Fun in the water

Any child who can swim will love snorkeling on the ocean reef or in a freshwater cenote, and parents will enjoy it too. Most area dive shops, like Cyan Ha Dive Shop, also run snorkeling trips out to the reef from the mainland, or you can go out in Cozumel from boats moored at the main pier. For more action, try out jetskis or banana boat rides on the ocean. Kids as young as 12 can learn to dive, if you really want some family adventure.

If the ocean is rough, you can always go to Xel Ha where the sheltered lagoon is normally flat. Xel Ha also has free life vests for snorkelers. You may think the life vests are just for kids, but get one for yourself. They make snorkeling easier and more relaxed since you can rest and stare at fish instead of keeping yourself afloat. There is a large water park in Cancun on the way from the airport to the hotel zone, but can't you do that at home? Fishing is also a good family activity, although younger children should stick with half day or 1 hour trips.

Eco parks

Many of the natural lagoons on the coast have been turned into eco parks. You should try to visit at least one when you are in the area.

• Xcaret is the oldest and largest of the commercial eco parks in the area. The entrance fee is $40, it has a lot to offer. Of particular interest: sea turtles hatchery, aviary and bird breeding program, mushroom and orchid farm, and a butterfly garden. It is expensive, but if you stay all day you get your money's worth.
• Xel Ha is well priced at $15 and a good place to learn to snorkel since the lagoon is sheltered from the ocean's waves. They have free inner tubes and life vests.
• Xpu Ha Eco Park is not open anymore, in spite of the highway signs. It was just a scam to turn a beautiful public cenote into an all inclusive hotel.
• Tres Rios focuses on the jungle paths and three rivers in the park with canoeing, horseback riding, and bicycling. Entrance is about $20.

Mayan ruins and real Maya

Learn something while on vacation by visiting Mayan ruins. There are several major Mayan ruin sites near Cancun and all are worth seeing. If you don't have much time, see Tulum. If you want to see a restored ruin go to Chichen Itza (you can even go by air with Aerosaab). For a mix of restored and unrestored ruins, check out Coba. For kids old enough for a 15 minute hike, try Alltournative Expeditions tour to Pac Chen and Coba. Children will enjoy meeting other kids who speak Maya and seeing inside one of those stick walled Maya houses in the village of Pac Chen. Plus they get to ride a zip line and rapel into a cenote - sounds scary but it is actually very fun. Closer to home, you can eat Maya food in a replica of the Tulum ruins at Yaxche Maya Restaurant in Playa del Carmen.

A zoo, sort of

Crococun, near Puerto Morelos has seen better days, but it is still a great place to see the local wildlife. Get a guide at the entrance (tip him at the end) and you can hold crocodiles, monkeys, boas, baby deer, and parrots. If your Spanish is good, you can also learn about the animals. Be sure to pet the hairless Mayan dog. It feels sort of like a pig. Cover yourself with bug repellent before getting out of the car. Between the deer flies and mosquitoes, you will need it. Crococun is cool enough to be worth facing the insects, though.

Riding around

There are plenty of places that offer horseback riding. El Rancho Grande, between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, is a good operation. Well kept horses and rides through the jungle down to the beach. If your kids are over 8 or so, take them on the ATV Explorer Jungle Tour. You ride ATVs on paths through the jungle, see some Mayan ruins and swim in a truly beautiful cenote.

You can rent bikes to ride around, but traffic is crazy so you are better off in a taxi or rental car. Seriously. Especially don't ride bikes on the highway or at night. See the Cancun South Family Itinerary for more ideas.

Family Friendly Businesses

Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life