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Once
known to the Mayans as Kankun, or "nest of snakes,"
Cancún was a deserted area of the Caribbean until about
40 years ago. Filled with sand dunes, unexplored jungles
and beaches, marshes, and mangroves, the Cancún Project
began in January of 1970. The project called for three
basic things:
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A tourist area
with hotels, marinas, shopping centers, and golf
courses.A residential area, with roads, schools,
hospitals, markets, and other commercial areas.
An international airport, on the south mainland.
The first hotels-
Cancún Caribe, Playa Blanca, and Bojorquez-
opened in 1974. Starting15 years later, Cancún
has become one of Mexico's most important
tourist areas, as well as the largest. It is
more popular than the Bahamas, due in part to
its relaxing atmosphere, exciting nightlife, and
beautiful beaches. |
Beaches and Water Attractions
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 Cancún,
with its remarkably clear water and great
weather, is a haven for all kinds of beach
lovers and is especially ideal for water sports.
One top activity here is snorkeling. You will
find an array of tropical fish during your
snorkel trips in Cancun. Grouper fish who change
their color to match the background, flashing
from spots to stripes to solid colors as they
move from sand to coral are truly amazing to
watch.
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Puertos Morelos is very popular because the reef is so
close to the shore that it forms a natural barrier for
the town. El Garrafon National Park is situated on Isla
Mujeres, just a short boat ride away from Cancun. It is
world famous for its amazing reef and the array of
beautiful fish you can see. You will also encounter many
invertebrates from corals and sea anemones to jelly
fish, octopus, crabs and lobsters. You can snorkel at
Punta Cancun near the Dreams Cancun Hotel. Here you will
find beautiful, brightly colored parrotfish – some of
these growing up to four feet. You could also opt for a
day trip to Xel Ha or Isla Contoy, other great
snorkeling destinations.
If
you prefer scuba diving,
Cancún is one of the world’s best areas, home to
nearly 100 coral species, 350 mollusks and 164 species
of reef dwelling fish.
Cancún
is also the place to see hawksbill sea turtles,
crocodiles, lemon sharks, and manatees.
You have a choice of open water
diving along the reef and there are also several sunken
boats to add to the adventure. If you go inland along
the Cancun – Tulum corridor you will find many caverns
and cenotes, also known as “sink holes”.
Cenote, or Cave, diving is a specialty of this region
with many Cancun dive schools specializing in this.
There are two different types of cenote diving, one is
called cave diving and this is when you swim beyond the
reach of natural sunlight and the other is cavern,
diving where you stay within sight of natural light. To
cavern dive a diver must either be a certified cavern
diver or be accompanied by a certified cavern diver.
Cavern diving courses involve two days instruction and
four dives. A full cave diving course is taught over a
week with a minimum of 14 cave dives.
And whether by yourself or with a partner, Cancún is a
great place to try out parasailing. Or you can always go
fishing. Thanks to
the nutrient-rich waters found in the reefs in and
around
Cancún, it’s one of the best sports fishing and
fly-fishing areas in the world.
Day
Trips
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Isla Mujeres, which means “Island of Women,” is
located 45 minutes from Cancún by ferry. A very
relaxing area,
Isla Mujeres is always blessed with cooling
breezes. This is a great place to kick back and
forget everything but the urge to relax. The
beaches on the north end of the island are very
calm and vendors will pass by and offer you
coconuts and tropical fruits.
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Playa del Carmen is a 45-minute drive from Cancún.
It’s a relaxing beach town, with a town square
on the main beach and plenty of quaint, varied
shops. There are many beachfront restaurants
here and here you can find the ferries to
Cozumel.
Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island. It is often
considered a diver’s paradise, and also offers
shopping, open-air bars, Mayan ruins, miles of
deserted beaches, and much more. Many sport
fishing charter operators are located in the
small marina located just north of San Miguel,
the only town on the island.
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The good beaches are just a short taxi ride from
town, and the best reef diving is along the
coast just south of town, with many reefs for
different diving skills. Rent a buggy, or
motorcycle and explore the island. |
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Xel Ha is a national park with parrots,
dolphins, colorful fish and more. You can go
swimming and snorkeling in protected lagoons and
canals, or swing in hammocks and listen to the
music. Xel Ha is a relaxing way to spend an
afternoon.
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Xcaret is located around natural grottos, fresh
and saltwater pools and underground rivers that
run to the sea. You can find a tropical
ecological amusement park with snorkeling sites,
an exotic tropical rainforest where endangered
species are protected, and a few archeological
sites. Or, you can walk around on the bottom of
a Caribbean lagoon with a dive helmet or glide
down a jungle river, both above and below
ground. Daily tours depart from Cancun starting
at 8 AM with return trips running all day until
after dark.
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If you feel like staying dry, Cancún offers
something on land for everyone- there are
special bike paths; Wednesday offers bull
fights. There are go karts and folk dances, a
motorcycle or buggy rental to explore the
jungles. There is also fishing available, as
well as several areas for horseback riding,
often as part of an amazing tour. There are
areas for a game of golf or tennis. Or you can
take a serene walk through the botany park,
alligator farm, or just walk around the many
extensive shopping centers for souvenirs!
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Archeological Sites: Mayan Ruins
Don’t
forget to visit some of the amazing Mayan ruins
and other archaeological sites around Cancún.
World-famous, it is almost impossible to
adequately describe the ruins and sites.
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Coba, meaning “ruffled water,” was built
on the shores of five shallow lakes. It
is the largest of the Yucatan’s
archaeological sites, as well as the
least excavated of the major sites. It
contains about 20,000 structures and
once housed us many as 40,000 Mayan
people. The Nohoch Mul pyramid, the
tallest on the peninsula, reaches 140
feet into the sky. Given the large size
of the site, a guide is a good
investment; multilingual guides are
usually available. Coba is an all day
trip from Cancún, so leave early! These
ruins are considered a favorite stop for
the more adventurous traveler. If you’re
visiting in the summer the heat and
humidity here can be overwhelming, so
plan accordingly.
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Chichén Itzá, located about two and a half hours
by car from
Cancún,
is known as one of the wonders of the
archaeological world. It was founded in 495 AD,
has been carefully restored. Its entrance
features a large visitors’ center and museum
where you will find many of the best preserved
sculptures and artifacts on display. The ruins
are well grouped, making it easy to find
specific areas. The best way to enjoy this area
would be a tour; there are many that leave daily
from
Cancún. If you don’t want to make the drive
twice in one day, you can
spend one night in Mérida, a charming city about
an hour and a half drive west of Chichén Itzá.
There are also several accommodations and
restaurants close by.
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Tulum is the only oceanfront city the Maya ever
built, and the only one that is walled. It is
located on the beautiful Caribbean beach. It is
small, and can be toured in about two hours. It
contains about 60 buildings. It is one of the
most visited sites of the Mayan world, and used
to be only accessible by boat until the 1960’s. |
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Nightlife
In
great contrast to its relaxing beaches and daytime
strolls through the area, Cancún has an exhilarating
nightlife. Whether you want to relax at a lounge bar,
try out your new dancing shoes at a dance club, or just
listen to some music, there is something for every night
owl in Cancún.
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There are live music venues where you can enjoy
jazz, rock, salsa, and other types of music. And
there are also lounge bars, with more relaxing
music, VIP areas, and contemporary décor.
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Cancún’s dance clubs are said to be some of the
world’s best, with light and laser shows,
acrobats, and more. Some of the most popular
clubs include Coco Bongo, with amazing acrobats
and impersonators; Bulldog Café, with innovative
light shows, the latest music, and an exotic
Jacuzzi; and The City, whose guests have
included 50 Cent, the Black Eyed Peas, Paul Van
Dyk, and more. |
The bars are full of live music and entertainment. Among
the most popular are Azucar Caribbean Bar, which is
considered the most prestigious
bar
in all the Mexican Caribbean. Congo is a terrace bar
with music, contests, staff dancing, and the best
atmosphere of Cancun’s party spot. There is also the
Dos Equis XX Terrace Bar, decorated in A
Caribbean style with palms, palapas, hammocks, beds and
Jacuzzi.
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