{"id":7946,"date":"2018-06-21T19:57:36","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T19:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/bloger\/?p=7946"},"modified":"2018-06-27T20:10:24","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T20:10:24","slug":"off-the-beaten-path-in-cancun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/bloger\/off-the-beaten-path-in-cancun\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Beaten Path in Cancun"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cancun and the Riviera Maya represent the top destination in Mexico, with 7.6 million visitors in 2017. To keep pace with growth, another 5,000 rooms are expected to open up from 2018-2019. As you can imagine, the hot spots can get pretty crowded, especially during peak travel periods. Still, there are plenty of ideal spots to get away from the crowds and unusual, off-the-beaten path attractions in Cancun you won\u2019t find anywhere else in the world. You may have heard of places like Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Holbox Island, Xcaret, Rio Secreto, and Tuluum, but here are a few more experiences you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n
1. La Casa del Arte Popular Mexicano<\/h2>\n
Museums are a quiet way to experience the authentic culture and indigenous peoples of Mexico. The House of Popular Mexican Art houses the private collection of Gabriela Padilla de la Parra. If it was made by hand in Mexico, you will see it in some form or another here. There are masks, musical instruments, costumes, carvings, paintings, kitchen utensils, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, dolls, and other handmade toys. The displays are colorful and beautiful enough to bring tears to your eyes. Headsets offer free self-guided tours, so you can get the most out of your visit. The store features reproductions of the traditional handicrafts you see in the museum, making it the ideal stop for souvenirs. Just outside the museum, at Avenida Kukulkan and the Embarcadero at KM 4, you\u2019ll find boats traveling to Isla Mujeres, dinner cruises, Captain Hook\u2019s pirate ships docked, and a Mexican theatre.<\/p>\n
2. Croco Cun Zoo<\/h2>\n
Families with young children in tow won\u2019t want to miss the unusual Croco Cun Zoo \u2013 a family-run crocodile rescue facility 15 minutes south of Cancun. The interactive zoo lets you see and touch crocodiles, hairless dogs, baby deer, iguanas, monkeys, boa constrictors, parrots, and peacocks, while knowledgeable guides give you the inside scoop on how hurricanes and commercial development have threatened natural habitats. Animal lovers say the place is staffed by passionate caregivers who provide excellent care to the rescued animals. The property also houses a cafeteria, gift shop, and playground for the kids. On a sunny day, you can slip into the shade under the jungle canopy, but don\u2019t forget to bring your bug repellent! <\/p>\n
3. MUSA<\/h2>\n
Choose your own adventure at Cancun\u2019s one-of-a-kind underwater sculpture museum: glass bottom boat tour, snorkel, or scuba dive to get the full experience. Museo Subacuatico de Arte houses over 500 life-sized, ghostly cement figures created by artist Jason de Caires Taylor who wanted to lure tourist traffic away from endangered local reefs. The haunting statues are between 13 and 30 feet below the surface of the water, and have become artificial reefs that attract fish and wildlife in their own right. You can reach the museum by taking the Hotel Zone ferry to Isla Mujeres.<\/p>\n
4. Xoximilco<\/h2>\n
Everyone loves a fiesta. If the clubbing lifestyle is too fast-paced for you, slow it down on a picturesque trajinera<\/em> gondola out of Xoximilco Cancun Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site 27 minutes south of Cancun. These colorful traditional boats were once used to transport vegetables, fruit, and flowers throughout the area, but they are lit up by night to feature drinks, local cuisine, and live mariachi bands. Each intimate gondola seats up to 20 guests. On land before you depart, you\u2019re treated to traditional carnival games like pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, marbles, and darts, while sampling esquite, <\/em>a local snack made from boiled corn with mayonnaise and cheese.<\/p>\n
5. Valladolid<\/h2>\n
The charming colonial town of Valladolid is situated between Cancun and the state capital of Merida, just outside Mexico\u2019s most popular Maya archaeological site, Chichen Itza. Visitors love the quiet streets and pastel mansions. Be sure to visit the Cocoa Museum on Friars\u2019 Road, the Los Tres To\u00f1os tequila house, and less-visited nearby archaeological sites like Ek-Balam. After you\u2019ve toured the colonial heart of town, you can dip into one of the local swimming holes (like the underground X’kek\u00e9n cenote or the open Zaci cenote). Be sure to enjoy a tasty bite to eat before driving back to your accommodations.<\/p>\n
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Cancun and the Riviera Maya represent the top destination in Mexico, with 7.6 million visitors in 2017. To keep pace with growth, another 5,000 rooms are expected to open up from 2018-2019. As you can imagine, the hot spots can get pretty crowded, especially during peak travel periods. Still, there are plenty of ideal spots to get away from the crowds and unusual, off-the-beaten path attractions in Cancun you won\u2019t find anywhere else in the world. You may have heard of places like Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Holbox Island, Xcaret, Rio Secreto, and Tuluum, but here are a few more experiences you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n