Reasons to Vacation in Cancun

It's no secret, Cancun is a party town. For those looking to dance naked on a bar top, Cancun has many venues, but for those hoping to just spend a few days relaxing, there are many options as well. One place to start is with a relaxing spa treatment. The JW Marriott Cancun resort & Spa has been given the much sought-after 5 Diamond Hotel Award by AAA and offers an elegant, 35,000-square-foot spa designed on Mayan themes. If the price tag here seems steep, there is a much simpler way to relax. All along the beach visitors can rent or use their hotel's hammocks. Order a frozen margarita, drop that hat to the chin and fall asleep in the shade of a palm tree. When the sun is too much to handle, head to the water for a cool dip in the sea (and then head straight back to the hammock).
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Boulevard Kukulcan, Km 14.5, Lote 40-A
Cancun, Quintana Roo 77500
(888) 813-2776

Long before Cancun hosted heaps of teenagers drunk on MTV, the Mayan people called the entire Yucatan peninsula home. Though always considered an advanced people, recent archaeology suggests there was much more to them than previously thought. Spectacular ruins can be found very close to Cancun and should be a must on every visitor's itinerary. Of particular note is the astounding Chichen Itza. This Mayan regional center is very well maintained and is well known for its pyramids, like the Temple of Kukulkan and its grassy Great Ball Court. Visitors could easily spend a few days here but at least one full day should be set aside to do the area justice at all. Taking a picnic lunch and dining on the soft grass below the pyramids at dusk is a great way to end the day. Tour buses leave a few times daily from all over Cancun.
Hacienda Chichen Resort
Calle 35C #50 x 60 Norte
Merida, Yucatan 97215
(877) 631-4005

Cancun borders some of the best and most affordable scuba diving and snorkeling sites from Florida to Aruba. Whether a beginner or more advanced, the area is full of dive sites and reefs. Of special note, the island of Cozumel has dozens of sites and double the dive operators to choose from. Seek a dive shop that is certified through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to ensure a safely run trip. Also, of very special note all around Cancun are cenotes. Cenotes are natural, underground caverns filled with impressive rock formations. Scuba diving these areas can be an especially big thrill as divers are geared with special lights as they make their way along set lines from cave to cave. The caves are extensive and have to be fully explored. At present, it is known that continuous tunnels run from Cancun all the way south to Tulum, a distance of over 65 miles.

Another reason to head to Cancun is Cozumel. Located just across the water by ferry, Cozumel is a pleasant side trip with many shops, restaurants, water sports, resorts and street musicians. The ferry ride across is part of the fun and often has a full band playing for the journey across, either way. This is a big stop for cruise ships so if trinkets are on the list, Cozumel is a great place to go.