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.

Iglesia de Jesús, Mérida

Built for the Jesuit Order and completed in 1618, the Jesús has a gilded Baroque interior that contrasts strikingly with the simplicity of the Franciscan churches. On the exterior, look out for traces of carvings on some of the stones – they were taken from Mayan temples (see Calle 60).
Iguana Azul, Campeche

An unusually modern, youth-oriented venue for old-fashioned Campeche, with colorful mock-tropical decor and light, tangy variations on Gulf Coast food, plus cocktails.
Ikkil Cenote

A huge, circular pit filled with a beautiful underground pool – now the center of a private nature park. You can swim in the cenote pool and dine in the restaurant up above it.
Isla Contoy

Mexico’s most important sea-bird reserve covers the whole of this uninhabited island. The terrain is a mix of mangroves, beaches, and coral lagoons that are home to over 50 species of birds – they contain turtle breeding grounds too. Day tours are offered by dive shops on Isla Mujeres.
Isla Contoy

This uninhabited island reserve north of Isla Mujeres is home to a huge range of sea birds, including pelicans, boobies, and frigate birds, and contains mangroves, turtle-breeding beaches, and superb coral lagoons. One-day tours are run by many dive shops and agencies from Isla and Cancún; check what your tour includes.

Turtles
Isla Mujeres

Isla’s small size means it has a more laid-back beach scene, especially on Playa Norte by Isla town, with its placid, safe waters. The island is a good-value diving center.
Isla Mujeres

Although it’s only a short ferry ride away from Cancún, this 8-km (5-mile) long island, the first place where Spaniards landed in Mexico in 1517, has a very different atmosphere, with few big hotels, one small town, a good choice of cheap places to stay, and a very easy-going, unhurried beach-village feel. Isla is also a great diving, snorkeling, and fishing center, with an exciting range of reefs offshore.
Isla Mujeres

Highly regarded by deep-sea fishing enthusiasts, with able captains who seek out amberjack, marlin, and more.
Isla Mujeres

A laid-back Caribbean island with a beachcomber style. It is surrounded by rich diving reefs and fishing grounds.
Itzamná

Paramount god in the Postclassic Yucatán, the inventor of writing and the god of medicine.

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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