Frommer's^® Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán 2005

by David Baird; Lynne Bairstow

• ISBN13: 9780764567629
• ISBN10: 0764567624
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Frommers

Summary

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer2s Canczn, Cozumel & the Yucatan features gorgeous color photos of the stunning beaches, the colorful underwater world, and the mysterious Maya ruins that await you. This authoritative guide captures all the glitter of Canczn, as well as the more rustic and authentic charms of Cozumel, which boasts world-class diving and snorkeling in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The authors have lived in and written about Mexico for years, so they2re able to provide candid reviews of all the beach resorts, the best local dining, and the latest, hottest nightlife. Beyond the major resort areas, we2ll show you sleepy beachfront towns, sea turtle preserves, and fascinating inland towns where you can bargain in local markets. You2ll travel Mexico like a pro with our candid advice and handy Spanish-language glossary. Also included are accurate regional and town maps (including site plans of the major ruins), up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Author Biography

David Baird is a writer, editor, and translator who doesn't much like writing about himself in the third person (too close to being an obituary). Texan by birth, Mexican by disposition, he has lived several years in different parts of Mexico. Now based in Austin, Texas, he spends as much time in Mexico as possible. At home his hobbies include painting, scraping, mowing, patching dry wall, and extemporaneous engineering. For Lynne Bairstow, Mexico has become more home than her native United States. She has lived in Puerto Vallarta for most of the past 12 years. Her travel articles on Mexico have appeared in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, Frommer's Budget Travel magazine, and Alaska Airlines magazine. In 2000, Lynne was awarded the Pluma de Plata, a top honor granted by the Mexican government to foreign writers, for her work in the Frommer's guidebook to Puerto Vallarta.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	vi
What's New in Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán	1	(3)
1 The Best of Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán	4	(11)
1 The Best Beach Vacations	4	(1)
2 The Best Cultural Experiences	5	(1)
3 The Best Archaeological Sites	5	(3)
4 The Best Active Vacations	8	(1)
5 The Best Places to Get Away from It All	9	(1)
6 The Best Museums	10	(1)
7 The Best Shopping	10	(1)
8 The Hottest Nightlife	11	(1)
9 The Most Luxurious Hotels	11	(1)
10 The Best Budget Inns	12	(1)
11 The Best Unique Inns	13	(1)
12 The Best Restaurants	14	(1)
2 Planning Your Trip to the Yucatán	15	(45)
1 The Regions in Brief	15	(3)
Destination Mexico: Red Alert Checklist	18	(1)
2 Visitor Information	18	(1)
3 Entry Requirements & Customs	19	(2)
4 Money	21	(3)
5 When to Go	24	(3)
Yucatán Calendar of Events	25	(2)
6 Travel Insurance	27	(2)
7 Health & Safety	29	(3)
Treating & Avoiding Digestive Trouble	32	(1)
8 Specialized Travel Resources	32	(3)
9 Planning Your Trip Online	35	(1)
Frommers.com: The Complete Travel Resource	36	(1)
10 The 21st-Century Traveler	36	(2)
Online Traveler's Toolbox	37	(1)
11 Getting There	38	(5)
12 Packages for the Independent Traveler	43	(3)
Before You Book a Package	44	(2)
13 The Active traveler	46	(1)
14 Tips on Accommodations	47	(3)
15 Getting Around Mexico	50	(3)
16 Recommended Books	53	(7)
Fast Facts: Mexico	54	(6)
3 Cancún	60	(32)
1 Orientation	61	(5)
The Best Websites for Cancún	62	(3)
Fast Facts: Cancan	65	(1)
2 Where to Stay	66	(8)
3 Where to Dine	74	(5)
4 Beaches, Watersports & Boat Tours	79	(4)
5 Outdoor Activities & Attractions	83	(1)
6 Shopping	84	(2)
7 Cancún After Dark	86	(1)
8 Day Trips: Archaeological Sites & Eco-Theme Parks	87	(5)
4 Isla Mujeres & Cozumel	92	(31)
1 Isla Mujeres	92	(13)
The Best Websites for Isla Mujeres & Cozumel	94	(2)
Fast Facts: Isla Mujeres	96	(9)
2 Cozumel	105	(18)
Fast Facts: Cozumel	109	(1)
An All-inclusive Vacation in Cozumel	110	(13)
5 The Caribbean Coast: the Riviera Maya, including Playa del Carmen and the Costa Maya	123	(48)
The Best Websites for Playa del Carmen & the Caribbean Coast	124	(2)
1 Playa del Carmen	126	(11)
Fast Facts: Playa del Carmen	128	(9)
2 North of Playa del Carmen	137	(5)
3 South of Playa del Carmen	142	(6)
4 Tulum, Punta Allen & Sian Ka'an	148	(6)
Tulum: A Friendly Difference of Opinion	150	(2)
The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	152	(2)
5 Coba Ruins	154	(3)
6 Majahual, Xcalak & the Chinchorro Reef	157	(3)
7 Lago Bacalar	160	(1)
8 Chetumal	161	(2)
9 The Rio Bec Ruin Route	163	(8)
6 Merida, Chichen Itza & the Maya Interior	171	(57)
The Best Websites for Mérida, Chichén Itzá & the Maya Interior	173	(1)
1 Mérida: Gateway to the Maya Heartland	173	(26)
Festivals & Special Events in Mérida	177	(1)
Fast Facts: Mérida	178	(10)
Hacienda Hotels	188	(11)
2 The Ruins of Uxmal	199	(9)
3 Campeche	208	(7)
Fast Facts: Campeche	211	(4)
4 The Ruins of Chichén Itzá	215	(8)
5 Valladolid	223	(5)
7 Tabasco & Chiapas	228	(40)
1 Villahermosa	229	(8)
2 Palenque	237	(7)
3 San Cristobal de las Casas	244	(17)
The Zapatista Uprising & Lingering Tensions	247	(2)
Fast Facts: San Cristobal de las Casas	249	(3)
Special Events in & near San Cristobal	252	(9)
4 Road Trips from San Cristobal	261	(2)
5 Tuxtla Gutierrez	263	(5)
Appendix A: The Yucatán in Depth	268	(17)
1 The Land & Its People	268	(2)
2 A Look at the Past	270	(7)
Dateline	270	(7)
3 Art & Architecture 101	277	(2)
4 Religion, Myth & Folklore	279	(1)
Gods & Goddesses	280	(1)
5 Food & Drink	280	(5)
What's Cooking in the Yucatán	282	(3)
Appendix B: Useful Terms & Phrases	285	(6)
1 Telephones & Mail	285	(1)
2 Basic Vocabulary	285	(3)
3 Menu Glossary	288	(3)
Appendix C: Useful Toll-Free Numbers & Websites	291	(2)
Index	293
General Index	293	(10)
Accommodations Index	303	(2)
Restaurant Index	305