Things to do (and see) in Cancun

[agulati]

Going to Cancun for 7 nights end of this month. We are staying at an all inclusive resort. Seeing that many fine folks on the forum have traveled quite a bit, thought I would take some advice.

- 1. What are good things to see in Cancun and the area?
Planning a trip to Chichen Itza for sure. Have heard that it will take pretty much an entire day for this trip. Any other places to see?

- 2. What sort of activities would you recommend?
Considering snorkeling and scuba diving. For a complete novice, would taking lessons as well as going for diving be realistic? Considering heading to Isla Mujeres for diving in the Underwater cave museums. Anyone been there?
What sort of rates should I be paying? I have heard that taking packages from the hotels are a rip-off as I can get better rates from the booths in the shopping centres in Cancun.

- 3. Where can I catch the Flames games/ WJC games?
Any bars that will be showing the games? I am at a Riu hotel, so obviously it will be better if one of the hotel bars show the games, so that I can take advantage of the all-inclusive food and beer.

- 4. Other advice?
How much should I be tipping and how frequently? How safe is Cancun? What should I carry from Calgary for daily use? Places to go to for nightlife.

Thanks a lot for all the help and advice guys!!

[flylock shox]

Go to Tulum.

Dive a cenote.

Check out Coba.

[Slava]

I couldn't say about Cancun specifically, but if you're further south bring your own snorkelling stuff. The resorts give you an hour a day, which is basically nothing. If you bring your own its totally worth it. I had basically never gone snorkelling before I was there a few years ago and didn't think I would care, but the amount of cool things you can see changed my mind entirely!

Coba was really cool because you can climb those ruins (or you could a few years ago). It was a really neat experience, if you enjoy that sort of thing. I went to a couple cenotes and didn't like that as much, but I don't like caves and spelunking at all...other people thought this was awesome.

[ClubFlames]

I can only comment on the nightlife in Cancun, that's pretty much what me and my friends did when we went in September (Bachelor Party)

The best time we had was at Mandala but the rest of the clubs were really good as well. Coco Bongo is a must if you have never been there, more of a show and dance kind of place. The tributes they pay to some artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley is pretty cool to see. The City had the biggest crowd since they have the largest dancefloor in South America.

As for after hour eats, there's a quasedilla place right on the "strip" where the clubs are and the ladies who work there are super nice and the quasedillas are just amazing!

[Sample00]

We stayed at the RIU Cancun. Great resort.

take a trip over to Isla Mujeres. little island off the coast of Cancun. rent a golf cart, drive around the island. Its a blast. There's also great little authentic mexican restaurants there.

Get them to take you to the big market. take a cab. I think its called Market 32 but dont quote me. its huge and we got some really great deals on stuff there.

there's also a mall across from the RIU Cancun. Looks like any NA mall. great to cool off in if it gets too hot.

Chichen itza was awesome.

We were a group of 8 and hired a personal tour guide take us to Chichen itza. Didnt want to do the bus tour.
We got there before the bus tours and on the way back we stopped off at an underground spring where we went swimming, a silver jewellery factory and a little town for dinner. It was awesome. A full day adventure but tons of great memories and souvenirs. Our tour guides name was Al but I'm sorry, thats all i remember. We found him at the Market. Great guy and a great day trip. I was skeptical at first but it turned into a great great trip! Wish I still had the info for him. When we owned a travel agency, we sent him tons of business and never a problem.

[macker]

Yep lots of North American type malls all along up and down the strip now. Likely the best one is Kukulcan. No need to go to market 28 as it is a bunch of junk if you are there for junk there is better junk in the markets along the strip. ESPN/Coco Bongo area is the main area for the night life and the markets in that area are good also. The Captain Hooks Pirate Boat Cruise is a fun night out. Favorite thing at night is watching the Turtles struggle to crawl up out of the ocean and lay 100-150 eggs. The resorts do a good job at keeping the iphones back out of the way and transporting the eggs to a more sustainable nesting area. In the daytime it is hard to beat swimming with the turtles at Akumal Beach. Tulum is also worth the long bus ride to as the beaches and snorkeling good. Surprisingly some of the best snorkeling in the area last time I was there was at the far south end of the strip just behind Club Med. You can just walk the beach to get to it and wind around the light house and it is just to the west from there. You will find Nemo in this area. Really cool! Always lots to do in the day and lot to do at night. Nice using the $2 buses to get around that have wifi so you aren't completely shut off.

[Hevishot]

Senior Frogs, Hit up the waterslide!

[Dynamic]

That beach below tulum was amazing, at least I thought.

[Northendzone]

If you have time before you go become an FBI (federal bikini inspector). You'll be busy down there.

Go to coba, the shopping mall on the hotel strip is pretty good ( I always like meals that are outside), market 29 is kind of neat, but more a place to take your wife - it is full of crafty type places.

When we went, we watched some flames hockey at the Outback Steakhouse. Given the wjhc games are going to be early, are you going to be in any shape to go?

Make time to go swim at a cenote - unbelievable.

[AcGold]

go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_Itza

I remember it as the highlight of my Cancun vacation, big old pyramid and Mayan ruins. If you have any interest in things like that I highly recommend going. Can make it there and back in a day trip easily.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Ladies.

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valladolid,_Yucatán