Spotlight: Cancun, Mexico

Spotlight: Cancún is the most populous city (almost 1,000,000 inhabitants) in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The city is situated on the Caribbean Sea, on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, just north of Mexico's Caribbean coast resort area known as the Riviera Maya. Interestingly, the word "Yucatan" means "I don't understand you" in Mayan, which is how the Mayans responded whenever the Spanish asked where they were. The city’s name, Cancún, is derived from the Mayan name kàan kun, composed of kàan 'snake' and the verb kum ~ kun 'to swell, overfill'. Ironically, this so-called 'nest of snakes' has become one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations. Cancún has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons and an average temperature ranging from 83-95 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainy season runs from late August to November, the dry season from November through April, and the summer months variable due to unpredictable hurricane conditions.

After the Spanish conquest of the region, most of the Mayans living around Cancún died or migrated elsewhere. Modern Cancún is a planned city, designed as a profitable tourist destination by the government. FONATUR (the National Fund for Tourism Development) was used to construct the city in 1974 as an Integrally Planned Center. The population boomed throughout the late 20^th century, growing by an annual average of 62.3% from 1970-1980, and its tourism growth outpaced even the most optimistic projections. In 2023, a record 21 million tourists visited Cancún. Although Cancún had initially avoided the violence associated with the drug trade that has plagued much of the country, violence in the urban center has been on the rise since 2018.

The Beaches of Cancun

Cancun 2023

Activities: Most hotels in Cancun are "all-inclusive" - so many visitors spend their entire vacation on the hotel property enjoying the amenities. While each hotel is different, most will provide a similar set of options. Some of the amenities include: a variety of restaurants (Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Thai, American, ice cream snack bar, pool-side bar, etc.) that serve all-you-can-eat buffets or fine dining with unlimited food and drink at no additional cost; a variety of swimming pools that are designed for different activities (swimming, relaxing with a drink, volleyball, or tanning); use the sauna or enjoy the spa treatment (full-body massage - costs extra); a variety of instructional classes where you can learn a new dance or how to do Pilates, a variety of evening entertainment (the "Chef's dinner," listen to live music, watch a "Michael Jackson" dance medley, watch a sand artist, etc.); work out at the fully-stocked gym or Yoga center; enjoy the hot tub in your bedroom; and beach access, where you can sit in a lounge chair under a large sun umbrella and read, soak in the sun, play beach volleyball, snorkel, rent a kayak, look for sea turtles, or bob in the waves.

Michael Jackson Dance Medley

Chillin' in the Infinity Pool

Casual dining

- Cost: Since it is an all-inclusive resort, most things are included in the cost. However, there are some things that cost extra, or are only available to those with premium memberships - otherwise, how would they be able to entice you to pay for a premium membership.

- Things You Should Know: You should bring with you several dozen small bills (American dollars are encouraged) to tip the workers who will be on hand to carry your bags, set up a lounge chair on the beach, bring you a drink, etc.

- You will be "encouraged" to attend a "90-minute" tour (that will likely turn into 3 hours) in which you will be shown all the amenities that the resort has to offer, and the benefits of membership (which is divided into different categories - diamond, platinum, gold, etc. - each with different benefits). The benefit of taking the "tour" (sales pitch) is to get hotel credit that you will be able to use to offset the expensive taxes that you will otherwise have to pay out of pocket. The disadvantage of taking the tour is that you will have to endure a 2-3 hour high-pressure sales pitch by your host (who gets paid on commission), which will be followed up by at least two of his/her associates that will offer progressively less-expensive options. It was easily the least enjoyable 3 hours of our vacation, but the $500 credit paid for our taxes as well as our dolphin excursion and spa appointment.

Hotel lobby from our 3-hour "90-minute tour"

Activities: Dolphinaris Mexico is an animal encounter that allows visitors to "swim with dolphins." The Marine Mammal Habitats are designed to allow visitors to interact with these vivacious creatures in an open-air environment. There are multiple pools, and each visitor is treated to a variety of dolphin encounters including: a kiss, a hug, a handshake, and a short ride in which you hold onto the dolphin's dorsal fin as it pulls you through the water for about 10 meters. It was definitely a fun, unique experience!

The Pools of Dolphinaris

Dolphin "Hug"

Swimming with Dolphins

Playing with Dolphins

Dolphin Kiss

- Location: Plaza Isla Cancun, about 12.5 km. from the hotel district.

- Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. 

- Cost: Anywhere from $49.50 - $149 USD, depending on which package you are able to find.

- Things You Should Know: This activity is often available as a way to use your "hotel credit" that you are given as part of the package deal you get with your all-inclusive resort. Of course, when "purchased" this way, you won't be able to get the discounts that you could normally find on your own, but it is usually one of the more popular ways to use your credit.

- Rating: 4 of 5 stars

 Activities: Tulum is a Mayan city about 130 kilometers south of Cancún. It was built in the 13^th century, during the Mayan post-classic era. The main thing that differentiates Tulum from other Mayan ruins is its location on the seashore, where it served as a major port trading in jade and turquoise. In addition, Tulum was protected by a 784-meter limestone wall that enclosed the city on three sides. The wall was seven meters thick, and varied between three and five meters in height, with five doors to enter the city. Although many of the structures no longer exist, the most prominent structure, El Castillo, stands on a 12-meter limestone cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. In front of the Castillo is the Temple of the Frescoes. Inside this well-preserved structure, visitors can view a large mural painted in three sections: The first level represents the Mayan world of the dead; the middle represents the living; and the final, highest piece is of the creator and rain gods. You can also see the Casa del Cenote - a two-room structure built on top of a cave with a staircase leading down to a cenote. The walls of the house were built at a seven degree angle to slow down the wind and allow it to survive hurricanes. The Temple of the Wind was built on top of a cliff overlooking several shrines. The holes in this temple would whistle when hurricanes were approaching, giving the Mayans advance warning to seek shelter. When you get tired of exploring the ruins, you can sit and relax on the nearby beach – a luxury unavailable at other Mayan sites.

El Castillo of Tulum

Temple of the Wind

Casa del Cenote

Tulum's Coastline

- Location: Coordinates, 20°12′53″N 87°25′44″W / 20.21472°N 87.42889°W; About 130 km. south of Cancun

- Hours: Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. 

- Cost: 515 MXN (about $28 - $30 USD); cards are accepted, but cash is recommended

- Things You Should Know: - Sundays are free for Mexican citizens and residents, so it will be crowded.

- You will see dozens of iguanas lounging around the site. They are wild and should not be approached - they may bite you. If an iguana starts moving its head up and down rapidly, it is a sign that it is feeling threatened.

- Outside the archeological site, among the many tourist shops, some of the local Mayans like to put on a show called Danza de los Voladores ("Dance of the Flyers"). In this performance, five of them climb a 30-meter beam. Four of them hang upside down from ropes, and swing in a circle as they are slowly lowered to the ground, while a fifth person, the caporal, remains on top, playing a flute and drum while directing the ritual.

Danza de los Voladores

- Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Activities: Xel'ha Water Park is a natural water park named after the Xelha archaeological site of a pre-Columbian Mayan civilization. Xel'ha means "where water is born" - an appropriate name due to the number of underground rivers that flow into the park. According to legend, the Mayan gods appointed three guardians to protect this natural wonder: the Iguana (guardian of the earth), the Pelican (guardian of the sky), and the Fish parrot (guardian of the water). The theme park was founded in 1984, and centered around a natural inlet and lagoon, allowing its creators to seamlessly create a dynamic waterpark that blends in with its natural environment. The natural aquarium is inhabited by hundreds of species of aquatic plants and animals, including a sea turtle reserve and stingray cove. There is also a dolphin area where visitors can "swim with dolphins." A shark fence along the outer border keeps large predators out of the park, making it safe for visitors to swim, snorkel, and scuba dive in the lagoon, and explore dozens of underwater caves and grottos that have been carved out of the natural limestone. Due to its ecological practices, Xel'ha became the first tourist park to receive an EarthCheck Gold certification in 2014. In addition, Xel'ha retains 75% of its habitat due to its Rescue, Reproduction, and Reforestation of Native Plants Program.

     Some of the park's attractions included in your admission are: the Scenic Lighthouse (with a 40-meter high viewing platform,and water slides that encircle the tower); floating down the river of Xel'ha through mangrove forests in an inner tube; exploring Xel'ha Cave; jumping off the Cliff of Courage (15 meters high); riding the Salpichanga ziplines; playing in "Children's World"; Iguana Grotto and El Dorado Cave; the Xel'ha Wall (remnant from a pre-Columbian city); the Path of Consciousness (a nature walk through Xel'ha's natural forests); Chacah's Garden (a cultivated garden paradise of trees and plants typical to the region); Xel'ha Nursery (an educational center cultivating native flora); swim in Xel'ha's natural cenotes; Queen Conch Sanctuary; and biking along nature paths. There are also some additional activities that cost extra (between $40-$100 USD each): Power Xnorkel Xel'ha (snorkeling with a personal motorjet); Sea Trek Discover (walking the seabed with a diving helmet and gear); Manatee Encounter; Stingray Encounter; Sea Trek Stingray (a more immersive underwater experience); Adrenalina Xel'ha (speedboat ride in the lagoon); Zip-bike Xel'ha (explore Xel'ha on a zipline bike); Spa Xel'ha; and Fish Therapy (natural skin treatment with fishes nibbling off your dead skin).

Xel'ha - El Faro Mirador

Lazy River - Extreme Style

Exploring one of the many natural canyons

Ziplining

- Location: México, Carretera Chetumal - Puerto Juárez Km 240, locales 1 & 2, módulo B, Playa del Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77780: Located 122 kilometers south of Cancun, and 13 kilometers north of Tulum

- Hours: Open daily from 8:30 am to 6 pm. 

- Cost: $116 USD for all-inclusive tickets; although some activities have an additional cost 

- Things You Should Know: - Wear some sort of water shoes or water socks to protect your feet since you will be walking on a variety of surfaces in between going in the water.

- The park provides free bicycle transport between some key areas of the park.

- Only bio-degradable sunscreen with titanium oxide and zinc oxide is permitted in the park.

- The All-Inclusive benefits include: breakfast, lunch, snacks, an open bar, plus unlimited snorkeling gear and lockers. However, some activities cost an additional price (see above).

- Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Nearby: Ek Balam is located 172 kilometers west of Cancun.

- Chichen Itza, named one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World," is 197 kilometers west of Cancun. (see previous post)

- The Island of Cozumel is approximately 100 kilometers south of Cancun, and can be reached by car via a ferry.