 CANCUN MEXICO
Cancun is Mexico's most visited tourist destination and boasts over
twenty-five thousand hotel rooms. There's golf, tennis, lots of shopping
facilities and a remarkable biodiversity. There are four hundred
seventy-five bird species, over a hundred different mammals and twelve
hundred plant species.
Cancun has lots of beach and the hotels are magnificent. Some people actually never even leave the
hotel grounds their entire vacation. This speaks volumes for some of these
resorts situated on the edge of ocean beaches.
The beautiful ocean is home to over two thousand five hundred
marine species with five hundred different tropical fish.
Cancun is located in the State of Quintana Roo at
the most southern tip of the peninsula. It is divided into two sections:
the Hotel Zone [Zona Hotelera] which is a 22 km sandy strip of land
between a lagoon and seaside hotels located on Cancun Island and Cancun
City/Downtown [El Centro] which is home to the many Mexicans who live in
the district. Downtown is located on the mainland.
 CANCUN HOTELS
For current Cancun hotel and resort information including rates, availability and secure on-line reservations please see:
 Cancun Hotels & Resorts
Cancun Airport to Hotel Shuttle see:
Transfer Information
THE CANCUN HOTEL ZONE
The hotel zone is an island shaped like a 7. It is joined to the
mainland on the southern tip by the Punta Nizuc Bridge and the Playa Linda
Bridge at the northern end. This 22 km strip of sandy beach is bisected by
a long main street named Kukulcan Boulevard.
On the north and south side of the island is the Caribbean Sea while an
enormous lagoon named Laguna Nichupte is formed by the inside of the "7"
on the islands southwest side.
Cancun is similar to Miami or Myrtle Beach but with a more international flare. In some places you would be
hard-pressed to notice the difference. You can however go on guided
excursions from Cancun to almost anywhere in the Yucatan.
To see full-size hotel map see: Cancun Hotel Map
CANCUN CITY/DOWNTOWN
The city begins where Kukulcan Boulevard meets Bonampak Avenue at the
most northern tip. In Cancun streets are named after Mayan cities. Today
over 450,000 people live in this growing community.
The heart of the city is known as "Downtown" [El Centro] which is where
the main vendor markets are located on Tulum Avenue. There are also
numerous restaurants and boutiques offering everything from cigars to
exotic perfumes.
NOTE: We have purchased expensive perfumes in Cancun at 1/3 the cost of
the perfume in the US and Canada.
HOTELS OFF THE BEACH
STRIP
There are many hotels off the beach strip and these hotels
drop in price dramatically. Many are within a short drive or bus ride to
the beach. The rule is that the closer to the beach you are the more
expensive. You can also find some pretty expensive 5 Star resorts way off
the beach that cater to people who don't necessarily feel the need to be
near the sea.
If you are backpacking and traveling by bus there are a number of cheap accommodations near the bus station. If you just stand there with your backpack/luggage somebody will approach you and suggest a hotel. These guys are the hotel reps and get a commission for bringing in customers.
HOTELS ON THE BEACH STRIP
Every time you blink it seems there is a new hotel. We have
spoken to many people who have had marvelous stays in more than one hotel
in the beach zone. Quite often we talk to people who have been going here for over a dozen years and have never had a negative experience with any of the hotels.
If you are planning on going there, the following articles written
by Jules Seigel are recommended reading. Jules has lived in the area for
over 20 years. See "Recommended Readings" located at the bottom of this page.
GETTING AROUND CANCUN
Getting around Cancun is relatively easy using the bus system, taxis, hotel shuttles and walking.
Many vacationers are content to stay at the hotel the entire week with maybe a couple tours, making it easy since you are picked up more or less at your front door and returned there after your tours. Airport transfers deliver you and pick you up with no problems.
For those vacationer who wish to get out of the hotel zone, visit various attractions, sight-see and shop, see Getting Around Cancun for more information.
CANCUN BEACH UPDATE
 Cancun Beach Video NEW
Travel Weekly
The National Newspaper of the Travel Industry
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT declared Cancun's famous beaches fully restored, nearly six months after Hurricane Wilma roared ashore and well ahead of the April 30 deadline set by Mexican President Vicente Fox. Mexico began the 24/7 dredging program on Feb. 1 at a cost of $21.5 million. Approximately 96 million cubic feet of sand was dredged from 22 miles offshore by two ships and pumped back onto the beach, resulting in what Cancun officials described as a wider beach along the 7.5-mile stretch of sand between Punta Cancun south to Punta Nizuc.
WITH THE FIRST PHASE COMPLETE, the next challenge will be to do the necessary maintenance to prevent erosion and protect the beach from any future storms, Cancun officials said. Don't be surprised to see a hotel or tourism tax in the near future to help pay for necessary maintenance. A spokeswoman for the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau said plans for the next phase of beach restoration, which will include dunes and other protective measures, will be unveiled within the next six to eight weeks, and tourism officials are considering some form of a tourism tax to help finance this second phase of beach restoration.
THINGS TO KNOW
Cancun is an international tourist destination and thus there is foreign money and experience here. Many of the hotels are co-owned by foreign investors who also supply experienced management. There are countless Americans, Germans, Italians, Swiss, and Canadians working here.
This is the tourist mecca of Mexico and the Mexican government provides a safe environment for this to flourish. Crime is taken very seriously here. You are indeed safe.
For vactioners, many of your questions could probably be answered if you read these pages:
Cancun Vacations
Info & Tips
Cancun All Inclusive
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If you are planning a trip to Cancun, the following articles written by Jules Seigel are recommended reading. Jules has lived in the area for over 20 years.
