Introduction
Mexico's calling card to the world, Cancun perfectly showcases both the country's breathtaking natural beauty and the depth of its 1,000-year history. Simply stated, Cancun is the reason most people travel to Mexico. The sheer number of travelers underscores Cancun's magnetic appeal, with almost three million people visiting this enticing beach resort annually -- most of them on their first trip to the country.
For many travellers, Cancun is merely a port of entry, a gateway into the Yucatan Peninsula to be passed through as fast as possible. For millions of others, however, it is a full-blown destination in itself. They fly in to spend one or two weeks in a resort hotel, throng to the beaches and pack the clubs before flying home again. In the meantime they drive up lodging prices during spring break - as well as the blood pressure of locals.
Population: 457,000
Country: Mexico
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -6 (Central Standard Time)
Telephone Area Code: 998
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Attractions and sightseeing in Cancun
Getting There & Around
Cancun International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún) is 8km (5mi) south of the city center, two hours by air from Mexico City and just one hour from Miami. The airport serves a busy traffic load of regional and international flights. Many flights to and from Cancun also stop at Cozumel.
There are mini vans and deluxe cars that can take you from the airport into Cancún. Regular taxis run into town or the Zona Hotelera but are subject to expensive regulated airport fares.
There are rental car agencies at the airport and in town, and you're best off getting one for any excursion into the Yucatan. Drive on the right.
Cancun's public bus system is very dependable and a great way to get between Ciudad Cancún and the beaches of Isla Cancún.
Puerto Juárez, the port for passenger ferries to Isla Mujeres, is about 4km (2mi) north of Cancun's city center. Express boats leave every 30min during the day for the 25-min journey to Isla Mujeres.
Attractions
Isla Cancun is one big beach. It's a lazy, beautiful stretch of white sand. It helps to know that the beaches on the western side are straitjacket-calm, while those on the eastern shore are prone to fierce undertows.
There is spectacular diving in Isla Mujeres. The Isla is blessedly close to four fine reefs: Los Manchones, La Bandera, Cuevones and Chital. To the north, the Sleeping Shark Caves are great for divers; the predators are lethargically nonlethal because of the low oxygen content of the caves' waters.
Museo de Antropologia y Historia has a collection of items - including jewellry, masks and intentionally deformed skulls - from the Postclassic period (AD1200-1500). Other exhibits include a Classic-period hieroglyphic staircase inscribed with dates from the 6th century, and the stucco head that gave the local archeological zone its name of El Rey.
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