| Cancun, best-known for its white sand beaches, near-perfect weather, and bright blue waters, is the Acapulco of Mexico's Gulf Coast. |
CANCUN
An Introduction
Cancun,
best-known for its white sand beaches, near-perfect weather, and bright
blue waters, is the Acapulco of Mexico's Gulf Coast. Unlike Acapulco,
however, Cancun has the modern distinction of being the only city in
Mexico whose location was chosen by a computer. In the late 60s, seeking
the ideal spot to build a resort center, the Mexican government entered
in factors like average temperatures, beach quality, and accessibility,
and - lo and behold - the program spat out set of coordinates near the
northeast tip of the Yucatan peninsula. Cancun was born.
Massive resort construction has turned what was once a sleepy fishing village
into a city of over 350,000. The city has its own international airport and everything
for fun-seeking tourists: five-star dining, discos, activity oriented beaches,
bars, a nearby underwater amusement park where you can swim with dolphins, and
outdoor markets. Deep sea fishing and dive boats are easily arranged.
A bus or car ride away from Cancun are some of Mexico's best ruins. South of
the city, along Hiway 307, you can make a day of touring the archeological sites
of Xcaret, Xel-Ha, and Tulum, or head inland to 
Uxmal, Coba, Mayapan, and countless
other ancient cities.
Another favorite nearby attraction is the island of Cozumel, which was once a
vacation spot for Maya royalty. Although there are no extensive ruins on the
island, the surrounding waters are protected and offer some of the best visibility
for scuba diving in the Caribbean. You can access the island by taking a ferry
from Playa del Carmen, or a take a 15-minute flight in a puddle jumper from Cancun.
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