Things To Do in Cancun

Aside from the surrounding natural splendor, Cancún is known throughout Mexico for its diverse shops and festive malls catering to international tourists. Visitors from the United States may find apparel more expensive in Cancún, but the selection is much broader than at other Mexican resorts. Numerous duty-free shops offer excellent value on European goods. The largest is Ultrafemme, Av. Tulum, SM 25 (tel. 998/884-1402), specializing in imported cosmetics, perfumes, and fine jewelry and watches. The downtown Cancún location offers slightly lower prices than branches in Plaza Caracol, La Isla, and Kukulcán Plaza. It's open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 9pm and Sunday from 2 to 9pm.

Handicrafts are more limited and more expensive in Cancún than in other regions of Mexico because they are not produced here. They are available, though; the best open-air crafts market is Mercado 28 in Cancún City. A less enticing open-air market in the Hotel Zone is Coral Negro, Bulevar Kukulcán Km 9.5, next to Plaza Dady'O, open daily from 7am to 11pm. Plaza La Fiesta, next to the Cancún Center (tel. 998/883-4519), is a large Mexican outlet store selling handicrafts, jewelry, tequila, leather, and accessories. It's open daily from 7am to midnight.

Cancún's main venues are the malls -- not quite as grand as their U.S. counterparts, but close. All are air-conditioned, sleek, and sophisticated. Most lie on Bulevar Kukulcán between Km 7 and Km 12. Kukulcán Plaza and La Isla offer the most extensive parking garages.

The Kukulcán Plaza (tel. 998/885-2200; www.kukulcanplaza.com) houses hundreds of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. It has a bank, a bowling alley, several crafts stores, a Play City with gambling machines, a liquor and tobacco store, several bathing-suit specialty stores, music stores, a drugstore, a leather-goods shop (including shoes and sandals), and a store specializing in silver from Taxco. U.S. eateries include Häagen-Dazs and Ruth's Chris Steak House, and there's an extensive food court. The adjacent Luxury Avenue complex features designer labels such as Cartier, Coach, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Ultrafemme. The mall is open daily from 8am to 10pm, until 11pm during high season. Assistance for those with disabilities is available upon request, and wheelchairs, strollers, and lockers are available at the information desk.

The long-standing Plaza Caracol (tel. 998/883-1038; www.caracolplaza.com) is one of Cancún's less glamorous malls, although it houses among other things, Casa Rolandi restaurant and its Very Wine lounge. It's just before you reach the Convention Center as you come from downtown Cancún, and is open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Most people come to entertainment-oriented Forum by the Sea, Bulevar Kukulcán Km 9 (tel. 998/883-4425; www.forumbythesea.com.mx), for the food and fun, choosing from Hard Rock Cafe, Carlos 'n' Charlie's, Rainforest Cafe, and CoCo Bongo, plus an extensive food court. Shops include Diesel, Harley-Davidson, Massimo Dutti, Señor Frog's, Sunglass Island, and Zingara Beachwear and Swimwear. The mall is open daily from 10am to midnight (bars remain open later).

One of Mexico's most appealing malls is the La Isla Shopping Village, Bulevar Kukulcán Km 12.5 (tel. 998/883-5025; www.laislacancun.com.mx), a wonderful open-air complex that borders the lagoon. Walkways lined with quality shops and restaurants cross little canals (boat rides are even offered through the canals), and an attractive boardwalk lines the lagoon itself, as well as an interactive aquarium and dolphin swim facility. Shops include Bulgari, Guess, Nautica, Nine West, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, Ultrafemme, and Zara, as well as a large Mexican handicrafts store called Casa Mexicana and an iStore selling Apple products. Among the dining choices are Johnny Rockets, Chili's, Italianni's, Planet Hollywood, the romantic Thai restaurant, and the new Elefanta. You will also find a movie theater, video arcade, and several bars, including La Madonna.

Cancún's party reputation is not confined to spring break -- the action here continues year-round. While the revelry often begins by day at the beach, the sun-drenched crowd heads at happy hour to the rocking 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 Kukulcán, and include Plaza Dady'O, Forum by the Sea, and La Isla Shopping Village. These entertainment plazas transform into true 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 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 we've listed are air-conditioned and accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

Numerous restaurants, such as Carlos 'n' Charlie's, Hard Rock Cafe, and Señor Frog's, double as nighttime party spots, offering wildish fun at a fraction of the price of more costly clubs.

Grupo Dady offers a package deal enticing clubbers to party in all five of its neighboring bars, including Dady'O, Terresta, UltraClub, Dady Rock, and Dos Equis Bar. It costs $45 to $55 per person depending on the night and includes open bar; buy tickets at any of the Grupo Dady bars.

If you have been drinking when you're ready to 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 with dinner and open bar costs about 550 pesos, unless you're at an all-inclusive resort that includes this as part of the package. Check out the show at Hacienda Sisal (tel. 998/848-8220), located at Bulevar Kukulcán Km 13.5, which is offered Tuesday and Thursday nights starting at 6pm.