Bummed on beaches, lived as much nightlife as you care? Those aren’t the only pursuits in Cancun, one of the hemisphere’s prime vacation destinations. The Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau has some suggestions to help you make the break with the everyday, and transport you where you’ve never ventured before. Consider:
– Explore Xcaret, a vast, teeming eco-park suffused with exotic fauna and flora. Soft eco-tourism? How about snorkeling in the parks calm, quiet inlets. At day’s end take in the Mexican Folkloric Show and better understand how deep their roots in this land go.
– Swim with the dolphins, and gain an up-close-and-personal appreciation of these magnificent creatures.
– Explore the ocean more deeply with a visit to the Interactive Cancun Aquarium. Too tame? See Xel-Ha, the planet’s largest natural aquarium. While at Xcaret, revel in the wonders of the Coral Reef Aquarium.
– Venture to a trio of nearby islands, first – perhaps – to Isla Mujeres where the snorkeling is world-class. Also reachable is Isla Contoy, one of the most critical nesting bird habitats in the whole of the Mexican Caribbean. Behold more than 150 species, and be sure to bring along your binoculars. Isla Holbox is another sanctuary for waterfowl. Separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon, flamingos, pelicans and other creatures consider this sequestered slice of Mexico a haven. If you’re at Isla Holbox during the summertime, specifically during July or August, you can do the dolphins one better and actually swim with a whale shark.
Cancun’s nightlife, dining, and discos will still be around. They’re not going anywhere. But if you’re serious about populating your next journey to the Mexican Riviera with the sort of memories that linger through a lifetime, you’ve got to break away from the beaten path.
(Featured image by nan palmero)
