Cancun / Cozumel
Just 40 miles apart, the destinations of Cancún and Cozumel are like night and day. Literally. Cancún comes alive at night, when the beachside discos come to throbbing, thumping life. On the island of Cozumel, on the other hand, you’ll have to get up pretty early in the morning to fit in all the swimming, diving, golfing, and exploring there is to be done. You’ll be pretty beat by nightfall, which is good, because Cozumel nightlife centers around sipping mojitos and savoring the balmy evening breezes at outdoor cafes.
Activities and Attractions:
With 350 restaurants and nightclubs, Cancún is the wild and crazy guy of the Yucatan Peninsula. There is a dance floor, or at least a bar, seemingly everywhere you turn. All the major hotels have dancing, many restaurants turn into clubs late at night, and sometimes, it seems, people just jump up on tables and begin dancing for no reason. You will have no problem finding nightlife in Cancún. Organized “club-crawl” tours are offered; they’re a good way to sample lots of clubs and find one you especially like.
Of course, that’s not all there is to do in Cancún. The ocean beckons. The warm, clear, shallow waters of the Nichupté Lagoon are perfect for swimming, and are also one of the least-intimidating places in the world to learn to scuba dive. Charter a fishing boat and hope the marlin, sailfish, and tuna are biting. Or take a jungle cruise that starts in the lagoon, travels through mangrove estuaries, and ends at a snorkeling spot in the Caribbean Sea. Shop for handicrafts in town (the selection of silver jewelry from Taxco is excellent), or browse the duty-free Cartier, Waterford, or Gucci products for sale at Plaza Caracol. It’s all made easy for the visitor, as U.S. dollars are accepted and English is widely spoken.
Cozumel, a 28-mile-long island 12 miles from the Mexican mainland, is Cancún’s more sedate cousin. There is plenty to do, though, especially by day. Cozumel consistently ranks as one of world’s top-five diving spots. Even snorkelers rave about the location, but scuba divers are in heaven among the towering reefs full of vibrant coral and fantastic sea creatures.
There are interesting attractions on land, too, including an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Visit the archeological site of San Gervasio, where you’ll find Mayan ruins dating from as far back as 100 B.C. The remains of the temple dedicated to Ixchel, goddess of weaving and childbirth, aren’t exactly Chichen Itza, but they’re much less crowded and well worth the trip. Be sure also to check out Chankanaab National Park, with a lovely little lagoon all its own, and beautiful botanical gardens.
Cancún and Cozumel are ultimately both about relaxation. Decide for yourself if shaking it out at the disco or zoning out among the denizens of the deep sounds the most attractive to you. A short ferry ride separates the two destinations, so you can incorporate a little of both in your vacation.
Insider Tip:
If you have a choice, mornings are the best time for snorkeling and scuba diving…or just about any activity for that matter. If you’re up early, you’ll beat not just the heat, but also the crowds. This is especially true in Cozumel, which is often inundated with cruise-ship passengers in the afternoon. It’s also true in Cancún, where if you’re an early bird you’ll beat the late-sleeping night owls to the best palapas.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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