Cancun for culture vultures????

[mamiecarter]

What to do in Cancun if you like museums, art, cultural events, music of the non pop variety, historical sites, wildlife?

We are planning to go to the the usual pre Columbian archeology sites and ruins but there must be more. Local artists? Traditional music? Wildlife preserves and zoos? Mexican historical museums and sites? Indigenous villages?
Craft markets?

I love Mexican street food and down home cooking (and yes I know the risks) Where to get the real thing? What do the locals do for fun (aside from laughing at the tourists)? I love going places where I am the only or almost the only North American
in sight. (Then we can all laugh at me together.) How to have unique experiences of Mexican culture useing Cancun as a base?

 

[geoffb]

Cancun is a large city so there are local markets outside the hotel zone that cater to the local population that you may find interesting. There are also excellent restaurants in the city that are off the beaten path and have more of a local clientele.

The archeological sites are definitely worth the effort and many of the day trips out to those sites will stop at smaller villages and towns along the way. We enjoy visiting Valladolid and have hired a van and guide to go to the ruins at Ek Balam and then stop in that small city on the way back for lunch and shopping. Some of the organized tours stop there as well but you may not have as much time.

Eco tourism is also popular in the region so there are cenotes, caves and other things to explore.

Candidly.... you may find the city of Merida and the surrounding 'Puuc Route' ruins to be more what you are looking for. Very few Americans go there and you'll mostly cross paths with European Tourists. If you still want some beach time after a few days in Merida you can take an inter city bus to Cancun (4-6 hours).