of family fun South of Cancun

	Rent a car and drive to Puerto Aventuras. Make sure you have room to relax by renting a condo from Caribbean Realty . The kitchen will save you money on snacks and meals out. Swim in the beach and pool at the Puerto Aventuras Omni Hotel - everyone is welcome. Dine at the Italian Bakery, on the marina. Good food, good prices. The dolphins are right in the marina for you to watch. You can pay to swim with them. There is also a small shipwreck museum.
	Relax. Hang out at the beach. See the dolphin show in the marina. If everyone is restless, head South on the highway 3 minutes to the cenotes. Cenote Azul costs $3 and has a tunnel the brave can swim through. Or set up a snorkeling tour. Walk around the marina at 4pm and try to buy fish from the charter fishing boats for dinner. No luck getting fish? Try again another night. For eating, Dorado is the best, followed by boquinete, mero, pargo and corvina. Children are welcome at any restaurant South of Cancun, but it can be more relaxing without them. Your rental agent or hotel reception can arrange for a baby-sitter.
	Take the 8:00am or 10:30am ATV Jungle Tour (on the highway just past Playacar, and before Xcaret). Wear your bathing suit under your clothes, and bring dry (and nicer) clothes for later. Spend the rest of the day on the beach in Playa del Carmen. Coco Beach Club has showers and a restaurant. If you have teenagers, send them over to Señor Frog's next to the ferry to Cozumel for loud music and shooters. They can get a cab back to Puerto Aventuras later that night if you trust them. Playa del Carmen is a relatively safe city. Don't miss the fresh juice and Mayan food in a model of the Tulum ruins at Yaxche Maya Restaurant on 8th, a block off Quinta Avenida. Poc Choc is tasty pork and all their chicken dishes are super. Try the agua de chaya. Younger kids will like the fountain. Still have energy? Sip 2 for 1 drinks at the Blue Parrot on the beach at Calle 12 while the kids chase crabs on the beach. Don't be an idiot and drive drunk, though.
	Leave the condo or hotel by 8am so you can arrive at the Tulum ruins in time to beat the cruise boat traffic. Save time and energy by taking a tour with Alltournative - you can go to Xcaret, Tulum and Xel Ha, or Coba and a Mayan village (recommended) or set up your own private tour. After the Tulum ruins, snorkel at Xel Ha or Casa Cenote. Xel Ha eco park is only $15 and has a large lagoon, mangrove river, and several cenotes. The restaurants are reasonably priced and there is plenty to do all day. At Casa Cenote you can snorkel through mangroves and see a cavern entrance. You can also swim at their small beach. Fun for 2+ hours. The restaurant is very good and well priced.
	Take a half day fishing charter from Puerto Aventuras. It costs about $300 and maybe you'll catch dinner. Try Puerto Aventuras Fishing for a good safe boat. Contact the Tankha Inn in advance to set up one of their famous Mayan dinners. A slide show about the modern Maya is followed by wonderful food in their 2nd story restaurant overlooking the ocean. They have a boat, so you might want to arrange for a snorkel or fishing trip with them earlier in the day.
	If you have a lot of energy, take the ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. The ferry costs about $10 round trip and leaves from the main plaza in Playa del Carmen. Turn right onto the main street in Playa del Carmen (Juarez) and park in the lot at the end of the road where you turn left. The reef in Cozumel is so shallow in places that you can see as much snorkeling as you would diving. For about $30 they will take you to 2 different reefs and even sail you to a beach club for a decent lunch buffet. The snorkeling trips cost about the same, so you might as well sign up with the tour agent on the ferry. For something really special instead, take a panoramic flight with Aero Saab Airplane Tours or take a day trip to Holbox Island Mexico
	Have breakfast at Cafe Ole and lounge at the Omni's beach until you have to leave. If you are in Playa del Carmen, have breakfast in the trees at 100% Natural.