Cancun was a small fishing village in 1967, when
the Mexican Dept. of Tourism slated it for development. Now, its 25-kilometre Hotel Zone of
ocean and lagoon waterfront
draws night-club-goers, upscale shoppers, and
diners-out.
Yet just to the south is the "Mayan Riviera", a 100km
stretch of quiet beaches, ancient ruins, coral reef, and "eco-theme" parks.
Mayan Riviera Highlights:
lovely lagoons full of colorful fish
(perfect for kids to learn to
snorkel)
second-largest barrier coral reef in the
world
unique "eco-archeological" theme
park, Xcaret
sister park Xel-ha
"cenotes" (deep natural pools of
clear water-- lovely to swim in)
Those who want to stay in a
resort have plenty of choices: see
Mayan Riviera all-inclusives: A to Z. Though you won't find all-out family
resorts like Beaches and FDR in the Caribbean, many places welcome kids and have
kids' programs, children's pools, etc.
Another option for
families visiting the Mayan Riviera is to rent a vacation home or condo in an
area like Akumal. Best locations are within walking distance
of one of the beautiful lagoons, such as the Yal-ku Lagoon.
South
of busy, popular Cancun is a very different Mexico:
the Mayan Riviera. 
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