At $4 a day, the reserve oversees a number of tours, escorting its visitors to the most traditional form of vacationing in the Yucatan. Canal and Bird-watching excursions provide a non-restricting means to explore habitats diverse of the flora and fauna, 103 mamalia, and 336 bird species that inhabit Sian Ka’an.

Canal Tour

• Follow a 1200 year old Mayan trade route.
• Visit ruins within the reserve.
• Observe lush flora and fauna unique to the reserve.
• Float down a freshwater river.
• Learn Mayan history.

All-Day Canal Tour

• Travel the waters by 23′ open-air boat.
• Experience the different ecosystems, plants, and birds.
• Navigate a natural canal Mayan trade route.
• Float along a freshwater canal as the current carries you downstream.
• Lunch and snacks provided.
• Walk through a Sian Ka’an garden.
• Cool off swimming at a cenote.

Price: $70/person. Transportation is provided to and from ME Cancun and other resorts of the Cancun hotel zone. The reserve limits its patronage to 12 people a day and recommends visitors bring a swimsuit, towel, and sunblock.

Sunset Bird Watching Tour
(Operates December – May)

• Tour of the largest natural protected area in the state of Quintana Roo.
• Includes bird watching, swimming and snorkeling in a cenote, and watching the sunset over reserve lagoons.
• Dinner

The Biosphere spans 75 miles, north to south, making up nearly one third of the Caribbean coast of Mexico. By visiting the reserve and taking any one of its tours, a typical Cancun vacation becomes personalized, something as unique as Sian Ka’an itself.

However hazy the memory may be, it takes an experience to complete that though. The Cancun nightlife is known for its diversity. While clubs and bars continue to dominate most of the scene, resort hotels have begun opening their own facilities to compete; often hosting large parties and attracting any number of vacationing celebrities on any given night. The saying has been worn tired, but as the day turns to night, Cancun evolves into another city, offering something for everyone.

It may be a nightlife may be for everyone, but the clubs and entertainment in this guide are not. Generally attracting a younger crowd (18-32), they provide an atmosphere that can only be described as hysteric.

The City – The City is the largest club in Cancun and therefore has earned its name. Described as a “mega-entertainment complex”, The City is a wave pool leading to a multi-level club that features suspended entertainers and an enormous video and sound system. Every year sees a packed lineup of celebrity curated parties; one of the most memorable being 50 Cent’s for Spring Break 2005.

CoCo Bongo – It can’t claim to be the largest, but comes damned near close; considered by many as the hot spot of Cancun. CoCo Bongo is a nightclub of smorgasbord allure. It teams the widest variety of entertainment, décor, and activities into one bowl-shaped arena. A hanging stage, flying acrobats, on-bar conga lines, video screens that drop from the ceiling, foam and bubble parties, tequila—it’s what separates CoCo Bongo from the other clubs and sets it a tier higher than the rest.

Maxim Beach Club – Hosts Cancun’s largest beach parties with DJs spinning global house and dance music, fire dancers, ME girls, and a different performance every night. As its name implies, Maxim Beach Club is hosted on the white shores of Cancun, at ME Cancun resort, and is open to the public.

Bulldog Café – Features Cancun’s greatest laser light show and live music. Although the club holds 2000, don’t be surprised if you see Bulldog bikini-clad girls in the mix. The Café has played host to many shows in the past including Radiohead, Naughty by Nature, and Shakira and conveniently sectioned into multiple areas, offering multiple atmospheres, and features a VIP room with Jacuzzi.

O Ultra Club & Terrace – A chic, intimate atmosphere of premium liquors and Euro-American house music. O Ultra Club is conveniently nestled between Dady Rock and Dady’O, so when the mood strikes, your night can transition, seamlessly, from one club to another. Built to hold 200 people, the walls, the décor, and the lighting have all been carefully orchestrated to provide guests with a sensual ambiance.

Pat O’Brien’s – O’Brien’s is not as crowded and overwhelming as its counterparts. It mirrors more of a bar atmosphere and is a great place to begin or end your night. Whatever you end up drinking at Pat’s, be sure to save room for their house Hurricanes.

The clubs and bars of Cancun run the gamut of head-imploding excitement to cool casual and relaxing. The aforementioned tend to tip the scale in favor of unbelievable nights and hazy mornings that will have you deciphering your own Polaroid. And say you still manage to deplete the stock; other clubs such as Carlos ‘n’ Charlies, Senor Frogs, Fat Tuesday, and Dady ‘O are all perfectly capable of keeping up and exposing you to Cancun’s wild nightlife.

Previously they catered for locals and tourists looking to party with regular bikini contests and even a surfing simulator.

Located at the rear of The City nightclub, the beach club caters for the well to do local and offers a menu devoid of the ubiquitous hamburger and fries. A group of expats living here decided to get together and have a family day out there.

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The maps are more than just a map though, they are a complete guidebook, and for only $8 (the price of a Whopper Meal at Burger King here in Cancun!)

The Cancun Map for example contains extensive information on 163 places to dine, 143 places to stay, plus details of 27 nightclubs/bars and 70 tours and attractions.

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Scott is clearly a talented photographer and manages to capture some very poignant scenes away from the touristy areas of Cancun depicting people, wildlife and history.

From shoeshine boys to pea-pods, from jaguars to bullfighters, from Mayan ruins to Mayan dress.

Portrait of the Yucatan shows much of what can be called the real Mexico, the Mexico that many tourists, sadly, never see. Scott’s book is available via this link and is currently retailing at just $7.50 plus $2.50 shipping which is a snip at twice the price.

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There are thousand of amateur video clips of Cancun out there that are permitted to be reproduced and this is the ideal medium for them to be shared, so I’ll be adding more Cancun video clips regularly. I’ll also be taking some video to add to the blog myself.

Our visit was last Saturday night. It’s always a good idea to get there early as the club fills quickly and good vantage points become scarce after 11pm.

We waited in the express line for about half an hour before they opened the doors around 10:30pm.

Ironically, the express line is actually longer than the regular line. Probably a sales tactic to get people to go in the first place if they think they receive some kind of VIP service.

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