cancun hotel zone
resort guide

Beaches

Cancun's beaches at their best are amazing. However
they have been prone to erosion since the devastation
of hurricane Wilma in 2005. A government program to
replace the sand is underway and should be completed
in time for the winter 2009/2010 travel season.
The beaches of Cancun are not lined with palms; those
are all found around the beautiful pool areas.
  The section of Cancun that faces east has pounding
surf that is fun to play in; at the north end is an area of
perfect beach with palms and gentle water that remains
shallow for a long distance–we love this section. Along
the north end toward downtown there is an increase in
seaweed and rocks, making the beaches less desirable
(to us at least).

Transportation

The Cancun hotel zone stretches for 13 miles (21k),
making it impossible to walk to all but the closest
attractions. Luckily there is an excellent bus service that
travels the one road through the hotel zone (about 75¢
each way). Taxis are also available, however they are
rather expensive with average fares ranging from $7
to $15US* each way.
  Taxi fares and bus information is on our
Cancun map & travel guide.

Nightlife

Cancun is home to some of the world's most amazing
nightclubs. Most not only offer music and dancing, but
also entertain throughout the night with amazing shows.
  More nightlife information is on our
Cancun map & travel guide.

Shopping

There are four air-conditioned malls in the area, along with
an amazing outdoor shopping plaza with a canal that runs
among the shops and restaurants. The flea markets are an
interesting place to visit and haggle over souvenirs.
  Shopping areas are shown on our
Cancun map & travel guide.

Hotels

Cancun is mostly made-up of large, upscale hotels, condominiums, and all-inclusive resorts. There are a few
moderate priced hotels in Cancun's hotel zone, but budget
travelers will have to stay in the downtown area.
  View all hotels in Cancun at our hotel locations map.
Also shown on our Cancun map & travel guide.

Restaurants

Fine dining is everywhere in Cancun. However, some
of our favorites are smaller restaurants where you can
have a great meal on a budget. Of course there are
also the chain fast food names, where you can get
a burger (nice if you are traveling with kids).
  Reviews and recommendations on our
Cancun map & travel guide.

Tours & activities

Take a day-trip to the Mayan ruins, or to the nearby
island of Isla Mujeres (one of our quaint favorites).
There are also snorkeling tours, fishing, evening cruises,
and golf.
  More information on our Cancun map & travel guide.

Atmosphere

We've heard Cancun described as "very Miami beach".
We've never been to Miami beach, but we assume this
means that nearly every square inch is developed and
offering something for tourists to enjoy.
  Cancun's main appeal is relaxing by the pool or on the beach, but the main street through the hotel zone is
congested with taxis, buses, delivery vehicles, and workers.
The journey between hotels, restaurants and malls
distracts from the relaxation.

Who visits

Although the majority of tourists are from nearby U.S.A,
you'll meet people from all over the world. There is even
a Japanese travel agent and traditional Japanese cafe
that caters to tourists craving the taste of their homeland.

Click on a photo to view larger

WE"LL BE TAKING PHOTOS
ON OUR NEXT TRIP

Copyright, 2009 by Perry McFarlin for Can-Do Publishing

www.cancunmap.com
Your information source for
Cancun & the Riviera Maya