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BEACHES This is why you visit, right? For Cancún’s 14 miles of warm-water beach bliss. The Hotel Zone’s north-facing beaches along the top of the “7”-shaped island are protected by a calm

bay, while east-facing beaches along the leg are pummeled by the Caribbean. Though lacking the intense turquoise hues, tranquil waters off the northern beaches are ideal for swimming,

especially for novices, children and those less steady on their feet. East-facing beaches have no buffer from the wind and can have treacherous currents and crashing waves, but they are

unmatched for sunbathing and camera-ready scenic beauty. Take lifeguards’ signals and the color-coded warning flags seriously wherever you go. You don’t have to stay in a big resort or join

a beach club to enjoy Cancún’s beaches. By law, they’re all public property, including those claimed by resorts; 11 are designated public access beaches. Food, drink and water-sports rentals

are available at most beaches, though chairs or beach umbrellas may belong to individual resorts. Seven strands are considered Blue Flag beaches, certified for water quality, safety and

accessibility; they provide bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, ramps, palapas and playgrounds. One of these, the never-crowded Playa Delfines, is Cancún’s most beautiful beach and the only

one not blocked off by a resort. Another, Playa Las Perlas, became the city’s first fully accessible beach in 2017. It has access ramps, amphibious beach chairs, accessible bathrooms and

other helpful features. Standout Riviera Maya beaches include Puerto Morelos, whose pristine coral reef offers superb snorkeling and diving; Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres’ stunning (but often

crowded) swimming beach; and roomy Xpu-Ha, on a wide bay mercifully free of huge resorts. Playa Punta Esmeralda in Playa del Carmen has accessible bathrooms, showers and beach wheelchairs

you can use for no charge. Though Tulum’s sublime swath of sand is perpetually packed, Playa Paraíso­­, between the ruins and the hotel strip, is rarely crowded and rewards a short swim from

shore with a view of ancient temples. Sun beds with beach umbrellas are available for rent. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES All over the Yucatán, thousands of green “hills” are in fact vestiges of the

ancient Maya’s advanced civilization, now reclaimed by jungle. And many visitors are surprised to find you can visit excavated sites even in Cancún. El Rey may be the Hotel Zone’s most

tranquil spot, with broken columns and palace stairs-to-nowhere standing in surreal juxtaposition to the Iberostar Cancún’s faux pyramid next door. The tallest pyramid in the area (climbing

is prohibited) is hidden in deep jungle at the sparsely visited El Meco, just north of the Centro. Its resemblance to Chichen Itza is striking. In the Riviera Maya, the beautiful if overly

reconstructed walled city of Tulum is famous for its perch above the Caribbean. Hilly, sandy terrain in spots poses challenges for some wheelchair users, but the information center lends out

a special wide-tired chair to make it easier to get around. Most of the enormous site of Cobá, in the jungle east of Tulum, slumbers under vegetation, creating a sense of ancient spirits

undisturbed. It would daunt visitors with mobility issues if not for the squadron of triciclos (traditional Mayan tricycles), whose drivers will pedal you around for a small fee. By far the

largest and most impressive Mayan archaeological ruins site in the region, Chichen Itza was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Several buildings have survived on the

sacred site, including El Castillo, a 98-foot pyramid of stone. If you’re not fit, you won’t want to climb the ruins. But there’s still plenty to see just strolling around. And the generally

flat landscape makes getting around feasible for those in wheelchairs, too. To visit the site, about a two-hour drive from Cancún, arrange a tour through your hotel. Bite the bullet and opt

for one that leaves very early in the morning, as you’ll want to get there as close to 9 a.m., when the site opens, as possible. That’s when tourists are few and the weather is still

pleasant and not so hot. Archaeological sites have bathrooms and sometimes a picnic table or food concession near the entrance, but there are no benches or other anachronistic structures.

Though wheelchairs might not be able to navigate every corner of these sites, they are mostly walkable even by those with walkers or canes except for some buildings located off the main

paths. NATURE SITES The Yucatán harbors more natural marvels than one person could explore in a lifetime, but some simply should not be missed. Topping that list is the UNESCO World Heritage

Site, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a 1.3 million-acre tract of protected jungle, beaches and cenotes (lagoons and caves where freshwater underground rivers meet the Caribbean Sea) barely

changed over the millennia. You can explore some of its beaches on your own, but to find the secret jungle paths that plunge you into the Mayan world, book a tour from Visit Sian Ka’an or

Community Tours Sian Ka’an. These groups take special care to enable people with mobility issues to explore the natural treasures here. Xcaret eco-archaeological park corrals bits of the

Yucatán’s best offerings, from snorkeling to wildlife watching (butterflies, jaguars, manatees) to nightly cultural shows. You can get a massage in a cavern lagoon; swim with sharks,

dolphins or stingrays; and even walk on the bottom of the sea using an innovative Sea Trek helmet. The park is accessible except for a few steep, rocky passages. The visitor center rents

wheelchairs and will help people with disabilities plan their day.