The beaches and nightlife here are key diversions for many Cancún vacationers. But the area also earns praise for cultural activities like Chichén Itzá and the underwater art museum on Isla Mujeres. If there’s extra time, consider taking a daytrip to nearby Tulum to see some of the best preserved Mayan ruins in all of Mexico. Many of the city’s top guided tours include stops at the hot spots listed above.

A high-rise holiday heaven, Cancún is a planned resort first laid out in the 1970s. Just the name” Cancún” stands for powdery white beaches, turquoise seas, attentive service and easy luxury. You may also think of rowdy students down for Spring Break, and it’s true that people come to Cancún to cut loose for up to six months of the year, from November to April. If you’re determined to unplug and forget about your cares you can stay put on a beach with an agua fresca, beer or margarita in hand. But Cancún rewards people who want to put the miles in. Before long you could set foot on picture perfect tropical islands, raft through underwater rivers or journey to Mayan cities like the world-renowned Chichén Itzá.