Every time you hear about Cancun you picture big hotels, expensive restaurants and drunken spring breakers. Many people I talk to that have never been to Cancun tell me they won’t even go because it’s too americanized. I can only say: “Non-sense”. If having big modern buildings and American restaurant chains means being too americanized, then any other Mexican or Caribbean beach is guilty of that, including: Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Mazatlan, Los Cabos, San Juan, or Charlotte Amelie. 

Anyway, the perception is partly true. The hotel industry usually caters to the typical tourist who wants things to be just like at home. However, someone that has never been to Cancun before or has never ventured out of the main hotel area is really missing out. What really makes Cancun stand out over any other place, besides the great nightlife spots and topless hotels (yes, they do have them), is the beauty of its beaches and the diversity of its sea life. The second biggest reef barrier in the world starts just south of Cancun and goes all the way to the Cayman Islands. 

Akuma, Mayan Riviera, Mexico

The Riviera Maya is the name of the beach area that stretches out from south of Cancun, on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula. Twenty minutes south of Cancun there is Puerto Morelos, which is a small and quiet fishing village that has outstanding small restaurants that sell great food at great prices and provide entertainment through local musicians. 

Playa del Carmen is the next town going south, which has become increasingly popular in the last years. It’s the closest port to the island of Cozumel. It has the best and most original restaurants you’ll ever see. Every place blends in with the trees and most follow the “vegetation” theme. Even the local TGI-Friday’s blends in with the other places (not that I'm not recommending eating there).

The ecological parks of Xcaret and Xel-Ha are located south of Playa del Carmen. These places have so much to do that you can spend the whole day in each one of them (we did). Xcaret has underground rivers, aquariums, exhibits, restaurants, beaches, and a great show displaying some of early Mexican history and regional cultures. 

Xel-Ha is basically a giant natural “aquarium” in which you can swim and snorkel and see almost any creature you would find in the coral reefs. We saw all kinds of fish in every size and color, including some rays. 

Another great place south of these parks is Akumal, which has great beaches and great scuba diving. Probably the nicest place we visited. The best-kept secret in this area is the Ya-Kul lagoon, which is a small natural salt-water lagoon right next to the ocean, which is like Xel-Ha without the crowds. This is as good as it gets for snorkeling. It has awesome fish banks, awesome underwater rock formations, and amazing creatures. 

Among the outstanding fish species we saw were: Yellow fish, red fish, blue fish, blue and yellow fish, black and yellow fish, yellow and black fish and a parrot fish (that's the only  one I know). And the other amazing creatures we also saw in this place: a moray, a baby alligator, a sea turtle (for which I have proof), and even a coral reef shark. I don’t think my girlfriend believes me about the shark but you’re warned in case you go there. If you see one, just don’t move…it worked for me.

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