Population: 400,000

Location: In the State of Quintana Roo, off the northeastern end of the Yucatan peninsula, directly south of New Orleans. Approximately 1.5 hours flying time from Miami.

Area:
Cancún city is located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and is essentially a service town for the resort area of Cancún situated on L-shaped Cancún Island. The resort area of Cancún (also called the Zona Hotelera ["Hotel Zone"]) is linked by a causeway to Cancún city.

Languages:
Spanish and Mayan, but English is spoken in most areas.

Average Temperatures:

Tourist Assistance: Secretariat of Tourism 91-800-90392

Currency: New Peso, Old Peso, U.S.Dollar
Banks and Currency Exchange Facilities:
US Dollars are easily exchanged into pesos in banks, major hotels, airports and exchange houses. Mexican banks are open from 9 am to 2:30 pm weekdays only. Most credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels and travel agencies. Major purchases are best made with a credit card. You automatically receive the bank rate of exchange, which is higher than the rates given in town or at the hotels.

Departure Tax:
is approximately US $17. Be prepared with US cash for this. Change may not be available. Children under 2 years are exempt.

In Mexico, holidays fall into three categories: Catholic religious holidays, national holidays celebrating historical events and civic holidays honoring a particular town or village. In Mexico there are fiestas held to celebrate holidays and also just to celebrate nothing in particular.

January 1: New Year's Day
January 6: El Día de Los Reyes (Three Kings Day) is the traditional day of gift-giving.
February-March: Carnaval (Mardi Gras) festivities take place with parades, floats, outdoor dancing, music & fireworks.
March 13 - April 1:
Lasser Sailing Show
March 21 and September 21:
At the Equinoxes, Kukulcán, the plumed serpent deity, appears to emerge from his temple atop El Castillo Pyramid at Chichén Itzá.
Late April: The Sol a Sol International Regatta launched from St. Petersburg, Florida, arrives in Isla Mujeres, an island offshore from Cancún.
Late April-June: Billfish Tournaments take place in Cozumel, Puerto Aventuras, and Cancún.
Early May: Regatta al Sol brings a fleet of sailboats from Pensacola, Florida, to Isla Mujeres.
May 10 - 13: The Cancún Jazz Festival, an annual event since 1991, has featured such top musicians as Wynton Marsalis and Gato Barbieri. See info on this year's event.
June 25 - 28: CHIC, The Caribbean Hotel International Congress. (Caribbean Hotel Association)September 15-16: Independence Day.
October 4-6: Mexican Caribbean Travel Mart. Destination showcase for the international travel industry.October 27- November 4: ITU Triathalon World Cup
November 1-2: On the Day of the Dead, or All Saints' Day.
November 10 -11: International Caribbean Cultural Festival
November 29-December 8: Fiesta of Isla Mujeres honors the island's patron saint, as members of various guilds stage processions, dances, and bullfights.
Early December: Cancún Fair serves as a nostalgia trip for provincials who now live along the Caribbean shore but still remember the small-town fiestas back home.

Plaza Caracol:
Blvd. Kukulcan km. 8.5 Hotel zone. Cancún, Q. Roo 77500, (98) 83-09-05, Mon-Sun 9 am-10 pm
Indoor Mall. Handicap Access With 200 shops this is the largest and most modern of the resort shopping areas.

Cancún Museum:
Cancún Convention Center, Blvd Kukulcán Km 9, (98)83-0305, Tues to Sun, 9 - 7
Admission charged. children under 11 free Sundays free. Cancún's museum is located on the ground floor of the city's convention center. It traces the Maya culture with an impressive collection of 1,000 to 1,500-year-old artifacts. There are a number of impressive carvings and frescoes, along with ancient artifacts that have been unearthed at nearby sites throughout Quintana Roo.

National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH):
Located on Calle 43 and Paseo Montejo, Mérida, Tel: (99) 23-05-57, Tues - Sat 8 - 8, Sundays, 8 - 2.
Admission charged. Free on Sundays. Originally a residence for the governor, this mansion was transformed into a museum in 1977. The Museo de Anthropologiá e Historia showcases the Mayan culture and history with exhibits of artifacts found from ruins on the peninsula. Here you can see ancient conch shells, stones, feathers, jade objects and jewelry used in Mayan rituals.

Museum of the Maya Culture (Museo de la Cultura Maya):
Héroes and Calle Mahatma Gandhi, Chetumal, (983) 26-838, Tues-Thurs, 9 - 7 ; Sat 9 -8 ; Sun 9 - 2
Admission charged. Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, is home to the impressive Museum of Mayan Culture. This is a sophisticated, interactive museum that explains the complex world of the Maya. Various exhibits outline their social classes, politics and customs along with the medicinal and domestic uses of plants.

Isla Mujeres:
The island is five miles long and half a mile wide, and only six miles from Cancún. There are three excellent beaches. Playa de los Cocos in the north end, is the most popular with calm waters, silky sand and all water sports. Playa Lancheros, located at the southern end, is very secluded, featuring live sea turtle pens and a separate area for swiming. Playa Garrafon is a national underwater park that is a favorite for snorkeling. Banderas, Cuervones and Manchones are reefs for experienced divers.

Cozumel Island:
68 kilometers south of Cancún, Cozumel has excellent hotels and resorts, beautiful beaches with water sports of all kind, world-famous snorkeling and diving and a National Archaelogical Park with Botanical Gardens.

Ruinas del Rey:
Paseo Kukulkán Km 17
This archaeological dig, though small, is notable for the unusual architecture of two main plazas bounded by two streets. The majority of Maya cities had one plaza and few streets. This site may have been a royal burial ground.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve:
Over a million acres nature reserve, made up of about one-third wetlands, one-third tropical forest and one-third marine systems, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The reserve maintains ecological diversity while it provides the native population with agricultural and ecological opportunities to make a living. Friends of Sian Ka'an is a non-profit group that operates biologist-escorted tours from Cancún that help the biosphere concept support itself via low-impact tourism.

Xcaret:
About 45 miles south. Travel to the park takes about an hour. Buses depart daily from the XCaret terminal at 9 and 10am. Once a peaceful cove, it has been transformed into a waterside park with an ecological theme. There is a choice of tour packages. Visitors are greeted at a modern concrete pyramid which houses a museum and restaurant. It also has a scenic outlook point. Paths lead from there to the beaches, the cove, and the dolphin swimming area. Other paths lead to the lagoon and the underground river that is one of the park's greatest attractions. Some of the visitors will be invited to swim and snorkel with the dolphins. There is a wild bird sanctuary with 36 different species and a botanical garden with a wide variety of native plants, including flowers in bloom. At night there is a festive air that begins with a light and sound tour in the caves. This is followed by the recreation of a Mayan ceremony and a folk ballet presented in the amphitheater.
Other features include:
A butterfly habitat, An aquarium with tanks from different depths on the reef, Dolphin shows and swimming with dolphins, Jaguars and cougars, Several live shows throughout the day and evening
Underground river that you can float down, Botanical gardens, Riding stables, Recreation of Mayan village.

Xel-Ha:
A natural aquarium where you can swim with the fish. Also between Tulum and Cancún This was a sacred city of the Maya, and one of the most important on the Mayan trade route. It is an ecological marvel in that water from the sea mixes with natural fresh water springs, forming a group of coves and lagoons. The result is a natural aquarium in which the swimmer can snorkel and dive while surrounded by tropical fish.

National Institute of Anthropology and History:
Quintana Roo, Paseo Kukulcán Km 9, 98/830305, Museum located on the ground floor of the city's convention center, features a collection of 1,000 to 1,500-year-old artifacts showcasing the Maya culture.

Avenida Tulum:
Many restaurants and shops are located along this avenue. Life-size reproductions of ancient Mexican art are displayed on the median, including the Aztec calendar stone and the Atlantids of Tula among others.

Mayan Ruins:
Chichen Itza
This huge complex of magnificent Mayan ruins is one of the most extensive in Mexico. It dates back to 600 AD and the Mayan civilization. It features in the center the majestic pyramid of Kulkulkan, with its accompanying buildings.

Coba
"Coba" means "water stirred by wind," a name derived from the beatiful lakes nearby. It is one of the largest Mayan cities in existence. The Nohoch Mul is 138 feet tall.

Tulum
Tulum is the only walled city near the ocean that the Mayans ever constructed. It was built between 1200 and 1500 A.D. and is an easy day-trip away.

Undersea Boat Tour:
You can get a great look at the reefs and marine life on a tour on an undersea boat tour. The tour leaves from Isla Paraiso, which is also a spot for all-day snorkeling, with a get a discounted fare for both.

Cozumel Island:
Cozumel has the distinction of being the largest island in Mexico as well as the largest cruise ship port. It has an exciting combination of casual sophistication and magnificence. Located two hours south of Cancún,the west side of Cozumel are white sandy beaches with calm waters where you can snorkel, sail, windsurf or scuba dive. Eastern side beaches have powerful surfs - a favorite place to surf or boogie board.

Isla Holbox:
There is no better place to get away from it all than on Isla Holbox. This small island 16 mi long rests at the tip of Quintana Roo, just north of Cancún and offers a kind of romance and tranquility. The small village has no paved roads and the residents get around on electric golf carts. It's a beachcomber's paradise - the sands are strewn with hundreds of seashells. Afternoon breezes from the Gulf of Mexico ensure that the island remains cool.

The Colonial Cities:
A trip to one of the nearby colonial cities is an adventure into the past. Many of the cities in this area are an exotic blend of the Spanish and Maya cultures giving them an distinct character and charm.

Valladolid:
Valladolid is a city founded in 1543 by the Spanish Conqueror Francisco de Montejo. It is a picturesque village with many 19th century buildings and churches. Its main sights are the large cathedral found off the main square and the marvelous ex-Franciscan convent and church of Saint Bernardino of Siena.

Izamal:
Izamal, also known as Cuidad Amarillo (the yellow city), is a perfect example of a typical Spanish colonial town. All the buildings, by order of a town law, have been painted an earthy yellow. In the center of town is the enormous 16th century Monastery of St. Anthony de Padua, built from the stones of a giant Maya pyramid devoted to Itzamná, father of the Maya gods. Inside are 75 yellow arches in a gigantic atrium that houses frescoes of saints and a statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. Many miracles have been attributed to this statue and every year there is a pilgrimage in her honor.

Mérida:
Mérida is the beautiful capital of the Yucatán state and is the cultural and intellectual center of this region. Known in its heyday as the Paris of the Yucátan, where the barons of the henequen trade built their mansions, Mérida is a city that has a blend of French, Moorish and Spanish architecture. A visit here will teach you about the history and culture of the Yucatán.

Casa de Montejo:
Built in 1542; Renaissance style Cathedral, home to the second largest crucifix in the world.

Cruises:Caribbean Funday Cruise
9:30 am - 4:00 pm. Goes to Isla Mujeres

Tropical Cruiser
Goes to Isla Mujeres and El Garrafon Beach.

Treasure Island Cruise
Leaves at 8:00 am, for swiming, snorkeling or shopping. It includes lunch.

Sunshine Cruise
Goes to Isla Mujeres through the lagoon, for snorkeling and swimming in the company of giant sea turtles. Tour includes a buffet lunch.

Theater and Dance:Ballet Folklorico de Cancún
Cancún Convention Center, Blvd Kukulcán Km 9, (9) 883-0199, Cocktails start at 6:30, dinner at 7:00 pm and the show at 8 PM, Telephone for ticket reservations and prices.
Cancún's famous dance troupe performs nightly at the Convention Center. This popular revue showcases regional dance and music from across Mexico. The dancers, wearing traditional costumes, perform authentic dances accompanied by live musicians. It's a colorful show, and is very lively and entertaining. A Mexican buffet dinner is served before the show.

Teatro Cancún
Blvd Kukulcán, Km 4, (9) 849- 4848, Enjoy the chants and dances of México along with the dances and drum beats of the Caribbean at Teatro Cancún. This is an high-energy show full of movement and music performed by some of Cancún's most talented dancers and musicians.

Casa de Cultura (House of Culture)
Prolongación Av. Yaxchilán, Sm 21, (9) 884-8364, Admission fees are nominal.
Cancún's community center for culture is located downtown and offers a variety of weekly cultural events such as music concerts, dance rituals, plays and poetry readings. An on-site museum displays works of local artists. The exhibits change each month.

Museo Arqueologico
PreColombian history & Culture of Mexico, Open Tues-Sat, 10am-1pm & 4-6pm, Ave. Sixto Osuna #76
Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico 82110, Tel: (69) 85-3502

Shopping:
The Yucatán is famous for its beautiful handicrafts created by artisans in nearby villages. The open-air markets in Cancún are excellent places to find these crafts.

Panama Hats
Panama hats made on the peninsula are famous for their light weight and strength. Prices for really good Panama hats start at $65.

Skirts, dresses, skirts in the Indigenous style
Huipils are the beautiful cotton dresses worn by the local Maya women. They are embroidered along the square neck and bottom hem with colorful designs and flowers.

Leather goods and jewelry
Other handcrafted items include leather goods, silver jewelry and the talavera ceramics known for their distinctive style. Anything made from tortoiseshell is contraband and will be confiscated, since the endangered turtle is a protected species. Also be careful in purchasing items made from black coral. You must purchase it from a recognized dealer who will supply you with a certificate to take with it through customs.

Mazatlan
The traditional market in Mazatlan is found at Ocampo & Juarez is a marvelous shopping area. From open air mercados to boutiques or shopping malls, the assortment is varied, and the price is right.

Centro de Artesanias
Offers a wide selection of fine handicrafts in more than 20 shops. You can see artisans at work.

Mercado Jose Mario Pino Suarez
or Centro Comercial El Mercado is one of the premier shopping centers. It offers fine silver, leather goods, pottery, clothing, food stalls and some of the best vanilla in Mexico.

Ki Huic Av. Tulum 17, between the Bancomer and Bital banks Daily 9 -10 PM (9) 884-3347) This is the oldest and largest craft market in Cancún with over 100 vendors.

Mercado Veinteocho (Market 28)
Avenida Yaxchilán and Sunyaxchen
This popular market is filled with shops selling souvenir items. There are also a number of excellent restaurants in this market.

Plaza Bonita
Adjoins Market 28, A charming market area with many excellent shops and boutiques.

Fama
Along Avenida Tulum between Avs. Cobá and Uxmal.
A department store that sellsEnglish books and magazines along with sports gear, toiletries, liquor, and handicrafts.

Ultrafemme
A popular downtown store selling duty-free perfume, cosmetics, and jewelry. It also has branches in the Hotel Zone and the major shopping malls.

Plaza las Americas
Av. Tulum, Sm 4 and 9. Tel: (9) 887-5893
On the southern edge of the city, is the only indoor shopping plaza downtown. It has over 50 stores, three restaurants, eight movie theaters, a video arcade, fast food outlets, and three large department stores.

Mexican supermarkets
Include Comercial Méxicana, Chedraui, and San Francisco de Asís.

Hotel Zone
The malls that line Blvd. Kukulcán are what have made shopping in the Hotel Zone so famous.

Kukulcán Plaza
Blvd. Kukulcán. Tel: (9) 885-2304. Has over 130 shops, 12 restaurants, a bar, a liquor store, a bank, a three-screen cinema, bowling lanes, and a video arcade.

Flamingo Plaza
Blvd. Kukulcán, Tel: (9) 883-2945. Is a small mall with designer emporiums, duty-free shops, an exchange booth, and sportswear shops.

Forum-by-the-Sea
Blvd. Kukulcán, Tel: (9) 883-4425. Is a huge entertainment/shopping plaza with three levels of cinemas, brand-name stores, and restaurants such as the Rain Forest Café.

Plaza Caracol
Blvd. Kukulcán, Tel: (9) 883-2961. The largest and most contemporary of the malls is with over 200 shops and boutiques, including two pharmacies, art galleries, a currency exchange, and folk art and jewelry shops, as well as cafés and restaurants.

Plaza Mayafair
Blvd. Kukulcán, Tel: (9) 883-0862. Next-door to Plaza Caracol is this large open-air plaza filled with 30 shops, restaurants, and bars.

La Isla Shopping Village
Blvd. Kukulcán, (9) 883-5025. The newest and most exclusive mall is located on the Nichupté Lagoon under a giant canopy. There are a wide variety of upscale boutiques along with a marina, an aquarium, a disco, restaurants, and movie theaters.

Coral Negro (Black Coral)
It's open seven days a week until late evening. There is only one open-air market in the Hotel Zone. located next to the Convention Center, It has over 50 stalls selling craft items.

Cancún Beaches:
The entire hotel zone is really one long beach. If the beach in front of your hotel is not to your liking, you can walk over to the next hotel's beach and swim there, use their chairs, play volleyball, go parasailing, etc.. The beach is all public property, except around the Club Med. Although the Cancún coast includes both an "ocean side" and a "lagoon side", most of the hotels face the ocean. Swimming and tanning take place on the ocean side, and jet-skis, kayaks, and other water sports are found on the lagoon side. Unlike beaches in elsewhere, the beaches in Cancún are made of crushed coral rather than crushed rock. The coral stays cool even on the hottest days; and doesn't burn the feet. The Atlantic surf is high and most of the swimming consists of bobbing in the waves. Depending on the wave and tide conditions, each section of the beach is marked with a color coded flag indicating whether it is safe to swim there.

Parasailing
Parasailing is offered on the beach opposite some of the hotels. There is also parasailing at the Aquaworld marina.

Beach Volleyball
There is a volleyball net in the same area and one near the Casa Maya.

Snorkeling
The best snorkeling area off the beach is the public area near the Westin Regina, in the southern tip of the hotel zone.

Tours:Chichen Itza
Most visitors to Cancún agree that a tour of the ruins at Chichen Itza is a must. In addition to the beautiful scenery and structures, there are fascinating echo effects in some of the enclosed areas.

Xel-Ha
Usually, tours to Tulum also include an afternoon of snorkeling at Xel-Ha. It is a nature preserve with the lagoon as the main attraction.

Bullfights
Av. Bonampak (past the Pemex Station, near Plaza las Americas), (9) 884-8372 or (9) 884-8248
every Wednesday at 3:30, Tickets begin at $40. The first bullfight in Mexico was held in 1526 in honor of Hernán Cortés and shortly afterward bullfighting arenas were built throughout the country. While Cancún's bullring is certainly much younger than those found in other cities, it maintains all the traditions of this ancient duel. You can witness the battle between man and beast. One hour before the bullfight, matador, charros (cowboys), a mariachi band, and flamenco dancers entertain you with song and dance until the bulls are ready.

Sports:
There is nonstop action on both land and sea. Choose from a wide variety including jet-ski and parasailing thrills, scuba diving and boating. The main course for golf is Pok-Ta-Pok. With 18 holes facing both sea and lagoon, the club has a practice green, pool, tennis courts and restaurant. The Caesar Park Beach and Golf Resort and Hotel Melia Cancún also feature 18-hole courses.

Diving & Fishing
The waters surrounding Cancún are clear and diverse. You can snorkel right off the beach or scuba dive/snorkel over the "Mayan Reef" . Famous dive spots like Palancar, El Bajito, Manchones and Chitales are all nearby. There is also the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks where divers sometimes claim to have "petted" the sleeping sharks. Isla Mujeres is probably the most scenic place in the area for diving & snorkeling. Deep sea fishing is available throughout Cancún. Marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado are available during their respective seasons.

Golf
Cancún has 4 18-hole golf courses available for the avid golfer. In Cancún you'll find one at each tip of the island. The other two courses are found to the south on the Mayan Riviera.

Kayaking & Windsurfing
Kayakers & windsurfers will find Cancún's waters perfect for your enjoyment. For calmer waters, try the protected Nichupté Lagoon or the northern end of Cancún Island. Jet skiing, parasailing and regular sailing are also popular in this water paradise.