6.04.2009

CANCUN MEXICO



CANCUN HOTELS

 Cancun Today brings you Mexico's most exotic destination and a wide selection of Cancun hotels and all inclusive resorts available for dream Cancun vacations. If your travel takes you south of Cancun to Playa del Carmen, or to a nearby island like Cozumel or Isla Mujeres, you'll be delighted to find a complete range of hotel and resorts. Enjoy the best of Cancun vacations and Mexico!
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CANCUN HISTORY

Holiday Inn Cancun MexicoCancun Vacation Ownership Hotels

CANCUN VACATIONS

Since 1974, the island of Cancun has been developed from a small fishing village to an international resort attracting over 700,000 visitors each year. Booming Cancun City, across the Nichupte Lagoon on the mainland, was non-existent 20 years ago; it now supports a population of 250,000. Such incredible growth did not just happen; Cancun was selected­­­­-reportedly by computer – by a Department of Tourism task force as a development site that would bolster the Yucatan’s sagging economy.

The task force (FONATUR) created the master plan for and supervised the orderly development of both the Hotel Zone (which occupies the entire island) and Cancun City. The result is Mexico’s leading tourist destination ­­­­­– Cancun now accounts for nearly 20 percent of the nation’s tourism income.

Most non-hotel beaches are located on the bay side of the island. Playa Tortugasis a popular spot for sunning and swimming in the bay; it is located a little more than halfway between the mainland and Punta Cancun and offers both restaurants and changing facilities.Playa Caracol, east of Playa Tortugas, is a favorite spot with local residents.

Other beaches include Playa de las Perlas, Playa Juventud, Playa Linda and Playa Langosta.Playa Chac Mool, just south of Punta Cancun on the Caribbean, is a pleasant beach with changing facilities, a restaurant and a bar.
The Anthropology Museum, located in the Convention Center near Punta Cancun, provides a good introduction to Cancun’s Mayan history. The museum houses artifacts including masks, sculptures, pottery and jewelry; a friendly staff will answer questions.

After touring the museum, you’ll want to visit the island’s ruins. The nearby Pok-Ta-Pok golf course boasts a temple by its 12th hole. Close to the Convention Center, there is a minor ruin by the sea behind the Westin Camino Real Hotel and two small temples at Yamil Lu’um near the Sheraton Hotel.

Farther south, you’ll find San Miguelito, a site consisting of temples and pyramids set around a ceremonial square. The modest El Rey ruins, perhaps once a royal burial ground, are west of San Miguelito in a jungle clearing on the shores of the Nichupte Lagoon. If Cancun’s ruins whet your archaeological appetite, you can visit the mainland’s larger ruins, including Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza and Uxmal.

You’ll find dazzling arrays of indigenous tropical birds in the aviary behind the Mauna Loa shopping center, including flamingoes, toucans, cranes, pelicans and roadrunners. Multicolored tropical fish are visible from the glass-bottom boats that sail regularly on the crystalline waters of the Cancun’s lagoons; many of these excursions include a stop at La Isla de los Pajaros in the Nichupte Lagoon, home to thousands of species of birds. Serious bird-watchers will want to visit the sanctuary at Isla Contoy, a tiny island north of Isla Mujeres.

CANCUN RESTAURANTS

Good Latin Food CANCUN MEXICO
You should not go hungry in Cancun because If you're hungry Cancun is a great place to be. Cancun has an incredible variety of restaurants. You can enjoy traditional Mexican dishes, fast food or any number of great steak houses. The restaurants are everywhere and they serve up some incredible meals. Steak lovers to vegetarians, everyone has a great choice of meals. Everywhere you go there are waterfront restaurants and taco stands, food courts to fast food. Have it delivered to your hotel or dress up and go out, the choice is yours.

Be sure to try one of the great Yucantecan entrees that are the original local dish of the Yucatan Peninsula. Ready for something a bit different, try dinner aboard a boat or pirate ship on one of Cancun's theme dinner cruises is a great way to enjoy the wonderful Caribbean nights.
Rainforest Café
A wonderful eating place among thunders, rainforest, gorillas and other fake animals with natural sounds music. Great pastas and excellent chicken wings. A favorite for children.
Lorenzillo's
For a lobster lover no place on earth is closer to paradise than Lorenzillo´s, on the lagoon in Cancun's Hotel Zone. That's because no one sees to the catching, caring, feeding and preparation of lobster like Lorenzillo´s. No place in the world. Think of this. A restaurant which has its own lobster farm containing as many as 10,000 lobsters at a time.
100% Natural A great place for eating healthy. Three locations, one in the Plaza Kukulkan, one in Plaza Terramar and one in the downtown. All offer great fresh juices (huge portions), salads and healthy main dishes.
La Brisa
A delightful palapa restaurant situated right on the beach. Enjoy the relaxed ambiance and the superb, freshly sought seafood.
Blue Bayou
A split level landscaped garden, New Orleans-style, complete with waterfalls and jazz music to serenade you. Creole and Cajun cooking are the order of the day. Open from 7 pm and on.
Bogart's
One of the nicest restaurants in Cancun is Bogart's located next to the Krystal Hotel. The most popular dish is Raviolis filled with lobster and saffron sauce. There are crepes filled with provolone cheese, caviar and sour crème. The best drink is the Barbotage, that has champagne, drops of lime and cognac, just delicious.
Casa Rolandi
Located in Plaza Caracol, is a quaint airy place with many special nooks and crannies holding plants and hidden lights. Since Casa Rolandi´s trademark is the wood-burning oven, their cuts are grilled just perfectly. Also in Isla Mujeres.
La Habichuela
La Habichuela, which means stringbean, is a romantic restaurant right down to the Mayan garden. The restaurant most famous dish is the Cocobichuela, shell garnished with tropical fruits. At the bottom of the coconut there is white rice. It is delightful and exquisite.
Houlihan´s
Great American food and very large portions, although the atmosphere is more like an English pub. Chicken specialties are the best choice here. Located on the second floor of Plaza Kukulkan, Houlihan´s has one of the best views of Nichupte Lagoon. A great place to watch the sunset !
La Dolce Vita
The philosophy of this place -which has positioned it among the favorites of both locals and tourists- has always been good service and top quality ingredients. The tranquility that floats in this restaurant and the accessibility of the owners, who are always on hand for support, are one of the main reasons why everybody is so happy to work here and has been so for all these years.
La Destileria
One important aspect of La Destileria, it's menu is Mexican food, regional basically traditional plates for the state of Jalisco since it was there where tequila was born. Typical plates like tortas ahogadas, birria, menudo, ceviche Nayarit style, among many other Mexican specialties, are going to lure clients from everywhere. This cuisine will be complemented with other regional dishes like a wide variety of moles.
The Porterhouse Grill
One of Cancun's premier steak houses, this is elegant dining in the Mexican Caribbean. Al cuts of beef are USDA Prime and Choice which guarantees a great meal. Extra large portions are served here so it is best to either be very hungry or be willing to share. They also have some lovely lamb and lobster dishes. Be sure to leave room for dessert as they have some of the greatest such as the New Orleans Bread Pudding in Añejo Rum Sauce.
Pericos
Every order in Pericos Restaurant is served with a side of fun. Waiters dressed as Pancho Villa and crew walk around the restaurant pulling harmless pranks on unsuspecting patrons. All of these hi-jinks take place with marimbas and mariachis playing in the background.
Cambalache
With Argentine music, almost all tangos, playing softly in the background and a bottle of nice, Argentinean red wine, your meal at Cambalache is a totally gratifying experience.
La Fisheria
Seafood is the specialty at La Fisheria. This restaurant offers a wide variety of fresh fish to satisfy the most demanding palates, like boquinete, swordfish, salmon and trout, among many other delicacies. One of the original aspects of this restaurant is the several combinations of seafood pizzas, plus the fact that these are made in a wood burning over.
Hacienda El Mortero
Built as an old high class hacienda, El Mortero features Mexican haute cuisine. You will find the most typical dishes from the most important culinary capitals in the republic. Their selection of meats is quite good and the preparation includes all of Mexico's most famous ingredients such as chiles and hot sauces. Their extensive list of tequilas will astound you.
Iguana Wana
The restaurant's kitchen is open to the public. In fact, it is practically in the service area, one can see all the way through it. The purpose of having the kitchen in such a way that everybody can see right through it is so that the client is able to see how his food is being prepared. People have given very positive feedback on this decision. They may choose each and every ingredient for their omelette plus they get to watch how the cook prepares it.
Gustino
An example of the special care taken in the presentation of the dishes at this restaurant specializing in Northern Italian fare is the antipasto. One is a combination of marinated mixed vegetables, a fine selection of imported cheeses as well as imported cold cuts such as prosciutto and salami.

CANCUN ATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO

CANCUN VACATIONS
To find things to do, several area attractions are close enough to visit in a day. You can take a trip to some of the Yucatan Peninsula’s most impressive Mayan ruins or join an excursion to one of several nearby Caribbean islands.
Cancun offers, to it's visitors, an incredible number of diverse activities. Everywhere you go are interesting things to do. The combination of activities and the abundance of nearby archeological sites makes for an incredible vacation.

Your vacation will not last long enough to enjoy all there is see & to do in Cancun. that the hardest part is deciding what to do first! The world's water sports capital has everything you can imagine under the sun from exciting jungle tours, to snorkeling, to waterskying, scuba diving, kayaking and fishing. Mexico's rich history is everywhere in Cancun. Near Cancun you'll find carefully restored archaeological sites, including Tulum, Chichen Itza, Kohunlich and Coba. Discover nature's finest at Xcaret, Xel-Ha and Tres Rios parks or meet crocodiles at Crococun.
We have done our best to list the many attractions available in, and around, this incredibly beautiful Caribbean resort.

Archaeological Site "El Rey"
The tourist zone has some minor archaeological sites, the best example of which is Ruinas El Rey located on Kukulacan Blvd. at km. 17 across from the Hilton Cancun Beach & Golf Resort. A visit to El Rey is well worth the modest entry fee. The ruins are well preserved and the sheer number of resident iguanas make for a pleasant diversion. Bilingual tour guides are available for the more inquisitive types.

Boating Excursions

A whole variety of pleasure boat cruises to the Nichupte lagoon, Isla Mujeres, Contoy Island, and other destinations are available every day from Cancun. Modern motor yachts, catamarans, trimarans, and even old time sloops take swimmers, sunbathers, snorkelers, and shoppers out into the limpid waters.

Some tours include a snorkeling stop at ecological parks, snorkeling equipment, continental breakfast, lunch, and a shopping tour. Most tours leave at 9.30 or 10am and they last about 5 to 6 hours, Sunset and night cruises, go to beaches of Isla Mujeres away from the town for pirate shows, Caribbean shows and usually include a lobster dinner or Mexican buffet and open bar.

Bullfight Show


Cancun has its own small bull-ring near the northern end of Blvd. Kukulcan, in the downtown area. Bullfights are specially performed for the tourist and their children, it is a less shocking bullfight, not as real as they are in other cities.. The show is combined with folkloric dances, and a Mexican horse-riding charro-style performance. The show is held every Wednesday at 3.30pm.

Folkloric Ballet
Nightly performances of the Ballet Folklorico de Cancun are held at the Cancun Convention Center. You can go for dinner or just for the show to enjoy the traditional Mexican Dances performed.
Activities:
Swim with the Dolphins...Parque Nizuc - Wet'n Wild Water Park - Located at the west end of the Hotel Zone Blvd. Kukulkan, Km. 25
Bullfights...Mexican Traditions Show - Folkloric Dances -Wed. at 3:30 Bull Ring (Centro)
Go Karts...Rent and Race these karts (They're FAST) Tulum Hwy Km. 7.5
Wet'n Wild...Gigantic Water Park, Slides, Waves - All Day Family Fun Blvd. Kukulkan, Km. 25
Folkloric Ballet of Cancun... Mexico in Dance, Open Bar-Dinner Option Convention Center
Isla Mujeres Tours...Discovery Adventure, Daily Tours, Depart 10:00am - Return 4:30pm Playa Langosta Dock
CROCOCUN - Zoo - Crocodile Park - Native Animals - Exotic Reptiles Tulum Hwy Km. 30
Sky Dive... (with a certified instructor)Land on the Beach - Great view of the jungle and Caribbean! Playa del Carmen
Ride "The Rocket"...Launch Yourself...Aqua World, Ejection Seat Ride! One of only 12 in the world. Blvd. Kukulkan, Km. 13.5 .

Hotels in Cancun