SINCE the 1970s, travelers winging from the Yucatan capital of Mérida to the holiday isle of Cozumel were all told about the biiiiiiiig plans for the enormous, largely empty sandbar right below.
Cancun, as that sandbar’s also known, has by now become a household name in much of this hemisphere and beyond for a variety of reasons – foremost, of course, is its swell expanse of beach. Though it once seemed all too possible the place would end up subsumed in a kind of trashy, spring-breakish vibe, those who have not been down here in a while will be in for a pleasant surprise.
There’s still plenty of cheese to go around, with parts of the touristy Zona Hotelera (Hotel Zone) coming across almost like Vegas on the beach, especially when it comes to the go-go nightlife. These days, however, that’s balanced by a world-class menu of new and upscale resorts, shopping centers, spas and dining. “Get away from it all,” if you like, by bopping down the coast a bit or to several quieter offshore islands like Isla Mujeres. Meanwhile, for a taste of a less touristy Mexican town, all you need to do is head west over to the real downtown Cancun, with its bullring, its local-frequented cantinas
and its funky-yet-safe vibe.
As always, what makes the Cancun experience especially magical is the final dimension: The chance to mix sun ‘n’ fun with some of the most incredible and inspiring sights on the planet — not just the natural cenotes
(sinkholes), mangrove forests, and other eco-offerings of the Yucatan peninsula, but also the area’s incredible wealth of pre-colonial history in the form of the dramatic ruins of ancient Mayan cities rising out of the jungle. This stuff is downright legendary. In other words, this isn’t the McCaribbean you’re used to.
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