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.

Dady’O, Cancún

The college crowd’s favorite holds bikini nights, wet T-shirt competitions and other rowdy fun. Dady Rock, next door, often hosts live bands.
Dady’O, Cancún

Always the most popular among American student “Springbreakers,” this equally huge venue across the street from the Coco Bongo guarantees a noisy, down-home party atmosphere – theme parties are a permanent feature. Next door, the only slightly smaller Dady Rock is a live venue with a bar-restaurant, plus more fun and games.
Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day

Sugar skulls, dead bread (pan de muerto ), zempazuchitl fowers, and coffin-shaped decorations are the mark of Mexico’s most famous celebration, when people party to celebrate the dead on Halloween and All Saints’ Day (Todos Santos ), and families visit cemeteries to picnic by the graves of their own departed relatives.
Deseo, Playa del Carmen

A new landmark in Playa hotels: a sleekly minimal-ist hip hotel that looks as if it leapt straight out of a design magazine and has shot to the top as the coolest place to stay in town. It also has an equally trendy bar, Fly (see Fly, Playa del Carmen).
Dinner Cruises, Cancún

For a slightly more sedate time try another Cancún specialty, with live shows, games, dinner, and dancing to live bands all on board as you sail around Laguna Nichupté or to Isla Mujeres. Each one is themed: Cancún Queen (from Aqua World, is like an old stern-wheeled riverboat, the Columbus Lobster Dinner Cruise is on a replica Columbus-era galleon, and Captain Hook’s Pirate Night is, of course, on a pirate ship (see Captain Hook’s Pirate Night, Cancún).
Dolphin Discovery

There are three of these sea enclosures – on Isla Mujeres, at Chankanaab on Cozumel, and at Puerto Aventuras – where you can swim or dive with the dolphins, ride on them, or be pushed along in the “footpush”.
Don Cafeto, Tulum

One of Tulum’s longest-established restaurants, with a big outdoor terrace, and one of the best places for traditional Yucatecan and Mexican dishes.
Dos Ojos Cenote

This vast cavern is called “Two Eyes” because its two huge entrances look like eyes when seen from planes overhead. Extending over 60 km (37 miles) through a labyrinth of caverns and limestone “trees,” it has been considered the longest underwater cave system in the world – but the nearby Nohoch Nah Chich cenote may be even longer. Inexperienced divers get most from it with the Hidden Worlds tours (see Dos Ojos Cenote and Hidden Worlds).
Dos Ojos Cenote and Hidden Worlds

Dos Ojos is very possibly the world’s longest underwater cave system. The snorkeling or diving tours offered by the Hidden Worlds center are a memorable experience.
Dos Ojos Cenote and Hidden Worlds

The upper chambers of the world’s longest underwater cave system, the Dos Ojos Cenote, are used by the Hidden Worlds center for one of the Yucatán’s most exciting tours. After a hike during which a guide points out features of the forest, visitors can snorkel or scuba dive through crystal-clear cave waters in giant arched-roof caverns (see Dos Ojos Cenote).

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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
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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
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