Cancun / Playa del Carmen, or...
 

We're flying into cancun for a week the end of june. We're planning on going to isla mujeres for the first 4 nights for an extended family vacation, then hope to wander somewhere else for our own vacation.

We love exploring towns/cities and are pretty comfortable wandering anywhere (though our spanish is pretty weak). We've spent a bit of time touring around guadalajara (arandas, tequila, etc.) and loved that.
Any suggestions on where to go from isla? We could stay in cancun or wander to playa del carmen or....

We just came back from a week in Playa del Carmen and Akumal. From what I've heard about Cancun, we didn't want to stay there (I'm sure some would disagree). Playa is a very hopping small city with a great beach, excellent restaurants, and lots to do at night. There are no concrete slab high rises, but lots of hotels and resorts in every price range. Akumal is a laid back community of condos, small hotels and resorts with some fabulous beaches and world class snorkelling. Check out locogringo.com for lots of info on these areas.

If you like Isla Mujeres, I can't imagine you would love Cancun. Playa del Carmen is fun, it's busier than Isla. If you want something even more laid back, look at some of the small properties along the beach south of Tulum. A couple dozen properties, several excellent restaurants and a beautiful beach. Jean

I should add that we've never BEEN to isla.

We tend to be urban wanderers, but we do like to explore. And i absolutely loved culebra (puerto rico) which seems like it may be like isla.

Isla is great but I don't know if I'd spend 4 nites. I'd choose playa over cancun any time. Cancun too americanized. Just came back from cozumel and playa. Really enjoyed the changes in playa, was there 5 yrs. ago. Wonderful little town with loads of hotels and restaurants. Great shopping too.

Just got back last night from Akumal. I agree with the others, Cancun might be a disappointment. Playa has lots going on and many choices. Puerto Morales is even smaller than that but is quaint in a fishing village kind of way. I loved Akumal and the fact that it was quiet at night and lots of things to do not far away.

Forget other locations
Since you are going to IM first
IMHO you will not be leaving until
you need to catch your plane.
If you need info on isla just e-mail us
[email protected] and we will forward our home grown non commercial and free "newbie brochure"--lots of good stuff.
Dan and Ginny