How to Spend Spring Break in Cancun

You're going to Cancun for spring break. You've got your tickets. You've got your hotel room booked. You've even figured out how you will get from the airport to your hotel. You've got everything down, except maybe what to do while you're there. Here are some suggestions on what you can do during spring break in Cancun.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hit some the parties. Spring break is nothing without them. If you book your trip without going through a tour group, you may be on your own here. Most tour groups offer the legendary parties, such as booze cruises and day-time beach bonanzas. If you go through a tour company, get your party information through them. If not, call your hotel first to see if they sponsor any daytime parties.

2. Get all you can drink at the bars along the Cancun strip. Bars like Senor Frog's and Xtreme are located right in walking distance from most hotels. You can get tips on events at these and other bars before you go by looking at the Cancun Party website. Or, you can wait until you arrive, and just walk up and down the strip collecting flyers. Hotels sometimes have information on bar-deals. Try asking at the front desk.

3. Try sightseeing some ancient ruins. A couple hours drive from Cancun hotels are three big ancient cities: Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Coba. Each has huge stone pyramids, which you can climb if you're brave enough. These trips are best to take with a tour group. With your tour fee, you'll get transportation to and from the sites, a tour guide, and usually some lunch and/or continental breakfast. Book online before you go, or ask the concierge desk at your hotel. They will take reservations for you too.

4. Go for a snorkeling day-trip. Xel-Ha (pronounced "shell-ha") is a little cove about an hour and a half away from Cancun hotels. Xel-Ha is an ecological reserve where you have your choice of activities: lie out on their beach, go snorkeling or swim with dolphins. You can book transportation through your hotel, but not all hotels offer packages that include entrance and snorkel rental fees.

5. Take it easy and lay out on Cancun's beaches. It doesn't get any more simple or relaxing than that. You can sit back and people watch, while taking part in your hotel's day-time activities: balloon-tosses, wet T-shirt contests and more. Or you can swim over to your pool bar and sip the afternoon away. Relaxing on the beach puts the break in spring break.

Tips & Warnings

• Beware of all you can drink specials. These might have restrictions on them. You might only be able to go to one counter at a bar, or you might be limited to one or two choices. Ask about the details before you by your all-you-can-drink wrist band at the door.
• Bring plenty of cash. Although more and more venues in Cancun accept credit cards each year, you might be surprised how many do not. Also, you'll need to tip tour guides and bartenders, even if you have an all-inclusive package deal. Nothing works better than small bills.

Resources

• Get party and bar information before you leave by searching here.
• Find more information about tours and sight-seeing activities here.
• Visit Xel-Ha and get more information here.