Take a Tour

Take a Tour

Boat Tours

Day cruises to Isla Mujeres generally include snorkeling, a trip to the center of town, and lunch. Cancun Lover's Cruise runs daily cruises through Laguna Nichupté and to Isla in a glass-bottom boat. Kolumbus Tours offers excursions to Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy on replica boats of the Pinta, the Niña, and the Bermudian sloop of war Cosario. Sea Passion Catamaran offers both a day trip and night trip (which includes a lobster-tail and fish dinner on the beach) in 60-foot and 75-foot catamarans to Isla Mujeres.

Cancun Lover's Cruise (Playa Tortuga/Fat Tuesday Marina, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 6.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500. www.thelobsterdinner.com/). Kolumbus Tours (Punta Conoco 36, Sm 24, 77500. 998/884-5333 or 800/715-3375. www.kolumbustours.com). Sea Passion Catamaran (El Embarcadero, next to Museo del Arte Popular Mexicano, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 4.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500. 998/849-5573. www.seapassion.net).

Breathing Bubble Tours

If you like the idea of scuba diving but don't have time to get certified, check out B.O.B. (Breathing Observation Bubble) Cancún. Instead of using scuba gear, you can sit on a machine resembling an underwater motor scooter, and steer your way through the reef while wearing a pressurized helmet that lets you breathe normally. It's safe and requires minimal exertion. The two-hour tour through the Bahía de Mujeres costs $75 per person and includes a DVD of your adventure. Tours leave at 9, 11:30, 2, and in the summer also at 4:30.

B.O.B. (Breathing Observation Bubble) Cancún (El Embarcadero, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 4.5, Local E-3, Zona Hotelera, 77500. 998/849-4440 or 998/849-7284).

Helicopter Tours

If you want to view the Zona Hotelera by air, TOFLY7 operates a helicopter tour daily from the El Embarcadero complex next to the pier. The tour lasts 15 minutes and costs $89 per person. A maximum of three people are allowed in each helicopter.

TOFLY7 (El Embarcadero, stairs to office are next to Museo del Arte Popular Mexicano, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 4.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500. 998/849-5471 or 998/147-8088. www.tofly7.com).

Submarine Tours

Aquaworld's Sub See Explorer is a "floating submarine"-a glass-bottom boat that submerges halfway into the water. On a 2½-hour cruise ($40) you can experience the beauty of Cancún's reef and watch the exotic fish while staying dry. Tours leave on the hour from 9 AM to 3 PM daily and include refreshments.

AquaWorld's Sub See Explorer (Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 15.1, Zona Hotelera, 77500. 998/848-8327. www.aquaworld.com.mx).