Jungle Tour

There's not really a jungle. You get on an old schooll jet ski and go through the mangroves, then go snorkeling. Really, it's a snorkeling excursion. Expect to pay $50 for it. Fully staffed, and it really is a fun trip.

Jet Skiing

You can rent equipment in front of most hotels. $60-$80 for a half hour. Check the equipment over though, or you could get charged if something was broken when you bring it back.

Parasailing

Hook this up at AquaWorld, across the street basically from the Omni, down by the Oasis Cancun. This is one of the spots that we can guarantee is reliable.

Swim with the Dolphins

There are two to choose from, the "pet the dolphins" - which sucks, and the "interactive" which means they drag you around the pool and play with you in the water. We recommend the Dolphin Experience down by the Cove restaurant. It will cost you $125 per person, and we recommend the per person all inclusive upgrade to really round out an incredible day at the park.

Xel-Ha

Xel-ha is an eco-tour you can take located about 2-3 hours south of Cancun in the Tulum corridor. Xel-ha is a lot like Xcaret, except that for those looking to see the ruins in Tulum AND visit an eco-park, you can combine these two tours into one.

The Xel-ha park emphasizes an "Explore the magic of nature" theme, whose activities include swimming with dolphins, snuba (tankless scuba) trips, a jungle discovery train, climbing the Mayan rampart wall, floaating the "River of Dreams", cliff diving at the "Cliff of Courage", swimming at Ixchel's Canyon for swimming, snorkeling at the Mayan cave, and the Taste Sensations Restaurant.

Like Xcaret, the park offers different admission options depending on what you'd like to include, either just the park, or combos of swimming with the dolphins, meals & beverages, and more.

So, if you have an entire day to spend, and want to do both Tulum & Xel-ha, it's the better choice over Xcaret. If you have half a day and not quite the big budget, Xcaret is the better choice (see below).

Cost per person is about USD with transportation from Cancun & back. You can purchase this side trip from the hotel tour desk in the lobby.

Xcaret

These are ecological side trips/parks that are pushed heavily all over Cancun and are definitely fun. It is about 3 hours south of Cancun by motorcoach. There are many things to do in Xcaret, with over 25 separate attractions.

Some little known facts about the Xcaret park include:

• A wild bird breeding aviary with over 37 species of birds. Around 20 Macaws are born here each year.
• A sea turtle conservation program, concurrent with government agencies, raise up to 20,000 new baby turtles every year and assist as many as 220,000 to the water's edge.
• The butterfly pavilion is one of the largest in the world, with over 4,000 butterflies born each month.
• The park has a one of a kind Coral Reef Aquarium.
• There are 140+ different orchid species at Xcaret. A thousand specimen are produced in vitro each month.
• Over seven jaguar cubs have been born at Xcaret

The park has two river experiences that are a great way to start the day there. You can also use the lockers provided their for your swim trunks & gear or water if you brought it. There are multiple exits & stopping points so you can take a break.

The Mayan river is the "above ground" river that you can grab a tube & hang out for a tan. Glide under waterfalls and between a bamboo forest, drift through a Mayan village where artisans weave, carve and paint, and discover the magnificent stained-glass plaza.

The Underground River is clear and cool, and flows through caverns illuminated by natural skylights, under limestone walls where beautiful fossilized coral formations are embedded. It surrounds the open-air theater and occasionally, emerges in the deep green jungle. The underground river is one-of-a-kind, and flows 20 feet below ground level, where you can view fossilized coral formations if you snorkel it, and is 1,980 feet long.

Xcaret has a spectacular night show that is celebrates the sights & sounds of a grand festival set in Mexico's golden years. The mysticism and splendor of ancient Mayan kings is featured in this colorful show. The drama of the pre-Hispanic ball game and the burning ball game in the impressive Tiachco ballcourt, followed by an unforgettable gala performance of Mexico's regional music and dance. Over 200 performers in an incredible pageantry of color, sight, and sound.

Xcaret offers several optional activities for an additional cost for you to enjoy. There are six different programs with dolphins, as well as snorkel & scuba dive tours that are available for beginners. The whole family can stroll the bottom of the sea with Seatrek. There is also a sky tour, a reef SCUBA tour, and you can be a part of one of the most successful dolphin breeding programs in the world.

Cost is about $80/person & a full day, you can purchase tickets pretty much any hotel front tour desk area.

Tulum & the Mayan Ruins

Tulum: Do this one if you have the time, truly of the best reasons to visit the Mayan Riviera & Cancun. It's the one with the Mayan Pyramids. Most spring breakers are too cheap to spend the $70-$90 for this full day tour...but you should. The ruins sit on the possibly the best beach in the entire world (part of the reason they may have been built there.)

Tulum is located 81 miles south of Cancun, and stands upon a 40 foot high cliff facing the Caribbean sea. "The Walled City" is a rectangular area bordered on one side by the seat coast, and a thick wall on the other three sides. The entrances constitute five roofed passageways. Tulum is the only walled city discovered on the coast of Mexico.

Archaeologists believe Tulum city was one of the most important trading ports for commerce along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in ancient times. The remains of a mysterious era stand today in a peaceful setting of gardens & palm trees, swayed by the sea breeze. Some of the Tulum trip highlights are:

• The funeral platform
• The temple of the Frescoes
• The Castle

You can buy daily tours to Tulum for about USD, although we recommend combining it with Xel-ha for about more USD.You can purchase tours from any hotel front tour desk area.

Playa del Carmen

This once-small town an hour south of Cancun is no longer a sleepy village, but probably the best vacation destination of its own right next to Cancun. You can still get an off beach hotel room for $30/night, or go maximum all inclusive at the Porto Real Royal, where all 600 suites have a Jacuzzi tub. A good choice for a hotel room mid-range is the Blue Mosquito, a boutique hotel that's absolutely stunning.

Stuff to do: the beach, the beach, and the beach - the stuff postcards are made of! Rent a hanging bed with a sun shade at Mamacita's Beach Club just south of the Porto Real. The hot spot at night is the Blue Parrot Bar on the beach just off of Avenida Cinco. Or, if you're less adventurous, there is always Senor Frogs or Carlos n' Charlies. Where to eat: Anywhere on Avenida Cinco, (5th avenue) that is their Bourban street. Very European, cobblestone, no cars allowed. Five star dining is available.

Expect big, packed crowds of people as you walk down Avenida Cinco, but it's adults under control, not packs of spring breakers like Cancun…. as it now seems everyone has discovered how awesome Playa Del Carmen is. There are hotels, condos, & new restaurants going up all over the city. We know you're on a student travel vacation, but if you are adventuresome, we can guarantee you 100% if you go to Playa, you'll return.

Isla Mujeres Day Trip

This is really a great little day excursion, as Isla Mujeres is a small island about 30 minutes off the coast of Cancun. At only 4 miles long and less than a mile wide, it's an easy excursion. Sure, our Party Yacht Cruise (part of the Red Carpet VIP Package) includes a night trip there, but Isla needs to also be seen during the day.

Pristine beaches & crystal clear waters surround this small island, and the seat bottom is landscaped with coral gardens and schools of brightly painted tropical fish darting about, and littered with cannons & anchors left by Spaniards. An attractive spot for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba, or fishing during you stay.

If eating, order seafood, the Island's specialty. Isla also offers a lot of small quaint shopping stands for jewelry & Mexican artisans, particularly hammocks.

The island's finest beach is called Playa Norte, located just north of the town.

You can hook up a ferry over to the island (only takes about 30 minutes to get over) by going to the little tour guy at your hotel by the front desk. It's small there, and you can rent snorkeling equipment right on the beach.

The water shuttle is $15 round trip and leaves at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. from the docks in between the Riu Hotel & the Fiesta Americana Condesa at the party center. This is a must do trip! What I like the best about Isla Mujeres is that it is a nice change of pace from the hustle & bustle of Cancun. There is simply one of the world's finest swimming beaches there, and many sleepy little cantinas & restaurants you can grab a Corona or a bite to eat at. It also has a spectacular view of the Cancun skyline & beach area.

Once you go to Isla Mujeres, there is an ecological park that has world class snorkeling as well on the southern tip of the island called Garrafon. Garrafon has a reef called El Arrecife, which is over 1,050 feet long, and extends 40 feet out from shore. The maximum water depth at Arrecife is 10 feet deep, and is home to over 99 species of fish, and over 15 species of coral.

Garrafon has a totally unique way to experience the reefs….and they overcome a few objections people have to snorkeling in Cancun. First of all, you get to keep your new snorkel as a souvenir (you aren't using someone else's snorkel), and you can even just take out a see through "sea board" or canoe to view the reefs. They also offer sea trek, which are these basically air bubble contraptions that go over your head, so you can walk around the bottom if you have a problem snorkeling or scuba diving.

Also out on Garrafon you can fly over the Caribbean on a zip line, tan at their sea-side pool, nap in the hammocks under palm trees, take their climbing challenge, talk with their many parrots, or use the dock for swimming & diving. Garrafon has several restaurants as well. They have a couple of admission options ranging from park admission & not much else for about USD, to the "all inclusive" which has open bar, food, snorkeling, climbing, canoe/board use, and even Ice Cream included for about $60 USD.

If you plan on staying at Isla, the Avalon Resorts has an excellent 5 star property on the island.

Downtown Mexican Market

In Cancun, you can visit the flea market up at the party center to buy souvenirs…but if you're smart, and tired of tanning, haggle with a cab for a ride to the downtown plaza to go shopping (about $6 or $7 each way per cab).

Once you arrive, some great items to get are Mexican blankets, you're drinking sombrero, and hand tied necklaces. Silver from Tasco is also a Mexican specialty. You don't need to know much Spanish to haggle…believe us, they know what a Dollar is in English.

Whatever price they start at (inquire, Cuanto Cuesta?, which means, how much?) cut it in half as a negotiation starting point. Usually, you'll meet somewhere in the middle. If haggling seems a bit too intimidating, we recommend the Fiesta (a huge handicrafts shop located up by the Party Center next to TGI Fridays) where you can find the same items, but the price is set (and actually quite low).

Deep Sea Fishing

The deep sea fishing in Cancun is very exotic. We recommend heading down to AquaWorld (located across the street from the Omin/Marriott/Oasis area on the strip) to set it up. Deep sea fishing in Cancun only makes sense if you have at least 4 people, since the price to charter a yacht is definitely expensive.

Expect to pay - per person for a half to full day, with a guide, yacht, and all gear. While the price seems quite high, you'll also get to experience incredible deep sea fishing in bright blue, 100 ft. depth water clarity, and have a lifetime experience doing it. You get what you pay for.