SalientGate What Interests You?

Cancun Activities: Things to do in Cancun

Posted Feb. 16, 2010

Cancun is located on the south-east coast of Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula. White soft sand beaches and turquoise-blue waters with the famous Mexican hospitality make this an ideal spot for many people's Caribbean vacation plans.

Beaches

The beaches of Cancun have to be the biggest attraction with their soft white sand that stays cool even in the blazing sun and crystal clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. All of the beaches in Cancun are public so are accessible to everybody.

The hotel zone is really just one giant beach shaped like the number 7 with the Caribbean sea to the east and the Nichupte Lagoon to the south and west. The Nichupte Lagoon is a salt water lagoon not very good for swimming but during the day it becomes a haven for water sports.

Water Activities

Fishing

You'll find a variety of tropical fish in Cancun, such as groupers, kingfish, snappers, barracudas, and many more. The stunning assortment of fish are due to the nutrient-rich waters because of the reefs around Cancun. You can hire private or group charters and they will provide you with all you need such as rods, tackle, bait, and licenses. You can enjoy sportfishing, fly-fishing, and deep-sea fishing depending on your passion.

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving in Cancun is very popular because of the Great Mesoamerican Reef. The largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest coral reef in the world at an amazing 450 miles in length. You can expect to observe some of the most beautiful sea creatures you will ever see when scuba diving in Cancun.

Cenote diving or cave diving is a specialty around Cancun with many dive schools specializing in it. There are two different types. One is called cave diving, where you swim beyond the reach of sunlight, and the other is cavern diving, where you stay within sight of natural light. To cavern dive you must either be a certified cavern diver or be accompanied by one. There are many instructors and dive schools offering PADI certification courses.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling in Cancun is a great alternative for those that are not so keen on scuba diving because of the shallow reefs. The reefs will astound you with the array of tropical fish you will encounter, turning the backdrop into an underwater kaleidoscope of colors with corals and sea creatures. The best snorkeling is said to be near the Westin Regina, in the southern tip of the hotel zone.

Boat Tours

Contoy Island Asterix Tour - Located about 45 minutes north of Isla Mujeres, Contoy is famous for its flora, fauna, and especially for its birds. More than 90 species of birds are considered either resident or migratory, making the island a joy for avid birdwatchers.

Contoy Island Kolumbus Tour - Travel to the home of the Isla Contoy National Park on board the Corsario or the Pinta, both replicas of Christopher Columbus' ships used to discover the new world. Watch and learn about animals in their natural habitat with help of an experienced guide, also featuring the museum of nature.

Sunrise Marina Jungle Tour - Drive your own watercraft through the mangroves and explore the world’s second largest reef. The Sunrise Marine, at Cancun’s hotel zone will set you off with a boat ride across the Nichupte lagoon mangroves, where you can appreciate an array of tropical species in their natural habitats.

Subsee Paradise - The Subsee Paradise will take you on a 35 minute journey around the Great Mayan Reef (Gran Arrecife Maya). The Subsee is a modern ship that has a glass bottom that will allow you to see the breathtaking Caribbean flora and fauna while a guide explains about life in the coral reefs.

Dinner Cruises

Caribbean Carnaval - Enjoy the festive atmosphere and splendid variety of drinks, such as Piña Coladas, Margaritas, and Tequila Sunrises. The delicious dinner buffet includes fresh salads, pastas, meat, chicken and fish as well as mouthwatering desserts. A spectacular night filled with entertainment, games, dancing and live music.

Captain Hook - Travel back in time with an adventure aboard the Galeon I and Bucanero II, two 17th century authentic Spanish Galleon replicas. These amazing galleons are 93 feet in length and can hold up to 350 passengers. Experience a real pirate environment with the luxury and sophistication of 21st century technology.

Restaurants

Cancun restaurants offer an assorted choice of cuisine from traditional Mexican restaurants to elegant and classy restaurants depending on your tastes. The Yucatan peninsula has a style of food all of it's own with a mixture of European and Mexican flavors, along with the more typical Mexican cuisine. Delicious char-grilled meats with a variety of sauces to try and home of the habanero chile pepper, one of the hottest peppers in the world.

Nightlife

The hotel zone boasts some of the best nightclubs in the world with live music venues playing anything from salsa to disco, Rock and R & B. Music fills the air and the Cancun nightlife takes to the streets until the sun comes up. But you don't have to go to a nightclub to enjoy a great night out, there are many festive bars open until the early hours, or you could relax in one of the many trendy lounge bars, with comfortable seating and modern décor.

Wherever you decide to go to enjoy your night out in Cancun you will get caught up in the fun and friendly atmosphere and wish the night would never end.

Shopping

The shopping in Cancun is one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. Cancun has anything from the Mercado 28, a handcrafts market, to modern shopping malls like Plaza Las Americas to Luxury Avenue featuring designer stores. Something to suit everyones tastes.

La Isla Shopping Village is a shopper's paradise with over 150 shops all under a giant canopy with a series of canals to give it a Venetian feel.

Spas

Cancun is one of the premier spa destinations in the world with over thirty resorts to choose from.
Most of the hotels in Cancun offer spa treatments which use a combination of plants and herbs with ancient Mayan healing rituals and the latest stress relieving treatments.

The Mayan Temazcal is an old fashioned steam bath that uses traditional healing techniques. You will listen to native music while breathing in aromatic herbs that create a magical and therapeutic experience. You can enjoy an authentic Mayan Temazcal at just about any of the Cancun spa resorts.

Mayan Culture

An aura of mystery and majesty still lingers about in the Mayan archaeological sites in and around Cancun. The Mayan civilization spanned for more than 3,000 years and at it's peak was one of the most densely populated and culturally impressive societies in the world. Mayan culture is well known for it's influential architecture, and sophisticated math and astronomy, which was way ahead of their time.

Visiting some of these ancient Mayan sites to experience the majesty of the Mayan civilization is an opportunity not to be missed during a Cancun vacation. There are many tours available from hotels or tour operators.

How to Link to this Page

If you would like to link to this page from your website, simply cut and paste the following code to your website.

It will appear on your website like this:
Cancun Activities: Things to do in Cancun