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Cancun and the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico This section contains:
1. Introduction Forty years ago tourists looking for a beach holiday in Mexico would of headed to Acapulco - but not anymore! Cancun has been developed on the site of a former deserted spit of land and vast amounts of money have been put into developing an infrastructure to accommodate the vast numbers of tourists who come to this part of the Yucatan Peninsula each year. There are two distinct parts to Cancun - downtown Cancun on the mainland, and the Hotel Zone. The hotel zone is built on either side of the Boulevard Kukulcan which is a busy road running through the hotel zone from downtown Cancun in the north, towards the airport in the south. The hotel zone has the lagoon to its west, and fabulous views of the Caribbean sea to its east, and it is this location which has encouraged development of large numbers of prestigious hotels. These are supported by shopping centers, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. A useful tip is to note that the easiest way to locate yourself in the hotel zone area, is to make use of the kilometre points along the Boulevard Kukulcan. Click here for pictures.
3. Isla Mujeres Isla Mujeres is located about 7 miles off the coast and can be reached by a number of ferries which are located at Punta Sam, Puerto Juarez (just to the north of Cancun city centre), and from several points in the hotel zone including Playa Tortugas at the 6.35Km point on Boulevard Kukulcan. The island is about 5 miles long and is only half a mile wide at its widest point. The capital and only significant town is Isla Mujeres town located at the very northern tip of the island. Playa Norte is the best beach on the island and is in the town. The most popular way of seeing the whole island is by renting a golf cart and heading south at your own pace. Click here for pictures.
At present Playa Mujeres is being developed as a new leisure and resort area, and is around 25 minutes north of Cancun by car or taxi. Currently the site of up-market hotel development where a marina is being constructed with a heliport. Championship golf course here with more leisure facilities being developed at this time. Click here for pictures. 5. Chichén Itzá This is the most famous and best restored Mayan site on the Peninsula, Chichén Itzá translates as "at the mouth of the well of the Itza". Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries the site was home to a great Mayan city. During your visit you can see: El Castillo - built at about AD 800, an impressive 25 metre high structure representing the Mayan calendar in the shape of a pyramid; Gran Juego de Pelota - the great ball court is one of eight that were originally constructed, but is the largest and most impressive; and the Cenote Sagrado - located about ten minutes walk from the main structures, this sunken well is spectacular being over 50 metres wide in diameter, in addition to many other ancient ruins. Located just under two hours drive west of Cancun's hotel zone this is one of the most impressive historical sites in this part of the world. Heat and humidity can be severe here so if possible early morning or late afternoon are the best times to visit. It is worth noting, that if you plan to use a video camera on your visit you will incur a charge, and use of a tripod requires additional permission prior to your trip to Chichen Itza. Click here for pictures.
6. Il Kil This cenote is at the Parque Ecoarqueologico and is a fabulous spot for swimming and diving, or just to watch others doing it. It is located approximately two to three miles east of Chichen Itza. Our photographs of this location speak for themselves! Click here for pictures. 7. Coco Bongo Coco Bongo is one of the most famous evening entertainment facilities within the Cancun hotel zone. It has a Las Vegas style theme with shows which run from around 22:00 - 02:00 with music and dance which continues through until the early hours at around 06:00. Visitors pay a flat rate of around $60 which includes admission to the club, and an open bar for the duration of the visit. Remember to check prices and opening times before visiting Coco Bongo, and be aware that some hotels may offer discounted trips to the club, or trips which offer VIP benefits. We recommend a trip to Coco Bongo for everyone who visits Cancun! Click here for pictures.
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