From Teresa Plowright,
Your Guide to Family Vacations.
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In Mexico's Yucatan peninsula: Cancun, Mayan Riviera, and more

What a great name for a state: Quintana Roo (pronounced "Rrrow"), really rolls off the tongue. But the words have substance too, commemorating Andres Quintana Roo, a big figure in Mexico's Independence movement; he was imprisoned (with his wife), escaped from the Inquisition, and generally lived larger than life; he was even a distinguished poet.

Quintana Roo, the state, is in the Yucatan Peninsula, and has borders with Guatemala and Belize, and warm Caribbean seas on its east and north sides.

Mexico's Caribbean:

• Cancun is Mexico's tourist powerhouse, with its giant Hotel Zone that has lagoon side and Caribbean beach side. Read about Cancun all-inclusives for families.

• Isla Mujeres is a laid-back island a short boat ride from Cancun, with small hotels, the Garrafon National Park which has snorkeling and other activities, and a few all-inclusives. (See Avalon Reef Club Resort.)

• Puerto Morelos is a still-sleepy town about 20 minutes south of Cancun, and midway to tourist-y Playa del Carmen-- which was itself a sleepy town not so long ago. Large resorts are moving into Puerto Morelos, too.

• Playa del Carmen is a main tourist town in the "Riviera Maya", and the place where ferries depart for the island of Cozumel.

• The "Riviera Maya" means the long stretch of coast extending south of Cancun, a super area with interesting activities as well as beautiful beaches. Options include:
  • resort areas such as Akumal
  • all-inclusive resorts for families
  • Mayan ruins: beautiful sea-side ruins at Tulum, and extensive ruins at Coba, inland
  • world's second-largest coral barrier reef
  • snorkeling lagoons
  • giant caves you can tour, featuring underground lakes
  • "cenotes" - freshwater pools created when limestone caves in
  • Xcaret- unique eco-archeological theme park
  • Xel-ha, Xcaret's sister eco-park

Read more about Quintana Roo's Mayan Riviera.

*^{photo (c) Teresa Plowright.}