Cancún

Cancún's 19-mile-long Zona Hotelera is a skinny strip of land between mangrove lagoons and the Caribbean Sea. The zone is shaped like a 7, with Boulevard Kukulcán beginning at the edge of downtown, running straight to Punta Cancún, then jogging to its longest stretch running south to the airport. The fanciest hotels and restaurants are located along the southern side of the zone facing the open sea.

Close to half of all international tourists to Mexico visit the Cancún region—which is why Presidente Vicente Fox arrived there the minute Hurricane Wilma's winds died down in October 2005. The hurricane devastated Cancún's hotel zone, blowing out windows, toppling buildings, and sending palapas and palms into the air. Fox pledged to devote billions to bring Cancún back to life ASAP, and the reconstruction has been so impressive that George Bush even dropped by to see it. Six months later, Cancún's beaches were back, hotels were reopening, and the nightlife was rowdier than ever.

As hurricane season begins once again, Cancún is struggling to attract and reassure travelers, saying everything's back to normal. That's a bit of an exaggeration, naturally. You'll find plenty to do in Cancún, but you won't enjoy much tropical scenery. The thousands of palms planted shortly after the storm are starting to perk up and grow green, as are lawns and golf courses. But construction sites are common throughout the Hotel Zone, and the noise can be deafening. Be sure your hotel is completely up and running when booking a room, and ask for one away from any adjacent hammering. If you're looking for scenery and seclusion, you're better off in Isla Mujeres or the Riviera Maya.

WHEN TO GO

Peak season runs from mid-December to Easter and is busiest around holidays, especially Semana Santa, the holy week before Easter. Spring Break—when hordes of college students brave the heat and humidity in search of a good time—is not recommended. Early spring and the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas have good weather, reasonable temperatures, and thinner crowds.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Cancún International Airport is some seven miles (or 20 minutes by car) from the Zona Hotelera. The airport is served by American, Continental, Delta, and Northwest, as well as by Mexican airlines Aeroméxico and Mexicana, and there are flights from nearly every major U.S. city. The Cancún airport also links the city with other important tourism spots in the Yucatán region, including Mérida and Cozumel. Large car rental chains such as Budget, Avis, and Hertz have branches at the airport; private taxi journeys run roughly $40 to the Hotel Zone, though "collective" taxis (called collectivos, for shared rides) travel from the airport to the Hotel Zone for under $10.

GETTING AROUND

Within the Hotel Zone, the best way to get around is by foot, as the zone's easy-to-use street grid and short distances make it a pedestrian's paradise. Late night (and after many drinks), taxis are an easy (though not cheap) option—and there are some 4,000 of them serving the city. Fares are set by zone, with rides within the hotel zone set at $5 each way and rides within the downtown zone set at $2 each way. To get from the Hotel Zone to the downtown zone expect to pay $6 each way. Despite the fact that such fares are indeed "set," as in many tourist destinations, taxi drivers may often try to flout the rules and travelers should insist on paying correct fares or requesting written proof of a different fare's validity. Those staying at higher-end hotels should feel free to ask for assistance from their doormen. If on a budget, consider using the two local bus services with routes along the Hotel Zone—Turicun and Autocar. Rides cost roughly 65 cents and both lines serve most major destinations along Boulevard Kukulcán, the Hotel Zone's main thoroughfare.

TOURIST INFO

Cancún Convention & Visitors Bureau
Boulevard Kukulcán, Km 9 Zona Hotelera
Cancún Tel: 52 998 881 2745
www.gocancun.com

View Mexico Factsheet