Delfines is about the only beach with a public car park; unfortunately, its sand is coarser and darker than the exquisite fine sand of the more northerly beaches. On the upside, the beach has great views, there are some nearby Mayan Ruins to check out and, as the last beach along the Boulevard, it is rarely crowded.

Several species of sea turtle lay eggs in the sand along the island's calm western shore. Although they are endangered, sea turtles are still killed throughout Latin America for their eggs and meat, which are considered a delicacy.

In the 1980s, efforts by a local fisherman led to the founding of the Centro de Investigaciones and the Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm, which protects the turtles' breeding grounds and places wire cages around their eggs to defend them against predators. Hatchlings live in three large pools for up to a year, at which time they are tagged for monitoring and released. Because most turtles in the wild die within their first few months, the practice of guarding them until they are a year old greatly increases their chances of survival. The Turtle Farm is a scientific facility, not an amusement centre. But if you'd like to see several hundred sea turtles, ranging in weight from 150g (5oz) to more than 300kg (661lb), this is the place for you.

In the middle of the north end of Zona Hotelera, Playa Langosta is a gem of a place for swimming. Facing Bahia de Mujeres, the beach is coated with Cancún's signature powdered coral sand and the waters are quite shallow, making it good for snorkelling. If you've had enough of the water there are lots of beach restaurants and bars.

In the Zona Hotelera, these Mayan ruins contain a small temple in addition to several ceremonial platforms. Although the site is not especially impressive, it's still worth a look if only to spy on sun-seeking iguanas.

At this archaeological museum, most of the items - including jewellery, masks and intentionally deformed skulls - are from the postclassic period (AD 1200-1500). Also here are part of a classic-period hieroglyphic staircase (inscribed with dates from the 6th century) and the stucco head that gave the local archaeological zone its name of El Rey (the King).

Most of the informative signs are in Spanish only, but at the ticket counter you can get a fractured-English information sheet detailing the contents of the museum's 47 showcases.

Features jazz, reggae or rock bands and the occasional flamenco guitarist. Roots is a full-menu restaurant as well as a club, serving pasta, salads, seafood and meat dishes. Thursday seems to be the best night for catching nice tunes with a crowd.

This is often the venue for MTV's coverage of spring break, and tends to be a happening venue just about any day of the week. The club opens with celebrity impersonators, dancers and circus acts (clowns, acrobats and the like) for an hour or so then it really hots up with live music and dancing - on every surface, all night long.

Dady'O is one of Cancún's hottest dance clubs and attracts loads of twenty-somethings with its latin, house, techno, trance and hip-hop beats. The elaborate setting is a five-level black-walled faux cave with a two-level dance floor and zillions of laser beams and strobes.

This is a traditional restaurant, popular with locals and tourists alike, that serves a varied menu from all over Mexico. Mole enchiladas and piña coladas are affordable and delicious while tantalising mains include lobster tail in devil sauce. If you're lucky, a waiter will serve you beer, balancing it on his head from the bar to your table.

About as close to sea level as a restaurant can be, this breezy hole in the wall, er, wharf is at the end of a short, nameless road at the edge of a mangrove-flanked channel. Octopus, conch and fish are served in various ways - fried with garlic or ceviche (raw)- and the beer is cheap. Get there early; it closes when the fish is gone.

One of the best seafood options in town. At El Pescador you'll find a mouthwatering variety of creatively named delicacies. Try the lobster and shrimp shishkebab or the creatively named Shrimp Angels on Horseback (bacon-wrapped prawns) for a wonderful, if pricey, treat. The octopus cocktails are also great. The pitchers of margaritas pack a deceptive punch.