Overview

Cancun has a variety of sights worth checking out in addition to the main allure of the wonderful beaches and warm waters. Isla Mujeres is a hotspot and is especially ideal for families. It comes with busy resorts and beaches and the popular Garrafon Park, while in Cancun proper is the Interactive Aquarium and Xcaret park. Chichen Itza is a nearby top Cancun attraction for culture-vultures.

Beaches

Cancun has a string of delightful beaches that preside on warm, turquoise waters. There are beaches here for everyone, from families looking for child-friendly beaches to secluded coves and beaches for the swimmer. The resorts overlooking the beaches facing Isla Mujeres are best for families, with their soft coral sands and gentle waters, while advanced swimmers should head north or south of the Hotel Zone. There is also good shopping to be had at many of Cancun's beaches, with local vendors selling popular items like sarongs, sea shells, and jewellery.

Interactive Aquarium

The Interactive Aquarium in Plaza La Isla is one of Cancun's main attractions after the beaches and is a good bet for those with kids. It is Latin America's first interactive aquarium and although small, it is modern and has some nice touches. Visitors get to pet creatures of the Caribbean deep, including rays, sharks and starfish. The shark tank at feeding time and swimming with dolphins are the main highlights.

Xcaret

Xcaret is a stunning park close to the shore in Cancun, which has been built to take in the best that Mexican nature has to offer. There is some lovely walking and swimming here and an abundance of Mexican plants and wildlife to discern. You will also find good snorkelling at Xcaret, plus there is also a small zoo onsite. Be sure to check out Xcaret at Night (Xcaret de Noche), which features song and dance of Mexico.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is a large archaeological site near Cancun and one of the most significant Mayan ruins of the region. There are ancient pyramids galore at this pre-Columbian city, which was a centre where the Mayans used to worship their gods. Chichen Itza is busy with tourists year round due to its popularity and significance but is well worth a visit.

Garrafon Park

Garrafon Park is located on the south of Isla Mujeres island and although it doesn't have the best beaches, it has some great swimming and snorkelling. It is a popular site for visitors en route for Cancun proper and has good shopping and eating as a result. There is a small fee to get into the park and you're advised to get here early to avoid the crowds.

Overview

Options for sports and activities in Cancun are diverse owing to the many beaches and the surrounding countryside. The swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving is good while jet-skiing, windsurfing and many other water sports activities can also be enjoyed. There is also some pretty good walking nearby, as well as options to go on a jeep tour, bungee jumping, or sliding down a water slide.

Water sports

Cancun's beaches provide the most choice for getting active and there are loads of water sports options available. Banana boat rides are popular here, along with jet-skiing and windsurfing, while swimming is an eternal pastime. There are loads of beaches to choose from, including those in the Hotel Zone and at Kukulkan Boulevard. Isla Mujeres also has a string of popular beaches.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

Cancun has warm waters that are stocked full of tropical fish and coral reefs and many operations offer snorkelling and scuba diving adventures. You could simply hire some snorkel gear from your beach hotel and go for a swim or sign up for a PADI Open Water scuba diving course.

Water park

The Wet ‘n' Wild water park in Cancun is a great day out option for families, with its many fun slides, beaches and wave pool. There are also games that kids can play here while adults can relax as the lifeguards help monitor the kids. The water park can be found in Punta Nizuc in the Hotel Zone.

Walking and hiking

The Tres Rios Eco-park has the best walking in the Cancun region; a nature park about 10 minutes from town. You can take to the many miles of walking trails which lie amid stunning Mexican foliage, or perhaps have a go at the scuba diving that is also available. There are also walks to the many archaeological ruins in the area.

Bungee jumping

Bungee jumping is very popular in Cancun and there are three bungee platforms where you can leap from. Fat Tuesday's at Playa Tortugas is the most popular bungee jump in Cancun; a 66-foot high platform at the dock with a water splash at the bottom. Jumpers need not have any experience.

Jeep adventures

Four-wheel driving around Cancun is lots of fun and you can join a tour or go at it alone in a self-drive jeep. There is much to see around Cancun, with jungle reserves and Mayan ruins galore, along with an underground cenote, which has good swimming and snorkelling. There are also several nearby towns to explore via rustic roads.

Dining and shopping

There are hundreds of restaurants in Cancun and it's never difficult to find somewhere to eat whether you're staying in the Hotel Zone, in Cancun city centre or at one of the many beaches. Mexican and international restaurants abound and there are also many vegetarian eateries and steakhouses. As with elsewhere in Mexico, people generally dine late. On the shopping front, Cancun does well with its diverse range of malls, independent boutiques and markets.

The best eating in Cancun can be had in the Hotel Zone, where loads of classy restaurants, hotel restaurants, and trendy cafés can be found. Some establishments in this area of town have multiple restaurants, while local chains like El Tizoncito and El Tacotorro in downtown Cancun are alternatives. Avenue Kohunlich in downtown Cancun is also a good choice with its many taco outlets and other Mexican specialities.

Along with standard, tasty Mexican fare, seafood is another big eat in Cancun and there are scores of places in the Hotel Zone and along the various beaches where the best lobster, red snapper, and sea snail can be had. In this neck of the woods you may also like to give Mayan food a go. Spicy meat dishes, including rabbit, are common Mayan plates, while barbequed fish (el tikinxic), shark tortillas (pan de cazon), and beans and Habanero chili peppers are all good bets.

You will find the best shopping in the Hotel Zone and downtown Cancun and although generally expensive, there is a huge range of malls and shops here. Head for Plaza Kukulkan, Plaza Caracol, and Plaza Flamingos Hotel Zone malls for the best of the shopping or to downtown Cancun, where Plaza Las Americas has cheaper prices. La Isla has a massive range of Mexican and American chains along with many restaurants.

There are also many duty-free shops in Cancun which do particularly well on European goods, with UltraFemme on Avenida Tulum being the best place for fancy jewellery, watches, and cosmetics. UltraFemme is in downtown Cancun and thus offers better rates than its branches in the likes of Plaza Caracol and Kukulcán Plaza in the Hotel Zone.

For Mexican handicrafts, Avenue Tulum in downtown Cancun is a good option. Unfortunately, handicrafts in Cancun are fairly limited compared to other Mexican hotspots and are also more expensive, yet the open-air craft markets both in the city and in the Hotel Zone have pretty good deals if you are adept at bargaining. Coral Negro on Bulevar Kukulkán is one such market which also comes with a restaurant with food of the Yucatan region.

Cancun has a healthy supply of top-end dining spots, many of which have superior views over the Caribbean Sea. Mexican food is everywhere along with a slew of seafood restaurants, a dash of Asian flair and a good helping of South American fare. The good thing is that prices are not over the top although the views and general reputation of a place often determines this.

Overview

Cancun International Airport, one of Mexico's busiest airports, is the main port of arrival for Cancun visitors. It receives flights from all over and has decent facilities and links with the island. Getting about the town and island is chiefly by public bus and taxis although you will find you'll be paying through the nose for the latter.

Airports

Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the gateway to Cancun and is one of the country's busiest airports, with a 10 million annual passenger throughput. Flights come in from destinations worldwide, including from US cities such as Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles as well as from London and Madrid in Europe with a string of major airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia.

The airport operates 24 hours a day and comes with two terminals that are connected by shuttle bus. Terminal 2 has the bulk of the facilities although both terminals have ATMs, currency exchange, shops and restaurants. The shops and restaurants are generally open throughout the day only, yet some are open for the duration.

Public buses, shuttles and taxis provide the transfer options to the city and back. If your hotel doesn't provide a courtesy shuttle, taking a taxi is your best bet although beware fares are often pricey for the 15-mile journey. There is also an airport shuttle available to the Hotel Zone and tickets can be purchased in the baggage claim areas. Some of the major hotels are taken in en-route. Public buses run to town and provide the cheapest transfer option. If you decide to hire a car, Cancun is located northwest of the airport along the Carretera Highway.

Public transportation

The only public transport option in getting to Cancun from elsewhere in Mexico is by bus, with services coming in from major cities throughout Mexico to Cancun's ADO bus terminal in downtown Cancun (Ciudad Cancún). You should also head here if you plan on taking a bus daytrip to Chichen Itza or Playa del Carmen.

Public buses provide the mainstay of public transport on the island and they make regular stops along Boulevard Kukulkan, the main thoroughfare. The buses are frequent and cheap but a little on the hot and uncomfortable side. There are two main routes: Ruta 1 and Ruta 2 (Hoteles) and services regularly run to and from the Hotel Zone. For Puerto Juárez/Punta Sam take a Ruta 8 bus. Buses run from 06:00 to 22:00 and have the fare posted on the front, while private buses are more expensive for the same basic routings.

Taxis are widely available but are notoriously expensive when compared with Mexico urban travel at large and are particularly overpriced within the Hotel Zone. You will find them at various points along Boulevard Kukulkan, at the main beaches, and at shopping malls and major hotels. Always agree on the price beforehand. You can also charter taxis per hour for tours around Cancun and to Chichen Itza, for example, but be sure to negotiate the fare.

Ferries run throughout the day between Cancun and nearby Isla Mujeres island. It is a 20-minute journey, with services departing from Puerto Juarez. The dock is conveniently located in the Hotel Zone and many companies run boats to and from the island. Some have better facilities than others.