CANCUN
Today
Cancun is a favorite Caribbean playground and gateway to the Mundo Maya,
or Mayan World, hosting more than 2 million visitors a year.
In the
beginning, travelers were drawn to its crystal-clear waters and
talcum-soft sand, as well as its varied diversions and first-class
resort facilities. But soon its proximity to breathtaking Mayan ruins,
exotic wildlife, and colonial gems became added attractions.
Unique
historical sites, magnificent beaches, some of the best snorkeling and
diving areas in the world, and tropical flora and fauna, give many
visitors an extra dimension to their stay in Cancun.
Cancun is
also a gateway to one of Mexico's premier ecological attractions, the
1.3-million-acre Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Featuring over 350
species of birds and over 30 little-visited Mayan archaeological sites,
this excursion for the hardy traveler offers forests, lagoons, wetlands
and exotic marine habitats for crocodiles and manatees.
This
international hotspot is actually comprised of two distinct areas: the
city of Cancun, popular for shopping and dining, but not beaches; and
the resort zone, an L-shaped island where the hotels and beaches are
sorrounded by the beautiful Nichupte Lagoon.