Are all Cancun resort areas the same?

The beach resort areas accessed by flying into Cancun airport vary a great deal in appearance and access.  The resorts themselves vary greatly in their room types and inclusions - offering everything from basic hotel rooms to luxury swim-up suites with plunge pool or villas with a private pool.  You may have nothing in the way of food and beverage included, breakfast included or all-inclusive.  Even in an all-inclusive resort there may be additional charges for certain liquors, bottled wines or specialty restaurants.  Some offer butlers and private chefs included.

The Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres resorts are north of Cancun in one of the most restrictive areas.  The beaches are gorgeous but to get to them you have to take wooden walkways through natural areas of shrubs as opposed to just walking across a shorter stretch of sand.  The resorts here are large and often offer golf cart transport between areas.  Several of these resorts have their own golf course.  The water is darker than the turquoise blue associated with Cancun.  Off-site activities are far enough away that most visitors spend most, if not all, of their time on the resort property. 

Cancun’s ‘hotel zone’ is closer to the airport than Playa Mujeres and offers easy access to off-site activities, shopping and nightlife.  Most resorts face the Caribbean Sea and are very close to the beach.  Since they are located closely together they do not require golf carts to get around and the beach is much the same from one to another.  The resorts themselves vary greatly in their accommodations and atmosphere.

As you head south from Cancun into Riviera Maya the resorts become larger and more spread out again.  These large all-inclusive resorts again offer golf cart access to beach, pools and restaurants.  There are more off-site options available to those who want to experience the Mayan ruins in addition to all the water based activities.

Playa del Carmen is a resort town within Riviera Maya that is known for its coral reefs.  This is a top diving destination due to the underwater caverns and vibrant sea life.  There is a popular pedestrian thoroughfare running parallel to the beach with resorts sandwiched between the two.  Here you can find all types of restaurants, shops and nightlife. 

True nature and adventure lovers will want to continue even further south to Xcarat.  Set in the Mayan jungle facing the Caribbean Sea this privately owned eco-archaeological park system encompasses multiple parks offering underground rivers, cenotes, ziplines and a vast array of other activities.

Some things to consider when looking for a resort are:

• Are you looking for a basic hotel or all-inclusive resort
• Do you want a family resort or an adult only resort
• What sort of beach access you like, are pools important
• Included amenities such as golf, water park, kids program, spa & fitness center
• Off-site activities such as fishing, shopping, horseback riding, dolphin swims

There is something for any taste in Cancun it is just a matter of finding the right resort property.