More Cancun Vacation Ideas
Cancun vacations offer not only all the water activities of a tropical, white sand beach, but many additional kinds of activities as well. Although known for its many nightclubs and bars, Cancun also has many activities that appeal to families as well. From exploring ancient Mayan ruins to experiencing the jungle to getting involved in a pirate swordfight, there are plenty of activities to augment all the water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling.
Water Activities
Probably the first thing that people are looking for when they start planning Cancun vacations is fun in the sun of a tropical setting. That is certainly what they will get in Cancun. Most likely, warm tropical water and a white sandy beach will be just steps away from your hotel room if you decided on a Cancun vacation. You can soak in the sun, feel all the tension of contemporary life slip away, and swim in the balmy water.
One of the most rewarding experiences people report on is swimming with the dolphins. This experience can take place in a dolphinarium, which is a reproduction of a natural setting for the dolphins. There are 9 locations for dolphin swims with 20 different swim options from a 30-minute swim to a trainer for a day option. You can experience a dolphin pulling you out of the water or jumping over your head. Everyone wears a life jacket, so you don’t have to be a great swimmer.
Snorkeling tours to some great reefs allow you to see all kinds of exotic sea life. Water skiing, scuba diving, and parasailing, as well as fishing and boating excursions are available.
Mayan Tours
Cancun vacations are not complete is a visit to a Mayan ruin is not included. Chicken Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was built around 600AD and has withstood hurricane damages for almost 1,500 years. Tourist damage has caused the four sets of steps leading to the throne room on top of the pyramid to be closed, but other parts of the ruins can be explored, including the Temple of the Warriors and the Cenote of Sacrifice. Several other Mayan sites are also in the Cancun vacation area, including Ecaret, Tulun, and Xel Ha.
Captain Hook
For great entertainment, food and drinks a night on the Caribbean on a pirate ship is a memorable experience. Board one of three 18th century Spanish pirate ships with a crew of authentic looking pirates and expect fun. Don’t panic when the three ships meet and a sword fight starts, with the pirates swinging back and forth between the ships. Plenty of partying and dancing takes place on board the pirate ships.
There are so many things to experience on a Cancun vacation that you won’t be able to get everything in on one trip. Chances are, you will want to go back several more times.
Water Activities
Probably the first thing that people are looking for when they start planning Cancun vacations is fun in the sun of a tropical setting. That is certainly what they will get in Cancun. Most likely, warm tropical water and a white sandy beach will be just steps away from your hotel room if you decided on a Cancun vacation. You can soak in the sun, feel all the tension of contemporary life slip away, and swim in the balmy water.
One of the most rewarding experiences people report on is swimming with the dolphins. This experience can take place in a dolphinarium, which is a reproduction of a natural setting for the dolphins. There are 9 locations for dolphin swims with 20 different swim options from a 30-minute swim to a trainer for a day option. You can experience a dolphin pulling you out of the water or jumping over your head. Everyone wears a life jacket, so you don’t have to be a great swimmer.
Snorkeling tours to some great reefs allow you to see all kinds of exotic sea life. Water skiing, scuba diving, and parasailing, as well as fishing and boating excursions are available.
Mayan Tours
Cancun vacations are not complete is a visit to a Mayan ruin is not included. Chicken Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was built around 600AD and has withstood hurricane damages for almost 1,500 years. Tourist damage has caused the four sets of steps leading to the throne room on top of the pyramid to be closed, but other parts of the ruins can be explored, including the Temple of the Warriors and the Cenote of Sacrifice. Several other Mayan sites are also in the Cancun vacation area, including Ecaret, Tulun, and Xel Ha.
Captain Hook
For great entertainment, food and drinks a night on the Caribbean on a pirate ship is a memorable experience. Board one of three 18th century Spanish pirate ships with a crew of authentic looking pirates and expect fun. Don’t panic when the three ships meet and a sword fight starts, with the pirates swinging back and forth between the ships. Plenty of partying and dancing takes place on board the pirate ships.
There are so many things to experience on a Cancun vacation that you won’t be able to get everything in on one trip. Chances are, you will want to go back several more times.
Cancun Destinations
Your Cancun vacation can include plenty of fun in the sun activities as well as an amazing educational experience. Besides swimming in the warm tropical waters, swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling, parasailing, water skiing, and kayaking, several Mayan ruins exist nearby and a tour to at least one of those ruins should be part of your vacation.
Chicken Itza
Chicken Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This would be a day trip as it is several hours away, but visiting it is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss. Located in a tropical rain forest, it was built around 600 AD. It contains a main pyramid with four sets of steps leading to the top where a royal throne room existed. Tourists could once climb to the top but erosion caused by all the foot traffic caused the government to close the steps.
Other features on the site include a temple of the warriors, a Mayan ballpark, the Cenote of Sacrifice and an observatory. Close by you can experience a typical Mayan village where you can buy souvenirs and eat authentic area food.
Tulum
Tulum is an ancient Mayan ruin that was build sometime between AD1200 and 1530. It was a fortress built on a cliff facing the Caribbean. Walls 18 feet thick and 9 to 15 feet high surround the ancient city on three sides with the fourth side facing the cliff. Many buildings survive that tourists can explore. Part of the day can be spent on the beautiful white sand beach below the fortress.
You don’t need to be a history buff to be amazed and awed by these remains of an ancient culture. Let the inspiration from peoples past be part of a Cancun vacation you will never forget.
Chicken Itza
Chicken Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This would be a day trip as it is several hours away, but visiting it is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss. Located in a tropical rain forest, it was built around 600 AD. It contains a main pyramid with four sets of steps leading to the top where a royal throne room existed. Tourists could once climb to the top but erosion caused by all the foot traffic caused the government to close the steps.
Other features on the site include a temple of the warriors, a Mayan ballpark, the Cenote of Sacrifice and an observatory. Close by you can experience a typical Mayan village where you can buy souvenirs and eat authentic area food.
Tulum
Tulum is an ancient Mayan ruin that was build sometime between AD1200 and 1530. It was a fortress built on a cliff facing the Caribbean. Walls 18 feet thick and 9 to 15 feet high surround the ancient city on three sides with the fourth side facing the cliff. Many buildings survive that tourists can explore. Part of the day can be spent on the beautiful white sand beach below the fortress.
You don’t need to be a history buff to be amazed and awed by these remains of an ancient culture. Let the inspiration from peoples past be part of a Cancun vacation you will never forget.
The Best Cancun Beaches
One of the biggest attractions of a Cancun vacation is the white sand on the beaches with crystal, clear blue water lapping against the shore. With temperatures in the 80s and 90s most of the year, Cancun is a sunbathers paradise. What could be more relaxing than working on a deep bronze tan while lounging on that white sand?
Some of the beaches have to be accessed through a hotel, which fronts the beach, but all beaches are considered public beaches. If your hotel is on the beach, as are many of the luxury hotels, you only need to walk through the hotel grounds to get to the beach. But if you are staying in a hotel in town that doesn’t front the beach (which is a good way to go if you are on a low budget vacation—after all, how much time will you actually spend in your room?) you can still access the beaches. Beaches run for fourteen miles along the Caribbean and loop around to the fresh water Laguna Nichupte. This lagoon is a good place for children as the water is gentle, as well as for water skiing or kayaking.
Playa Bellenas is a beautiful beach with shopping and restaurants nearby. It is a popular beach and can be quite crowded. Playa Delfines is a less populated beach located by the Caesar Hotel. Punta Nizuc is located at the end of the peninsula. This is a good place for snorkeling.
There are many more great beaches in and near Cancun. Your hotel will probably have a map showing them and how to access them.
Some of the beaches have to be accessed through a hotel, which fronts the beach, but all beaches are considered public beaches. If your hotel is on the beach, as are many of the luxury hotels, you only need to walk through the hotel grounds to get to the beach. But if you are staying in a hotel in town that doesn’t front the beach (which is a good way to go if you are on a low budget vacation—after all, how much time will you actually spend in your room?) you can still access the beaches. Beaches run for fourteen miles along the Caribbean and loop around to the fresh water Laguna Nichupte. This lagoon is a good place for children as the water is gentle, as well as for water skiing or kayaking.
Playa Bellenas is a beautiful beach with shopping and restaurants nearby. It is a popular beach and can be quite crowded. Playa Delfines is a less populated beach located by the Caesar Hotel. Punta Nizuc is located at the end of the peninsula. This is a good place for snorkeling.
There are many more great beaches in and near Cancun. Your hotel will probably have a map showing them and how to access them.
Our trip to Cancun
I first started thinking about a trip to Cancun after reading a travel review in my local Sunday newspaper. The pictures of white beaches and the description of all the activities made the Mexican town seem to come alive and just beckon me there. As a single woman in her fifties I didn’t want to go alone, so I convinced my two sisters to join me for a girls-only weeklong vacation!
I was able to find a great travel package at Amazon Travel of all places (I thought they only sold books) and booked three tickets in just a couple weeks time. All three of us sisters live in different cities around the western United States, and with a few easy steps on the web site I was able to get us all into San Francisco for our flight to Cancun.
We stayed at the Hilton Cancun and with the package deal; our daily rate was right around $120. Of course being sisters we all shared a large room and had an amazing time. The hotel includes a golf course or two, I didn’t really look and lots of swimming pools! There is a spa on site and the three of us also enjoyed the services of the resident masseuse. If you are into the golf part of the hotel, I included a pic for you.
In later posts I will share more details about specific attractions we visited, but the huge amount of events was pretty neat to see.
The Frugal Traveler in Cancun
If you are much of a traveler you have either heard about, or will enjoy the New York Times video series called "Frugal Traveler". There is an entire library of these videos which can be found on the Frugal Traveler Blog.
Here is the edition dedicated to Cancun vacations on a budget.