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.

Campeche Petenes

The north of Campeche State behind the coast consists of mangrove lagoons and petenes – “islands” of solid land within the swamp, which have special microclimates all of their own. Within the area are flamingos, deer, and even pumas. Visitor facilities are very limited.
Camping Sacbé, near Uxmal

The best budget accommodation really near to Uxmal is provided at this very welcoming site just south of the village of Santa Elena. The Mexican-French couple who live here offer camping space (with good showers and solar power), dorm beds, and very pretty doubles, with showers, in cabins. Meals, equally a bargain, are also available.
Cancún

The big one – with the longest stretch of beach, backed by the biggest hotels and malls, and with the most attractions, from parasailing to water parks. The beaches on the north side of the island are the best for swimming and beach-life, but can get rather crowded. On the surf beaches along the east it’s always possible to find a spot to yourself (but check safety conditions, (see Personal Safety).
Cancún

For easy-access, fun fishing, with trips available from watersports centers like Aqua World.
Cancún

Mexico’s biggest resort has 23 km (14 miles) of dazzling white sand beaches, lavish hotels, every kind of restaurant, and attractions from water parks to giant nightclubs for 24-hour entertainment.
Cancún Beach

Every one of the Riviera’s beaches has the same wonderful fine white sand, which stays deliciously cool to the touch, but Cancún’s is unquestionably the finest, stretching the whole 23 km (14 miles) of Cancún Island. Along it, in the Hotel Zone, are resort hotels, shopping and entertainment centers, snorkeling and fun parks, plus the Mayan ruins of El Rey (see Cancún).

Señor Frog, Cancún
Cancún Jazz Festival

An innovative mix of young performers from Latin America, the U.S., and Europe – often playing Latin Jazz and contemporary fusion rather than strict jazz – features in this festival. Several acts play for free in Parque de las Palapas in Ciudad Cancún.
Cancún to Playa

Morning

Begin by seeing the more traditional side of Cancún with a desayuno at one of the Mercado 28 restaurants , in the town market. Then rent a car, head to the Hotel Zone, and drive the length of Boulevard Kukulcán.

See something of local history in the Museo de Antropología (see Museo de Antropología e Historia, Cancún) in the Convention Center, and catch up on Cancún’s more glitzy side at the Forum by the Sea and La Isla complexes (see La Isla, Cancún), for some mall-hanging and window-shopping.

Continue down to El Rey ruins, to get of an idea of a compact Mayan city; as you leave, walk across the Boulevard to Playa Delfines, for crashing surf and a spectacular view north back along Cancún Island and its beach.

Afternoon

From the end of Boulevard Kukulcán, turn south on Highway 307 and head for Puerto Morelos, for a lunch of deliciously refreshing seafood ceviche and a cool beer at Los Pelícanos (see Los Pelícanos, Puerto Morelos, Los Pelícanos, Puerto Morelos), watching the pelicans hang in the breeze. Rest up on the beach, and take a snorkel so that you can swim over to the Puerto’s reef.

Carry on south to Playa del Carmen. Check out the beach, and the shops along the Quinta Avenida. If you’re staying over in Playa, book a diving or snorkeling trip for the next day. As darkness falls, join the strolling crowds along the Quinta.
Cancún Town

On the mainland at the north end of Cancún Island, Ciudad Cancún, also known as “Downtown,” was created at the same time as the Hotel Zone in the 1970s. It’s developed an atmosphere of its own, though, and the main drag of Avenida Tulum and the nearby squares and avenues are enjoyable places to explore, with plenty of shopping and great restaurants offering traditional Mexican cooking at low prices (see Cancún).
Capricho, Puerto Aventuras

Puerto Aventuras’ own disco-bar is unpredictable – sometimes quiet, sometimes buzzing. The music is eclectic.

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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