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Cancún & Riviera Maya 2013

A Travel Diary

Cancún & Riviera Maya 2013

Turquoise water, coral reefs, and the Caribbean — April 2013

101Photographs
7Days
4Places
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Where the water turns turquoise

A week on Mexico's Caribbean coast — the long white beaches and infinity pools of the Cancún hotel zone, the lionfish and dolphins of the Interactive Aquarium, a boat out through the mangrove lagoon, and snorkeling over the coral of the Mesoamerican Reef, with the sun coming up pink over the sea each morning. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

A week on Mexico's Caribbean coast, built entirely around the water. Mornings started early enough to catch the sun coming up pink over the sea, then filled with the long white beaches and infinity pools of the Cancún hotel zone.

The best days were spent out on and under the water — a boat through the mangrove lagoon, and snorkeling over the living coral of the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world. At the Interactive Aquarium we met the dolphins up close and found the strange beauty of lionfish hanging in the tanks.

It's the trip that taught us just how many shades of turquoise the Caribbean can be.

This trip ran 7 days, April 24 – May 1, 2013. Along the way we spent time at Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef, The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins, and The hotel zone & the Caribbean. The gallery below tells it day by day, in 101 photographs.

Planning your own trip? Read Cancún with kids: our itinerary & tips →

Day 1

Wed 24 Apr

The hotel zone & the Caribbean

The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanThe Caribbean doing its impossible shades of turquoise.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanWhite sand and warm, clear water as far as you could see.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanCancún's hotel zone curving along the sea.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanAn infinity pool that ran straight into the ocean.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanMorning on the beach before the heat set in.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanPalapas, pool decks, and nowhere in particular to be.

Day 2

Thu 25 Apr

The hotel zone & the Caribbean

The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanThe Caribbean doing its impossible shades of turquoise.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanWhite sand and warm, clear water as far as you could see.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanCancún's hotel zone curving along the sea.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanAn infinity pool that ran straight into the ocean.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanMorning on the beach before the heat set in.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanPalapas, pool decks, and nowhere in particular to be.

Day 3

Fri 26 Apr

The hotel zone & the Caribbean

The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanThe Caribbean doing its impossible shades of turquoise.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanWhite sand and warm, clear water as far as you could see.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanCancún's hotel zone curving along the sea.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanAn infinity pool that ran straight into the ocean.

Day 4

Sat 27 Apr

The hotel zone & the Caribbean

The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanMorning on the beach before the heat set in.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanPalapas, pool decks, and nowhere in particular to be.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanThe Caribbean doing its impossible shades of turquoise.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanWhite sand and warm, clear water as far as you could see.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanCancún's hotel zone curving along the sea.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanAn infinity pool that ran straight into the ocean.
The hotel zone & the Caribbean
The hotel zone & the CaribbeanMorning on the beach before the heat set in.

Day 5

Sun 28 Apr

The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins

The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsLionfish drifting like something out of a dream.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA clownfish tucked into its anemone.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsAngelfish patrolling the reef tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA stingray gliding over the sand.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsThe dolphins putting on a show under the Cancún sun.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA sea lion barking for its lunch.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA nurse shark cruising the bottom of the tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsLionfish drifting like something out of a dream.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA clownfish tucked into its anemone.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsAngelfish patrolling the reef tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA stingray gliding over the sand.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsThe dolphins putting on a show under the Cancún sun.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA sea lion barking for its lunch.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA nurse shark cruising the bottom of the tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsLionfish drifting like something out of a dream.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA clownfish tucked into its anemone.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsAngelfish patrolling the reef tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA stingray gliding over the sand.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsThe dolphins putting on a show under the Cancún sun.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA sea lion barking for its lunch.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA nurse shark cruising the bottom of the tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsLionfish drifting like something out of a dream.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA clownfish tucked into its anemone.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsAngelfish patrolling the reef tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA stingray gliding over the sand.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsThe dolphins putting on a show under the Cancún sun.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA sea lion barking for its lunch.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA nurse shark cruising the bottom of the tank.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsLionfish drifting like something out of a dream.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA clownfish tucked into its anemone.
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsAngelfish patrolling the reef tank.

Day 6

Tue 30 Apr

The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins · Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef

The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphins
The Interactive Aquarium & the dolphinsA stingray gliding over the sand.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefThe reef alive with color a few feet down.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefMangrove islands scattered across the flats.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefSnorkeling over the second-largest reef on earth.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefA sea turtle finning by, completely unbothered.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefThe reef alive with color a few feet down.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefMangrove islands scattered across the flats.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefSnorkeling over the second-largest reef on earth.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefA sea turtle finning by, completely unbothered.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefThe reef alive with color a few feet down.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefMangrove islands scattered across the flats.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefSnorkeling over the second-largest reef on earth.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefA sea turtle finning by, completely unbothered.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefThe reef alive with color a few feet down.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefMangrove islands scattered across the flats.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefSnorkeling over the second-largest reef on earth.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefA sea turtle finning by, completely unbothered.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefThe reef alive with color a few feet down.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefMangrove islands scattered across the flats.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefSnorkeling over the second-largest reef on earth.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefA sea turtle finning by, completely unbothered.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefThe reef alive with color a few feet down.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefMangrove islands scattered across the flats.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefSnorkeling over the second-largest reef on earth.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefA sea turtle finning by, completely unbothered.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefOut into the lagoon, mangroves on every side.
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reef
Mangroves, the lagoon & the reefGlass-clear water over the coral gardens.

Day 7

Wed 1 May

Sunrise over the Caribbean

Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanSunrise over the Caribbean, the whole sky going pink.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanFirst light on the water, the beach still empty.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanThe sun coming up straight out of the sea.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanDawn over the hotel zone.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanSunrise over the Caribbean, the whole sky going pink.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanFirst light on the water, the beach still empty.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanThe sun coming up straight out of the sea.
Sunrise over the Caribbean
Sunrise over the CaribbeanDawn over the hotel zone.

Where we wandered