Kukulcán Golf Course
Kukulcán Golf Course (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 17, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) – this course, located on the grounds of the Iberostar Cancún Beach Resort, is both enjoyable and challenging for golfers of any skill level, and is easily accessed on foot or via hotel-provided transportation. One hundred fifty acres of tropical paradise surround the 6,734 yard, par 72 course. The waters of the Nichupte Lagoon and its inlets border many of the holes, as do the Mayan Ruins of El Rey (circa 500 A.D.) along Hole 16. As you play, enjoy a vista of tropical vegetation and plentiful wildlife as varied as crocodiles sunning themselves, iguanas analyzing your game and colorful birds decorating the sky.
Cancún Underwater Museum
Cancún Underwater Museum
Cancún Underwater Museum (Punta Cancun, Punta Nizuc and Manchones Reef – Isla Mujeres) — Combining art and nature, Sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor has created underwater museums (known locally as MUSA) off the shores of Punta Cancún, Punta Nizuc, and Manchones Reef in Isla Mujeres. His main body of work features more than 400 lifelike statues that serve as artificial reefs to attract marine life. The displays have conveniently been placed in shallow areas for viewing by divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boats. Acting as a restoration project, this artificial habitat also helps restore the natural reefs that have suffered damage over the years.
Bahía de Mujeres
Bahía de Mujeres
Bahía de Mujeres – with the Cancún beach zone running 22.5 km long (in the shape of the number “7”), this area is located in the northern end of the hotel zone (that is, on “top of the 7”), with white sand beaches and beautiful turquoise-blue waters. While this area may be shallow for some distance out, with little or no surf, this is still ideal enough for great swimming, snorkeling and other water sports.
Plaza la Fiesta
Plaza la Fiesta
Plaza la Fiesta (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 9, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) – Plaza la Fiesta has 20,000 square feet of showroom space and over 100,000 different items for sale. Probably the widest selection of Mexican goods in the Hotel Zone, it includes leather goods, silver and gold jewelry, handicrafts, souvenirs, and swimwear. There are some good bargains here, so negotiating is encouraged.
Plaza Caracol
Plaza Caracol
Plaza Caracol (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 8.5, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) — North of the convention center, the two-story Plaza Caracol houses chain stores like Sunglass Island, Benetton, and Ultrafemme, along with souvenir and jewelry shops and pharmacies. This mall has 100 shops, as well as a food court, a Starbucks, and a Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop where free Wi-Fi is available.
Plaza El Zócalo
Plaza El Zócalo
Plaza El Zócalo (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 9, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) — It may look small from the entrance, but Plaza El Zócalo has about 60 stalls where you can find traditional Mexican handicrafts, silver jewelry, and handmade sandals. It also houses four restaurants—including Mextreme (where the Tom Cruise film Cocktail was made back in the late 1980s).
La Isla Shopping Village
La Isla Shopping Village
La Isla Shopping Village (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 12.5, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) — The glittering, ultra-trendy, and ultra-expensive La Isla Shopping Village is on the Laguna Nichupté under chic, white canopies. A series of canals and small bridges is designed to give the place a Venetian look. In addition to more than 200 shops (including Louis Vuitton), the mall has a marina, a disco, restaurants, and movie theaters. There’s also an interactive aquarium where you can swim with the dolphins and feed the sharks.
Forum-by the-Sea
Forum-by the-Sea
Forum-by the-Sea (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 9.5, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) — This three-level entertainment and shopping plaza in the Zona features brand-name restaurants, upscale clothing boutiques, a food court, and chain stores, all in a circuslike atmosphere. For Spring Breakers the main draws are the nightclubs, Coco Bongo, and Hard Rock Cafe, identified by the massive guitar at the mall entrance. The bungee trampolines set up here during high season are especially popular with children.
Shopping in Cancun
Shopping in Cancun
SHOPPING
The centros comerciales (malls) in Cancun are fully air-conditioned and reminiscent of similar ones in USA and Canada. Like those malls, the ones in Cancun also sell a variety of (tourist-friendly) merchandise: designer clothing, beachwear (including raunchy T-shirts aimed at the spring break crowd), sportswear, jewelry, music, video games, household items, shoes, and books. Some even have the same mall food that’s standard north of the border. Prices are fixed in shops. They’re also generally—but not always—higher than in the markets, where bargaining is a given. Perfumes in Cancun are considerably less pricey than at home, and even the duty-free prices at the airport. No doubt, tequila is a bargain here as well, but make sure you buy at the supermarket rather than at a souvenir shop.
Plaza Las Américas
Plaza Las Américas
Plaza Las Américas (Av. Tulum, Sm 4 and Sm 9, Cancún) — the largest shopping center in downtown Cancún. There are 50-plus stores, three restaurants, two movie theaters, video arcade, fast-food outlets, and several large department stores. Warning: this mall gets very crowded on weekends!
