Cancun Dos and Don'ts

If you find yourself in Cancun, but you absolutely despise the drunken college kids and the party scene, this tip is for you. You should take a whole day excursion trip to one of the oldest and most important archaeological sites in the Maya people's history - Chichen Itza. It is about 4 hour bus ride if you travel by a Gray Hound-type bus. If you get one of the locals to take you, it is a slightly less comfortable 2 hour ride in a beat up van or a car, wihout air conditioning. During the day, you should try to see all of the ruins and durng the night, you should stay for a spectacular fire show, performed on the main structure in the place. The cost is about 60 dollars American and worth every penny. Again, if you go with a local and don't book a tour, the price significantly decreases to 20 dollars per person

The best known part of Cancun is the hotel strip which is a man made sand spit full of mostly 5 star hotels. There are precious few shops and restaurants and ATMs and the expectation is clearly to remain in your own resort for entertainment. There is a shuttle bus service into "town" - note that this isn't really Cancun town which is many more miles away and houses mostly the workforce in the tourist industry but another man-made town full of Hooters, KFCs etc Avoid anyone offering you legal or illegal drugs. The pimps are also rather blatant but I found more amusing with their catalogues than caused offence. In all Cancun is pretty convenient for popular excusrions into Chitchen Itza, Tulum, Merida etc. I hired a car and did my own sight-seeing which I highly recommend; plus it's cheaper, more flexible and completely easy and safe

Cancun has become a popular destination among americans and canadians, specially in spring. if you want to save all those kids vomiting and partying like if it's their last day on earth, go either on late summer or fall. if you have the chance to eat real yucateco stuff, go to Los almendros in downtown Cancun or go in bus to the market thats in the downtown too. Buy some chorizo de Valladolid and tortillas. Ask for 'cebollitas en escabeche' and you have everything for a feast! Now, one wise advice is not to swim if you're drunk...Cancun bay is well-known for its treacherous sea, I've seen the locals take out from the water 100 kgs. guys drowned, so don't get fooled by its beauty. Take your precautions...and this is an advice from someone who surfs and has particpated in 2 triatlons...so, be careful.

If you speak Spanish, make sure to use it because you will get better deals on everything!

Take the ferry to Isla Mujeres and rent a golf cart once you get off the ferry to see the small friendly island.