The Palancar Reef, which surrounds Cozumel, is the second largest reef in the world and a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers. Playa del Carmen, a small Mexican town which hasn't changed much through the years, gently rests snug against the ocean. It boasts a white sand beach and a fossil-rich nearby jungle. It is also near the almost mystical Xcaret, a unique blend of a Mayan cultural center and a living museum which rises out of the steaming jungle. A visit to Xcaret at night is hauntingly beautiful, where the jungle becomes the dramatic setting to another world and another time.
Visitors stroll through a series of ancient caves and underground rivers.
It was once only performed to celebrate a new century, which, for the Mayans, occurred every 52 years. Visitors stroll past the sacred owls, kept in the darkness of the caves, which once symbolized death. They learn how ancient physicians treated the sick with incense and used boards to deform the head of infants as a sign of beauty. Nearby are examples of unearthed Mayan pottery and handcrafts and a complete replica of a Mayan village where those working at lost arts nod in friendly greeting. Because the Norwegian Star is the first cruise ship to stay overnight on the Yucatan Peninsula, passengers can view a stunning evening performance of Mexico's Ballet Folkloric held in Xcaret's outdoor amphitheater.