The tale of two cities is Cancún. There’s a glitzy hotel area with its famed white-sand beaches,unabashed party scene and sophisticated seafood restaurants.
Then there’s the actual community itself that offers you a taste of local flavor at, say, a neighborhood taco joint or a nearby, undeveloped beach.
That is what makes Cancún exciting. In the hotel zone, did you get your fill of rough discos? The salsa club downtown is an escape. Tired of lounging around the lake in Ciudad Cancún? Get to the hotel zone and enjoy of any of its beach clubs and dance all night or day long.
Punta Cancun or Zona Hotelera?
There are two somewhat separate places in Cancún: Ciudad Cancún (downtown) and Isla Cancún (hotel zone).
What most people think about when they hear ‘Cancún’ is the Zona Hotelera: the sandy spit that encloses a scenic lagoon on one side and has the azure-greens of the Caribbean on the other.
Its main route, Kukulcán Blvd, is a four-lane, separated avenue that leaves Ciudad Cancún and goes east for 9 km to Punta Cancún, passing condominium developments, hotels and shopping complexes.
Beware of the Crocodiles!
Even though the beauty of the Laguna Nichupte is ery magnetic, do not swim or pretend to walk near it. It’s the habitat of plenty of crocodiles that are well contained in its waters. However, you won’t miss a thing to know when you’re close of it.
All the area surrounding the lagoon is very well warned by signs everywhere. However, observing its beauty in the distance is a thousand times more advisable.
Summer in Cancun
There are two seasons while going to Cancun can be a way beyond great idea, after the crazy time of spring break or during summer. For any of these times, there are more than a few things you can do in Cancun, its hotel zone and in its underwater wonders.
Diving & Snorkeling
You need to go to one of the local reefs for pleasant snorkeling. Several dive shops also sell diving and snorkeling excursions to a special underwater destination, the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA).
Kayaks and the normal water toys are leased by most big resorts; a handful make them available to visitors free of charge.
Surf in Cancun
There’s pretty bad waves in Cancún, but a core community of locals are still going out to Playa Chac-Mool and Playa Marlin to reach the little rollers. The Surf Season lasts from March to October. There is no place to rent boards in town, but there is a surf store downtown where you can buy one.
Eating in Cancun
Eating options vary from the standard-issue taco joints to upscale seafood restaurants in Ciudad Cancún. Restaurants to all tastes are a la carté so you can pick as you like.
Close Parque de las Palapas and along Avenida Yaxchilán, you’ll find several restaurants. Tasty market food is served by Mercados 23 and 28, and there are several food stands right on the Palapas plaza.