Age isn't an issue at Azúcar, where some of the best salsa dancers are couples who've clearly spent at least one lifetime together. That doesn't lower the hip quotient, however. This is one place where your sexiest stiletto-heeled sandals will fit right in. Multipiece Latin bands keep the crowd pulsing with steady salsa and merengue rhythms. Watch the dancers onstage to learn the basic footwork and sip a mojito or two. You'll soon find the beat irresistible.

Closed Sundays.

Big-name talents including DJ Sasha, Ludacris, and 50 Cent thrill thousands at The City, which lives up to its name in size and the variety of its crowds. More than 5,000 music lovers can fit in the four-story club; nine bars keep the booze flowing. The City Lounge is the quietest area and has a good martini and munchies menu. The party doesn't end at daylight, since The City also has a beach club with cabanas and outdoor bars.

A favorite haunt of MTV-watching frat boys, Coco Bongo is a longtime favorite of the wild young things—up to 1,800 per night come during high season to dance atop every available surface in the club. The night begins with Madonna and Michael Jackson impersonators on the hanging stage at one end of the arenalike building, and builds to a frenzy with flying acrobats, conga lines, and massive video screens dropping from the ceiling—along with confetti, streamers, and bubbles. Earplugs could come in handy.

Cancún has long had a healthy jazz scene. Its annual Jazz Fest was a major event for 12 years (between 1991 and 2003), but even though it's since faltered, those who love blues, jazz, and experimental music still have Roots. The club has been around seemingly forever and maintains a smoky, laid-back ambience beloved by local musicians.

Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Sophisticates take note: There's more to Cancún's nightlife scene than just rowdy party bars. Ultra is the perfect spot to show off your tan against a slinky black dress—though you'll still see more than enough belly rings. Martinis, Champagne, and Bellinis are the drinks of choice here. House music throbs ever more intensely as the hours pass, urging patrons toward the dance floor next door at Dady'O, the granddaddy of Mexican discos.