Need help choosing the must things to do in Cancun

I have been reading for weeks all the information here on TUG and the internet on the things to do in Cancun. There is so much to do and see I am having a hard time choosing all what to do. I need help narrowing it down.

These are the things I have so far:
1. I have the EP card. Food and resturants are covered.
2. Arranged airport transfers to VCI through Brant.
3. Have maps from Mapchick.
4. After reading about BSQ's trip with Edventure, that is on the must do list.

What are the "MUST DO THINGS" while in Cancun? Will be there Dec 8-15, 2007.

1. When do I book excursions or trips while in Cancun? Do I book them now or wait until we get there?
2. I love nature things. For example, snorkling.
3. Love history, arcitecture, culture.
4. Thinking of doing a zip line for the first time.

I am just so confused with info overload. Need help narrowing it down.

So any help much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jolie

I'd suggest going more than once, don't try and "do everything" this time. It's close to Louisiana (we head to New Orleans ourselves tomorrow), hopefully you can go again soon, it's great even in the off season (& even cheaper)

The nature theme parks are very good, Xel Ha & Xcaret, day trips. You can combine them with the Tulum archaeological sites.
Snorkel in Puerto Morelos, there is a non-tourist botanical garden very near there, you'll often see spider monkeys along the nature trail.
An all day trip to Chichin Itza
(you need to get out of Cancun for "culture", maybe Merida, really a two day+ trip)
A great nature day with snorkeling is Isla Contoy.
Use the resort's tour desk to book your excursions when there. You can do them in advance if you're sure on where and when. I'd just book early in the week once there.

Leave time for a long breakfast under the palapa at VCI. (the sidewalk and park across the street from VCI on the lagoon is a nice walk)

It'll be a great trip, you just can't do it all in one trip, so well worth going back.

You must spend one full day in the nature park "Xcaret" Besides wildlife and butterfly park, underground river, snorkeling with beautiful fish and turtles etc; there is a wonderful show just before they close the park that goes through the whole Mexico story and different tribes and cultural differences.

I would also take the ferry across from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel and take a scuba class and trip. It is so easy. Unlike Hawaii. It's very personal maybe 3 people with one instructor beginning on the white sandy beach of a park and walking into crystal clear water, staying in shallow water until you have the hang of it and slowly swimming further into the underground sealife. You never go more than about 25 feet, so you can always look up to the surface and there's no real physical threat as you know you can just scoot to the top if need be. It's a once in a lifetime must do.

We also enjoyed a daytrip, where we swam with dolphins, rode horses and went on a speedboat. This was a blast!

Book tours there. The resort will have a tour desk (definitely if it's one of the Royals), or you can book with Brant Boston.

At most, I'd pick one ruin (Chitzen-Itza over Tulum), one "ecological park" (XCaret over Xel-Ha), and one island/snorkel visit (Cozumel or Isla Mujeris or Contoy). I agree that BSQs Eventure sounds good too.

Unless you have boundless energy, you'll likely arrive back at the resort exhausted each evening, so why not schedule your trips for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and relax at the resort Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Take the bus to Puerto Jaurez and take a ferry to Isla Mujirez $7 round trip per person. Rent a golf cart for $45 all day and explore the town and ride around the island. Bring swim wear and take a dip in Playa Norte. You will be on your own schedule and not have to worry about meeting up with a tour group.

When you arrive at VCI you will get a little packet with invitations to several FREE events at the club. I suggest that you attend the Sunday Morning orientation at VCI. They will tell you about things to see and do, all of which can be booked through Thomas Moore. I also suggest that you attend the beach party on Sunday afternoon. You will meet lots of people at both events.

Doing the tour to Chichen-Itza was the highlight of our only trip to Cancun. Highly recommended.

Which is the best day to visit Chitzen-Itza? We will be in Cancun over President's day week and trust it will be busy.

Chichen-Itza
Xcaret

We did something this past May I have wanted to do for years and that was visit Isla Contoy, which is a bird sanctuary approximately 2 hours by boat. Thomas Moore set it up for us and an independent company does it. Our guide was fantastic and it was truly a beautiful place.

Not sure what the best day to see things is, but Sunday is usually not a good day for Xcaret and perhaps the same may go for Chichen-itza. Some places have free admission on Sunday and the one time we did go to Xcaret on Sunday it was crowded with locals.

I too recommend a trip to the Ruins. ANY of em, even El Rey so you can at least say you've been there.

If you do decide to go on an Edventure, you'll see from the list of stuff Bonnie wills end you that you can make your day as full or as laid back as you like (though still pretty full). They have some ziplines which I hear are pretty good for beginners. We opted not to do that.

So some of my tops are:

• Chichen Itza
• Xcaret (I prefer it over Xel-Ha)
• Isla Contoy
• a day trip on your own to Isla Mujeres is always good for a relaxing get away from the resort kind of day, though I wouldn't call it a must do.

if you're staying at one of the Royals, the Rio Largartos/Ek Balam trip looks interresting ... we've not gone on it yet, but it's probably next up for is

There are SOOOO many things to do, and from what everyone has recommended, I am sure you are overwhelmed.
Please be sure to not overdo...you just can't do it all in one week. Someone mentioned about spacing the excursions. Don't do 2 consecutive day excursions. It will be too tiring.