A World of Attractions: Cancun, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cancun, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico

If you were to analyze just what makes a perfect holiday, a perfect getaway, you may find Cancun near the top of your ‘ideal vacation’ list. A great year round warm climate and some fabulous views of the Caribbean are just some of the many highlights for this little paradise on earth. Before we find out just how far Cancun has evolved today, we need to venture back into it’s storied past, it’s most modest beginnings.

You will find some historical remnants, indictive of the cultures that existed within the pre-Columbian Maya civilation. The structures that exist within the great Cancun area date back to around 1300 B.C. El Rey is a Mayan site that is located near the famous ‘hotel zone’ that makes Cancun such a tourist hot spot today. In Punta Sam exists a very important site that is very popular with tourists. There are also temples, pyramids and ancient attractions in Tulum, Xel-Ha, Ek Balam and Xcaret, to name a few of the places that should be on your must see list. The Mayan culture was divided into three periods: The Pre-Classic Period (between 1500 BC and 250 AD), The Classic Period (250 to 900 AD) and the Post-Classic Period (between 900 and 1200 AD).

Cancun was originally developed in 1970, not far from Puerto Juarez which was primarily a fishing village. Just imagine what the fishermen of that time would think of the Cancun of today that now features a population exceeding 700,000. This was area originally consisted of sand dunes, mangroves, jungles and virgin beaches, yet to be discovered. In 1969 the Mexican government was looking at ways to develop and promote the area and to get in on the tourist trade, in it’s infancy (at least in this area). The area was originally developed into three main components: A tourism zone, a residence zone, and an airport. Thus laid the ground work for this most majestic vacation spot and play ground for fun seekers from around the world.

In the 1970's came more attentions to the peace and the zen that this transformed New Age paradise was capable of creating. Spas would eventually open, offering tourists the ultimate cerebral escape from their otherwise hectic lifestyles. The rich, blue colored waters and warm ocean fed breezes create such a delirious, desirable effect. What better place for wellness on the body and soul.

Investors were originally skeptical, as can be expected in such a young, unproven paradise. The Mexican government would have to finance the first nine hotels. The hotel zone is a thin strip of land which separates Cancun from the Caribbean with the Nichupte lagoon. The rest of Cancun is accessable to the North and South of this strip of land. To the north you can travel to places like Puerto Juarez and Punta Sam and to the south you can travel to Tulum and Cozumel as well as the Cancun airport.

The weather in Cancun is spectacular. It boasts temperatures of 73 F (23 C) in January to a high of 82 F (28 C) in July and August. Cancun has over 200 mm of rain in the month of September but only around 40 mm in March and April. It’s average rate of humidity is between 76 and 81 percent per month. The average temperatures for the sea are between 26 and 29 (C) or between 79 and 84 (F).

The main attractions in Cancun are about what you would expect from an oceanside playground. There is swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, ski-dooing, as well as visiting the many Mayan ruins. There are also tour guides, (including horseback riding and Jeep adventures), swimming with the dolphins, water parks, sea aquariums, golf courses, zipper lines, parks, and many other sight seeing and photography venues.

Cancun is very much a place that has a lot to offer the active vacationer or the beach side lounger. Whether your day is comprised of grueling hikes and pyramid climbing or merely languishly lounging on some sun drenched beach, it will leave you most satisfied and yearning for more. Cancun is all about a richness in heritage, thousands of years old, watching colorful pagentries and depictions of it’s glorious past while ushering in a new era with fabulous night clubs and adventures for both the young and the old. If any holiday will leave you breathless and fullfilled, it’ll be a holiday to Cancun.

A list of popular links to Cancun attractions:

http://www.advantagemexico.com/cancun/map.html Hotel Zone and downtown areas.

http://www.aquaworld.com.mx/cancun-attractions.htm l Diving, fishing, Cancun tours, romance and more!

http://www.cancun.com/ Cancun’s official website.

http://www.cancun.com/Tours/Bullfights/ Bullfights.

http://cancun.diningguide.com/ Cancun dining by location.

http://www.cancunfirstclass.com/cancun-map-eng.asp Shows Cancun Hotel Zone and more.

http://www.cancunmenus.com/ Many cuisines to choose from.

http://www.cancunvista.com/tours.htm Tours and wet tours.

http://cancun.travel/en/ The official travel information website.

http://www.delphinusworld.com/ Swim with the dolphins.

http://www.docancun.com/cancun-nightlife.htm Cancun nightlife.