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.

Arroz con Pulpo

Another Campeche specialty: a delicious warm salad that’s much lighter than many local dishes on a hot, hot day. Rice (arroz ) is mixed together with chopped octopus (pulpo ), red peppers, onion, coriander, and other herbs, and often mango, papaya, and other fruits, in a refreshing blend of sweet juice and salty seafood flavors.
Arte Maya, Ticul

Ticul produces huge quantities of ceramics. This family-run store stands out for the owners’ skills and careful use of traditional and even ancient Mayan techniques.
Avalon Baccara, Cancún

In place of the giant scale of most Cancún hotels, the discreet Baccara deliberately goes another way, as a “boutique hotel.” Each of its 34 suites is individually decorated. Built in contemporary Mexican style and with a lovely pool, it’s an unusually intimate place for Cancún.
Avenida Hidalgo, Isla Mujeres Town

Isla’s main street, and its main drag for leisurely browsing. Here and in parallel Av. Juárez small shops offer painted wooden birds, original T-shirts and local shell and coral jewelry.
Ay Caray, Mérida

This place is a big, loud, and boisterous, very Mexican bar-dance hall, with all kinds of Mexican music, from modern pop to mariachi and rancheras, recorded and live.
Azúcar, Cancún

The best place in Cancún to dance to salsa, the Afro-Latin merengue and other rhythms played by fantastic live bands (see Live Attractions).
Azúcar, Cancún

Cancún’s premiere Latin dance venue, where salsa fans can try out their slickest moves to top bands from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba, and around the Caribbean. It’s a comfortable venue, and explosive, pulsating performances are guaranteed.

Azúcar, Cancún
Balankanché Caves

This great labyrinthine complex of caves extends several miles under the Yucatán forest. Caves were sacred for the ancient Maya and, in one spectacular chamber, the sanctuary, remains were found of over 100 ritual incense burners. The compulsory tour ends in a magical chamber with a perfectly still pool, in which the cave bottom seen through the water is a mirror image of the roof.
Balankanché Caves

As well as cenote pools and underwater rivers, the Yucatán is underlain by a huge web of dry caves, sacred places to the ancient Maya. Balankanché, near Chichén Itzá, is one of the largest and most extraordinary cave systems.
Bar La Conchita, El Cuyo

A rumbustious village bar with a salsa soundtrack. The men of El Cuyo go out to fish before dawn, and when they come back many spend much of the day by the beach at La Conchita, which serves up wonderful grilled fish.

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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