Cancun, an island just off the northeast shore of the Yucatan Peninsula located in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo is nothing more than a coral based sand bar transformed into a world famous playground. With more than 4 million annual travelers drawn to Cancun's crystal clear turquoise water and white sand beaches this 13 mile long by only a ¼ mile wide island has become a worldwide destination.
Nothing more than a sand bar off the Yucatan Coast, Cancun was conceived in 1970 by the Banco de Mexico, with a 27 million dollar loan from the Inter-American Development Bank, at the time of construction there were only 117 people living in the nearby Port of Juarez . The original project started with 9 hotels, 30 years later the Cancun area has over 600,000 residents and host some 4 million visitors a year. Today Cancun has more than 140 hotels with 24,000 rooms available as well as over 380 restaurants. Shaped like a giant L, Cancun is bordered to the east by the Caribbean, to the west by Nichupte Lagoon and to the north by the Bahia de Mujeres.
Tourist flock to Cancun for the weather, with over 200 days of sunshine and average temperatures during the day in the low 80’s, Cancun’s rainy season being somewhat different from other parts of Mexico occurs during the fall and winter months, and usually sees less rainfall than the rest of the Caribbean. Winter months can find Cancun nights chilly. Summer time usually runs hot and humid with afternoon showers. Tourist looking for cheap holidays to Mexico will find Holiday Hypermarketoffers many deals for all budgets. Scuba divers and snorkelers will find fantastic reefs surrounding Cancun with over 500 types of marine life to be discovered in some of the clearest turquoise water in the world. Just off shore of Cancun is the Great Mesoamerican Reef, extending south of Cancun along the countries of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras the Great Mesoamerican Reef is the second largest reef behind the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. For non under water adventurers Glass bottom boats and submarines are available to experience the underwater life of the Caribbean.
Travelers are not only drawn to beaches of Cancun and underwater sea life, but are drawn to the Colonial towns, exotic wildlife and ancient Mayan ruins that lay a short distance from the beaches and hotels of Cancun. About 1 ½ hours to the south one will find the seaside ruins of Tulum, ancient Mayan ruins overlooking the Turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Two hours inland from Cancun will take visitors back in time to the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. Located in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza is a must see destination. Ferry boats offer day trips to both the Isla de Mujeras and Cozumel just off the coast of Cancun. First time travelers to Cancun will find a world of opportunities in exploring the many attractions Mexico has to offer. Pyramids to sunshine and unbelievable white sand beaches, you cannot go wrong with a trip to Cancun.
