Cancun Vacations

If you find a great deal and can snag a few days off, pack a carry-on and boogie down to Cancun any time. Weather-wise, Cancun has a monopoly on warm sunshine year round. June through November is hurricane season, which peaks in September and October.

You'll find flocks of sun-worshippers at Christmas and Easter, and spring break crowds each March. It's wet and hot from May to November, but prices dip and crowds are few. Cancun regulars swear by January and February for ideal weather.

Kids love to climb the remains of a small Mayan settlement at the El Rey ruins, oblivious to its age, dating back to 10th century A.D. Bring fruit and feed the hundreds of sunning iguanas. El Meco is quiet, naturally shaded and tranquil enough for a picnic among the 14 structures or at nearby Isla Blanca, a local beach. Both are a reasonable drive from the Hotel Zone.

Local journalists relax over breakfast or lunch on the simple terrace at this hideout behind city hall. The coffee is good and strong and the dinner menu is authentic.

Practice your Spanish … and your haggling skills. Pottery, blankets, hats, jewelry, clothing and local crafts mix with fresh meat, fish shops and fruit stands at this very local market. Bring cash, preferably pesos. 

Grab a taxi for a taste of Paris in residential Cancun. The small, family-owned restaurant in a converted house oozes romance over an array of French classics. A tri-lingual staff provides formal service. Dress to the nines and reserve a seat on the terrace.

Slip into Roots Jazz Club for late-night beats or El Capucino for live local reggae on Margaritas near Azucenas. Despite its location in Hotel Plaza Kokai, Bar Bohemio El Camarote is a cozy haunt that feels lesser-known with its small stage and decent bands.

Swim or interact with some of the most brilliant mammals on the planet that happen to look like big, friendly fish. Kids of all ages love dolphin kisses, hugs and handshakes. Dolphinaris and Dolphin Discovery are among the top-ranked venues.

Take a day trip to see a few pages out of the history books. Drive 80 miles south to Tulum where cliff-top ruins overlook the blue sea. Head inland to scale Mayan pyramids in the middle of the jungle at Coba. At Chichen Itza, get lost in a mix of pre-Columbian architecture, from temples to the Great Ball Court.

Keep your wallet north of the border. All-inclusive resorts serve up a hassle-free Cancun vacation and most include food, snacks, drinks and non-motorized water sports. Check out the nightlife scene and choose one that will satisfy after the sun goes down. Resorts range from family-friendly to couples-only to dens for the single-and-looking.

It's Vegas gone wild at Coco Bongo, where throngs of nightlife thrill-seekers pile in for club music, aerial shows and confetti showers. A younger crowd goes dancing and drinking at Senor Frog's. For dinner with your dance moves, try Carlos and Charlie's.

One day with Chef Claudia of Can Cook in Cancun and you'll be dangerous with the habaneros for life. Part hands-on cooking class, part history and gastronomy lesson, plus sangria-infused lunch with new friends, the class sends participants off with recipes, an apron and serious know-how for whipping up home-style Mexican cuisine.

Not to worry: This triplet of X-named theme parks are completely family-friendly. An hour south of Cancun, fill up on adventure from snorkeling to zip lines between three outdoor ecological parks. Or, keep it local on the water slides at Wet'N Wild.

Sample a fresh scene an hour south of town. No longer a sleepy little fishing village, PDC (or "Playa") rivals Cancun with shopping, dining and nightlife on a smaller scale with more local flavor, all set along car-free 5th Avenue.

Since 1977, this family-owned restaurant with a Mayan theme has charmed guests with a romantic walled garden and Caribbean-style seafood.

Set on a lagoon, La Isla Shopping Mall combines a trendy, chain mall with local establishments and an aquarium. Canals and small bridges top off the Venetian-inspired setting. Downtown flea market Mercado 28 brims with silver jewelry, Mexican handcrafts and souvenirs on the cheap.

Two distinct Cancuns await visitors to this party paradise at the tip of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Downtown Cancun lies on the mainland and boasts both American-style shopping malls and traditional Mexican markets. Hotels here are cheaper since they're not on the beach. About half a million people live in and around the city center, and many of them commute to work at hotels on the nearby island portion of Cancun. The island, which is shaped like the number 7, was basically a mangrove jungle before development began in 1974. Cancun is one of the only cities in the world conceived and built exclusively for tourists. The government-backed plan has been remarkably successful, creating a global hotspot on an island that, at some points, is less than 100 feet wide. The crystal-clear blue water and sugar-white sand continue to attract everyone from spring breakers to couples on honeymoon. Those in search of epic debauchery congregate at bars like Senor Frogs and Carlos 'n Charlie's, which are located midway along the island's hotel strip. Possible daytime activities abound, including scuba diving off of Cozumel Island, visiting ruins at Tulum, and swimming with gorgeous tropical fish at Xel-Ha eco-park.

AOL Travel’s Cancun Guide

AOL Travel's Best Cancun Hotels