On the historic Yucatan peninsula, Caribbean Mexico has some of the region's most modern resorts, offering all the ingredients of an unforgettable sub-tropical Caribbean holiday.

Whether you want to laze in the sun, dive into clear blue waters, dance from dusk until dawn or roam through the ruins and legends of lost civilizations, Caribbean Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula can bring your vacation dreams to life.

Its main resort areas combine the magic and myths of Mexico, the convenience and luxury of modern, Western hotels and the calming waters and winds of the Caribbean.

The L-shaped island of Cancun – linked to the mainland by a causeway – is 14 miles long and only a quarter of a mile wide. Its spotless beach is lined by more than 75 hotels, all built in the past 25 years. The waters along the northern side of the hotel strip are perfect for children and adults who are learning to swim.

The mix that Cancun offers includes restaurants serving dishes from burgers to Yucatan specialities; entertainment from reggae and jazz clubs to discos and folklore cabarets; world-class shopping and sports ranging from golf – there’s an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II course built around Mayan ruins – through all the water sports to tennis and Mexican bullfights. You’ve got the makings of the ideal all-round vacation.

Cozumel, nine miles from the mainland and reached by ferry, is an 181 square mile limestone island with excellent beaches, palm groves, relics of Mayan settlements dating back to 1,000 AD and nature parks and reserves. On the mainland coast opposite Cozumel is the Riviera Maya, a long stretch of tiny fishing villages and small, hidden resorts. It contains the modern resort area of Playa del Carmen, and is the perfect spot from which to explore the wonders of this ancient land – or just soak up the sun on the beach.

Just south of Cancun is the smaller Isla Mujeres – the Island of Women, named after Mayan terracotta figures found there. It covers only 5.5 square miles but is becoming an increasingly popular resort for tourists attracted by its quieter atmosphere, flawless Caribbean beaches, excellent coral reefs, superb diving and coastal waters swarming with semi-tropical fish.

Other attractions here include a turtle farm and a marine biological station where visitors can see dolphins, sea lions and sea elephants. A little more than 12 miles north of Mujeres is Isla Contoy, a protected sanctuary for 75 bird species.

Wherever you are on these resort islands, you are never far away from the many Mayan sites of the Yucatan peninsula – sites like Chichen Itza and Tulum, with temples, walled towns, castles and pyramids. Another major attraction is Xcaret, 35 miles south of Cancun and Mexico’s only eco-archaeological park, where visitors can swim with dolphins and explore Mayan caves.

It's not surprising that in twenty years Mexico's Caribbean coast has grown from a long strip of gorgeous, empty beaches to the biggest tourism destination in the region.