Puerto Aventuras

The quiet village of Puerto Aventuras is only 62 miles south of Cancun, but it has still been saved from the rampant tourism. It offers small hotels around the marina and its pool of dolphins. The docks shaded by this small pleasure port align terraces of restaurants and bars as well as craft shops. You may prefer hotels and clubs on the seaside, though they are less personalised and experiencing the affects of many construction sites of other hotels.

Small beaches extending to the coral reef alternate with bays of fine white sand. However, none can match the sublime appearance of Xpu-Ha some 3 miles away on the Turquoise coast also known as the Mayan Riviera.

Go swimming in the famous ?cenotes', tunnels with cavities filled with freshwater. Specialised companies in fair tourism offer daily trips accompanied by Tyrolean descents, which are very impressive in the jungle.

Tulum, whose façade of one of the main buildings from the 12th and 13th centuries towers on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Combine this visit by a swim in the lagoon of Xel-Ha, a real natural pool, much frequented, where the fresh water sources and warm currents of the sea mix together.

It is better to bring small change, the nuevo peso (N$), and U.S. dollars in small notes. Small shops, taxis and street vendors can rarely change large notes. There are notes of 20, 50 and 100 N$.

Some tours offer a ?meeting of the Maya people'. Though it is true that you see the descendants of the pre-Columbian civilization, the term ?meet' is often misused. Due to a lack of time, there is no time to start a conversation. Sometimes, meals are not shared with the inhabitants. Find out before leaving!

The cuisine of the Yucatan peninsula is mainly composed of dishes made from corn (tortillas), a wide variety of meat, seasoned with chilli (not as spicy in hotels) or coriander. The shellfish is excellent. The grouper is the fish that you most often find at a good price in restaurants.

The hammocks of Yucatan, finely woven nylon or cotton, are comfortable. You will find different sizes costing between £10 and £17 apiece. Avoid other rough materials which can be rough on the skin. Corsages, shawls ( ?rebosos'), masks and leather sandals are commonly found on the markets. Silver is fashioned with various styles and motifs.