edit Cancun Travel Guide

• Chichén Itzá Ruins. 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.
  
• 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 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.

One word of warning: late June is especially hot, so come prepared or try the off season. Hurricanes can be a major threat in the summer and early fall.

Peak Season: Peak season in Cancun tends to run from December to April. Prices in both airfare and hotel increase dramatically during these times, while dropping in the summer and early fall months.

Cancun itself was built on a site selected as the ideal spot for a new tourist development by the Mexican government. The state of Quintana Roo was still a territory and this area had few inhabitants when Cancun was built. The Cancun hotel zone is almost entirely built around the tourist industry. It abounds with all-inclusive resort hotels. Stay here only if you don't mind spending your vacation with many other tourists.

Downtown Cancun, especially once you get away from the ADO bus station and nearby hostels and hotels, is a real Mexican city. There are many restaurants, shopping centers, markets and clubs in the downtown area that you can visit during your stay.

Those mostly seeking beaches, scuba diving, or who are a bit adventurous can easily find rooms on equally beautiful and less crowded beaches somewhere an hour or two drive south along the coast for much less than the cost of major Cancun hotels. Some Spanish language skills may aid in finding better deals. You can rent a car, or take the bus to Puerto Morelos (about 20 minutes) or Tulum (1 hour). Playa del Carmen (45 minutes, MXN$80) is between the two, but caters to the all-inclusive crowd. Taxis are also available.

Those looking for a base of operations who want good or luxury hotels and the advantages of urban life but prefer more local flavor may wish to stay in the Yucatan's main city of Mérida; many international flights in to Cancun continue on after a stop to Mérida's international airport.

By plane

Cancún International Airport (IATA: CUN) (ICAO: MMUN) is Mexico's second busiest airport. It is about 10km (6mi) from the hotel strip and 16km (9mi) southwest of downtown.

One of Cancun's best features is its transport links, as most major air carriers in North America, Central America, and South America, have service to Cancun. There are some extremely cheap charter flight deals available from the UK (from around £100) as well as commercial flight deals from several European carriers.

The hardest part of the journey to Cancun (aside from your initial airport check-in) is getting from the luggage carousel to your transportation. Make sure you know who your transport is and find them on the outside, as that is where they will be! Unless you are looking for a timeshare, free meal or looking to burn time and money on your vacation don't stop to chit-chat about booking tours and such. There is plenty of time for that after you get settled in.

There are 2 companies officially licensed by Cancun Airport to provide the transfer service to the hotels in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. One is Gray Line and the other one is T.T.A. Both have a selling booth right after the Customs Service. Prices are fixed by the Airport and are not negotiable. The two companies offer shuttle service and also private transfer.

There is also a first class bus service from the airport to both the ADO bus station in Cancun and to the one in Playa del Carmen. If you are going to Puerto Morelos, you can arrange being dropped at the appropriate intersection on the way to Playa. To get to the buses, go outside the main building and turn right. Head up past the end of that building and find the appropriate bus for you.

Beware leaving Mexico without enough money. The Mexican Government charges a travel tax of around 500 pesos/46 U.S. Dollars to leave the country from the airport. Most major air carriers may already have the travel tax charged to the price of the ticket; though it is highly recommended that travelers check this before leaving to/from Cancun.

Also beware going through security too early. Food and drink prices almost double and you can't easily go back.

By train

By car

For safety purposes, it is not recommended that visitors rent a car. Police officers may sometimes pull you over, even for a minor violation, and ask for a bribe to let you off the hook. If you are pulled over, be respectful to the police officer and don't do anything that would worsen the situation.

If you plan on parking in the nightlife area of Cancun or in downtown Cancun, it can be frustrating to find a parking spot.

A common rule of thumb for night driving is not to drive in the first place. Driving at night can be very dangerous especially in areas that are well away from the city. These areas may not be lit very well or may be completely unlit. Some of the common scenarios can be cars without their headlights on, robbery, potholes, and even jaywalkers among others.

By bus

Traveling by bus is the most preferred way of getting around. Bus fares are cheap and come frequently. Most bus drivers are very courteous and will stop for you; even if you are not waiting at a bus stop. After paying the fare, which is on a per person basis, the driver will hand you a ticket/receipt which are usually printed with advertisements. Just so there are no surprises, do not expect buses to be filled with amenities such as air conditioning and/or seat cushions. Also, most bus drivers speak enough English just to help people visitors get around.

When you are ready to get off, you can do one of two things. On these buses there is a square button on top of the hand rail, usually yellow but can be of any color. Pushing this button will cause a light to turn on near the bus driver and create a buzzing sound. This signals the bus driver that you would like to get off at the next bus stop. The other method, if you're not sure of your destination, is to either tell the driver where you would like to get off or point to the destination using a bus map. Most bus drivers speak enough English to understand non-Spanish speakers.

By boat

Cancun is very easy to navigate. To the South is the airport, to the North is the city and in between are all the hotels, beaches and bars. Buses head up and down the main thoroughfare (Blvd Kukulcan (from the Mayan Kukul/Bird - Can/Snake "The Feather Serpent - The Main Deity of the Mesoamericans) constantly and are cheap, but be prepared for a cramped and rough ride. Taxis are plentiful, but a bit expensive. By far, the best mode of transportation is by bus. The bus fare is cheap and getting from Point A to Point B doesn't take very long.

By Car

Be very careful if you choose to drive in Cancun. The police seem to pull tourists over at the drop of a hat. At night it looks like Christmas with all the red, blue, and yellow flashing lights. When you pick up a rental, check that all the lights work! Also when you are pulled over for a light violation do not be surprised if the police holds out an open palmed hand, while holding your drivers license hostage in the other. Most police officers are underpaid and will for the most part demand a small bribe to let you off the hook

By Mass Transit

By Foot

Do not drink the water unless your hotel has a water purification system. Most of the resorts in Cancun have purified water at all of the facilities located inside the resorts including the bars and restaurants. The upper scale restaurants usually have purified water as well, but the water outside of these areas is not safe to drink. Even if the water is safe to drink, it is highly recommended that you buy bottled water. Bottled water, depending on size, typically costs 30-50 pesos ($2.77-$4.62 USD).

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18.

Police

Fire Department

Hospitals

Crime

Smoking

• Interactive Aquarium. Right in the middle of the hotel zone, this small but modern aquarium lets you get up close and personal with aquatic life. You can pet rays, nurse sharks, starfish, etc. There is also a chance to swim with dolphins in a large pool.

• 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 Ruins. Tulum, the only major Mayan archeological site to overlook the Caribbean Sea is only 80 miles south of Cancun. Tulum contains over 60 different ruin structures and is believed to be one of the most important ceremonial sites for the Mayan people. These ruins 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.

• Swim with Dolphins

• Jeep Adventures

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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 espanol 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 pina 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 dowtown 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.

• The markets. Bring your haggling skills and get ready for a vast shopping experience in any of the city markets. Great buys can be found, but you need the nerve to get the price right.

• La Isla. La Isla is a huge outside shopping mall in Cancun right near many of the local hotels. It features hundreds of stores from Polo (which is more American) to Gasolina (which is more Mexican). There are numerous restaurants including Chili's and McDonalds along with of course more local Mexican foods.

• The Beaches. Spending the day on the beaches of Cancun is not only an opportunity to relax, but to shop as well. Many of the native people of Cancun make a living by selling different items to the tourists on the beach. There are a variety of items to be purchased from these vendors, items such as sarongs, jewelry, sea shells and more. But similar to that of the markets you have to be willing to bargain to get the right prices.

There are bus services to the coastal ruins of Tulum (2 hrs, 60 pesos), which are literally on the water, well excavated, and framed by powder white beaches.

The large ruins of Chichen Itza are often visited on a day trip from Cancun, but are rather distant and only a small portion of the site and attractions can be seen this way. If you find the ancient Maya of interest, spend a night at one of the hotels at Chichen so you needn't have a rushed incomplete visit.

The ruins of Tulum are another relatively nearby extraction. They are similar to Chichen Itza but are built beside a beautiful beach. Unlike Chichen Itza, you are not allowed to go inside or climb on the pyramids. Of the two sites, most people tend to prefer Chichen Itza as it is larger, with more impressive structures. Please note that El Castillo, the pyramid structure at Chichen Itza, is closed off to climbing due to erosion.

Distant places include Palenque (14hrs approx, 450 pesos) and San Cristobal de las Casas (a nasty 17hrs, 500 pesos, well worth the journey); these are better visited using somewhere else much closer as a base.