Nightlife

One of Cancún's main draws is its active nightlife. While the partying often begins by day at the beach, the cool crowd heads at happy hour to the many bars located along the Hotel Zone, which often serve two-for-one drinks at sunset. Hotels play in the happy hour scene, with special drink prices to entice visitors and guests from other resorts. Come night, the hottest centers of action are also along Kukulkán, and include Plaza Dady'O, Forum by the Sea, and La Isla Shopping Village. These places transform into spring break madness for most of March and April.

The Club & Music Scene

Clubbing in Cancún is a favorite part of the vacation experience and can go on each night until the sun rises over that incredibly blue sea. Several big hotels have nightclubs or schedule live music in their lobby bars. At the clubs, expect to stand in long lines on weekends; pay a cover charge of about $40 with open bar, or $15 to $25 without open bar; and then pay $8 to $10 for a drink. Some of the higher-priced clubs include live entertainment. The places listed in this section are air-conditioned and accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

A great idea to get you started is the Bar Hopper Tour, with tickets available at Señor Frog's, most hotels, or various travel agencies around town. For $65, it takes you by bus to the Congo Bar, Señor Frog's, and CoCo Bongo, where you bypass any lines and spend about an hour at each establishment. The price includes entry to the bars, one welcome drink at each, and transportation by air-conditioned bus, allowing you to get a great sampling of the best of Cancún's nightlife. The tour runs from 8pm into the wee hours, with the meeting point at the Congo Bar.

Numerous restaurants, such as Carlos 'n' Charlie's, Hard Rock Cafe, Señor Frog's, and T.G.I. Friday's, double as nighttime party spots, offering wildish fun at a fraction of the price of more costly clubs.

If you have been drinking when you're ready go back to your accommodations, take public transportation or have someone with you rather than drive or get in a taxi alone.

The Performing Arts

Several hotels host Mexican fiesta nights, including a buffet dinner and a folkloric dance show; admission, including dinner, ranges from $35 to $50, unless you're at an all-inclusive resort that includes this as part of the package. Check out the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach's (tel. 998/881-3200) a la carte dining show four times a week, or the nightly show at Hacienda Sisal (tel. 998/848-8220), located next to the Royal Sands at Blvd. Kukulkán Km 13.5.