What to Do on Vacation in Cancun Mexico Vacation Sightseeing, Activities and Adventures Helpful Info to Plan Your Vacation
Hola ! Welcome to Cancun. Here are dozens of ideas for what to do do on vacation in Cancun. Cancun is a tropical paradise situated on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. You probably know that Cancun is pronounced "kan koon." This unique tropical environment is sometimes called the Mexican Caribbean. Cancun is perfect for your vacation. It offers 14 miles of pristine, white powder sand beaches, turquoise water, a variety of active sports, unforgettable sights to see, gourmet cuisine, exciting night life and world-class resort hotels. Here are our suggestions for what to do on vacation in Cancun.
Cancun is a coastal city in Mexico's easternmost state, Quintana Roo, in the northeast corner of the Yucatan Peninsula. On your vacation to Cancun, you'll get a taste of paradise that is never boring. You can come for a tranquil, relaxing escape, or you can come for the many activities and fun spots. You can do everything or you can relax and do nothing at all. There is a wealth of natural beauty, plants, animals, jungles and vistas to enjoy. There are places to swim with dolphins or manatees. You can see sharks and whale sharks. Endless sports are available in Cancun. Try these for starters: scuba diving by day or by night, sailing, parasailing, windrunning, zip-lining, windsurfing, kitesurfing, deep sea fishing, light tackle fishing, boating and yachting, mountain biking, and horseback riding. In Cancun and the Maya Riviera are 12 world class golf courses, with 8 more under construction.
Choose from a great variety of hotels, economy hotels, large all inclusive resorts, famous hotel chains, luxurious villas and movie star hideaways. There's so much to do in and around Cancun, it's like three vacations in one.
Surprising but true, in 1970 Isla Cancun had only 3 residents. Now Cancun has 150 hotels, 24,000 hotel rooms and 380 restaurants. Cancun was built to be the perfect tourist site, with financing by the Mexican government. Four million visitors come to Cancun each year. There are on average 190 flights daily.
Explore Cancun for world class restaurants, night clubs and shopping. Sample the gourmet food and traditional cuisine.
Mexico is a country of amigos and friendly people who have a relaxed lifestyle. Put your to-do list on hold, slow down, and let work wait until manana, tomorrow or next week. Take time to enjoy a vacation in Cancun.
There are two parts to Cancun, the original town on the mainland to the west, and the Island of Cancun to the east, with a lagoon between them. Cancun Island , where resort hotels line the strip, is connected to Downtown Cancun, called Cancun City, by two bridges over the lagoons. Downtown Cancun is a real Mexican city, where most residents live. You can mingle with the local people in the many downtown restaurants, shopping centers, markets and clubs. Take the ferry from Puerto Juarez to the island of Isla Mujeres located off the coast. Follow the road south of Cancun to visit the island and beach towns of the Maya Riviera.
Off the shore of Cancun and the Mayan Riviera lies the second largest coral barrier reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, 560 miles long. It is continuous from Cancún on the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula through the Riviera Maya up to Honduras. Diving and snorkeling along the reef is memorable. At places along the Riviera Maya, the reef is accessible just by walking out from the beach. The easiest swimming is found on the beaches at the northern end of Cancun facing the Isla Mujeres, where the waters are gentle and there is no undertow.
Swimming in a Cenote
The Yucatan Peninsula is a limestone plain floating on an underground river system. As the limestone erodes over time, a cenote, which is a freshwater sinkhole, is created. These rocky lagoons, with their underground caves and chambers and marine life, attract many divers. Take a boat or jet ski tour of the tranquil lagoon and mangroves. The lagoon enclosed by the island is ideal for sailing and water-skiing, too.
Advanced pre-Columbian civilizations from the past left behind famous relics of their ancient life. You can tour their cities, pyramids palaces and ball courts. Mayan ruins, temples, and ritual sites are all around, one temple right in Cancun, and others accessible on a day trip. Cancun is considered the gateway to the Mayan World. Chichen Itza is a majestic Mayan city over 2.5 sq. mi. It was recently voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You pronounce it Chee-chen eet-zah. You can schedule a day trip from Cancun or a two-day trip with an overnight stay at Valladolid.
You can swim with the dolphins at Wet'n'Wild, at Delphinus Dreams, or at Xcaret. On a bird watching tour, marvel at the flamingos, toucans, white cranes, crocodiles and cormorants. In the nearby jungle tour, observe jaguars, geckos, iguanas, crocodiles, and manatees in their natural habitats. Ecotours also offer you a chance to ride zip lines over the jungle treetops.
Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park near the beach an hour south of Cancun. It has native tropical plants and animals, as well as an ancient Mayan village site. There is snorkeling in underground rivers, a butterfly pavilion, an orchid greenhouse, and jaguar island. You can also swim with the dolphins here. The evening show, called Xcaret Mexico Espectacular, has performances based on ancient Mayans and the traditional Mexican music and dances.
It is suggested that you do not plan to drive while in Mexico. Traffic is maddening, the roads are not always smooth, you will need expensive insurance, and you are not familiar with the rules of the road, written and unwritten. Roads flood when it rains. There are unexpected potholes and, yes, even speed bumps in the highways.
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Best Vacation Spots In Cancun Cancun is a tropical paradise situated on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun is perfect for your vacation. It offers 14 miles of pristine, white powder sand beaches, turquoise water, unlimited sports, the ancient Mexican pyramids, swimming with the dolphins, exciting night life and world-class resort hotels.
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