SURROUNDING
AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES
Cancun is the gateway to the
fascinating Mayan world. In its surrounding areas, you can visit interesting
archaeological zones and islands with calm waters, which offer ideal beaches
for relaxing . You can also check out various theme
parks with a wide variety of attractions: sinkholes, underground rivers, and
bird sanctuaries surrounded by the region?s lush vegetation.
Side Trips
From Cancun ? Go to the Embarcadero,
take the Garrafon Cruise or any of the boats
departing from Puerto Juarez, Punta Sam, or Playa Linda to visit Isla Mujeres. Just 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) off Cancun?s coast, it is one of the most attractive
destinations of the Mexican Caribbean. The island is 8 kilometers (5 miles) long and 1.5 kilometers
(about 1 mile)
wide.
While you?re there, you can do some
shopping downtown, where you?ll find many souvenir shops. On the southern part
of the island, you can visit Parque Natural Garrafon, where you can go snorkeling, hiking, and if
you?re looking for something more exciting, you can do some Tyrolean
rappelling. During your tour of the park, don?t forget to visit the ruins of an
ancient temple built to pay homage to Ixchel, the
Mayan goddess of fertility.
After having returned to Cancun, you
can do a trip to Cozumel, where you can visit
the Parque Nacional de Arrecifes, considered a great destination for scuba diving.
It also offers such attractions as ancient Mayan temples located in the
island?s northern region, a sanctuary built to honor Mayan goddess Ixchel, the Cozumel
Island Museum,
the botanical garden
of Chankanaab
and ecological reserve Punta Sur, where you can see different plant and animal
species that live in mangroves and lagoons.
After all that, you can return to
Puerto Morelos and take a tour of the Mayan Riviera, which should include a
visit to Playa del Carmen, a city where you can enjoy beautiful scenery,
restaurants and other establishments and attractions.
Soon after, you?ll want to pay a
visit to Xcaret, which has a beach area, an
underground river system, an aquarium, a so-called dolphinarium,
a butterfly pavilion, an orchid greenhouse, and a bee farm. The park also
offers an archaeological zone and a recreation of a Mayan village. At night,
you can enjoy a Mayan ball game, a dance show and traditional Mexican music. About
45 minutes from Cancun, Puerto Aventuras is the ideal
spot to golf by the Caribbean, swim, or kayak.
Some 34 kilometers (21 miles) ahead is Akumal, known for its white-sand beaches and crystalline
blue waters, the perfect place to get rest and relaxation and have close
contact with nature.
Finally, we recommend a visit to Xel-Ha
Park, one of the best
places to snorkel, particularly in its main lagoon and in the underground
rivers. You can also swim with dolphins. Xel-Ha has
all the services to meet your needs as a guest.
Of course, the tour wouldn?t be
complete without a visit to the ancient Mayan city Tulum.
Its beautiful structures that overlook the sea are sure to leave a lasting
impression.
Another route you can take during
your stay in Cancun leads to the western part of the Yucatan Peninsula.
As you follow Route 180, the first stop is Chichen Itza, an
ancient Mayan capital where the monumental architecture and a sacred sinkhole
offer proof of the grandeur of Mayan culture. The tour ends 120 kilometers (75 miles) ahead in Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan. There you can find history,
culture, entertainment, museums, crafts and shopping malls as you walk around
on the streets full of traditional and modernity.
