Arizona, Mexico + Add a trip

Automobiles

It's worth renting a car to explore further afield, although taxis are very reasonably priced.

Planes

Cancun International is the main regional airport, with direct flights to and from the UK. Alternatively, you could fly in via Miami, which is only an hour away by plane. The taxi ride to Playa del Carmen takes around 45 minutes and costs about $60; Tulúm is about 90 minutes away - the taxi ride will cost around $100.

Trains

Dialing

Country code for Mexico: 52; Playa del Carmen: 984; Campeche: 981; Merida: 999.

Reads

The Lost Chronicles of the Mayan Kings by David Drew; Beyond the Mexique Bay by Aldous Huxley.

Do go / Don't Go

The climate is normally excellent all year round. August is really busy, as is Christmas, so the spring generally provides the best combination of good weather and less crowded beaches. Easter is a very popular holiday across Mexico, though, so book your hotel rooms well in advance if you plan to go then. August to October is hurricane season in the Caribbean, so be aware that this is a potential (but unlikely) hazard.

Cuisine

Chillies are an important ingredient in Yucatecan cooking; they range from mildly piquant to eye-wateringly ferocious, but fortunately they are normally served separately so you can choose your own level of volcanicity. Marinades of lime juice and herbs such as coriander are popular, especially with the ubiquitous seafood. Maize tortillas are a staple, served with delicious guacamole.

Taxis

Hail them in the street in Playa del Carmen for shorter journeys, or alternatively your hotel can ring one for you. Establish a price for your trip before setting off, as few taxis have meters.

Tipping

Wages are low here, and most workers survive on their tips; 10-15 per cent is the norm, although taxi drivers don't usually expect a tip.

Currency

Mexican peso (the US dollar is also widely accepted).

Packing

Insect repellent is particularly useful if you're heading to the Mayan ruins inland. The tropical sun can be very strong, particularly out on the water, so bring a brimmed hat and plenty of sun cream.

Arts

The Yucatan Peninsula was the centre of the fascinating Mayan civilisation, and their ruined cities, often reclaimed from the jungle, are scattered throughout the area. Cobá, Tulum and Chichen Itzá are the most famous sites, marked by temple-pyramids, sacred ball courts, palaces and sacrificial altars (including those used for human sacrifices). Aspects of Mayan culture, such as the language, still survive to this day in certain parts of the Yucatan, and elements of Catholicism and local fiestas, such as the Day of the Dead, have a discernable exoticism about them.

And...

Shopping

For a bit of light retail entertainment, Playa del Carmen has perhaps the best selection of shops, although they are decidedly aimed at tourists. Don't expect the Via Condotti, but pedestrianised Quinto Avenida (5th Avenue) has several internationally branded stores and small Mexican boutiques that are definitely worth a poke around in. If you have somewhere back home to hang it, a hammock is a suitably Yucatecan souvenir.

Viewpoint

The view from the ruins at Tulum is exceptional; you cannot climb the great temple-pyramid of El Castillo but the view from the Temple of the Wind is just as impressive.

Something

The area's limestone landscape is dotted with cenotes - water-filled pools connected by a network of underground caverns and rivers. Once regarded as sacred sites by the Maya, who thought they represented the entrance to the underworld, cenotes are also a wonderfully refreshing place for a swim: Dzitnup cenote just outside Valladolid is one of the best places for a dip with a difference.

2 February The Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas) festival is celebrated all over Mexico with candlelit processions. Late February Carnaval takes place in the week prior to Ash Wednesday, and has grown in recent years to become a major event in Cancun and Cozumel. 31 October-2 November The fascinating Day of the Dead festival celebrations span three days and combine pre-Columbian ancestor worship with elements of Halloween.