Visit Underwater Museum in Cancun

Among the things to see and do in Cancun, the Underwater Museum or MUSA deserves a special mention. This cultural space is not located on land, but at the bottom of the sea.

The Musa came into being in 2009 and today has some 500 statues designed by local and international artists. They are made of marine concrete, with a neutral pH so as not to interfere with the environment. In addition, the cavities of each sculpture are designed to become the lair of fish and crustaceans.

Cancun is an internationally renowned tourist destination. There is a wide range of hotels and leisure activities on offer, and of course there are many routes that take tourists to the underwater museum. Here are the main ones:

Excursion to the Underwater Museum

A simple but complete option. A boat will pick you up in the hotel zone and accompany you to the area of El Farito (Islas Mujeres). The peculiarity of this construction is not only in its shape (it looks like a big chess tower) but also in the way it has been built, respecting the reef below.

Once there, you will have plenty of time for snorkelling. Due to the shallow depth of the sea (about 4 metres), real diving is not allowed.

Near Isla Mujeres you will see a few iconic sculptures: "The Silent Evolution", "The Bankers", "The Dream Collector" and more.

• Price: more or less 50 €.
• Duration: 4 hours
• Recommended for those who want to explore the Underwater Museum without spending too much money.

Mini cruise on a glass bottom boat

The Mexican Caribbean is a place of rare beauty. Its waters are home to manta rays, sea turtles, nurse sharks and a myriad of colourful fish that swim in and out of the reefs. An original way to see them is aboard a small air-conditioned boat/submarine.

Normally, the route starts at Boulevard Kukulcan (Hotel Zone, 77500) at the Aquaworld park. During the navigation, the boat will reach the Nichupte Lagoon and Punta Nizuc where the sculptures "La Jardinera de la Esperanza", "Entendimiento", "Umbral", etc. are located.

• Price: between 30 € and 50 €.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours
• Recommended for those travelling with small children

Diving experience for beginners at the Underwater Museum

Cancun is the perfect place to learn to dive. With warm waters in all seasons and dazzling marine life, the Yucatan Peninsula is the ideal place for your baptism in the water.

An experienced guide will explain the basics of this discipline and take you to one of the most beautiful spots of the coastline: the Manchones reefs.

Besides turtles, manta rays and corals, this stretch of sea hosts iconic sculptures such as "The Cross of the Bay", "Anthropocene" (a stone Volkswagen Beetle) and "Burning Man".

You'll descend to a maximum of 10 metres. If you've come to Mexico to see the marine life, I recommend you read the post about the best snorkelling experiences in Cancun.

• Price: just under 150 €.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours
• Recommended for those who want to deepen their diving knowledge.

Catamaran trip with snorkelling

The sailing starts at Playa Langosta or Playa Tortugas and, after a short crossing, you will reach the splendid Isla Mujeres. Once there you will enjoy a private beach club with sunbeds, sun loungers and an open bar with food and drinks.

After some well-deserved relaxation, you will board the catamaran again to reach El Meco or Mayan reef. It is approximately 200 metres wide by 800 metres long and has a shallow depth of just 4 metres. It is a perfect area for snorkelling as the sculptures are literally at hand.

When they come into contact with the water, the stone figures are covered with algae and corals. "Anthropocene", "The Bankers" and the other statues have become home to fish and molluscs. In this area, it is also common to see a colony of sea turtles.

Before returning to Cancun you will have time to explore Isla Mujeres on your own. If you want to shop, you'll find all the shops on Calle Miguel Hidalgo; if you prefer to sample the local specialities, you can try the Tikin Xik fish at the beach bars on Playa Lancheros or Playa Tiburón.

• Price: between 70 € and 80 €.
• Duration: between 6 and 7 hours
• Recommended for younger audiences

It's very simple: it's all done online. You don't have to print anything, you just show the electronic ticket from your smartphone.

In case of problems, which is rare, all agencies have a customer service team.

A tour to the Underwater Museum usually lasts about 4 hours (return trip included). Tours depart from the hotel zone, a short distance from the Kukulcan Plaza shopping centre.

Note that the Underwater Museum is located between Cancun, Punta Nizuc and Isla Mujeres, a paradisiacal place a few kilometres off the coast. The latter is known for its laid-back atmosphere, so much so that there are no cars and locals get around by golf cart.

The turquoise waters are an irresistible attraction and it is not surprising that several agencies organise daily excursions to Isla Mujeres from Cancun.

Cancun's turquoise waters envelop artwork by six artists: Jason de Caires Taylor (the originator), Karen Martinez Salinas, Roberto Diaz Abraham, Elier Amado Gil, Rodrigo Quiñones Reyes and Salvador Quiroz Ennis. There are over 400 sculptures and the list below lists my favourites:

• Urban Reef: a few little houses at the bottom of the sea. British architect Jason de Caires Taylor has designed each residence to suit the requirements of different marine species. It is located on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres
• Entendimiento: six men seated in a circle around a small round table. It bears the signature of Cuban artist Elier Amado Gil. You will see it at Punta Nizuc, a few metres from the surface.
• The bankers: five men with their heads stuck in the sand.
• Inertia: a stony man watching television sitting on a sofa. A clear criticism of the apathy we have all experienced in our lives.
• Anthropocene: a concrete Volkswagen Beetle. In Mexico, the Beetle or "vocho" (as it is defined in these parts) is an iconic car and the last classic model rolled out of the Puebla plant in 2003. The underwater sculpture was designed by Jason de Caires Taylor and is located on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres.
• The anchors: five half-bodies emerging from the seabed. The marine vegetation gives it a mystical touch.
• Blessings: nine hands with their index and middle fingers raised and aligned. The statues were designed by Elier Amado Gil and are located at Punta Sam.

The idea of creating an art gallery at the bottom of the sea came about after a naval accident. A stranded ship had damaged the reef causing great environmental damage and the consequent escape of fish and divers.

To solve this problem, the president of Cancun's nautical association, Roberto Diaz, contacted DeCaires Taylor, a British artist and diver. Before sinking a few sculptures in the sea off Cancun, he had already done so in Grenada and England.

The collaboration was successful and thanks to this, today we can admire some 500 sculptures on the sandy bottom of Cancun. You can take a look at DeCaires Taylor's most significant works on his official website.

The Riviera Maya is a largely unspoilt stretch of coastline. A myriad of species live beneath the water's surface and the list below brings together the most common ones:

• Sailfish, one of the fastest fish in these seas. You will recognise it by its large dorsal fin. It favours warm waters where its favourite prey lives: sardines.
• Sea turtles of two species: hawksbill and loggerhead.
• Lionfish, beautiful as well as dangerous. It lives on reefs and is characterised by white, brown and red striped fins. It is so invasive that, due to climate change, it has started to colonise even the Mediterranean.
• Manta rays, giant mantas with two colours: grey above and white below. They are the "cousins" of sharks but are docile creatures.
• Nurse sharks, a medium-sized fish with a small mouth and whiskers that make it look like a cat.
• Fire coral, yellow, tree-like animals. Be careful, if you cut yourself on one of them, the pain will be very intense.
• Whale shark, the largest fish in the world. It feeds on plankton and is a regular visitor to the Riviera Maya in the summer months. If you travel to Cancun in May you will see the first specimens arriving in these waters.
• Mahi-Mahi, also known as lemon fish. It is characterised by its large head and green and yellow colour.
• Barracuda

In this case you have no real alternative. The only way to visit the Cancun Underwater Museum is to book a guided tour. Don't worry, as you will have seen, you have several options to choose from at more than affordable prices.

If you don't want to get too wet, I recommend you read the post about catamaran rides in Cancun.

All excursions to the Underwater Museum can be paid for in either Mexican pesos or dollars. This applies not only to online purchases, but to all transactions you can make in Cancun. Remember that, as in the United States, a tip is required (about 10% of the amount due).

For an all-round experience, here are a few suggestions:

• You don't need to be a certified diver to explore the Underwater Museum.
• If you don't want to use a rented snorkel gear, you can bring your own
• Use reef-safe sunscreen. Although it may seem strange to you, the coral in the Mexican Caribbean is at risk from sunscreen. Buy only oxybenzone-free sunscreens.
• Don't touch the sculptures to avoid disturbing the marine life.
• Diving tours are designed for ages 10 to 60. Children under 18 are assisted by an instructor.
• If you have any questions, ask before you dive. You won't be able to dive afterwards.
• Travelling to Cancun in January? No problem, the excursions are available all year round.

Yes, if you don't want to stray too far, you can reach Cancun's best beaches. With miles and miles of coastline, there are several candidates for the gold medal:

• Las Perlas, a typical Caribbean picture: white sand, palm trees and a sea with various shades of blue.
• Playa Langosta, a splendid inlet, perfect for a kayak tour or a swim with the dolphins.
• Punta Nizuc, the reef closest to the hotel zone. Manatees, turtles and thousands of fish live here, so much so that it is considered the best diving area in Cancun. Getting here is very easy, buses line 1 and 2 stop here.
• Playa Tortugas, with crystal clear, shallow waters.
• Playa Delfines, a very suggestive stretch of coastline. Beware: you won't be able to snorkel from May to September. This is turtle nesting season and access to the water is prohibited.
• Playa Linda, the most central beach. It is frequented by both tourists and locals.