Cancún and Cozumel are places that deserve — and defy — the many descriptions given to them. Cancún is one of the most well-known vacation destinations in the world. The name alone evokes images of endless white-sand beaches, broad turquoise seas, manicured golf courses, and raucous nightclubs. For scuba divers, Isla Cozumel is no less mythical, conjuring up dreams of a pristine coral reef, abundant sealife, and perfect dive after perfect dive. And the secret is definitely out on the coast stretching south of Cancún: Known as the Riviera Maya, it includes postcard-perfect destinations, like Tulum and Playa del Carmen, alongside numerous family-friendly and eco-minded attractions.

The region also has a reputation for gaudy commercialism, and nowhere more so than Cancún’s Zona Hotelera, which some say is more American than Mexican. Sure enough, you may well hear English more than Spanish, eat at more American chain restaurants than local eateries, and find ATMs that issue greenbacks instead of Mexico’s multicolored pesos.

The fact that parts of Cancún and Cozumel are “Americanized” is impossible to deny. But beachgoers and pooh-poohers alike may be surprised to learn that both cities — and the whole region — have rich cultural sides too. Right in Cancún’s hotel zone are two small Maya ruins and a terrific folk art museum — one of the best in the region, in fact.

Equally unexpected are the variety of natural and ecological attractions in the area, beyond the beautiful beaches and vibrant coral reef. The Riviera Maya is home to the world’s longest underground river system, and snorkeling and diving in the caverns is truly an otherworldly experience. There are numerous places for bird-watching, best of all in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a huge expanse of mangrove forests, shallow bays, and freshwater lagoons just south of Tulum. Sian Ka’an is also a world-class fly-fishing destination, as are the bays and channels farther south near the border of Belize. North of Cancún, Isla Holbox also has mangroves for kayaking, fishing, and bird-watching, but it is better known as a place to snorkel with whale sharks, harmless giants that congregate just off the island’s shore for several months every year. At Cobá archaeological site, you can climb the second-highest Maya pyramid, and see parrots and toucans, and mountain bike through forested paths, all in the same visit.

So what sort of trip will it be? Sunbathing by the pool, diving the cenotes (freshwater sinkholes) and coral reefs, snorkeling with whale sharks, fishing for snook, bird-watching in Sian Ka’an, perusing the museums, or exploring the Maya ruins? Hopefully, you’ll do a little of each. Cancún, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya are places that most people have particular expectations about. Our hope is that with this guide, we will help you meet those expectations and, perhaps more important, show you a side of the Mexican Caribbean that you may not have imagined.