For those with a taste for adventure, Cancun has plenty of it to offer. Just off the shore, it’s possible to swim with whale sharks! The swimming season is from May to September, although July and August are when they are found in the highest abundance. These peaceful creatures can measure up to 40 feet long and can weigh up to 15 tons. Whale sharks feed off plankton and are completely safe and harmless for humans to be around.

If the idea of swimming with sharks is a little daunting, perhaps a Xel-Ha tour where you get to swim with manatees will suffice. Visitors have the opportunity to swim in a natural aquarium with over 90 species of fish or go swimming with dolphins. For those with a little more adventurous spirit, rock diving from a five metre height is available and for those who can’t just go once, there is wooden stair access for as many dives as you want.

If a little more of a cultural trip is on the menu, Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park that offers shows, exhibits, and attractions that will delight any visitor. The park offers acrobatic shows as well as those that incorporate Mexico’s history and culture into an educational and thrilling experience for all participants. A nature reserve on the grounds allows visitors to view Mexican wildlife in recreations of their natural habitat. Be sure not to miss Jaguar Island, where jaguars and pumas can be seen sunning themselves in open grasslands. After a long day of exploring the park, visitors can relax by swimming through the underground rivers in the park. These naturally occurring rivers are a part of the cave system located beneath the park. The river is around five feet deep with exits located frequently so visitors don’t have to follow the entire river trail. Snorkelling is the best way to see rivers. This amazing attraction allows visitors to see an underground river system with needing to be an experienced diver or to even need to dive at all!

When relaxation is in order, Cancun is thankfully internationally renowned for its beautiful beaches. A trip here has to include at least one day of relaxing on a white sandy beach. If relaxing on the beach doesn’t get the trick done, a stop in one of Cancun’s spas will help to set your mind at ease. A Mayan steam bath complete with traditional native songs while breathing in steam infused with aromatic herbs should help or a Mayan massage, where essential oils are applied by gentle massage and infused in the skin using hot stones. Either of these traditional relaxation techniques is sure to get rid of even the most troublesome worries.

Once your battery has been recharged, snorkelling through the Museum of Underwater Modern Art is the next experience on our not-to-miss list. With sculptures by Brit Jason deCaires Taylor made from eco-friendly materials designed to encourage coral growth and the habitation of marine life, you can spend hours appreciating the unique artistic abilities of Taylor while viewing local marine life. For more information about the exhibit, click here.

A short boat ride away from Cancun lies Isla Contoy. The Isla is a small tropical island that is well worth the day-trip. It was declared a National Park in 1998 and is fairly exclusive to reach: only a handful of tour operators are allowed to bring visitors to the island and a maximum of 200 people can be present on the island daily. This beautiful island is a bird-lover’s paradise. With no predators present on the island, over 250 species of birds can be found, including the spectacular Frigate bird.

Cancun holds a wonderful variety of activities, sights, and splendours for visitors to experience. Visit www.cancun.travel for more information.