Five must-see places in Cancun Mexico - Cancun and Riviera Maya
By Jules Siegel
Parque Kabah in downtown Cancun is a taste of what the local flora and
fauna looked like before development took its toll on the city. Paths
wind through acres offering views of many different birds, butterflies
and a representative Maya dwelling. A museum offers photographic
displays, occasional exhibitions and programs. This building was
transported here from the hotel zone. It was the first dwelling on the
island. A shady play area for children is nearby. Open daily from six
a.m. until five p.m. (Afternoon closings vary according to season.)
Hotel Zone bus #27 goes to a side entrance. Easily reachable also by taxi.
Mercado 28 and Plaza Bonita are located alongside one another in
downtown Cancun. An easy bus ride from the Hotel Zone on number 2 or 15
bus lets you off a five-minute walk through a nice neighborhood passing
local stores. Mercado 28 has many stalls with items for every taste and
budget. Handmade Yucatecan hammocks from baby to family size and other
quaint accessories can be purchased at Hamacas El Aguacate, interior of
Plaza Bonita. Traditionally dressed women from Chiapas sell articles of
clothing and other embroidered handicrafts at the entrance to Plaza
Bonita facing Mercado 28.
El Rey Ruins nestle on the west side of Kukulcan Boulevard in the
Hotel Zone. Located at kilometer -- the ruins are not visible from the
road, so be sure to watch for the entrance found just past the curve at
El Mirador (The Lookout). These Mayan structures were part of a coastal
network of trading and strategic locations active in the Post Classic
period. A beautiful place to walk through early in the day or late in
the afternoon, it is a refuge for different kinds of birds and iguanas,
so please be aware of their right to a quiet life. Hours are eight a.m.
to five p.m. and admission is thirty five pesos. Open daily. Easily
reachable by Hotel Zone bus.
Plaza La Isla Shopping Village, Kukulcan Boulevard at kilometer
12.5, is a charming complex with quaint architecture and meandering
canals. Especially recommended: Ah Cacao Chocolate Café is located in
the interior of La Isla Shopping Village. The shop is a few doors down
from the aquarium.The best coffee available in Cancun, grown
conscientiously in Chiapas. The chocolate products are made from beans
grown in Tabasco. You can purchase coffee beans to take with you, and
an exciting array of coffee and chocolate gift items in pretty
wrappings. Your purchases help support local conservation programs.
There are tables outside the shop for savoring an exceptional chocolate
shake or an excellent cup of coffee.
There are several discos in the Hotel Zone, but The City is the
largest club in Latin America and offers a variety of international
acts that have included Fergie, Ludacris, Akon, Flo Rida, American
Eagle, MTV, 50 Cent, Sasha, Tiësto, Paul Van Dyk, Snoop Dogg, Paris
Hilton and more. The City has a million-watt sound system and 650 sq ft
of video screens. The stage is designed for live entertainment, music
concerts and DJ presentations, with a capacity for more than 5,000
people in 8,000 sqft of floor space and 9 bars over three floors.
Located at Punta Cancun hub of the Hotel Zone, it has its own beach
club with pools, seating and other amenities. The newly widened beach
is in front of the club.
Jules Siegel is an American journalist whose work has appeared in
Playboy, Rolling Stone, Best American Short Stories and many other
publications. He has lived in Cancun with his family since 1983. He is
the author of the Cancun User's Guide .
