Cancún

Only four decades ago, this important tourist destination was an almost unknown and deserted island. Bordered to the North by Bahia de Mujeres, to the East by the Caribbean Sea and to the West by the Nichupté lagoon, the Cancún island, shaped like a number “7”, is joined to the mainland by two bridges: the one of Nichupté canal, 4 km away from the city center, and the Nizuc canal bridge, on the other side, connecting Punta Nizuc to the mainland, heading to the airport and the Mayan Riviera.

From 1989 to this date, Cancún has become the nation’s most dynamic city. It contributes a large percentage of Mexico’s tourism-related revenue and accounts for much of Quintana Roo’s gross domestic product. There are currently more than 500,000 inhabitants in the urban area. Cancún has become the country’s largest tourism resort and is the most prosperous city in the Yucatán Peninsula. It is also the Caribbean’s premier destination, surpassing even the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

Language

The official language is Spanish. In the tourism industry, English, French, Italian and German are also spoken. The Mayan language is still used by part of the local native population.

Cancún has a tropical climate. The average temperature is 26°C (79°F). In the summer (April-October) the maximum high is 36°C (97°F). In the winter (November-March) temperatures are as low as 18°C (64°F). Cancún is sunny 253 days each year.

You can get a taxi anywhere in Cancún. Taxi fares are set according to the route. It is recommended to agree on the rate before starting the journey. Rates can be consulted at the front desk of most hotels. The airport has its own taxi system.

Health

• Hospital Americano. Tel.: +52 (998) 884 6133
  
• AMAT hospital. Tel.: +52 (998) 887 4422
  
• Hospiten. Tel.: +52 (998) 881 3700
  
• Galenia. Tel.: +52 (998) 891 5200
  

• Emergencies: 066
• Fire Department: +52 (998) 884 1202 / 884 9480
• Police Department: +52 (998) 884 1913 / 885 2277
• Red Cross: +52 (998) 884 1616 Emergencias: 065

If you travel with medication, it is recommended that you bring the original doctor’s prescription.

Passport – Visa

To enter the country, you need a valid passport.

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela.

However, it is advisable to check if a visa is required according to the nationality and find out the requirements to begin the process.

For more information, please visit:
http://serviciosconsulares.sre.gob.mx

The Cancún International Airport operates daily with national and international arrivals and departures. It handles the second largest volume of traffic in Mexico, and is located 16 km from the city.

Currency

The Mexican peso is the official currency. There are automated teller machines and money exchange offices in the shopping malls within Cancún’s Hotel Zone. U.S. currency is usually accepted. Credit cards like American Express, Visa, and MasterCard can be used in most stores.
Banks are open from 9 am to 4 pm.

The average tip for service is 10-15% and one or two dollars per suitcase carried. It is advisable to check the bill first as tips may already be included.

To make an international call from Mexico, dial the access code (001 for the U.S. and Canada; 00 for the rest of the world) + country code + phone number.

The standard current is 110 volts. Hotels usually offer voltage converters for 220 volt devices. Plugs in Mexico are type A and B. Type A are the typical American plugs with two flat prongs. Type B plugs have two flat prongs and one cylindrical earth pin.

With more than 23 km of white powdery sand beaches, Cancún is the ideal destination to enjoy windsurfing, kitesurfing and parasailing; besides, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is the second largest coral reef in the world and the perfect place for scuba diving.

Cancún and nearby areas offer many adventure tours suitable for the whole family. You can enjoy some of the longest zip lines in Latin America, go mountain biking, drive a jeep through the jungle and swim in cenotes.

For those who prefer watersports, Cancún offers first level scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. You can even charter your own sailboat with crew and equipment.

Aside from being located in beautiful natural settings, the golf courses in Cancún and the Mayan Riviera meet the highest standards set by professional tournaments and expert players.

Cancún restaurants offer a variety of styles from downtown traditional Mexican restaurants to ultra-chic restaurants dotted alongside the Nichupté lagoon. The options available can satisfy all tastes and budgets. For more information click here

Cancún nightlife is the main attraction for many visitors. The Hotel Zone boasts some of the best nightclubs in the world playing different kinds of music from salsa to disco to R & B. Some bars also offer live music.

Cancún has a wide variety of shopping places and malls, from Mercado 28 – a handicrafts market – to the modern shopping mall Plaza Las Americas with designer stores.
La Isla Shopping Villages a trendy shoppers’ paradise located on the banks of the Nichupté lagoon in the Hotel Zone.
Kukulcán Plaza & Luxury Avenue are shopping malls adjacent to each other in the Hotel Zone. Together they can offer more than 250 shops and boutiques, including world-known brands.

This is a huge handicraft market located in the heart of the city, where visitors can buy souvenirs, local handcrafts and silver jewelry. Next to it you will find Plaza Bonita, a site resembling a small Mexican village with colorful architecture and shops offering high quality Mexican handcrafts and pieces of art.

More info here

Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is a friendly, laid-back fishing village located only 35 km from Cancún. The bohemian, tranquil atmosphere attracts people from all over the world, many of whom have chosen to make it their home. The coast is part of the National Marine Park making it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. The Cenote Route is found near too. These cenotes are a natural marvel feeding from underground streams and rivers that are all under the Yucatan peninsula.

Isla Mujeres
Located only a few minutes away from Cancún, this island became famous for its beautiful beaches and the great possibilities to practice snorkeling at El Garrafón. In this national park, visitors will find an amazing reef and a large variety of colorful fishes.

Isla Contoy
Located approximately 30 km north of Isla Mujeres, it is considered the most important nesting place of sea birds in the Mexican Caribbean, with more than 150 species.

Isla Holbox
This island is separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon that is home to thousands of flamingos, turtles, pelicans and other exotic birds.

Cancún’s Mayan culture is the city’s crowning glory. The aura of mystery and majesty still lingers around the Mayan archaeological sites such as Chichén Itzá, Tulum and Coba, just to mention only a few. These places are all within easy reach by car, by bus or on one of the many organized tours.

El Meco. Located 5 km from Cancún, this ancient Mayan city was a strategic commercial enclave until the arrival of the Spaniards. The main structure of the site is called El Castillo (the Castle), a 12.5-meter-high pyramid.

El Rey. Located in the hotel zone, between the ocean and the lagoon, it is considered the most important archeological site in the island. The 47 structures of El Rey (The King) are related to both religious and profane purposes. The facades still retain vestiges of mural painting and drawings that can be associated to the Mayan rituals of the post-classic period.

Yamil Lu’um. This Mayan temple is located on the beach, at Blvd Kukulkán Km 12, and can be reached passing through either of the hotels flanking it. Yamil Lu’um means “wavy ground” in Maya language. The main monument is known as Scorpion’s Temple.