Cancun
Located in Southeast Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun has been a resort town since the tourism industry boomed here in the 1980s. However, Cancun is more than just a party town. The rich cultural heritage of the region, with crumbling Mayan citadels and temples to explore, as well as the host of water activities and opportunities to interact with wildlife draw in a very varied range of visitors.For those interested in snorkelling and diving, Cancun has a lot to offer. Not far off the coast of Playa Tortugas runs the Great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which presents a vibrant underwater display of living colours. There are plenty of places around to organise diving trips to deeper waters too. At Playa Delfines you can also arrange to go on an organised dolphin swim where you'll get to glide through the water alongside these wonderful creatures. Anglers won't be disappointed either, and at Aquaworld you can organise trips on chartered fishing boats.Cancun is an important centre for those interested in the Mayan world. There are a number of archaeological sites in and around the city, such as El Meco, and the El Rey Ruins, the latter of which is in the heart of Cancun’s hotel district. These are reminders of the great civilisation that once lived in this part of the world, and you can find out more about the Mayans at the new Maya Cancun Museum.From Cancun you'll be able to take a ferry to Isla Mujeres which has been less affected by the development of tourism in the region. You'll be able to see something of a more traditional way of life, while also enjoying some of the attractions the island has to offer. One of these is the Garrafon Natural Reef Park where you can get involved with a variety of water activities or take a hike up through the jungle to an ancient Mayan temple.With intensely hot summers and very wet autumns, the most popular (and sensible) time to visit Cancun is between December and April. On the whole, it's easy to get around the city by bus and taxi, and many people here speak English. Cancun also happens to be one of the safest places to visit in Mexico. The city is served by an international airport and long-distance bus terminals, and you can get here by ferry too.