Ohhh, Cancun!

Cancun, Mexico Information
Tom Ogg

Language and Currency
What is Cancun Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

Cancun, Mexico Port Reviews

Language and Currency

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, but English is spoken widely in the main tourist areas of Cancun. The official currency is the Mexican Peso.

What is Cancun like?

Cancun is a resort that sprang up almost overnight several decades ago. It is blessed with white powdery beaches, excellent weather and crystal clear water. Cancun has many hotels and resorts and is located on the Yucatan Peninsula with all of its Mayan sights and history.

What is the weather like?

Cancun is tropical and enjoys excellent weather year around. The rainy months are during hurricane season (June to October and the driest months are the winter and spring months. Winter temperatures average in the mid 70s while summer months in the mid 80s.

Where does the ship dock?

Cancun is a tender port and the ship anchors quite a ways from the tender pier. It is about a 20 minute tender ride to get to shore however, the water is seldom rough as it is quite shallow.

Where is the shopping?

Cancun offers three separate shopping malls, a central flea marketplace downtown and numerous shops, boutiques and specialty stores in and around the tourist facilities. Numerous hotels also offer shopping opportunities. Cancun's newest shopping center, La Isla Shopping Village (located in the hotel zone) offers top name stores, restaurants, bars, entertainment (even an aquarium) and is the major center most tourists shop at. The Flea Market prices are higher than those on Cozumel, so if you are planning on buying local items you might want to wait.

What is there to buy?

Mexican items (blankets, dolls, jewelry, onyx carvings, leather goods, ceramic ware and other collectible items) sporting equipment, clothes and just about everything else you can think of.

What is there to do?

I would break the activities in Cancun into two separate areas of thought.  First are the excellent activities in and directly around Cancun itself. Second, are the various tours and destinations around the Yucatan Peninsula.

Going to the beach is one of everyone's favorite things to do in Cancun and while you don't have to go any further than the foot of the tender pier, you can simply walk down the beach until you find just the right one for you. There are several beaches available by either taxi or ferry, so if you really want to get away from it all, you can simply select one of them and go. Cancun offers many opportunities for SCUBA diving (for both beginners and experienced alike), sport fishing charters, an Atlantis submarine operation, horse back riding, snorkeling tours, swim with the dolphins, a jungle tour by small boat, sailing, ATV tours and much more. Cancun is a full on destination with many deluxe hotels in the hotel zone and tons to do.

Outside of Cancun are numerous attractions that are worth visiting. These are all available from most of the ports located on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula (Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Calica and Progresso) so if you are visiting more than one port be sure to understand where the attraction is located from the ports.

Chichen Itza (sounds like Chicken Pizza) Here are the ruins of Maya's most advanced city. They are well preserved and well worth the trek to get to them. Chichen Itza is world famous with archaeologists and its pyramids, temples and other structures boggles the mind. Getting to Chichen Itza is an all-day trip and may well be hot. Wear comfortable walking shoes and don't forget your camera.

Tulum and Xel-Ha (pronounced two-loom and shell ha) Tulum is a fabulous Mayan ruin right on the coast line with its temples overlooking the Caribbean below. Tulum is a photograper's delight. Progresso is the best port to access this attraction from. Xel-Ha is a wonderful lagoon that is surrounded by caves, crystal clear water and tons of fish to watch as you snorkel your way through the waterways.

Xcaret (pronounced Sca-ret) Xcaret is a fabulous echo-archaeological park that is of interest to everyone. It offers wonderful snorkeling in its lagoon and inner waterways that twist and wind their way through lots of unusual structure. Their is an underwater river that funs for almost 1/3 mile until it empties into the lagoon that everyone loves (especially children) There is a small ruins site, a small zoo, restaurants, bars, hammocks to lay out in and a great beach to boot. Xcaret is  right next to the port of Calica and is an excellent day.

Cozumel If your cruise doesn't call on Cozumel, it is a short ferry ride from Playa Del Carmen and other ports. see the port review for Cozumel to find out what it offers

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?

Yes! All of the above attractions are unique and very memorable. Don't miss them!

Are there any great restaurants or bars?

Fat Tuesdays at the foot of the tender pier is legendary. MTV' Spring Break Show is shot at Fat Tuesdays if that givers you any idea. There is a crowded bar, an excellent beach and wonderful swimming right there. Many folks from the ship will not get any further than Fat Tuesdays. Carlos and Charlie's, Senior Frogs, Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood all have restaurants/bard in Cancun, but Fat Tuesday's is the best.

Cancun, Mexico Port Reviews
(Click on the Review you are Interested in Reading)

Gburau; Exploring on Your Own 
Terry Vaughn; 4x4 Excursion and Parasailing
Lori; Tres Rios Excursion
Ruth Hunter; 4X4 Caverns & Beach Exploration

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