Cancun / Cozumel

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Cancun

Cancún (pronounced can-koon) is a coastal city in Mexico's easternmost state, Quintana Roo. It is the municipal seat of Benito Juárez municipality and a world renowned tourist resort with modern beachfront hotels surrounded by the Islas Mujeres (Women Island), the Caribbean Sea, and the Nichupte and Bojorquez lagoons. The mainland downtown commercial section (Cancún City), connected to the island by two bridges, has broad avenues lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels.

There are about 140 hotels in Cancún with 24,000 rooms and 380 restaurants. Four million visitors arrive each year in an average of 190 flights daily. The Hotel Zone offers a broad range of accommodations, ranging from relatively inexpensive motel-style facilities in the older section closest to the mainland, to high-priced luxury hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton in the later sections. Many of the hotels are time-share condominiums with kitchen facilities. Some all inclusive hotels monopolize their guests' spending, consequently decreasing the income of independent service providers. There are also upscale private residences and lavish condominiums for rent that cater to the rich and famous. Restaurants, bars and shops in the hotel zone tend to be rather expensive compared with the downtown area and other Mexican resorts. Although the Hotel Zone is frequently described as "posh" or "exclusive" the main Cancún tourism market is middle- and upper-middle-class, according to government statistics, which also report that more than 30% of Cancún visitors are Mexican.

On the opposite side of the island from the Caribbean Sea is the Nichupte Lagoon, which is used for boating excursions and jet-ski jungle tours.

There are some (relatively) small ruins of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Cancún. Ruinas del Rey is located in the Hotel Zone. El Meco, a more substantial site, is found on the mainland just outside the city limits on the road to Punta Sam.

Below is a map of the Cancun area:



Things to See and Do

• Isla Mujeres. A great break from the Cancun tourist traps. This small island is just a 20 minute ferry ride from the hotel zone. Rent a scooter to get around the island fast and cheap.
• The Water and Sand. One of Cancun's primary attractions is its beautiful turquoise, multi-hued waters, and worth mentioning is its white, powdery sand beaches.
•  Mayan Sites. Tulum, the only major Mayan archeological site to overlook the Caribbean Sea is only 80 miles south of Cancun. Tulum contains over 60 different structures and is believed to be one of the most important ceremonial sites for the Mayan people. This archaeological zone that date back more than 17 centuries show the remains of a huge walled city with roads, homes and businesses by the sea. The major highlight of Tulum is El Castillo which is a large pyramid that sits on a forty-foot cliff. El Castillo is thought to be a part of a series of lighthouses.
• The Ocean and Beaches. For the more advanced swimmers, the edge of the open ocean can make for a challenging and fun swimming experience. For less advanced swimmers, or those with little ones, pick a resort facing Isla Mujeres for a gentle and relaxing aquatic experience. The sand found here is ground up coral and doesn't get hot like you might expect. The beaches are absolutely gorgeous and the water is crystal clear and warm.
• Swim with Dolphins
• Jeep Adventures Cancun
• Aqua Tours - Exciting water tour! Choose either a Jetski or two person Jetboat for a trip through the lagoon out to snorkel on the reef, their top tours are Jungle Tour and the Sailing Quest (Catamarans).
• Lobster Dinner Cruise Cancun- Romantic night out. Both the guys and gals will enjoy this trip. Take a trip out on the calm lagoon on a beautiful boat with friends you have not met yet. The staff allow you to take part in the fun or settle back and watch the sunset. Steak and lobster is cooked on the boat and tastes so much better away from the city sounds.
• Chichén Itzá Archaeological Site. You can take a public bus or a private vehicle to the spectacular ruins of Chichen-Itza. It is about 2 1/2 hours from Cancun by car. Also, close to the ruins is a cenote, which is a fresh water sink hole, where you can swim. Please note that El Castillo, the pyramid structure, is closed off to climbing due to erosion.
• Xel-Ha. Xel-Ha is a beautiful outdoor water theme park that encompasses the best of the Mexican Caribbean nature. There are many things to be enjoyed at Xel-Ha such as the natural, ecological attractions and different water activites such as snorkeling and diving in lagoons, ancient caves and creeks, or swimming with dolphins. One can relax and admire the scenery on the lazy river or be outgoing and adventurous by jumping from thiry foot ledges into the water below. Families can get their picture taken with exotic birds or swim with tropical wildlife such as barracudas and sting rays. Xel-Ha provides food for its tourists in a number of different outside restaurants and bars.
• Baseball. The Lobestermen play Mar-Jun at the stadium located in Downtown Cancun.
• Bullfights. Toredos held Wednesdays at 15.30h at the Plaza de Toros in Downtown Cancun.

Nightlife

Cancun's nightlife is unlike any other destination on Earth! For some a day in Cancun doesn't start until tasks like an 11AM breakfast, nap on the beach and siesta are arduously completed. This is your place to shine.

Make sure to check out Carlos and Charlie's, Coronaville and Coco Bongo. Don't be surprised to find yourself dancing in a conga line, laughing your cares away and speaking whatever español you managed to pickup. A must for the first timers, and always good fun for returners also. Coco Bongo's entertainment includes a show, complete with girls swinging from the ceilings.

Señor Frogs is another destination you need to add to your nightlife to do list. A restaurant by day and a dance club by night, is one of the most popular spots for vacationers to visit. The restaurant opens up for lunch serves international types of food such as pasta, chicken and pizza as well as Mexican cuisine all day until midnight. A cover charge of five dollars will get you into the party after 8 pm and includes a souvenir yard glass which you can then pay to get filled with your drink of choice. One of Señor Frogs famous attractions is the water slide that leads from the club out into the lagoon, just for a little bit of fun!

For some deeper nightlife The City, O Ultra Lounge and Daddy'O are excellent. The City is a huge venue and gets top entertainers and DJs. Don't be surprised to see Vegas like shows spontaneously erupt while you are sipping your piña colada. O' Ultra Lounge is a very sleek NYC type club and can take some time getting in and out of, but has had some great acts like "Infected Mushroom" rock the crowd till the wee hours.

Also try the clubs at Yaxchilan Avenue, located in downtown Cancun, where all the locals hang out. Try the live music bar Los 4 Elementos inside Hotel Xbalamque (Av. Yaxchilan 31). They play live music from 9 p.m. till the last customer leaves! The music is great and prices are significantly lower than those found in the hotel zone clubs. Some other clubs worth visiting in Yaxchilan Avenue are La Taberna, 77 Sports Bar and El Pabilo Cafe. 

Cozumel

The first Spanish visitor was Juan de Grijalva in 1518, and in the following year Hernán Cortés came with a fleet and destroyed many Maya temples. Some 40,000 Maya lived on the island then, but smallpox devastated them and by 1570 only 30 were left alive. In the ensuing years Cozumel was nearly deserted, used as a hideout by pirates from time to time. In 1848, the Caste War of Yucatán resulted in resettlement by refugees escaping the tumult. A plaque at the Museo Cozumel states Abraham Lincoln as U.S. president was close to purchasing the island of Cozumel as a place to send the freed slaves. The continued war in the Yucatan forced him to change his mind.


More information on Cozumel

Below is a map of the Cozumel area:




Things To Do: 

• SCUBA diving — Cozumel is one of the premier scuba diving destinations in the Western Hemisphere. The island abounds with dive shops, most willing to give you a pseudo-resort certification and take you out, but for an added price. A certified boat dive (two tanks) will set you back around $70, plus any equipment rental fees. Most dive locations are located well south of the city proper, as are a number of dive shops if you want a short boat ride. Most diving in Cozumel is drift diving, where you are dropped off by the boat at the beginning of the dive, are carried along the reef by the current, and picked up at the end of your dive by the boat. There is some shore diving, but it is limited.

• Aldora Divers — training, certification and fast 6 person boats with high capacity steel tanks and long surface intervals, usually at Palancar Beach Club. Rental equipment. Night Dives. Nitrox available. Villa Aldora room and suite rentals.

• Aqua Safari — training, certification and two types of daily dive trips (fast or slow boat). Good company but they tend to pack more people on a dive trip (up to 16 on a slow boat).

• Blue XT~Sea Diving — training, certification, equipment rental, and nitrox are available from this dive op. Personalized service, max 6 divers per fast boat. They'll keep and clean your dive gear (except wetsuit) if you wish and have it on the boat the next morning. Night and afternoon dives based on demand, and hotel packages with decent savings are offered.

• Cozumel Water Sports — Tours and Shore Excursions in Cozumel for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, SNUBA diving in Cozumel, SeaTrek, Glass bottom boat snorkel, Clear Kayak Snorkel and much more.

• Deep Blue — training, certification, nitrox, technical and known for fast boats. At most 8 divers with 2 divemaster or as few as 4 divers with 1 dive master. Rental equipment. Night Dives. Hotel and dive package is available through numerous hotels. Dive shop is located in town across the street from La Choza. Divers are usually called the day before diving to arrange dive location and possible divemaster.

• Dive Paradise — training, certification and two types of daily dive trips (fast or slow boat). Night dives. Numerous dive / hotel packages. Several dive shops. Rental equipment. In Cozumel since 1984.

• Living Underwater — small, personalized service offering steel 120s (super-long dives). Best for advanced divers.

• Scuba Club Cozumel — Cozumel's first dive resort for divers by divers. Excellent all inclusive package deals, private dock and fleet of dive boats, most knowledgeable staff of local dive masters.

• Swimming with Dolphins — The turquoise waters of the sea at Chankanaab Natural Park in Cozumel are the great scenery to enjoy the swimming with dolphins in the [Mexican Caribbean]. During your program, these great marine mammals will show you their intelligence through a series of behaviors that every one will enjoy. Swimming with dolphins has become one of the favorite activities for those who visit Cozumel.

• Beach lounging — most of the calm western side of Cozumel has rough rocky beaches not suitable for swimming or sun bathing. The areas that are suitable have been turned into small parks. Some charge entrance fees which includes a beach chair and umbrella as well as access to the washroom and shower facilities; others are free to use, and offer many of the same amenities, while relying on visitors to purchase food or drinks. Playa San Francisco is located 20 minutes by taxi south of town and has a restaurant on site.

• Glass Bottom Boat Tour — a twist to snorkeling. You visit about two or three reefs, which are small parts of the second largest coral reef in the world. It costs at the most about $40 a couple but you can get it a little cheaper depending on where you buy your tickets. While heading to the snorkeling sites you have the privilege of looking through the glass bottom of the boat to see all the sea-life you pass on your way. Very fun to do as a couple or a family.

• Snorkeling — logically enough, the second most popular activity after diving. Many beach-side dive shops rent equipment for $7-10. Even though all beaches in Mexico are public some require fees to enter and use the facilities. Beaches with a rocky limestone shoreline on the west coast are the best for snorkeling or shore dives since less sand is disturbed so visibility and coral growth are better.

• The "Other Side" — the beaches on the east (windward) side of the island. Sandy surf and large waves alternating with rocky limestone coastlines on the east side of the island are beautiful but can be dangerous for swimmers. The roaring surf creates strong breakers and undertows in many areas. Never enter the water alone. There are now many areas where flags are displayed showing the level of safety for a particular area. Despite the potentially dangerous swimming conditions, these beaches are stunning and serene for enjoying sunbathing, long walks or playing in the water very close to shore. These beaches are popular with surfers and kite surfers, and with locals on the weekends.

Recommended Places To Eat:

Local restaurants, most fairly good and fairly similar to each other, are plentiful in and around the city's "downtown" main square.

• La Choza, Calle Adolfo Rosado Salas #198, at Avenue 10. Phone: 987-872-0958 - Great homestyle, local Mexican food served in a relaxed atmosphere. Fish is excellent, tasty fajitas and guacamole. Only one Margarita needed here!
• El Capi Navigante, Avienda 10 between Calles and 5 Sur. One of the oldest seafood restaurants on the island and still going strong by reputation! Nothing bad to be had here. Get them to finish off your meal with one of their flaming desserts!
• Prima Trattoria, Adolfo Rosado Salas between Avenidas 5 and 10. Northern Italian style cuisine offered along with wonderful salads ~ try the blue cheese salad! Excellent pasta and seafood, they know how to prepare it properly and it’s super super fresh. Try the surf and turf for a mix or the seafood liguine combo, both will suit you!
• Casa Mission, Corner of Avenidas Benito Juarez and 55. Casa Mission offers superb food, however the real attraction here is not the food, but the setting. Located off the beaten path, the restaurant is the veranda area of a large hacienda style Mexican home. It is surrounded on all sides by an extensive garden that combines perfectly with the colonial hacienda ambiance. Then there is the unusual addition of a miniature zoo with lions and monkeys hidden amongst the tropical foliage of the gardens. One of the most romantic spots on the island for cocktails or dinner.
• El Morrito III, 6th Street North between Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and 5a North Avenue. This tiny restaurant is located in a Mexican home off the beaten path. If offers cheap (cheap for Cozumel, although expensive compared to the rest of Mexico) authentic Mexican food. Tacos are ok (again, not as good as other places in Mexico), and cost about $1.25 apiece. The atmosphere is unbeatable though!
• Senor Frogs, Located right above Carlos 'n Charlies, Senor Frogs is a hotspot for young people and tourists. A very laid back atmosphere with very little rules. There is a bar incorporated with tire swings; just to have fun while you drink. Also, they have a dance floor and a stage for the live music they sometimes provide. If there is not a band, there is always a DJ to keep the party going. Prices vary depending on the drink.