Going on a trip. Couple with a 12 year old. Does anyone know how to have fun in the Cancun area on the cheap???

Build a sand castle? Swim? walk on the beach?

It would certainly help if you told us your idea of "fun". Is it zip lining, visiting ruins, snorkeling, etc?? Does your resort have activities to keep you child busy?

El Rey ruins are within the hotel zone. Walk or catch the local bus and tickets are very inexpensive (guides cost extra $$ but they site is quite well labeled )

What hotel are you staying in? The Palace resorts offer included off site excursions/tours with thier rate.

Walk around La Isla Mall. There is an Aquarium there with a dolphin show. Vendors have booths set up with various coupons. They are not time shares, but do want to sell tours.

We are very active, but appreciate more mellow things too. Staying at a beach front cheap place Maya Caribe. Don't expect to stay in room much, We would love to snorkle, should we buy and bring our own here, or rent or buy snorkle equiptment there? Zip Lining sounds awesome!!! Any good deals?? Ruins sound great, don't have to see all, just a sample. Also heard of some cave stuff. Any info on cheap cave tours?

Have you snorkeled before? We bought inexpensive gear before our first snorkeling trip. It was the best thing to do for us as our kids got to try the equipment at home (in pool/ bath) plus we were splitting our stay between 2 islands (have to rent twice so more $$ to rent than buy)and we wanted to snorkel by ourselves. Snorkel tours provide equipment but can be expensive.
We used that equipment on our next trip and then upgraded.

Good deals? Depends on how you want to save money. On our last trip to Mexico in Nov 2009 we were offered a time share presentation at the car rental place.

We spent the next rainy morning being shown around the timeshare resort (just over 2 hours including free huge buffet breakfast).

In exchange for our time we were given $100 cash (we were told it would be $100 off our car rental) plus $15 tickets to Xel-Ha (all inclusive). We chose Xel- Ha as we hadn't been before. These tickets saved us $150 (3 people).

So we saved $250 and had a free breakfast in exchange for a few hours of our vacation time.

You might get offered time share presentations at your resort or the shopping mall (we were offered others during our stay but have only actually done 3 in the last 20 odd years!). If you consider this then note, the first thing they offer you isn't the best deal. They start with a discount, then make a more attractive offer if you don't jump on it... so haggle!

Try googling Xel-Ha or zipline Cancun for activities.

Here's another eco park Xcaret
http://www.xcaret.com/

thanks for the great tips!!!!