Year Round Cancun Cultural Opportunities -

Details for Year Round Cancun Cultural Opportunities

ID:	100
Author:	nettravauthor
Title:	Year Round Cancun Cultural Opportunities
Article:	Despite Cancuns popular image as a Mecca of beautiful beaches and late night partying, this Mexican resort paradise offers a surprising amount of cultural activities for the more sophisticated traveler. From museums and fine arts to history and top notch ethnic dining, Cancun might surprise you with its wide range of activities appealing to those looking for a little more than sunburn and tequila induced hangovers. The city of Cancun is decked out in bright colors and vibrant music emanating from street corners and parks, a festive cultural motif that sets the stage for the other Cancun that is sometimes overlooked. Start your cultural exploration of Cancun in El Centro, the citys thriving downtown where most of the locals and expats live, providing a glimpse of Mexican urban lifestyle. Filled with excellent restaurants, shopping, and local crafts, you will find great prices and the best Mexican food in Cancun. Mercado Veintiocho (Market 28) is a huge crafts market filled with vendors hawking many of the same wares you will find in the Hotel Zone, but at half the price. More bargains can be found along Avenida Tulum, El Centros main drag, and Avenida Yaxchilan, which also has a number of good restaurants and nightlife. If sidewalk cafes and smaller restaurants are you are thing, check out Avenida Nader. Also near Avenida Tulum, Parque de Palapas is an action packed park popular with locals offering music, food, and a giant thatched-roof stage. The Museo de Antropologia e Historia, or National Institute of Anthropology and History, located on the ground floor of the Cancun Convention Center, features artifacts and displays chronicling centuries of Mexican culture. The museum examines Mayan culture with a collection of items dating back as much as 1,500 years. Museo INAH also has an impressive amount of Mayan cultural and archeological relics, including jewelry, masks, skulls, and a hieroglyphic staircase from the 6th Century. Also at the Convention Center, the internationally renowned Ballet Folklorico Nacional de Mexico-Aztlan performs traditional dances set to Mexican music. For one price, you can take in the show while enjoying dinner and an open bar. Afterwards, folkloric bands perform nightly in the central courtyard of the nearby Party Center. More locally seasoned dinner and dancing can be found at El Mexicano Restaurant Folkloric Ballet About the author of this article: visit our travel section for more information about unique cancun vacations and other travel ideas.
Category:	Recreation: Travel
Date:	September 09, 2008 09:50:09 AM

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