Bathing fun and lots to experience
Cancun in northern Yucatan is now Mexico's largest resort area. The origin of the city's name is disputed - "place of the snake's nest" or "place at the end of the rainbow" are the common versions.
Originally, Cancun consisted of 18 shacks whose residents made a living from fishing. In 1970, Mexicans began to think about where on Mexico's Caribbean coast a counterpart to Acapulco on the Pacific Ocean could be created. The computer of the State Bank of Mexico was fed with all available tourism data: where on the coast are there beautiful beaches, where can the appropriate infrastructure be created, where are there interesting ruins nearby, etc. All this as close as possible to the future main customer, the USA. The computer chose Cancun as the location.
In order to ensure smooth tourist development of the terrain, the Fonatur (Fondacion Nacional de Turismo) was founded, under whose responsibility the hotel construction was tackled.
Where there were still a few fishermen in the early 70s, there are now hotel after hotel – interrupted only by an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts and a marina. With nightclubs and shopping malls, deep-sea diving and deep-sea fishing, and average temperatures of 28°C, Cancun caters primarily to Americans. In addition to the Mexican peso, the US dollar is accepted almost everywhere as a second currency.
At the same time, the mainland city of Cancun (Centro for Mexicans, downtown for Americans) was born, accommodating hotel zone workers from all parts of Mexico.
Cancun has more than 25.000 hotel rooms of all categories, attractive shopping facilities, spectacular nightlife and, of course, a turquoise-blue Caribbean Sea that makes every guest's heart beat faster.
Shopping in the Hotel Zone…
Plaza La Isla: one of the best and most beautiful plazas in Cancun, branded goods, boutiques, jewelers and international restaurants, Boulevard Kukulcan, Hotel Zone, Cancun
Plaza Caracol: beautiful snail-like structure, boutique shopping, restaurants (Casa Rolandi's), seasonal offerings, , Boulevard Kukulcan, Hotel Zone, Cancun
Plaza Forum: one of the most modern and beautiful shopping centers with a variety of entertainment (Coco Bongo, Hard Rock Cafe, Rainforest Cafe), Boulevard Kukulcan, Hotel Zone, Cancun
Plaza Kukulcan: numerous restaurants and entertainment venues, variety of shops, boutiques and souvenir shops with a large selection of accessories, jewellery, bathing accessories, casual wear. Also rotating exhibits, Boulevard Kukulcan, Hotel Zone, Cancun
...and in the center
Plaza Bonita and Mercado 28: Authentic Mexican shopping mall, incorporated into Market 28. Handicrafts, jewelry and ceramics as well as fruit and vegetables, Avenida Xel-Ha in downtown Cancun
Plaza las Americas: large, modern mall with cheaper prices than in the hotel zone. Supermarket, restaurants, department stores, boutiques, sportswear, swimwear and casual wear, Avenida Tulum, in downtown Cancun
Nightlife in Cancun / Nightclubs
Coco Bongo: the hot spot, Plaza Forum
Hard Rock Cafe: Live music, Plaza Forum
roots: often live jazz, Saturday flamenco show, downtown, Calle Tulipanes
La Taverna: Internet and Billiards, Downtown, Ave. Yaxchilan
rose bar: very luxurious bar with an exclusive ambience and a large terrace in the Hotel ME
bus connections
Playa del Carmen-Cancun
The bus station in Playa del Carmen is located across from the main square on 5th Avenida, corner of Avenida Juarez. Buses stop en route in Puerto Morelos, then in Cancun at the Plaza las Americas shopping mall, terminating at the bus station. Cancun's bus station is located in the center of downtown. When you exit, you will find the bus stop for the city buses that go to the hotel zone on the right-hand side. Look for the sign "Zona Hotelera" on the bus. The ride costs about 65 pesos each way, regardless of how far you drive into the hotel zone. Each time you use the bus again, you pay the fare to the bus driver.
Cancun-Playa del Carmen
The Cancun bus terminal is located downtown on Ave. Tulum, opposite the Comercial Mexicana supermarket. The cheapest way to reach it from the Hotel Zone is by city bus, which runs every few minutes and costs around 65 pesos.
