Cancún has had some bad luck in the past. Not only does it have a reputation as Party Central—Hurricane Wilma knocked the region off its feet in 2005, wiping out a good portion of its beautiful shoreline and many of its hotels and resorts. Today, the place is revived and courting visitors of a higher caliber. And while Señor Frog's will always have a faithful crowd, it's easy for adults to discover Cancún's more sophisticated side.



The Best Beds

The hotel you choose to stay in can determine the rest of your island experience. For lovers of quiet, classic luxury, there's the Ritz-Carlton, located at the southern end of the Hotel Zone and worlds away from the frenetic pace of Punta Cancún. Elegance abounds, from the chandeliered lobby to the bright, airy rooms facing the breathtakingly blue sea.



Felipe Calderón, Mexico's president, saw fit to rest his head at Le Méridien resort during the 2008 World Economic Forum on Latin America. Whether for business or pleasure, the hotel specializes in understated but refined service that's indeed fit for a president. There are enough activities to keep families entertained, but an air of tranquility remains ever-present, especially in the intimate, poolside cabanas.

If letting your hair down is on your agenda, the adults-only, all-inclusive Temptations satisfies the need. Some rooms have Jacuzzis on the patio, flat-screen TVs and king-sized beds with large walled mirrors and red shaggy rugs. Those with an "anything goes" lifestyle converge around the main pool, indulging in racy games designed by the hotel's energetic entertainment crew. Those seeking a less salacious experience can relax at the "quiet" area, where all is calm and bikini tops stay on.



More sensual than sexual is the exclusive Aqua Cancún, one of the Hotel Zone's sleekest places to sleep. Kim Cattrall, of "Sex and the City" fame, must agree, having recently stayed on the elite Lounge club floor, where guests enjoy complimentary breakfast, cocktails, desserts and even pre-dinner sushi and sashimi. Exploring the senses is Aqua's focus; it's evident the moment the lobby's eucalyptus, menthol and rosemary scent wafts through the nose, and it continues in the iPod-docking station, flat-screen TV and Molton Brown-stocked bedroom where aromatherapy choices like romance (a blend of black coconut and jasmine) perfume the night air.



Cancún's Cool Days

If spending time on a Jet Ski isn't your idea of fun, there are plenty of other daytime pursuits to discover after the beach and pool. The Culinary Center at the Ritz-Carlton offers a two-hour program where novice and experienced cooks can participate in hands-on activties in their state-of-the-art Viking appliance-equipped kitchen, learning to prepare delicious spa cuisine and authentic Mexican food. If you'd rather watch than cook, the center's evening chef table is a fun night of indulging in champagne and appetizers, then watching Chef Rory Dunaway prepare a four-course menu of appetizing dishes like albacore ceviche, pumpkin cappuccino soup and beef tenderloin, all served with Mexican boutique wines.



Shopping always tops the to-do list, but forget the plethora of made-in-China knickknacks and head to the Kukulcán Plaza mall's newest addition, Luxury Avenue, for more upscale merchandise. This is the Saks Fifth Avenue of Cancún and the only boutique outside of Mexico City that offers the latest collections from prestigious names like Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Tous, DKNY and Max Mara, as well as beauty products from Chanel, Shiseido, Dior and much more. Colorful silk apparel and accessories from Mexican designer label Pineda Covalin are also available, with prices that are at least 10 percent cheaper than in the U.S and duty-free.

Watches can be the ultimate accessory, and they are represented in abundance at the new Maraf jewelry store, also inside Kukulcán Plaza. This grand store specializes in unique, luxury watches from famous brands like Versace, Gerald Genta and Damiani. Women can find their dream wrist bling too, from mink-strapped numbers to gold- and diamond-accented pieces. If you'd like to wait while your jewelry gets cleaned, your ring is sized or your watch is adjusted, the shop has an in-house bar, where salesmen make delicious pineapple martinis and pour smooth top-shelf tequilas.



Golf lovers can spend the day at several courses around the island. The 18-hole Pok-Ta-Pok, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is a classic, picturesque par-72 course that skirts around Cancún's Nichupté Lagoon. The Hilton Hotel's championship greens are set on 150 acres that wind through ancient Mayan ruins and the newer, Greg Norman-designed Playa Mujeres Golf Club, five miles north of the Hotel Zone, is rated women-friendly by the Executive Women's Golf Association.



After a day's activities, nothing beats a soothing, healing spa treatment. Men and women indulge at Le Meridien resort's two-level, 15,000-square-foot Spa del Mar, where patrons indulge in pre-treatment services like Jacuzzi, sauna and the cold plunge pool before settling into sculpting and contouring therapies, like Mexican chocolate-infused body wraps or stress-relieving Elemis deep tissue massage.

For the latest spa technologies with a Zen-mentality, the spa at the Aqua Cancún has outdoor massage huts and a Watsu pool for water therapy, as well as a temazcal sweat lodge. Inside, the dark, intimate spa relaxes any trace of tension with innovative color light therapy, hydropods and Mayan-based treatments set to pulsating soulful music.



Savor the Flavors

There's more to Mexico than guacamole and tacos (although there are plenty of restaurants where you can get a great meal of both). Cancún has diversified its culinary platters, especially at the hip Thai Lounge, tucked in the unlikely area of La Isla shopping center. The outdoor sanctuary is reminiscent of a Thai Village (but with club-like sound system) where private dining palapas are hidden in a jungle of bamboo, plants and palms. An interactive aquarium is on-site, with Flipper gliding by as you feast on pad Thai, spring rolls and lychee martinis.

The fusion cuisine at mb, Michelle Bernstein's (of "Iron Chef" fame) collaborative restaurant, is a gourmet feast of unexpected Asian, Latin and Mediterranean blends. The Greek watermelon salad with feta cheese is refreshing, the Peruvian ceviche with popcorn is both salty and bitter, and the churros with espresso and vanilla ice cream are a familiar favorite.



There's no denying the city heats up when the sun goes down. And you can't come to Mexico without sampling tequila and the increasingly popular mezcal. But your experience doesn't have to include pouring the liquor down your throat, eating worms and a painful hangover in the morning. Instead, spend an evening at La Destilería, a restaurant, bar and mini-museum that has more than 150 brands of tequila, plus mariachis and popular Mexican favorite foods. Take the 20-minute tour and learn the history of tequila and its process from agave plant beginnings down to barrel aging ends. You'll learn more than you ever thought possible, including the difference between tequila and mezcal and why the worm exists at the bottom of the bottle. The last (and best!) part of the tour is the tasting. Choose a table overlooking the Nichupté Lagoon—and watch the crocodile standing guard below the balcony as you sample silver, gold and aged tequilas. Add some salt and lime and it goes down smoothly, which is what the new Cancún is all about.



Cancún

TACA takes you directly to Cancún from Flores Petén, Guatemala. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at taca.com or your local TACA Center, or call a TACA Call Center (the numbers are listed on the inside of your ticket jacket).