Cancun Things to Do

What not to do in Cancun? Is there even anything? Well, unfortunately, yes. It’s important to stay safe, so that’s one thing. But with so many other things to see and do, there are bound to be some things that are better ideas than others. So what are they?

It’s sad but a reality: when traveling you should be aware of any potential dangers . Travelers who keep their wits about them, aren’t overly trusting right off the bat, and don’t go down any dark alleyways at night generally have little to worry about (aside from the occasional sunburn, that is). Still, in recent years, a bit has been made about the safety of heading to Mexico, and especially when it comes to safety, it’s smart to understand the risks.

On any trip you’re likely to want to try the local fare – it’s only natural. And in Mexico, there’s the obvious choice – Mexican. I love Mexican food, and if you do too – you’re in luck. To eat in Cancun means plenty of cheap eats that will keep you very well-fed.

While not technically in Cancun, Puerto Moroles is a quaint little seaside fishing village with enough character, charm, and white-sand beaches to get people coming here year after year – and directly from Cancun. If you find the hustle and bustle of Cancun too much, or just think you’d enjoy a nice little getaway to see something a bit quieter, a bit different, a bit more of the ordinary, consider heading to the fishing town of Puerto Moroles.

Mexico’s premier travel destination is quite easy to navigate, thanks to an excellent public transportation system geared to tourists who speak little or no Spanish.However, there are certainly pitfalls to avoid, beginning the minute you arrive at the compact, well designed Cancun International Airport (CUN). Touts masquerading as shuttle or taxi drivers inside the terminal are usually time-share vendors, who you should avoid like the plague. (If they have free maps, however, you might want to grab those.)

Call it the culinary economy of illegal immigration. The more successful a Mexican state is – such as the relatively wealthy regions of the heavily tourist-laden Yucatan Peninsula – the less likely foreigners are to be familiar with its cuisine. For instance, most people in the USA can now recognize a tasty Oaxacan mole, because so many of that beautiful state’s once impoverished residents have opened restaurants north of the border.

But what about the flavors of a hotspot like Cancun? Low unemployment, excellent business opportunities, and relatively high wages keep most folks raised on the Riviera Maya happy to stay home. Which means that, unless you’ve explored local restaurants on your Cancun vacation, you may never even have tried cochinita pibil, the region’s signature dish.

It’s that time of year again, when every travel publisher worth their glossy four-color photos and pithy descriptions of fabulous destinations releases various “Top Ten” trip lists into the blogosphere. With 2012 on the horizon, replete with modern prophecies attributed to Mayan astronomers concerning the end of the world, it’s no wonder that several major players in the travel industry are inviting their friends and fans to the Yucatan Peninsula, heart of the old Mayan empire.

As Hurricane Rina churns toward the Yucatán Coast, with Cancún in its sites for a Thursday afternoon touchdown, a familiar drama is playing out up and down the glittering Caribbean coastline. Alerts are out to some 45,000 tourists estimated to be staying in Cancún, Cozumel, and along the Riviera Maya, based on careful analysis of the storm, recommending evacuation for most resort areas, and requiring it in places deemed high-risk, in this case Isla Holbox.

Splendid Chichén Itzá (600AD–1000AD), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is quite rightly the most famous of Mexico’s pre-Columbian cities. Just two hours from Cancún, the awe-inspiring Classical Mayan masterpiece is a must on any Yucatán itinerary. Many travelers have also heard of stunning Tulúm (1200–1450AD), a Mayan resort town right on the white Caribbean beaches, famed for the lovely freshwater cenotes nearby.

Off the Yucatán Coast are some of the world’s most beautiful denizens of the deep, the colorfully “maned” lionfish. Its showy fans of brilliantly hued spines and quiet, fearless demeanor make it prized by collectors and beloved by divers, who once had to swim the Indian Ocean to enjoy resplendent specimens in the wild.