Cancún Things to Do Tips by spgood301

Some more Mayan ruins, right in Cancun Ruinas Del Ray Review

The El Rey Ruins are located just south of the Cancun Hotel Zone, indeed right below the Hilton. They were part of a Mayan city prominent on Cancun Island before the Spanish Conquest. The El Rey ruins are not the most visited part of Cancun - indeed, I was the first one to visit on the day I came, and it was completely empty save for a couple of workers.

You walk into the ruins and are greeted by iguanas and lizards, almost as if they're standing guard over the ruins. Relax, they're harmless. I think, anyway. From there, just spend some time walking around the ruins. It's kind of surreal, really. Unlike Chichen Itza, it's eerily quiet at El Rey. Just you, the ruins and the ghosts. These structures, probably over a thousand years old, stand amidst the modern towering hotel towers of Cancun. Quite a contrast.

El Rey isn't nearly as preserved as Chichen Itza, but it isn't a daytrip from Cancun either. If you want to stay in Cancun and visit some historic ruins, spend some time at El Rey. Admission is 34 pesos.

Address: Right on Bvd Kukulcan, on the hotel strip

Directions: Just south of the Hilton.

It's 7th-WONDERFUL! Chichen Itza Review

What can one say about the breathtaking Chichen Itza? Well, it's one of the new Seven Wonders of the World for a reason. It was once a city of over 40,000 people. The Castillo, the Ball Court, the Observatory...simply amazing. These huge Mayan ruins are not to be missed. Indeed, the descendants of those whose lived here over 1000 years ago still live in this area.

I will have a separate page about Chichen Itza shortly, with much more info and pictures. The journey from Cancun lasts two-and-a-half to three hours. Most people get there by tour bus, though you can drive there too. The tour I took took us through the Mexican city of Valladolid & to a place to buy our souvenirs before arriving at the ruins. Afterwards, we went to a ceynote and a delicious Mexican buffet before heading back to Cancun.

You can make reservations on line before heading to Cancun, or you can do what I did: arrange my trip through a travel agent at my hotel. My advice is to do so before you leave - you'll probably save some money.

Either way, you owe a Chichen Itza daytrip to yourself. It's a fascinating, indeed inspiring place. And it's a good way to break up a beach vacation.

They're soooo hot, yet not hot either.... Beaches of Cancun Review

Now, how could the beaches of Cancun be both hot and not hot at the same time? Very simple. You know one of the hottest things to do in Cancun is going to the beach. To swim, play in the surf, or just catch some rays. Where Cancun's beachs are not hot, is on your feet. You know how, when you walk on many beaches, you have to take baby steps while muttering "hot, hot, hot". You'll never do that in Cancun. Even under the hot Mexican sun, your tootsies stay nice and cool in the sand.

Cancun, and the entire Mayan Riviera, has plenty of good beaches. Most hotels on the "strip" have their own beaches right behind them, and they'll have plenty of beach chairs for you. The water's always nice and comfortable, though the undertow was kinda nasty when I was there (maybe because there was a tropical depression in Texas at the time). Watch the flags on the beach - if they're red or black, be careful out there.

If you're a beach person, get out there and enjoy - I'm sure you'll find a beach you'll love.

Address: They're all over - it's Cancun!!!