Cancun, Mexico in December

[Johnny's Lounge]

Tell me about it.
How's Margaritaville?
Probably won't go out much at night but who knows?????
What do we want to know, we've never been there.
I know it's a long way away but who cares, vacation talk is what it's gonna take to get me through the rest of the winter!

[sonofabeach]

Cancun is Miami to me.
Head down to Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. The beaches are beautiful and the cenotes were a blast.

[Elrod]

Gotta agree with Michael.

Head south to Playa, or take the ferry across the channel to Cozumel.

I had a couple of December vacations in Cozumel and it was great. I went during the week before Christmas. It's not crowded because the high season hasn't started yet. Everyone is relaxed, the owners of the dive shop that I use went diving with us (they never get to close the shop during the high season).

December is a great time to go!

[frozen bird]

Margaritaville Cancun is okay...it's not the biggest and it is located in a strip mall, but we managed to have a good time there. We went during the afternoon and there were maybe 10 people in the place. Make sure you add your dollar bill to the collection over the bar.

The city of Cancun is your basic tourist trap...if you are into the dance/club scene, go out at night. If you are into seeing the country and doing cool things, book some excursions during the day and wipe yourself out that way. We took an "expedition tour" with AllTourNative Off Track Adventures and it was fabulous. Kayaking, hiking through a jungle, swimming in a cenote, lunch in a Mayan village, zip-lining across a jungle valley, rapelling into another cenote, a two mile bike ride through the jungle to a Mayan ruin (you can hire guys to pedal for you) and finally climbing to the top of you of the last Mayan pyramids that people are still allowed on. The driver even made a beer run for us on the way home. I would go back just to do that again.

Be careful, though. My wife broke her ankle while there (tragic tequila-fueled mechanical bull accident) and Mexican health care is an adventure all in itself.

[Luna Blue]

Cancun is the largest city of the Riviera Maya Resort area that stretches the length of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It is spring break heaven with high rise hotels and plenty of American Fast Food Chain restaurants. There is a nightlife aimed at the foam party bikini contest crowd.

Also on the Riveiera Maya coast are:

Isla Mujeres: a funky little island a 15 minute boat ride from Cancun. It has a Caribbean feel with brightly painted wooden buildings and a laid back attitude. A nice little “restaurant row” in the middle of town. The beaches aren’t great though. Mostly a day trip from Cancun.

Playa del Carmen. Fifteen years ago it was a fishing village. Now it has been discovered and become a major beach destination. Great beaches lined with Euro style beach clubs, a restaurant scene that ranges from tacos to five star steak houses and a night life that goes from funky to chic. Still has a Caribe/Mexican feel to it. An alternative to the big city of Cancun.

Cozumel. An island about 30 minutes off the coast from Playa del Carmen. It is used mostly as a cruise ship stop and a jumping off point for divers (it sits next to the second largest coral reef in the world). Not much beach wise.

Tulum: Several miles of some of the Caribbean’s most perfect white powder beaches. It is lined with beach hotels which range from stick huts with no electricity or running water to fancy resorts. If you want margaritaville with a funky beach bar, palm trees and blue water this is it. Not much night life as Tulum is pretty rural…just the ocean and the jungle. An alternative to the non-stop activity of Playa del Carmen.

From Cancun to Playa del Carmen is an hour drive and it’s another hour to Tulum. December is a mixed month for tourism. The first two weeks are empty of tourists and is a great time to find bargains. From Dec 15 on it is holiday season with the largest number of tourists all year and the highest prices. That lasts until early Jan. 6, Jan –May is regular high season.

We have a blog in which we talk about most of these places. You might find something useful. http://playazone.wordpress.com/

Have fun,

Tony and Cheri

[nutmeg]

I would be sure to get out of Cancun to see the countryside. The area around Playa and Tulum is lovely and has lots of nature inspired things to do.

However, I know that some people are not comfortable outside their resorts when vacationing in a foreign country. It always seems a shame to me...

Cancun is fine if you just want R&R and a bar. (and I know a lot of people do )

[Johnny's Lounge]

Cancun is fine if you just want R&R and a bar. (and I know a lot of people do )

R&R with a pool, a beach & a bar! That sounds good to me.
I just booked 4 days in Key West on the way to Cancun, the flight prices were great & it was right on the way anyway