Cancún

Cancún, Mexico

Cancún's white sandy beaches and warm, crystal waters make it a paradise for all beach and water sports enthusiasts. Add a vibrant nightlife and the closeness to the breathtaking Mayan ruins, and you have Mexico's most popular tourist hotspot. Caring for four million tourists every year, it's hard to understand how this beautiful resort was a sleepy fishing village just a few decades ago. Its colourful buzz and ancient traditions co-existing with ultra-modern developments enchant everyone, from backpackers to luxury travellers.

Population:

888,797 (2020)

Currency:

Mexican Peso 1 $ = 100 Centavos
USD are widely accepted in tourist areas.
Prices may be in USD or MX pesos.

Emergency Numbers:

911

Opening Hours:

Hours are guidelines:
9am–9pm Downtown
10am–10pm Hotel Zone
Shops & malls are usually open 7 days a week.
Small shops may close for siesta between 2–4pm

Newspapers:

Riviera Maya News
Cancun Herald

The City

Today, Cancún is known worldwide for its turquoise-blue water beaches, luxurious resorts, and bustling nightlife. But before this Mexican city became a major tourist destination, the region, which was once home to the Mayan civilisation, was mostly wetlands, mangroves, jungles, and untouched beaches.

After it was left abandoned for centuries, the Mexican government finally realised in 1968 its true potential as a holiday hotspot.

Currently, Cancún is divided into two distinctive districts, the famous Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera), a beachfront strip of hotels, resorts, eateries, shops, bars, and nightclubs, and the actual city of Cancún, known as El Centro.

The Hotel Zone, which is surrounded by 25 kilometres of pure white sandy beach, is linked to the city via the four-lane Boulevard Kukulcán.

Do & See

Apart from its dreamy beaches and energetic nightlife, Cancún offers a myriad of activities to fill your day. From historical sites where you can learn more about Mexico’s rich history and culture to breathtaking and unique natural spots to thrilling water sports and even the chance to swim with dolphins—or sharks for the courageous ones.

Dining

Mexican cuisine is very versatile and best known for its intense and varied flavours, colourful decoration and variety of spices. Tacos, nachos and guacamole are only a small part of Cancún’s culinary repertoire beside the large palette of foreign cuisine. Whether you fancy a quick snack on the trot or a gourmet meal in stylish settings, Cancún has a fantastic selection of restaurants featuring dishes from all over the world.

Cafes

Home to some of the best coffee worldwide, Cancún's cafe culture is somewhat different from that in most countries. Most people prefer to take their coffee inside with air conditioning rather than outdoors, and because all bars double as cafes, "European style" street cafes is a relatively new phenomenon but gaining fast in popularity.