Travel and Leisure

The beach holiday resort of Cancun lies on the north coast of Mexico's beautiful Riviera Maya. With amazing beaches, crystal clear warm waters and a vast array of tourist facilities, Cancun is an excellent choice for your holidays to Mexico. Cancun was developed in the 1970's and has since evolved into Mexico's most popular resort with something for everyone; from the young to the old, for budget holidays or more upmarket holidays.

Cancun consists of two distinct areas; the residential area of Cancun City and Cancun Island (Tourist Zone).

Connected to the mainland by two bridges, the island of Cancun is home to the main tourist district which is located on the 8 mile Yucatan Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea. All along the coastline of the peninsula you will find beautiful soft sandy beaches with the best located in the north. Although Cancun is a very busy resort you will always be able to find a peaceful stretch of beach due to the resorts extensive coastline. Facilities at the beaches of Cancun are second to none with a wide choice of hotels, many of which are along the seafront, all offering a variety of different accommodation and board choices.

The waters of the Caribbean Sea are ideal for water sports including scuba diving, snorkelling, jet-skiing, windsurfing, parasailing and fishing while the calmer waters of the huge sheltered lagoon, Laguna Nichupte, are perfect for water-skiing.

Cancun has several golf clubs with scenic locations which are considered to be some of the best courses in Mexico. These clubs also offer health clubs, spa and fine dining restaurants in picturesque settings.

Renowned as a non-stop party town, Cancun offers a variety of entertainment including nightclubs, discos, traditional Mexican bars, quieter piano bars, cabaret and beach bars. For more cultural evenings there is ballet and traditional Mexican music and entertainment.

When it comes to dining out, the resort offers an endless choice of restaurants with everything from fast-food outlets to traditional Yucatan cuisine.

Shoppers will not be disappointed as Cancun has more than twenty 'American-style' shopping malls and no end of traditional markets selling everything from duty-free perfume to designer clothes to locally produced handicrafts.

There are just a few archaeological sites in Cancun but you will have to travel further afield for the best in the Riviera Maya. These sites include the famous pyramid at Chichen Itza and the ancient civilization of Tulum which has a jungle setting on the coast. Cancun is an ultra modern resort where nature lovers will love the natural beauty and range of habitats in the area. You will be amazed as you journey through the dense jungle and mangrove by speedboat, taking in the sights and sounds of the wildlife, hopefully spotting crocodiles, pumas and jaguars on your way. Don't forget your camera to catch some awesome photo opportunities.

Not to be missed on your holidays to Cancun is a visit to the beautiful island of Mujeres. Lying just off the coast the Isla Mujeres is a stark contrast to the lively resort of Cancun. On this sleepy island you discover brightly painted Caribbean clapboard houses and a protected turtle sanctuary. This is also one of the best places for scuba diving and snorkelling after which you can stroll around the island visiting the many local cantinas for a spot of lunch and some tequila or take in some of the local shops where you will find some original and unique Mexican and Guatemalan folk art works.

Cancun enjoys a Caribbean style climate with hot sunny weather throughout the year with hardly any variation between seasonal temperatures. Winter sun holidays to Cancun are great for escaping the cold of the UK as the weather is cooler and drier and more comfortable for most people.