Cancún morphed from tiny jungle fishing village to major tourist destination within a few decades, and it continues to be one of the most popular – and most visually spectacular – places in Mexico. Located on the Yucatán peninsula, Cancún and its surrounding areas are a Caribbean vacationer’s nirvana.

The crystalline turquoise waters, endless entertainment options, Mayan temples, fresh water swimming holes and fascinating water parks make Cancún a place where you can combine a beach vacation with unique cultural explorations. The archeological sites of Tulum, Cobá, Chichen Itzá, and Uxmal are all well worth a visit. The area south of Cancún, stretching to Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen all the way to Tulum, is known as the Riviera Maya. It’s a combination of high-end, all-inclusive resorts and number of charming eco-resorts.

The best time to go to Cancún is December to April. May through November is the rainy season. However, the rains are brief and tropical, and prices are much lower in the off-season. During the winter season, when the weather is nicest, prices are usually highest.

The world’s second largest barrier reef is located off the coast of Cancún, and here, you can enjoy some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Numerous dive shops, including Manta Divers and Cancun Diving, offer dives from Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, among others. For a once-in-a-lifetime dive experience, explore the underground caverns called cenotes. These miles of limestone caverns are filled with crystal-clear fresh water.

If you are looking for some Mexican culture, Cancún is the place for you. The area is full of ancient Mayan sites, some of which are relatively unknown. Within easy day-trip distance of Cancún, you will find the breathtaking remains of the Mayan city Tulum. Here you can bring your beach bag and go for a swim with the ruins as your background. Entrance is always free on Sundays. Also, be sure to take a trip to Chichén Itzá and to Uxmal, where you will be able to climb pyramids in the jungle.

For the more adventurous, rent a car or arrange a tour to Cobá, which is further inland and still relatively untouched by tourism. It is a lot hotter here than near the ocean, so go early in the morning, rent a bike, and ride through the silent jungle until you find pyramids, which you can climb to enjoy a spectacular view over the tree tops. After your climb, you will have earned your poolside lunch at Villas Arequeológicas Club Med Cobá, which is one of the few restaurants in the area. For additional information about archaeological sites in Cancún and surrounding areas, please visit our archaeology section.

Xel-Ha and XCaret are two enormous eco amusement parks located in the Riviera Maya. Once considered nature’s secret paradise by the ancient Maya, you can swim in fresh water and the ocean, play with dolphins, snorkel, snuba (diving without a tank), explore underground rivers, and enjoy the lush tropical surroundings. For more adventurous travelers, rent a car and drive south toward Tulum. Right off the main highway, you will see small (often handmade) signs announcing cenotes. Here, for a merely symbolic fee, you can swim in aboveground cenotes, which are natural fresh water pools in the middle of the jungle. These are very rustic and basic, so be aware that there are no changing facilities or places to store your valuables. However, this is probably the closest you will ever feel to the Maya, who have used cenotes for thousands of years. Two of our favorite cenotes are el Cenote Escondido and el Gran Cenote.

Cancún is known all around the world for its late-night partying, clubs, and general decadence. While Spring Break is certainly the craziest party time of the year in Cancún, clubs and bars are packed here nightly. Within the hotel zone, there are many big-name entertainment venues, including Coco Bongo, BullDog Café, The City, Dady ’O, and a lot of other, smaller venues.

Señor Frog’s is perhaps the most famous nightclub in Cancún and it’s no wonder why. With all-you-can-drink specials, contests, conga lines and a water slide that winds through the club and dumps willing patrons into a lagoon outside, this is one place where the party never stops.

Coco Bongo, which bills itself as both a show and disco, is just that. This mammoth club features Cirque du Soleil-type aerialists performing above the crowded dance floor and you never know when bubbles, streamers or balloons will drop from above. Get there early – this place is always packed and there will be a line outside.

New Orleans institution Pat O’Brien’s opened its first establishment outside the Big Easy in Cancún in 1991. The bar, famous for its potent, rum-infused Hurricane drinks, goes all-out with its Mardi Gras Night during Spring Break, complete with decorations and beads.

Besides all of the nightlife on land, Cancún also offers a variety of “booze cruises” on the beautiful waters offshore. One of the most popular is an evening pirate ship cruise aboard a 93-foot Spanish galleon. Dine on lobster or steak and then enjoy a swashbuckling pirate adventure show. The cruises also offer plenty of dancing, partying, games and of course, drinks.

Several other discos and bars can also be found in downtown Cancún, which is on the mainland outside the zona hotelera.

Cancún has a number of shopping centers, markets, stores, and malls. This is a great area to buy unique handicrafts, Mexican pottery and jewelry, as well as to shop for well-known international apparel. Plaza Caracol, Kukulcán Plaza and Flamingo Plaza are all conveniently located and offer a wide array of stores and restaurants.

If you are looking for traditional jewelry and clothing at affordable prices and are not afraid to bargain aggressively, hop in a cab and go to Mercado 28, also known as Mercado municipal. Be aware that the first price you will be quoted will be unreasonably high – try offering half. However, merchants need to make a living, so find the right balance between being taken advantage of and paying too little.

For even more reasonable shopping for souvenirs, sportswear and everything from ripe mangoes to SPF 50 sunscreen, hit up a local supermarket. Aside from the well-known Mexican supermarkets, including Comercial Mexicana, Chedraui and Gigante, you will feel right at home inside Cancún’s Costco and Sam’s Club. Don’t forget your membership card!

Think tropical! Cancún boasts postcard-perfect weather all year long. The rainy season is from May through October, but the rains are usually short and tropical. May through September is the hottest and most humid part of the year, with temperatures reaching in the high 90s.

Best time to go: December through April (high 86°, low 69º)

Hurricane season: September through November

Average annual temperature: 78 degrees

Hottest months: June, July, August

Coolest months: November, December, January