Cancun

Hotel Zone

The Hotel Zone - or 'Zona Hotelera' - is the primary tourist destination in Cancun. It is a thin strip of land, roughly describing the shape of a number seven which curves around the Nichupte Lagoon. The Hotel Zone is traversed for its entire length by the Kukulacan Boulevard which connects with the mainland at each end. The inside of the Kuklacan Boulevard, the area facing onto the Nichupte Lagoon is home to many attractive marinas and restaurants and is a good spot from which to organise sea wildlife tours. On the sea facing side are a string of large resort complexes and hotels as well as private beaches. These include - on the north side - Playa Linda, Playa Tortugas, Playa Langosta, Playa Caracol and Playa Las Perlas and - on the south - Playa Del Ray, Playa Delfines, Playa Choc Mool and Playa Marlin. There are a range of watersports along these beaches including parasailing, snorkelling and beach volleyball. There are also a couple of golf courses in this area; The Hilton Cancun Golf Club and Pok Ta Pok. There is a fairly hard partying ethic in Cancun and the party zone features lots of bars, discos and superclubs. This is also the area with some of the best restaurants in Cancun so don't be put off by it just because you're not interested in partying! As well as resorts and leisure facilities, there are also a number of sites of archaeological importance in the Hotel Zone. Most important amongst these are the Ruinas del Ray, a complex of Mayan ruins, now populated by iguanas.

Downtown Cancun

Though most tourists to Cancun don't realise it, attached to the vast Cancun resort complex is a functioning city, home to half a million people. If the resorts become slightly overwhelming, the downtown area or - 'Centro' - can be a welcomed break and a more authentic slice of Mexican life. There are several excellent market places in town. Most popular amongst these are Market 28 and Market 23 where you'll find great handicraft stalls as well as some excellent street food vendors. There are a number of bars and nightclubs in the Centro though the vibe is generally more laid back than in the Hotel Zone. The Bull Ring is a good spot for evening entertainment and hosts traditional mariachi and dance performances.

Isla Mujeres

For many, Isla Mujeres makes a pleasant day trip from Cancun. It is much less frenetically touristy and can be a much needed break from the mainland. For others, Isla Mujeres provides all that is needed for a week's stay - with plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants. The most popular spot on the island is Playa Norte; a beach of gorgeous sand and palms flanked by small restaurants and cafes. Adjacent is the Playa Sol, famed for its incredible sunsets. The picture is completed by the traditional Mexican fishing boats that dock on the beach. Whilst on Isla Mujeres, be sure to visit the turtle farm, a hatchery for endangered sea turtles, as well as the Dolphin Discovery, an amusement park where it's possible to swim with dolphins. There's also some great scuba diving around the Manchones Reef which lies just off the island's shore. At Punta Sur lie the ruins of a small Mayan temple.