While the Hotel Zone is ripe with great restaurants and nightlife, El Centro (downtown) is also worth exploring for its little restaurants serving local cuisine, markets, a shopping mall, the Plaza de Toros (bullring) and the Cultural Center. Convenient and inexpensive buses connect the Hotel Zone to downtown 24 hours a day.

The origin of the island's name is uncertain, however a popular theory is that it was once a site of pilgrimage for Mayan women who came to make offerings to Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. Another theory is that this island was a place for 17th century pirates to safely stow their women before going out to terrorize the high seas. More likely, the name comes from the ceramic statues of women left as a tribute to Ixchel that the Spaniards found when they first arrived on the island.

Just five miles long and 1,300 feet wide, Isla Mujeres is a favorite among divers, snorkelers and vacationers who simply seek a tranquil break from the lively Cancun. Playa Norte, the beach that covers the northern end of the island is one of the Caribbean's finest, and lures people from all over and entices them to stay longer than they planned. Thatched roofed restaurants provide refreshment to the beach's sun worshipers.

Also on Isla Mujeres is Garrafón park, a snorkeler's paradise. The depth of the reef never exceeds 15 feet. On land, there is a turtle hatchery, dolphin enclosure, modern lighthouse, a small Mayan temple where the statues that gave the island its name were found, handicraft stores and welcome spots to view the breathtaking sunsets.

The village is the place to indulge yourself with fresh seafood or shop for handicrafts and the island's famous gold and silver jewelry.

And the nightlife in Playa can be as quiet or exciting as your taste desires, from late dinners, to quiet bars, to live music, to pulsating discos. In the relaxed bohemian atmosphere of this town, everyone moves to their own beat.

Playa is a people-watching paradise. Stroll along its main strip, Quinta (5th) Avenida, to see happy tourists during the day and lively fun-seekers in the evening. For more details on Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya...

San Miguel is the only town on this pristine island, and its warm tropical streets offer all of the shopping, museums, and culture a visitor could look for. Restaurants featuring the best of international cuisine are nestled beside Mexican favorites, and places serving some of the world's best and freshest seafood. After dark, the cantinas and clubs heat up for an island fiesta every night.

And outside of town the adventure begins. Explore mysterious archaeological sites. The Maya treasured the island so much; they believed this place was home to Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility. The ruins of ancient temples to her still dot the island. A botanical garden and a lighthouse with spectacular view add to Cozumel's appeal. Read more about Cozumel...

There are some small archaeological sites within the resort zone of Cancun. Among them are El Rey, which overlooks the lagoon near the Hilton Cancun Beach and Golf Resort, and Pok-Ta-Pok (Mayan for ball game), a small temple located right on the golf course of the same name.

In the center of the Yucatan Peninsula is the renowned city of Chichen Itza, one of the world's finest examples of Mayan ruins. It is a place you simply must see at least once in your life. The site itself dates to the Classic period (600 to 900 A.D.) but many of its structures were built from 900 to 1200 A.D. The glory of the city was described in various Indian documents and in several Spanish colonial texts. At the height of its power, Chichen Itza dominated the Yucatan both politically and militarily. It was a major religious center for the Mayan world.

It's a truly impressive sight. It requires a full day to explore Chichen Itza's many fascinating structures, including the famed Temple of Kukulcán, a towering 365-step pyramid, which hides a beautifully carved smaller pyramid underneath. Sometimes referred to as El Castillo (Spanish for castle), this pyramid's dimensions seem carefully calculated to reflect the principle figures of the Mayan solar calendar. There are the 365 steps, one for each day of the year. There are nine levels, divided in two by the stairway, for the 18 months in the Mayan calendar, and 52 indented squares as this number was as important to the Mayan calendar as it is to our own.

The construction of the pyramid was designed so that at each Vernal Equinox the fading sun would create a shadow of the body of the serpent god Kukulcan writhing down the steps to join the permanent stone head at the base of the pyramid. Every year over 40,000 people make the pilgrimage to the great pyramid to watch in wonder as the snake's body slowly appears.

There's also an enormous Mayan ball court, the largest in Meso-America. The great ball court of Chichen Itza is about the size of a football field. The Mayans would play a game similar to a cross between soccer and basketball. Two teams were supposed to put a hard rubber ball through a hoop, using every body part but their hands. The acoustics of the ball court are amazingly designed so that a person standing/sitting on the platform at one end of the court can converse with someone on the plateform at the end, 150 feet away. The ball slapping the sides of the court would make the sound that gave the game its name: Pok-ta-Pok.

Chichen Itza also has a sacred cenote well (Chen Ku), 200 feet across, which was once used for human sacrifices. This eerie green pool of water glows in the beams of sunlight that penetrate the rocks, stalactites and roots above. Its actual depth has never been determined.

Walking among these stone buildings, ball courts and statues evokes a tremendous sense of wonder for this ancient civilization. It's a moving, unforgettable experience.

History has never been so alive than at the walled city of Tulum, just 80 miles south of Cancun. Once known as the City of the Dawn, it rests in front of turquoise waters and is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Mexico. It is the only Mayan port city ever discovered and features more than 60 well-preserved buildings to explore.

About 30 miles northwest of Tulum, amidst ever-encroaching jungle and surrounded by two lakes, stands Cobá ("waters stirred by the wind"), whose pyramids and stone walkways reveal the heart of a once sprawling and successful Mayan city. At 81 square miles, it is in fact the largest archaeological site in the Yucatan. The site thrived between 500 and 900 A.D., when it was home to 50,000 people. It has as yet only been partially excavated and explored.

You can take a boat trip straight from Cancun, or from Isla Mujeres, take boat ride heading north to Isla Contoy.The island boasts an unspoiled landscape which has been declared a national wildlife and bird sanctuary.

Xcaret is a spectacular choice for any vacationer. Known as "Nature's Sacred Paradise," it is an eco-archaeological amusement park just 45 miles south of Cancun with an amazing collection of natural, historical, cultural and recreational attractions that keep visitors busy from morning until night.

Where the park is located today, was centuries ago an important religious center for the Mayan world. Pilgrims would purify themselves in the waters of Xcaret's cenote before launching their canoes for the journey to Cozumel, the island sacred to Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility.

Some of the park's many features include a museum with models of the great Mayan cities, a Mayan village, and some small archaeological sites.

Float along the open air or underground rivers that circulate the park through a labyrinth of tunnels. Swim in the lagoon, or mysterious cenotes, there's even a swim with dolphins area. Xcaret's beautiful cove is scattered with archaeological finds which testify to its history as a Mayan trading port.

Other activities in the park include visiting the aviary, a breeding ground for hundreds of species of rare and endangered tropical birds, or the butterfly pavilion, literally alive with colors.

Xcaret at night comes alive with a magical voyage into Mexico's past. Tour the ancient temples by eerie torchlight to the sound of native drums. Then there's the folkloric show, a festival of music and dance that accompanies a traditional Mayan game of 'pok ta pok,' similar to a cross between soccer and basketball. Several tour options depart daily from Cancun.

Xel-Ha (pronounced shell-HA) is a 22-acre aquatic adventure park 75 miles south of Cancun, near the amazing ruins of Tulum. Try snorkeling in the "natural aquarium" of its shallow lagoon, swimming with dolphins or inner tubing down a gentle river.

South of Tulum, immerse yourself in nature with a jungle trek at the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. This massive 1.3-million-acre park is home to over 350 species of birds, endangered animals, tropical forest, wetlands, marine habitats and 30 little visited Mayan archaeological sites, including ancient Mayan canals. The fishing village of Punta Allen, on a small peninsula within the reserve, is the southern limit of the Mayan Riviera. The reserve is a 15-minute drive from Tulum, or about two hours south of Cancun.

Called cenotes (sinkholes), these unusual formations were created by the shifting of area's limestone base centuries ago. The underground caverns and passages opened up by these movements have filled with water to create ethereal places that peek up to surface in a few select places. The effect today, is to create amazing swimming holes in often romantic or eerie settings. Experiencing a cenote is like nothing else you've ever experienced. Read more about the Cenotes...