Only in recent years has Cancun garnered a reputation for being a party city — a resort vacation only for wild college students, binge drinkers and lots of rowdy fun. However, this perception is relative to the fact that every city on earth has its share of rowdy young people who love to drink and cause trouble. If you go to Los Angeles, Miami or even Disney World in Orlando, you are going to find some reckless youth somewhere. Cancun was never designed to be the ultimate party city. It was created to boost tourism in Mexico, to visitors of all ages, along with their families. The truth about the real Cancun is that it is a resort city like most others and offers a variety of entertainment to the college crowd as well as to the general working population.
Most travelers who visit Cancun state that you cannot possibly do everything there is to do in Cancun in just one vacation, even if you stay a full week. There are many attractions to see, whether you are interested in wildlife, water sports, entertainment shows, shopping, beach walking, hotel and spa accommodations or cultural history. Cancun is a place that you can take your children to, confident that the atmosphere is safe and the entertainment selection is family friendly. Yes, there are nightclubs that get rowdy. But these locations are clearly identified and self-contained within their premises. Outside of the bars you will find that Cancun is a resort city, filled with a variety of fun activities for all ages.
If you are interested in wild life you can swim with dolphins and whale sharks. It's completely safe and suitable for young ones as well as parents. If you love exploring jungles you can stop by the Sian Ka'an Wilderness. If you and the kids love water sports you can visit the Sailing Quest attraction or the Jungle Tour, for a chance to ride on a speedboat. You can relax peacefully on one of many beaches or go for a lobster dinner cruise. You can find quiet, out of the way restaurants like the La Habichuela, past winner of the "National Best Restaurant Award" and part of the "Distinguished Restaurants of North America Organization." If you are looking for hotels then try sampling some of the luxurious accommodations found in the Oasis Palm Beach Hotel, the Hotel Soberanis and the Gran Bahia Principe Akumal Resor. You can even learn about ancient history on your trip to Cancun by visiting the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza and have a fun and educational experience at the Mayan Riviera.
Yes, Cancun has drinking and partying and sees a large student population in Spring and Summer months. However, just about everywhere you go will have a population of energetic young people. This certainly does not mean that Cancun has been overrun by youth. The city remains a safe destination vacation for families, including children who will love the shopping and water-based theme parks. Cancun is not "adult fun"...it is fun for all ages!
