Now a rapidly growing city with a quickly changing skyline on the Mayan Riviera, Cancun was once a marshy island in an almost forgotten region of the Caribbean. The coast-lying city along the Yucatan peninsula was long ago just a mix of marshes, jungle and beaches, but thanks to the Cancun Project in the 1970s, the area burst onto the tourist radar and started attracting travellers to take cheap flights to Cancun. The city centre is now located on the mainland, and connects the Nichupté Lagoon to a narrow ‘7-shaped’ island. There, modern beachfront hotels crowd the tourist centric hotel zone. Cancun enjoys a tropical climate with little temperature differences between fall, winter, spring and summer. White sand beaches, crystal clear seas and an exciting nightlife make it a popular destination not only for adventure-seeking spring breakers, but couples and families in search of energizing holidays in the intoxicating sun.
Cancun is perfectly located for ecotourism and adventure holidays. More than 20 percent of the land in the region of Quintana Roo is protected, making the area ideal for kayaking, hiking, snorkelling, zip lining, rappelling or diving. The resort may be less than 40 years old, but there are many traces left of the once mighty Mayan civilization. Ruins and archaeological sites like Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba are within easy reach for day trips. Popular for boating excursions and jet-ski jungle tours, the Nichupté Lagoon is a great destination for more adventurous travelers. Cancun is also the gateway to the Riviera Maya, which offers many archaeological sites. Those looking for a new twist on sculptural art should visit the monumental underwater museum in the National Marine Park of Cancun. Tourists looking for an adventure in Mexico flock to the city, easily accessible by direct flights to Cancun International Airport.
