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Cancun and Riviera MayaBeyond the ResortsBy Sandra ScottThe all-inclusive resorts of Cancun and the Mexican Riviera are world class by any standard. They offer a plethora of activities in such ambient surroundings that the difficulty is leaving the resort to discover all the other wonderful adventures available.
Snorkel through the crystalline waters of an underground
river to discover ancient Mayan sinkholes, magical caves, rock formations and
marine fossils.
Now the site of modern-day Xcaret, 1000 years ago it was the city of Pole, a walled ceremonial center and a thriving port and trade center for the Mayan people. Take a trip through time visiting a replica of a Mayan Village. Walk to the hilltop to visit San Francisco de Asis Chapel where mass is celebrated and weddings preformed. Nearby is a classic Mexican cemetery.
Experience the distinctive turquoise and crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. It is the perfect place to try some innovative underwater experiences such as Snuba and Sea Trek. Even those who don’t swim can now enjoy the underwater splendor.
Another option is a Sea Trek. With a special helmet that provides compressed air, divers walk on the sea floor looking like a cast member from a Jules Verne movie. Suitable for children and grownups, the helmet provides three times the air needed to breathe normally and allows the best visibility underwater, while keeping your hair dry! Garrafon makes visiting the seafloor easy and fun, but others opts for the more popular snorkeling and swimming. Preserving the extraordinary diversity and beauty of the coral reef ecosystems is Garrafon's main concern. Only biodegradable sunscreens and suntan lotions are allowed.
No trip to the Yucatan can be
considered complete without a visit to one of the most renowned Mayan sites –
So much to do, so little time! Explore, learn, enjoy – see the real Cancun and Maya Riviera. If you go: Images by Sandra Scott, except Xcaret (ball game), and Garrafon (snuba) |
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Top on any “must-do” is a visit to Xcaret
Eco Theme Park - the “everything” park. It offers Mayan Culture, nature,
archeology, water attractions, entertainment, and more. It presents Mexico’s
culture, history and natural world neatly wrapped and packaged for everyone’s
pleasure. 
Other aquatic options include swimming
with the dolphins or just relaxing on the beach. Don’t want to get wet, then
visit the aquarium to learn about the world at the bottom of the sea. This
tranquil spot teaches visitors the importance of various types of reefs and
about the area’s amazing marine plants and animals. Plus there is a Butterfly
Pavilion, a deer shelter, jaguar island, a mushroom farm, a tapir farm and much
more.
At the end of a full day of adventure, Xcaret Spectacular Night will enervate even the most lethargic. In the Valley of
the Scents, the deep call of pre-Hispanic drums resonate in the night air and
the wind carries the notes of ocarinas, bells and conch shells. The priests and
Mayan warriors, wrapped in the smoke of incense, announce the beginning of an
unprecedented cultural and historic journey. Accompanied by the song of the
conch shells and other pre-Hispanic musical instruments, Mayan children open the
spectacle singing an ancestral legend. See live pre-Hispanic ball games, one
similar to is played with balls of fire. Marvel at the Voladores de Papantla,
flying men high on a pole representing the four elements - earth, air, fire and
water – as part of a ceremony dedicated to the Sun god asking for fertility and
good crops. The night’s entertainment is a trip through the history of Mexico
and easily one of the world’s best folkloric shows. 
Garrafon Natural Reef Park, located
on Isla Mujeres, only a 25-minute cruise from Cancun, offers another full day of
fun and adventure. The Mayan were the first to discover this little island,
turning it into the sanctuary of Ixchel, Mayan goddess of the moon, fertility
and the feminine forces of nature. When conqueror Francisco Hernández de Córdoba
arrived in 1517, he found small statues of women and the Mayan Temple of the
goddess Ixchel at Punta Sur, which gave rise to the name Isla Mujeres - Island
of Women. 
Snuba makes diving easy. Discover the
magnificent depths of the Mayan Caribbean without having to carry a heavy tank
on your back. No special certification or diving experience is required. The
oxygen tank remains on the surface in a floating raft giving Snuba divers the
freedom to breathing comfortably underwater. 
Garafon’s tram makes takes visitors
to various areas of the park including a pre-Hispanic ruin, a colonial village,
and a sculptor garden.
Chichen Itza. The ruins of Chichén Itzá about three hours from Cancún will
challenge your imagination as you wander around this impressive ancient Mayan
site then climb the 91 steps to the top of Pyramid of Kukulkán for a panoramic
view of the area. Imagine what it looked a 1000 years ago when it was a
colorful, thriving Mayan city home to hundreds of thousands. Other pre-Hispanic
sites, notable, Tulum are in close proximity.