DK Travel : Cancún and the Yucatán

Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has a special atmosphere and an immense variety of attractions, including some of the world’s best beaches and diving areas. The modern, glittering resorts of the east coast’s “Mayan Riviera” lie alongside charming old Spanish Colonial towns, sleepy Mayan villages, and the awesome remains of ancient civilizations.

Captain Hook’s Pirate Night, Cancún

Dinner cruises are normally more sedate than clubbing in Cancún, but Captain Hook’s is still pretty boisterous, with a “pirate” crew staging a battle (see Dinner Cruises, Cancún).
Caribe Internacional, Cancún

This 80-room hotel is in one of the liveliest parts of Ciudad Cancún, near the market and next to Av Yaxchilán’s “restaurant row.” Rooms are modern, simple, spacious, and bright, and there’s a good pool, making this great value in sometimes over-priced Cancún.
Carlos‘n’Charlie’s, Cozumel

Cozumel’s biggest bar-restaurant-music venue is the place where you’re assured of finding a (usually pretty raucous) crowd every night, partying in the open air to classic rock circa 1970 to 2000.
Carlos‘n’Charlie’s, Cozumel

Enjoyable, crowd-pleasing food and a non-stop, bright-and-breezy party atmosphere are the keys to the success of the Anderson group’s bar-restaurants, found all around Mexico under several jokey names – Carlos‘n’Charlie’s, Sr. Frog’s, El Shrimp Bucket. The Cozumel C‘n’C in Punta Langosta mall is one of the biggest.
Carnival

The biggest and brightest celebration of the year in the cities of the Yucatán. In Cancún and Cozumel the streets fill with music, dancing, food stands, and a little Río-style parading. The biggest Carnival in southern Mexico, though, is in Mérida.
Casa Caracol

Isla Mujeres is a small Caribbean Island, surrounded by white sandy beaches and a turquoise ocean, 9 miles (14km) off the coast of Cancún, Mexico. Here, the golf cart-driving tourists stop to take a picture of one famous island curiosity – a giant habitable seashell!

In fact, there are two seashell houses, shining so white they nearly hurt your eyes: one tall, upright shell in the form of a conch, and a round, squat one sitting next to it – architectural masterpieces inspired by the original designs of Mother Nature.

Painted in a rather stark seashell-white, the décor is not particularly lavish or plush. However, what it may lack in luxury it more than makes up for in originality: in the bathroom water flows from real seashell ‘taps’ into a washbasin made from a giant clam shell. There’s a small palm tree in the living room and on the balcony a bleached tree trunk serves as a railing. The rooms are further decorated with a multitude of seashells and ornamental black sea fan coral.

The shell houses are located on the quiet south end of Isla Mujeres, which is easily accessible and developed for tourists. The sea is about 160ft (50m) from them across a wide road, while access to the beach is about 0.5 miles (1km) away.
Casa de Artesanías Tukulná, Campeche

Campeche’s state handicrafts store has ceramics, embroidery, basketwork, and many other top quality items that are beautifully displayed.
Casa de Artesanías, Mérida

The Yucatán state handicrafts store has high-quality local work, with many beautiful, usable things especially in textiles, basketware, and wood.
Casa de los Sueños, Isla Mujeres

A secluded and intimate “bed and breakfast” lodge toward the southern end of Isla Mujeres. Its nine spacious rooms, pool, and oceanside terrace are of contemporary Mexican style: stunning to look at and supremely comfortable.
Casa Denis, Cozumel

One of the island’s oldest restaurants, in a wooden house just off the square. To eat, there are classic Yucatecan dishes (see Dishes of the Yucatán), at low prices.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under $5
- $5-$10
- $10-$20
- $20–$35
- over 35
Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under US$20
- US$20-$45
- US$45-$80
- US$80-$130
- over US$130