Cancun

The cultural wealth of the Peninsula, the natural
wonders of both land and sea, and a modern,
booming metropolis are three realities that converge to form a vertex in the southernmost part
of Mexico, in a place called Cancun, the gateway
to the Mayan World. This interesting combination makes Cancun unique, enabling it to position
itself in only four decades as the number one
destination in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Cancun
Cancun
Cancun
Cancun
Sacred remains built by the Mayan stand out in the dense
vegetation of the Quintana Roo jungle; the heritage and
essence of this civilization is latent and can be appreciated by all who visit the Mexican Caribbean, which boasts
around five thousand archeological sites.
Cancun’s visitors can admire the crystal clear water and
its soft waves and are surprised by the wealth of flora and
fauna in the destination. Residents and visitors show the
world how to live side by side in the most harmonious
way, conserving and respecting the ecosystem. This
landscape charms visitors and makes this a very romantic
destination for weddings and honeymoons.
Offering more than 31 thousand hotel rooms and the
latest in technology, Cancun has become a vibrant metropolis, a mixture of ancient and modern cultures in the
middle of the jungle.
develop a new tourism destination, and a small fishing
village named Cancun was its leading candidate. Officially
the Cancun project was authorized in 1969, but in practice
it began in January of 1970. In 1974 the first hotels began
to operate in Cancun and the international airport was
opened. Since 1989 to the present day Cancun has become
the most important tourist resort in the country and is the
most prosperous city in the peninsula. It is also the number
one tourist destination in the Caribbean, receiving more
tourists than the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.
Where is it?
Situated in the north of the state of Quintana Roo, the
southwestern state of Mexico, Cancun has 700 km (435
mi) of Caribbean coastline. The hotel zone is located on
a 22 km (13 mi) long island bordering the Bay of Mujeres,
the Caribbean Sea and the Lagoon of Nichupté. Cancun is
1,604 km (996 mi) east of Mexico City and 835 km (518 mi)
from Miami, Florida.
History
Its name comes from the Mayan Word “Kankun”, which
means “pot of snakes” or “nest of snakes”. The region
was populated with Mayan settlements which are still
inhabited to this day. The Spanish conquerors arrived
here in 1500, but they considered it to be of little use and
ignored it. In 1967 the Mexican government decided to
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(52) (998) • www.cancun.travel
Contry Code/ Area Code
Winter
Weather
Precipitation
Rainy days
(Jan-Mar)
Spring
Summer
(Apr-Jun)
(Jul-Sep)
Autumn
(Oct-Dec)
20º C - 28º C
68º - 82º F
22º C - 33º C
71º - 91º F
24º C - 33 ºC
75º - 91º F
22º C - 30º C
71º - 86º F
234 mm - 9.21 in
21 out of 90
263 mm - 10.34 in
21 out of 91
391 mm - 15.4 in
33 out of 92
448 mm - 17.63 in
39 out of 92
Arriving by plane
International Airport of Cancun
Cancun-Chetumal Highway, Km. 22, Benito Juárez, Quintana
Roo. Distance to downtown or the hotel zone:
12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of downtown
20 Km (12.5 mi) from the hotel zone
Code: CUN
Airlines with direct flights to Cancun
From
58
Code
Airlines
Flight
time
Atlanta, U.S.A.
ATL
Delta Airlines, Aeroméxico
2:34
Calgary, CA.
YYC
Sunwing
4:25
Chicago, U.S.A.
ORD
United Airlines, Continental
3:30
Dallas, U.S.A.
DFW
American Airlines
2:50
Denver, U.S.A.
DEN
United Airlines, Frontier Airlines
3:15
Frankfurt, De.
FRA
Condor
11:40
Houston, U.S.A.
IAH
Continental
2:15
Guadalajara, Mex.
GDL
Interjet
2:35
Los Angeles, U.S.A.
LAX
United Airlines, Continental
4:42
Madrid, ES.
MAD
Air Europa
9:15
Mexico City
MEX
Aeroméxico, Interjet
2:20
Miami, U.S.A.
MIA
American Airlines
1:50
Monterrey, Mex.
MTY
Interjet
2:10
Montreal, CA.
YUL
Air Canada, Sunwing, Westjet
4:30
New York, U.S.A.
JFK
American Airlines,
Continental, United Airlines
4:05
Panama, PA.
PTY
Copa Airlines
2:41
Paris, FR.
CDG
Xl Airways
12:00
Philadelphia, U.S.A.
PHL
US Airways
3:45
Toluca, Mex.
TLC
Volaris, Interjet
2:10
Toronto, CA.
YYZ
Air Canada, Sunwing,WestJet
4:00
Vancouver, CA.
YVR
WestJet, Sunwing
5:50
Veracruz, Mex.
VER
Viva Aerobus
1:45
Cancun
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Arriving by land
Bus Central Station
Av. Uxmal 23 M.2, Lote 19, Cancun, Quintana Roo.
Bus lines that offer direct connections (first class, plus, executive or luxury) to Cancun from the following locations
From
Bus Lines
Travel
time
Number of
departures
Chetumal
ADO GL
5:30
2
ADO GL, ADO
Platino
3:35
4
ADO GL
24:00
3
Mérida
Mexico City
Cenotes
Playa del
Carmen
ADO GL, ADO
Platino
1:20
6
Distance and Price Chart
From
Distance
Average fare pesos*
Km
Mi
Mérida
396
310
246
193
338 y 460
Mexico City
1,616
1,004
1,688
42
68 y 86
Chetumal
Playa del
Carmen
68
340
*First class, executive and luxury service. Prices are subject to change.
The peso/dollar, peso/euro exchange rate is variable. At press time, the
exchange rate was 1 USD = 13.40 pesos, 1 € = 18.90 pesos.
DMC’s
Aerial view of Cancun
Tourist Institutions
Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau
Tel. (52) 998 8812745
[email protected]
Fax (52) 998 8812774 E-mail:
http://cancun.travel
Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau
(U.S. and Canada rep.)
E-mail: [email protected]
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Cancun
Attractions
Mayan Culture
Mayan Culture
Cancun is the gateway to the Mayan World and is the
starting point for visiting the fascinating sites that are
representative of this culture, such as Tulum, Uxmal,
Chichén-Itzá –one of the New 7 Wonders of the World-,
Cobá, Ek Balam, Dzibanché, Oxtankah and Kohunlich,
famous for the Temple of the Masks. Chacchoben and
Chakanbakan are two recently discovered sites that have
yet to be opened to the public.
Archaeological sites near Cancun that can be visited are:
The King, in the Hotel Zone and El Meco, 5 km. Cancun. In
nearby tours, visitors can visit places such as San Gervasio,
Cozumel and the shrine to the goddess Ixchel in Isla Mujeres.
Ecotourism and Adventure
The unique biological wealth of the jungle makes it a
favourite spot for ecotourism activities. Going on a bicycle,
horseback or jeep ride, and swimming in cenotes, with
dolphins and even with sharks, are exciting experiences.
The coral reefs, wetlands, low altitude jungle and fantastic
mangroves are the settings for the most original and fun
excursions, such as cenotes and underground rivers tours.
There are impressive natural reserves and protected areas
near Cancun, such as Sian Ka’an and Yum Balam, where
Shark-whale
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What´s new:
Jayson de Caires Taylor´s underwater museum of
art (MUSA) is Cancun´s New attraction, located
at the Marine Park in between Punta Cancun and
Punta Nizuc. The museum features over 400 sculptures strategically placed at different depths on the
sea bed, in order to create a habitat to preserve this
unique piece of the Caribbean Sea.
monkeys, flamingos, sea turtles, crocodiles and many
other creatures can be observed.
Different kinds of hanging bridges and zip lines have
been set up in the middle of the jungle, along with tracks
for driving four wheel drive vehicles. Also, there are tours
that take visitors from the hotels to Mayan communities
that still conserve their traditions.
Nautical Activities
The turquoise waters of Cancun can be enjoyed while
practicing any of the many water sports available, such
as: scuba diving, cave diving by day or at night, snorkeling,
fishing and boat or catamaran cruises. For the adventurous there is: parasailing, motorized sports, windsurfing,
jungle and mangrove tours or tours in glass bottom boats
or underwater bubbles for exploring the sea bottom.
Reputable companies organize the most incredible
tours, with professional and expert operators, excellent
fleets and state of the art technology. Cancun has a well
trained and competitive nautical infrastructure with numerous certified marinas.
Weddings and honeymoons
Cancun offers beautiful scenery for couples who are planning to get married and looking for a romantic location
for an unforgettable wedding and honeymoon. Cancun’s
wedding planners provide professional teams who offer
expert advice during the planning and operational stages
of both civil and religious marriages, coordinating the
services of florists, photographers, video cameramen,
banquet experts, musicians, designers and hair stylists.
Ceremonies are held on the beach, as well as in different
locations within the hotels: in ocean view ballrooms,
chapels, gardens, terraces, foyers, gazebos and piers with
thatched roofs, or even on board a boat while at sea, typical Mexican weddings and Mayan ceremonies.
Spas
Combining the ancient wisdom with regenerating therapies, the treatments you can find in Cancun spas incorpo-
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Weddings in Cancun
Spas in Cancun
Cancun
rate endemic natural elements such as plants, fruits and
alternative medicine and herbalist knowledge inherited
from the Mayan civilization. All kinds of massages are
offered, including: swedish, relaxing and deep tissue,
shiatsu, hot stones, temazcal, coffee and chocolate wraps.
There is also a great variety of deep cleansing and antiaging facials. Other treatments that are offered incorporate sleep therapy, and benefits such as detoxification,
skin quality improvement or simply relaxation. Exercise
areas with training routines, spinning, pilates, yoga, tai-chi
and aerobics are also offered as a perfectly complement
the spa treatments, all designed to offer healthy and fun
vacations.
Golf
For golf enthusiasts, Cancun is a paradise. The most
famous designers, such as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent
Jones Jr., Robert Von Hagge, Isao Aoki, Greg Norman and
P.B. Dye, have expressed their creativity in the more than
12 golf courses offered by the destination and its surroundings. The courses are avant-garde and designed with
professional standards, incorporating the region’s geographical characteristics and natural surroundings –green jungle, turquoise sea, cenotes, mangroves, canals, lagoons,
and also ancient ruins into their designs– to offer exclusive
fields with challenging curves, fairways and greens, with
moderate to steep slopes. Some have a high degree of
difficulty, but also fun challenges for any amateurs. See
page 39.
Golf
Shopping
The pleasant and relaxed experience of strolling through
the shopping malls, which are home to over two thousand
boutiques and shops in the Hotel Zone and downtown
Cancun, is incomparable. The best known shopping malls:
Plaza Caracol, Flamingo Plaza, Forum by the Sea, La Isla
Shopping Village, Kukulcan Plaza and Luxury Avenue are
located on Kukulcan Boulevard, in the famous Hotel Zone.
In the downtown area of Cancun there are large supermarkets, department stores and malls, such as Las Americas and the Market 28.
For those looking for craftwork, Cancun is a very attractive option when looking for ceramic products, textiles,
talavera, muslin, leather, silver and the best in craftwork
from every corner of the country.
Gastronomy
Cancun is a touristic destination which demands
constant innovation in its gastronomy. In its exclusive restaurants visitors can enjoy everything from
typical Mexican gastronomy, recognized as a World
Heritage cuisine, to the most sophisticated international styles of cooking. It is no surprise that many
of the destination’s restaurants are listed among
the best in specialized travel magazines and receive
awards from the famous Michelin guide and the
American Automobile Association, among other
important associations.
The H Award and Crystal Certificate, among
others, are a clear example of the high standards of
quality and hygiene offered by the gastronomy of
Cancun.
Shopping Malls in Cancun
Restaurants in Cancún
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Conventions
An important part of the success of any congress, convention or incentive trip is the wide selection of activities
that Cancun offers such as: water sports, golf, ecotourism,
adventure, gastronomy, shopping and the visits to the
Mayan sites.
With three terminals, two for international flights and
one for domestic flights, Cancun’s airport is the number
one in international arrivals in Mexico. The most important
commercial airlines in the world offer direct flights from
their main hubs to this destination.
Internationally renowned companies offer audiovisual,
transportation, decoration, simultaneous translation and
customs broker services, among many others. The high
standard of the services and attention to even the smallest detail, guaranteeing the success of any convention.
Tours
Puerto Morelos
This quiet and cozy fishing village, is distinguished by its
interesting range of hotels in various categories, spas and
restaurants. The Tour of the Cenotes is another major
attraction of this region, and the Polo Field King.
Isla Holbox
A magical island with natural surroundings, where adventure and relaxation converge. You can enjoy experiences
like swimming with whale sharks and eat gastronomic
delights, with specialties as lobster pizza. Holbox can be
reached from Cancun by taking a two hour trip by road to
Chiquilá village, where ferries depart to the island between 5:00 am and 7:00 pm.
Isla Contoy
National Park with more than five thousand acres, dedicated to the conservation and protection of flora and
fauna. Is a refuge for approximately 150 species of birds,
250 species of fish, 98 species of flora and three species of
sea turtles in danger of extinction. Access to the National
Park is by sea, leaving from Cancun, Puerto Juarez or Isla
Mujeres, and takes between one or two hours. Only 200
visitors are allowed to visit Contoy Island per day, arriving
on authorized vessels.
Isla Mujeres
In this place thats keeps the rustic flavor of the Caribbean,
the visitors can enjoy atractions as the Hacienda of the pirate Mundaca, Playa Norte, El Garrafon Natural Park, and
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Cancun Convention & Exhibition Center
the remains of the Mayan temple built in honour of the
Goddess Ixchel, part of the island’s history. Isla Mujeres
is accessible by sea on board the ferry that leaves from
Cancun’s Hotel Zone, with shuttles leaving every 15 or 20
minutes, or alternatively on the ferry leaving from the pier
at Puerto Juarez and Punta Sam, on which tourists can
transport their cars and enjoy the 45 minute crossing.
Isla Cozumel
Getting to the island is very simple, it has an international
airport with two daily flights from Cancun. For those who
wish to arrive by sea there are boats setting sail from
Playa del Carmen from the early hours of the morning. See
page 85.
Tours & nautical activities