Unique places to visit in cancun mexico
On a 13-mile-long, 1,300-foot-wide L-shaped island off the northern coast of Yucatan, lies Cancun, a purpose-built luxury resort with excellent tourism infrastructure. This large resort was built practically from scratch in just over a decade and is now one of the most visited destinations in all of Mexico, attracting more than four million tourists a year. The great attraction? Endless fun things to do, countless glorious white sand beaches to relax, stunning large coral reefs to explore, and near perfect weather.
The main tourist area is linked by a causeway to the mainland where the modern city of Cancun is located, a vibrant center with a number of interesting attractions that are worth visiting, assuming, of course, that you can get away from the beaches. And if you can only get away for a single tour or organized excursion, make sure it’s to one of the well-preserved historical Mayan sites found throughout the island. Most of these are within an easy hop-on hop-off bus ride and offer plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way. To ensure you get the most out of your time in this tropical paradise, be sure to check this list of Cancun’s top tourist attractions frequently.
The beautiful beaches of Cancun
Most of the best Cancun resorts are built with direct access to the beaches, known locally as “beaches”. You will enjoy breathtaking views over the sparkling crystal clear waters that make this destination so popular with tourists seeking a memorable vacation in Mexico. Cancun, in fact, consists of several long stretches of beach, and while regular visitors may have their preferences, it’s certainly hard to go wrong – they’re all nice and have something great to offer.
Among the most popular beaches are Las Perlas, Juventud, Linda, Langosta, Tortugas, Caracol and Chac-mool, some of them along Cancún Boulevard and Paseo Kukulkán from the city limit (of these, Tortugas, Caracol and Chac-mool tend to be the busiest). Also of interest is the seven and a half kilometer long Paseo Kukulkán, next to which is an 18-hole public golf course known as Pok-ta-Pok.
Exploring the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá
Few visitors will want to miss out on spending at least a little of their vacation time sightseeing at one or more of the largest Mayan ruins within reach of Cancun. One of the most popular day trips is to Chichén Itzá, three hours west of the beaches and one of the largest and best restored archaeological sites in Mexico. Established by the Mayans more than 1,000 years ago, this UNESCO World Heritage site includes many famous statues of Chac-mool, along with important buildings such as the 30-meter-high El Castillo, one of the most famous pyramids in the country.
If you are an early riser, you may want to join an early access tour of Chichén Itzá accompanied by a private archaeologist. And we mean early. Hotel pickups are scheduled for 5 a.m., but it’s worth it for the chance to explore the famous ruins hours before the site opens up to other tourists, while a professional historian answers your many questions. These fun day trips include areas of the site not normally open to the public, a wealth of fascinating facts, a packed lunch, and round-trip transportation.
El Rey Mayan Ruins
If you have room on your Mexico itinerary for another interesting archaeological site, just minutes from the Punta Nizuc end of Cancun are a series of interesting Mayan ruins known as El Rey. The ruins of El Rey (Las Ruinas del Rey), named after a mask found here believed to be dedicated to the sun god, include the remains of some 47 buildings, along with numerous tombs built by the Mayans beginning in AD 900.
Of particular interest are the two main platforms with their temples, which were once part of the market, which also served as important ceremonial areas. It’s worth taking the time to visit, and many resorts offer inexpensive tours to the site, which is also famous for the large colonies of iguanas that live here.
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