Cancun Entertainment
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Cancun Entertainment and Nightlife
Since Cancún’s whole rationale is to encourage almost two million visitors each year to have fun, the entertainment scene is lavish - or remorseless, depending on which way you look at it. There’s everything from sports and gambling bars to romantic piano bars and fun bars, even just plain drinking bars: enough choice to ensure that you can find a place to have a good time without being ripped off. Most of the nightclubs , on the other hand, are pricey, with a “no shorts or sandals” dress code. A couple of cinemas show new American releases subtitled in Spanish: the largest downtown is the multi-screen Cineapolis, Plaza Las Americas on Av Tulum south of Av Coba; in the zona , there’s a cinema in the Plaza Kukulkán and two screens in the Forum by the Sea shopping centre, Blvd Kukulcan Km 9.5.
Bars and Night Clubs
Christine , in the Krystal hotel and condo resort, Blvd Kukulkán Km 9. The most sophisticated and expensive nightclub in town, famed for its light show. Thursday is 1970s and 1980s night: look in the free magazines or phone to check other weekly events. Don’t turn up in shorts, jeans, sandals or without a shirt.
Coco Bongo , in the Forum by the Sea shopping centre, Blvd Kukulkán Km 9.5. Vast state-of-the-art rock and pop disco popular with US college kids. Cover charge at weekends only; open until 5am.
Dady O , Blvd Kukulkán Km 9.5, opposite the convention centre. State-of-the-art nightclub with a high-tech sound system and a light and laser show. Casual dress but no shorts. The adjacent Dady Rock has all-you-can-drink deals for US$25.
Fat Tuesday , Blvd Kukulkán Km 6.5, and in the Terramar Plaza in the zona hotelera . Restaurant-bar with an outside dance floor and a choice of sixty flavours of frozen drinks. Cover charge after 9pm; open until 4am.
La Boom , Blvd Kukulkán Km 3.5, at the front of the Hotel Aquamarina Beach . High-tech disco in an “English setting” with continuous videos. No cover charge on Mon; “Ladies Night” Wed and Sun.
Pat O’Brian’s* , Flamingo Plaza in the zona hotelera . Live rock, blues and jazz in a larger than life version of the famous New Orleans bar. Three bars: a piano bar, a video lounge and an outdoor patio. Open until 2am.
Roots , downtown on Tulipanes 26. Funky little jazz and blues club. Recommended.
Señor Frogs , Blvd Kukulkán Km 5.5. Live reggae bands and karaoke nights.
Shows and Dinner Cruises
Ballet Folklórico Nacional de México , at Cancún’s convention centre, Blvd Km 8.8 (tel 9/881-0400). Buffet dinner nightly at 7pm followed by a professional ballet show at 8pm. Tickets cost around US$40 including dinner.
Cancún Queen , Aquaworld Marina, Blvd Kukulkán Km 15.2 (tel 9/885-2288). Fish and chicken dinner on a traditional Mississippi paddle boat. Live music followed by a fiesta and a variety of party games with prizes. Daily departure at 6pm, returning at 9pm.
Captain Hook , El Embarcadero, Blvd Kukulcan Km 4.5 (tel 9/883-3736). Spanish-galleon-style boat with pirate sword-fighting and a lobster/steak dinner. Departs nightly at 7pm returning at 10.30pm.
Columbus , from the Royal Mayan Marina at Blvd Kukulkán Km 16.5 (tel 9/883-1488). Romantic cruise with lobster and steak dinners. Daily 4pm in winter and 5pm in summer. Approx US$60 per person.
Teatro de Cancún , El Embarcadero, Blvd Kukulcán Km 4 (tel 9/849-4848). Two nightly song-and-dance shows: Songs and Dances of Mexico at 7pm; and Tradicon del Caribe at 9pm. Welcome-cocktail included in ticket price.
Toros , Plaza de Toros, Av Bonampak and Av Sayil. Weekly bullfights with tacked-on folkloric show. Wed at 3.30pm (US$30).