The Museum of Modern Art in Chapultepec park focuses on displaying modern Mexican art, mainly from the decade of 1930 onwards. The vast collection is presented through temporary exhibitions, usually three or four at a time. MAM is without a doubt the best place to see the widest possible variety of modern Mexican art within a short span of time. Frida Kahlo fans will always find a few of her works on display. Apart from the exhibitions in the main building, you'll find a large garden with numerous sculptures and a cozy cafe to keep your energy levels up.

Do you dare to swim with these ocean giants? From around May to September, sharks appear close enough to the coast of Cancún, and several tour operators let you observe them and even swim and snorkel with them (all safety precautions, naturally, in place).

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.