as musical styles
from all over Latin America: cumbias, calypso, salsa,
reggae, merengue.
Beaches
The hotels in Cancun are arranged along several miles
of coastline in the Hotel Zone (zona hotelera.) Some of
these beaches are public, belonging to the Mexican government,
and some are resort beaches, for the guests at a particular
resort. All the public beaches are accessible from the
highway, though to get to some there will be a short walk.
Most people plan their stay in Cancun according to what
beach their hotel is on.
The best beaches for swimming are those along the north
coast, because the water is protected by the island of
Isla Mujeres. The beaches on the east coast are not protected,
and strong winds and currents make swimming much more
dangerous. The northern beaches are where you can catch
boats (cruises, shuttles, water taxis) across to Isla
Mujeres.
The sand on most beaches in Cancun is white powder, which
sticks to wet skin but has the advantage of being less
hot than coarse sand and easier to walk on – and the white
against the turquoise of the sea is very refreshing to
look at!
Water temperature is good for swimming all year round,
with the hottest temperatures being reached in August
and September when the water is decidedly warm.
Watersports and Outdoor Activities
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
 Diving
from the mainland of the Yucatan penninsula offers an
array of choices. From the shallow and colorful reefs
off Cancun and Playa Del Carman to the miles of cenotes
that have made the Yucatan one of the top cave diver destinations.
Farther south is the newest destination, the Chinchorro
Banks, part of the second largest barrier reef in the
world.
Offshore, visibility is an average of 100 ft. (30 m),
inshore expect a little less. The cenotes offer crystal
clear visibility at all times.
Fishing
If you'd like to try deep-sea fishing, contact Club Lagoon,
Wild Goat Marina (phone 83-0062) or Aqua Tours (phone
83-0227). Catch includes swordfish, blue and white marlin,
dolphin (the fish, not the mammal), shark, wahoo and barracuda,
depending upon time of year. Expect to pay about US$200-$300
for half a day and up to US$400-$500 for a full day.
Other Outdoor Avtivities
 Reserva
Natural Tres Rios, Cancun
This park, only 30 minutes away from the craziness of
Cancun, offers horseback rides along the coast.
Attraction type: Nature reserve; Park
Aquaworld, Cancun
Waterpark featuring waterslides, snorkeling, swimming
and scuba diving.
Playa Delfines, Cancun
Undeveloped beach provides a great view of Cancun's Hotel
Zone.
Parque Nizuc, Cancun
Water park featuring slides, snorkeling and lots of dolphins:
perfect for families.
Barco Pirates Night, Cancun
Billing itself as a "floating disco," this ship
will take you on a dastardly and piratical night-time
cruise.
Playa Tortugas, Cancun
This beach is lined with open-air cafes, restaurants and
bars, making it a perfect place to scope out the crowd.
Wet 'n Wild, Cancun
Cool off after a hot day of touring at this family-oriented
water park.
Playa Caracol, Cancun
The touristy center of the region, with prestigious hotels,
clusters of shopping plazas and the convention center
nearby.
Playa Langosta, Cancun
Take the ferry from this beach to Isla Mujeres.
Playa Las Perlas, Cancun
This beautiful beach has some of the safest waters in
the region for swimming.
Playa Linda, Cancun
A ferry runs from this pretty beach to Isla Mujeres.
Playa Gaviota Azul, Cancun
This scenic beach is pretty to look at, but watch out
in the water: the undercurrents can make it a dangerous
place to swim.
Playa Chac Mool, Cancun
Take a dip in the warm waters of this beach.
Playa Marlin, Cancun
Lounge on the smooth, white, broad stretch of sand of
this beach while gazing at the often rugged surf.
Playa Ballenas, Cancun
This pretty beach is conveniently located near some major
resort hotels.
San Miguelito Beach, Cancun
Throngs of tourists horde this pretty beach, located near
some popular hotels.
Playa Las Balinas, Cancun
Tourists flock to this beautiful beach.
Nautibus, Cancun
A cruise ship with an underwater viewing deck to see the
beautiful Caribbean reef in dry, air-conditioned comfort.
Attraction type: Ship
Gran Marina de Cancun, Cancun
At this marina, you can hire your own yacht or simply
gaze at others owned by various celebrities.
Subsee, Cancun
View marine life without getting in the water from this
glass-bottom boat.
Crucero Cancun Queen, Cancun
A popular ship offering day cruises with dining and dancing.
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