Active Pursuits

The Beaches

Big hotels dominate the best stretches of beach. All of Mexico's beaches are public property, so you can use the beach of any hotel by walking through the lobby or directly onto the sand. Be especially careful on the east-facing beaches fronting the open Caribbean, where the undertow can be quite strong. By contrast, the waters of Bahía de Mujeres (Mujeres Bay), at the north end of the island, are usually calm and ideal for swimming. Get to know Cancún's water-safety pennant system, and make sure to check the flag at any beach or hotel before entering the water. Here's how it goes:

White -- Excellent

Green -- Normal conditions (safe)

Yellow -- Changeable, uncertain (use caution)

Black or red -- Unsafe, use the swimming pool instead!

In the Caribbean, storms can arrive and conditions can change from safe to unsafe in a matter of minutes, so be alert: If you see dark clouds heading your way, make for the shore and wait until the storm passes.

Playa Tortuga (Turtle Beach), Playa Langosta (Lobster Beach), Playa Linda (Pretty Beach), and Playa Las Perlas (Beach of the Pearls) are some of the public beaches. At most beaches, you can rent a sailboard and take lessons, ride a parasail, or partake in a variety of watersports. There's a small but beautiful portion of public beach on Playa Caracol, by the Xcaret Terminal. It faces the calm waters of Bahía de Mujeres and, for that reason, is preferable to those facing the Caribbean.

Watersports

Many beachside hotels offer watersports concessions that rent rubber rafts, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment. On the calm Nichupté lagoon are outlets for renting sailboats, jet skis, sailboards, and water skis. Prices vary and are often negotiable, so check around.

Deep-Sea Fishing

You can arrange a shared or private deep-sea fishing charter at one of the numerous piers or travel agencies. Prices fluctuate widely depending on the length of the excursion (there's usually a 4-hr. minimum), number of people, and quality of the boat. Marinas will sometimes assist in putting together a group. Charters include a captain, a first mate, bait, gear, and beverages. Rates are lower if you depart from Isla Mujeres or from Cozumel -- and, frankly, the fishing is better closer to those departure points. Lagoonview Marina & Fishing Club (tel. 998/845-0749), located at Bulevar Kukulkán Km 13.5, rents 9.6m (32-ft.) Welcraft boats (maximum 6 people) that rent for $450 for 4 hours, $675 for 6 hours, and $795 for 8 hours.

Scuba & Snorkeling

Known for its shallow reefs, dazzling color, and diversity of life, Cancún is one of the best places in the world for beginning scuba diving. Punta Nizuc is the northern tip of the Gran Arrecife Maya (Great Mesoamerican Reef), the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. In addition to the sea life along this reef system, several sunken boats add a variety of dive options. Inland, a series of caverns and cenotes (wellsprings) are fascinating venues for the more experienced diver. Drift diving is the norm here, with popular dives going to the reefs at El Garrafón and the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks -- although be aware that the famed "sleeping sharks" have departed, driven off by too many people watching them snooze.

A variety of hotels offer resort courses that teach the basics of diving -- enough to make shallow dives and slowly ease your way into this underwater world of unimaginable beauty. One preferred dive operator is Scuba Cancún, Bulevar Kukulkán Km 5 (tel. 998/849-4736; www.scubacancun.com.mx), on the lagoon side. Full open-water PADI certification takes 3 days and costs $410. A half-day resort course for beginners with theory, pool practice, and a one-tank dive at a reef costs $88. Scuba Cancún is open daily from 7am to 8pm. For certified divers, Scuba Cancún also offers PADI specialty courses and diving trips in good weather to 18 nearby reefs, as well as to cenotes (9m/30 ft.) and Cozumel. The average dive is around 11m (36 ft.), while advanced divers descend farther (up to 18m/59 ft). Two-tank dives to reefs around Cancún cost $68, and one-tank dives cost $54; those to farther destinations cost $140. Discounts apply if you bring your own gear. Dives usually start around 9:30am and return by 1:30pm. Snorkeling trips cost $29 and leave daily at 1:30pm and 4pm for shallow reefs about a 20-minute boat ride away.

The largest dive operator is Aquaworld, across from the Meliá Cancún at Bulevar Kukulkán Km 15.2 (tel. 998/848-8300; www.aquaworld.com.mx). It offers resort courses and diving at a reef barrier, as well as snorkeling, parasailing, jet-ski "jungle tours," fishing, day trips to Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, and other watersports activities. Single-tank dives cost $66; two-tank dives $72. Aquaworld has the Sub See Explorer, a boat with picture windows beneath the surface. The boat doesn't submerge -- it's an updated version of a glass-bottom boat -- but it does provide nondivers with a worthwhile peek at life beneath the sea.

Another interesting option is BOB Submarines (tel. 998/849-7284), located at El Embarcadero next to Playa Linda, which rents propelled breathing observation bubbles (BOBs). These personal minisubs let you discover the Caribbean with a big air bubble over your head and operate much like a scooter would. The tours include instruction, soft drinks, and a 30-minute assisted dive. The cost is $80 per person and the minimum age is 12, with departures at 9am, 11:30am, and 2pm.

Besides snorkeling at El Garrafón Natural Park, travel agencies offer an all-day excursion to the natural wildlife habitat of Isla Contoy, which usually includes time for snorkeling. The island, 90 minutes past Isla Mujeres, is a major nesting area for birds and a treat for nature lovers. You can call any travel agent or see any hotel tour desk to get a selection of boat tours to Isla Contoy. Prices range from $50 to $80, depending on the length of the trip, and generally include drinks and snorkeling equipment.

The Great Mesoamerican Reef also offers exceptional snorkeling opportunities. In Puerto Morelos, 37km (23 miles) south of Cancún, the reef hugs the coastline for 15km (9 1/4 miles). The reef is so close to the shore (about 460m/1,509 ft.) that it forms a natural barrier for the village and keeps the waters calm on the inside of the reef. The water here is shallow, from 1.5 to 9m (5-30 ft.), resulting in ideal conditions for snorkeling. Stringent environmental regulations implemented by the local community have kept the reef here unspoiled. Only a select few companies are allowed to offer snorkel trips, and they must adhere to guidelines that will ensure the reef's preservation. Cancún Mermaid (tel. 998/843-6517; www.cancunmermaid.com), in Puerto Morelos, is considered the best -- it's a family-run ecotour company that has operated in the area since the 1970s. It's known for highly personalized service. The tour typically takes snorkelers to two sections of the reef, spending about an hour in each area. When conditions allow, the boat drops off snorkelers and then follows them along with the current -- an activity known as "drift snorkeling," which enables snorkelers to see as much of the reef as possible. The trip costs $50 for adults, $35 for children, and includes boat, snorkeling gear, life jackets, a light lunch, bottled water, sodas, and beer, plus round-trip transportation to and from Puerto Morelos from Cancún hotels. Departures are Monday through Saturday at 9am. For snorkelers who just can't get enough, a combo tour for $30 more adds a bicycle tour to additional snorkeling destinations. Reservations are required at least 1 day in advance; MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Jet-Ski/Fast Boat Tours

Several companies offer the thrilling Jungle Cruise, in which you drive your own small speed boat (called a lancha) or WaveRunner rapidly through Cancún's lagoon and mangrove estuaries out into the Caribbean Sea and a shallow reef. The excursion lasts about 2 1/2 hours and costs $60 to $70, including snorkeling equipment. Many people prefer the companies offering two-person boats rather than WaveRunners, since they can sit side by side rather than one behind the other.

Jungle cruise operators and names offering excursions change often. To find out what's available, check with a local travel agent or hotel tour desk. The popular Aquaworld, Bulevar Kukulkán Km 15.2 (tel. 998/848-8300), calls its trip the Jungle Tour and charges $66 for the 2 1/2-hour excursion, which includes 30 minutes of snorkeling time. It even gives you a free snorkel and has the WaveRuner-style one-behind-the-other seating configuration. Departures are daily at 9am, noon, and 2:30pm. If you'd prefer a side-by-side boat so that you and your partner can talk or at least look at each other, try Blue Ray, Bulevar Kukulkán Km 13.5, next to Mambo Café (tel. 998/885-1108), which charges $55, with departures every hour between 9am and 3pm. Expect to get wet, and wear plenty of sunscreen.

Other Outdoor Activities

Dolphin Swims -- On Isla Mujeres, you have the opportunity to swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery (tel. 998/877-0207 or 849-4757; www.dolphindiscovery.com). Groups of eight people swim with two dolphins and one trainer. Swimmers view an educational video and spend time in the water with the trainer and the dolphins before enjoying 15 minutes of free swimming time with them. Reservations are recommended (you can book online), and you must arrive an hour before your assigned swimming time, at 10:30am, noon, 2pm, or 3:30pm. The cost is $149 per person for the Dolphin Royal Swim. There are less expensive programs that allow you to learn about, touch, and hold the dolphins (but not swim with them) starting at $69. Ferry transfers from Playa Langosta in Cancún are available.

La Isla Shopping Center, Bulevar Kukulkán Km 12.5, has an impressive Interactive Aquarium (tel. 998/883-0411, -0436, -0413; www.aquariumcancun.com.mx), with dolphin swims and shows and the chance to feed a shark while immersed in the water in an acrylic cage. Guides inside the main tank use underwater microphones to point out the sea life, and even answer your questions. Open exhibition tanks enable visitors to touch a variety of marine life, including sea stars and manta rays. The educational dolphin program costs $65, while the dolphin swim is $135 and the shark-feeding experience runs $71. The entrance fee to the aquarium is $14 for adults, $9 for children under 11, and it's open daily from 9am to 6pm.

Golf & Tennis -- The 18-hole Cancún Golf Club at Pok-Ta-Pok (tel. 998/883-0871; www.cancungolfclub.com), located at Bulevar Kukulkán Km. 7.5, is a Robert Trent Jones II design on the northern leg of the island. Greens fees run $145 for 18 holes, including breakfast or lunch and golf cart (discounted fees after 2pm), with clubs renting for $45. A caddy costs $20 plus tip. The club is open daily from 6:30am to 5pm and accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

The Hilton Cancún Golf & Spa Resort (tel. 998-881-8016; www.hiltongolfclub.com/golf) has a championship 18-hole, par-72 course around the Ruinas Del Rey. Greens fees during high season for the public are typically $199 for 18 holes and $125 for 9 holes; Hilton Cancún guests pay discounted rates of $159 for 18 holes, or $79 for 9 holes, which includes a golf cart. Low-season and twilight discounts are available. Golf clubs and shoes are available for rent. The club is open daily from 6am to 6pm and accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. The Gran Meliá Cancún (tel. 998/881-1100) has a 9-hole executive course; the fee is $30. The club is open daily from 7am to 3pm and accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

The first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in the Cancún area has opened at the Moon Palace Spa & Golf Club (tel. 998-881-6000; www.palaceresorts.com), along the Riviera Maya. The $260 greens fee includes cart, snacks, and drinks.

Horseback Riding -- Cancún Mermaid (tel. 998/843-6517; www.cancunmermaid.com), about 30 minutes south of town at the Rancho Loma Bonita, is a popular option for horseback riding. Five-hour packages include 2 hours of riding through the mangrove swamp to the beach, where you have time to swim and relax. The tour costs $66 for adults and $60 for children under 13. The ranch also offers a four-wheel ATV ride on the same route as the horseback tour. It costs $66 if you want to ride on your own, and $49 per person if you double up. Prices for both tours include transportation to the ranch, riding, soft drinks, and lunch, plus a guide and insurance. Only cash or traveler's checks are accepted.

An All-Terrain Tour -- Cancún Mermaid (tel. 998/843-6517; www.cancunmermaid.com), about 30 minutes south of Cancún, offers all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) jungle tours for $49 per person if riding double or $66 if riding single. The ATV tours travel through the jungles of Cancún and emerge on the beaches of the Riviera Maya. The 5-hour tour (including transportation time from your hotel to the destination) includes gear, instruction, the services of a tour guide, lunch, and bottled water; it departs Monday through Saturday at 8am and 1:30pm. Reservations are required.