Charming cancun, mexico

Cancun Charms with culture and cuisine

The mention of Cancun might conjure images of white sandy beaches and blue ocean waters. Much like the ads you see for it everywhere. And that much is certainly true. If there is one part of the city you will undeniably fall in love with, it’s got to be the beaches. Cancun is a central destination from where you can opt to head for other areas or stay put and simply cherish the beauty of the ocean views all along the coastline. When it comes to ecotourism and nautical activities, you have the pick of the party right here. Add to that more than 15 golf courses, and you are in as good a place as any to enjoy your vacation. No wonder then that this is where the majority of international traffic flocks to in the country, aside from Mexico City.

Archaeological zones here, for those so inclined, include Tulum, Muyil, Kohunlich, El Meco and El Rey. Also stop by the Cancun Mayan Museum for a significant collection of Mayan artifacts regarding the state, the civilization and other exhibits.

For local trips, choose from Isla Mujeres or Perto Morelos. The former is considered one of Mexico’s natural and cultural treasures, and a perfect combination of the beauty of the Caribbean and the heritage of the Mayan civilization in a lush tropical forest. The latter is a quiet fishing village that’s about a 20-minute drive from Cancun. As the coast is part of the National Marine Park, it’s a great setting for scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. Swimming in cenotes is pretty popular here. The downtown or city area (ciudad) gives you a few options for leisure including modern hotels, gastronomic experiences, bars, malls, handicrafts markets and more.

STAY

You will find that almost all hotels are located along the Zona Hotelera or Hotel Zone in a row, and the only difference is pretty much going to be the brand and amenities that you opt for, plus the beach views. At least 50+ hotels are situated here. Recommended spots are Hotel Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun, Hotel Haven Riviera Cancun and Hotel Reflect Krystal Grand Cancun. Hotel Fiesta Americana Condesa is an all-inclusive resort where all your activities can be addressed onsite. Whether the ocean or the poolside, you can lounge around endlessly. Their breakfast spread is quite the morning event to look forward to and entertainment programming both indoors and out is among the best on offer. Most hotels also give you excursion options to choose from so read ahead for some of those highlights.

play Head for an excursion at the Nizuc Reef Tour–Aqua World where a cruise through the mangroves takes you to the colorful reef where you can snorkel or see the reef on board the Subsee Explorer and admire underwater sculptures. At The Westin Resort & Spa, you can experience a temazcali experience, which is a traditional Mayan steam bath. It is done outdoors, in a dome-shaped structure and involves a coal fire in an enclosed space so where it might be claustrophobic for some, it can be equally cleansing for others. Follow the instruction of your shaman and you will enjoy the hour or so-long time spent within the enclosure, a metaphor for a mother’s womb where you enter with all our worries and leave them behind when you return to the world, cleansed and renewed. There is some chanting involved and also rubbing certain plant-based substances over your person but an experience you might not have had anywhere else. Another option for an excursion is Xenotes where you are on a guided tour to four cenotes that include other activities like kayaking, snorkeling, rappelling, ziplining, tubing and more. This is a fullday event with lunch provided and a bus load of jolly strangers to boot. All care is taken to accommodate every level of active visitor, and every effort made to include you in the water-based activities even if water isn’t your best friend. At the La Isla Shopping Center, you can ride La Gran Rueda Ferris Wheel, that gives you great views of the city, especially if you happen to be there around sunset. A short ride over is Luxury Avenue with some of the top luxury brands in-house. Definitely stop by the jewelry stores here for the range of offerings catering to local and international buyers of gold and silver.

dine

While all hotels offer dining options aplenty catering to most any palate preference, one gastronomic experience that you must set aside time for is Tora/ Rosa Negra where just the décor as you enter will convince you that you made the right choice to dine here. The interiors are tastefully done to prep you for the dining experience that’s about to impress. The quality of food and the presentation are a class apart. A tribute to Latin American cuisine, each course is a treat to the senses and the staff ensure every morsel is one you will cherish long after you leave.

(Images: Ruksana Hussain)