Sightseeing in Cancun

Cancun’s resort zone has beautiful beaches, shopping malls and water sports. The other cultural and historic sights are all outside Cancun but can be easily visited through a wide range of excursion options. Cancun and its surroundings have so much to offer that it is difficult deciding what to do. You are best off dividing your time between water trips and land excursions. There are three districts in Cancun: the Hotel district, the Town of Cancun and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

The Hotel District runs the length of the island – all 13 kms of the Boulevard Kuculkan being filled with 4 and 5 star hotels catering to holiday makers, This is the trendy area with great shopping, nightlife and bars.

The Town of Cancun has a more local flavor to it and the simplicity of the people of the area comes through in the peaceful and serene surroundings – not at all hectic like the Hotel District. If you want to sample the laid back simple way of lives of the locals, this is the place to be in. it comes through in the shops, in the small quaint hotels (much cheaper too!)

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a 1.3 million acre ecological reserve which has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It has tropical forests with mangroves, lagoons, wetlands, Mayan ruins, 350 species of birds and some extraordinary marine life. The park can be accessed by road and is visited by tour groups. This area also houses the archeological sites with the TRulum being a few kilometers north of it. Inside the Reserve are two small villages Boca Paila and Punta Allen – here there are several small inns and deluxe fishing resorts.

The islands of Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy and Cozumel are the three most visited destinations. The beaches of Isla Mujeres are simply amazing: Playa Los Cocos and Playa Lancheros. There is some wonderful diving at Banderas, Manchones and Cuervones reefs, and snorkeling at El Garrafon National Underwater Park. Try visiting the Mundaca Estate, once the home of the pirate Fermin Mundaca. Excursions to Isla Mujeres cost around US$12 to 28.

Isla Contoy is an exotic ecotourism resort, visited by herons, pelicans and other waterfowl. Cozumel is a major destination for Cancun visitors. (See Cozumel) Other interesting water trips are the Atlantis Submarines, Barracuda Marina, Aquaworld, Nautibus I & II, Subsea Explorer and Barco Xochipilli.