To
Chichen Itza. This World Heritage Site sits in the middle of the northern Yucatan Peninsula, southwest of Cancun. It contains a variety of buildings built between the fifth and 13th centuries. Although some, and perhaps all, were the product of the Maya, some structures were influenced by the Itzaes. Intricate, graceful stone carvings are well-preserved, and some of the sculpture that is shaded from the sun still shows traces of color. The 79-ft-/24-m-tall, pyramid-shaped Temple of Kukulkan, or El Castillo, dominates the site. About 125 mi/200 km from Cancun, Chichen Itza is accessible by car, bus or air. Tours usually include transportation and a guide. If you want to avoid the crowds, plan to visit the ruins early in the morning before tour buses arrive or late in the afternoon after they leave. Daily 8 am-5 pm. Entrance fee US$9, which includes a light-and-sound show at 7 or 8 pm.
To Isla Mujeres. This easygoing island is half the size of Cancun Island and has long been a haven for divers, anglers, escapists and adventurers. Located 8 mi/13 km off the northeastern tip of Cancun, it can be reached by regular ferry service from Cancun for a day of snorkeling or for exploring by rented bicycle, golf cart or motor scooter. The beaches north of town are popular hangouts for swimmers and sunbathers. The island's only town is crammed with souvenir shops, but a few excellent folk-art boutiques sell high-quality pottery, wood carvings and weavings. Garrafon Park at the southern tip of the island offers a variety of activities including snorkeling, guided nature walks and zip-lining. There is also a modern-sculpture garden at the southern tip of the island, an old lighthouse you can climb and a museum in what was once the keeper's cottage. Garrafon reef has been badly damaged by snorkelers, but it is now protected and efforts are being made to restore it.
To Cozumel. This popular resort island is less developed than Cancun but has the same crystalline water. Located about 40 mi/65 km to the south, it is close to the second-longest barrier reef in the world, making it a paradise for divers and snorkelers. The calmer water on the west side is good for swimming, and the deserted beaches to the east have white sand but rougher surf—beautiful but not good for swimming. Cozumel can be reached by plane from Cancun or by taking the ferry from Playa del Carmen, a resort town an hour south of Cancun.
To Maya communities. Alltournative, an award-winning ecotourism outfit dedicated to preserving the Mayan heritage, offers unique, low-impact excursions to isolated Maya communities. Once there, visitors can swim and snorkel in cenotes (ancient, underground rivers), ride a zip line across lakes, rappel, kayak and interact with villagers, who prepare a typical lunch for the visitors. One tour takes in the ruins at Coba. Around US$115 per tour. Vans pick up tourists in Cancun. Phone 984-873-2073. http://www.alltournative.com.
To Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Located near Tulum, Sian Ka'an is the largest protected area in Mexico—more than 1 million acres/40,500 hectares—and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its name means "the place where the sky is born." The site combines ecologically pristine reefs, wetlands and tropical forests, as well as archaeological sites going back 2,300 years. It is home to more than 350 species of birds and many other animals. Cancun-based EcoColors offers a variety of one-day tours to Sian Ka'an. US$109-$175. Phone 884-3667 or 884-9214. http://www.ecotravelmexico.com.
To Tulum. Tulum is about 80 mi/130 km south of Cancun on Highway 307. When the Spaniards first arrived from the sea they thought the city was Eldorado, as the setting sun turned the buildings a golden color. Although small compared with the other archaeological sites, Tulum is the only major Mayan city next to the sea. The buildings don't rival Chichen Itza's in size or number, and most have been roped off to prevent damage by the hordes of visitors. However, Tulum's seaside setting is unforgettable. A beach at the foot of the ruins adds to the picture-postcard quality of the area. Buses from Cancun drop passengers off at the turnoff to the ruins, which lie less than 0.5 mi/1 km east of the highway. Daily 8 am-5 pm. Entrance fee is US$9.
To Coba. If you have time and feel adventurous, take the inland highway branching off Highway 307 near Tulum and head for this mysterious Mayan city, thought to have once been the commercial hub of the Maya empire in the northern Yucatan. Mostly unexcavated and covered by jungle, the site is crisscrossed with limestone-paved roads built by the ancient Maya. It has some of the tallest pyramids and temples in the region. Dress for hiking and take water and insect repellent. Coba is much less crowded than Tulum. Bicycles are available for hire just inside the main gate and provide an excellent way of exploring the site. It is located about 105 mi/167 km southeast of Cancun. Daily 8 am-5 pm. Entrance fee US$4.
Local Tours
Cancun is an ideal center for exploring the Riviera Maya and Yucatan. A variety of operators run boat tours to the offshore islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. By coach, you can take day trips to all of the attractions as far south as Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and west to Chichen Itza. Multiday trips are also available and are an excellent value for the money. The two-day excursion to Chichen Itza and Uzmal takes in both of those ancient cities and includes short stops at the Spanish colonial cities of Valladolid and the Yucatan capital Merida.
Day By Day
We suggest a minimum of four nights in Cancun, even if all you plan to do is lie on the beach. (There's a lot of beach to lounge on—and it is irresistible.) Add one to two more days if you plan to visit other islands or ruins.
Day 1—Arrive and spend some time lying on the beach in front of your hotel. Later, spend some time strolling and window-shopping before having dinner.
Day 2—Take a day trip to Isla Mujeres. Head out to the Forum by the Sea shopping mall at night for some grand people-watching and grab dinner at one of its restaurants.
Day 3—Scuba divers may want to head to Playa del Carmen to catch an early ferry to Cozumel, where the diving is spectacular. (Check with the Cozumel dive shops in advance to be sure they have a dive trip scheduled after your ferry arrives.) Nondivers can stay in Cancun to shop, enjoy the beach or take a ride in the Sub Sea Explorer. At night, take in the scene at one of the dance clubs.
Day 4—If you've got a keen interest in ruins, take a day trip to Chichen Itza. Another option is to mix visiting ruins with some other sightseeing by renting a car or taking the bus to Tulum and then making a leisurely visit to Xcaret or Playa del Carmen.
Day 5—Depart.
Day Plans
To help you make the most of your time in Cancun, we've designed three different itineraries.Day Plans
PLAN ASand, Shops and a Show
You can sun first and then shop, or vice versa. We'd sun first, in the morning, when the rays aren't so intense. For a safe swim, choose the beaches along the northern coast, facing the Bahia de Mujeres. If you prefer a public beach, Playa Tortugas is a short taxi or bus ride from the convention-center bus stop.
When you've had enough sun and surf, try one of the casual restaurants at the Punta Cancun dining district, next to the Cancun Convention Center, or dine at El Caribeno in the InterContinental Presidente for lunch. If you plan to spend the rest of your day shopping, try the Plaza La Isla mall, which is full of local and international boutiques, shops and restaurants.
For those who will be in town for the evening, we suggest dinner and the folklore show at El Mexicano. The restaurant offers classical regional dishes and entertainment by mariachis and dancers.
PLAN B
Watersports and Cancun City
In the morning, arrange your favorite watersport. If you're fascinated by what's beneath the water, you'll want to try snorkeling at the southern end of the island near Parque Nizuc (most of the resorts offer daily tours). If it is a calm day, take a glass-bottomed boat to a nearby coral reef. Experienced sailboarders will want to head for Playa Tortugas, the public beach on the north coast of the island. You can rent equipment and take lessons there.
After you've spent a couple of hours in the water, you may want to change out of your wet swimsuit and catch a bus to Cancun City (it costs less than US$1 each way). You can easily spend a few hours browsing the colorful markets along Avenida Tulum in the more typically Mexican part of the city. At meal times, the smell of grilled meats and the sounds of strolling mariachi bands beckon diners to the many sidewalk restaurants lining the avenue.
PLAN C
Cancun's Maya Past
If you want an introduction to Mayan ruins before visiting Chichen Itza, Tulum or Coba, take a bus or a cab to the Mayan ruins of El Rey, near the south end of the Cancun Hotel Zone across from the Hilton. The site includes a few platforms, two plazas and a small pyramid.
You could have lunch at one of the restaurants in the Hilton or head north on Boulevard Kukulcan to La Dolce Vita. (The views and relaxed ambience at this Italian cafe make it worth an extra stop.) Spend the rest of your day lazing on the beach or enjoying your favorite watersports.
