A 20-minute boat ride from Cancún lies the small island of Isla Mujeres with its laid-back Caribbean ambiance, tiny streets lined with stalls, and street cafés in pastel-colored houses. Golf carts and mopeds dominate the streets, and although the island is only 5 miles long and half a mile wide, it still offers plenty of things to do and see. Everything from a beautiful palm-fringed white beach on the north coast to a dramatic rocky shoreline on the eastern side to a sea turtle sanctuary and the remains of a Mayan temple at the southern tip. If you're into adventure, then you should visit the Garrafon Reef Park & Beach Club, where you can go zip-lining, snorkeling, and kayaking. Lastly, a must-visit for nature and wildlife lovers is a tour to Isla Contoy, a nature reserve only inhabited by a few biologists and restricted to 200 visitors per day.

Most hotels in the Hotel Zone or Zona Hotelera are located directly on Cancún's beautiful beach. The Hotel Zone itself is divided into kilometer-long sections, which make it easy to navigate. The heart of the area is undoubtedly Cancún's famous buzzing party zone (km 8), where the bars and nightclubs draw both young and old crowds until the early morning hours. The party also attracts performing and visiting celebrities so you'll never know who you might be rubbing shoulders with.

Dennis has some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. Get spectacular ocean views at charming and cosy Sea Street Beach. The small beach is not overly crowded and there is a café close to it. An ideal beach for relaxing at the sunset, or just to stop by with kids after lunch.

Previously known as Bass River Lighthouse, the tower was built in 1853 atop a large keeper's house and represents one of the first examples of "Cape Cod style" lighthouses. Whit its range of 12 miles and a white light flash every 6 seconds, it has been operating constantly for almost half a century since it was constructed. Now is the venue of a seasonal hotel called At the Lighthouse Inn.