Cancun activities and sidetrips:
There is more to Cancun than plopping yourself down under a palapa (thatched roof).
Downtown offers a more authentic glimpse into the sights and sounds of Mexico. For
scuba diving
and
snorkeling,
the reefs off Cancun and nearby
Cozumel,
Puerto Morelos, and
Isla Mujeres
are among the best in the world. Cancun also makes a relaxing base for venturing to the
stupendous ruins of
Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba,
remnants of the area's rich Maya heritage.
Taking the highway south from Cancun you will reach the
Riviera Maya. This highway is
100 miles long and will take you to the archaeological site of
Tulum. About halfway along the
highway you can call into
Playa del Carmen,
once a sleepy fishing village and now a bustling tourist town with a distinctive European flavour.
Between
Playa del Carmen and Tulum you can stop off at a number of sandy beaches and sometimes have them all to yourself.
On some of these beaches you can find a small restaurant serving freshly-caught fish right there on the
sand with your toes still in the water -
heaven.
Tulum is the only city that the Mayans built on the sea.
It provides the best photo and video opportunity imaginable, with its green grass, ancient buildings and
the turquoise sea with its white-tipped waves forming the perfect background.
Along the same highway you
will find the eco-parks of
Xel-Ha
and
Xcaret. Watching
out for the homemade signs, you can also discover some very interesting fresh-water
cenotes
(natural sinkholes), in which you can swim and snorkel surrounded by lush jungle.
For a detailed list of tours and things to do in Cancun,
please
visit our
Cancun Activities page.