At least once while having to endure another Monday at work; everyone has thought about running away to the glittering blue waters of Cancun. This city sits right on the edge of the Yucatan peninsula and the beaches are world-famous for their crystal-clear waters, pure white sand, plenteous sea life, and more. If you are looking to take an awesome beach vacation, look into Cancun.
The Riviera Maya
Cancún is located in the southeastern most part of Mexico on the peninsula Yucatán at the Atlantic coast. From here it is not far away to Cuba. Seen from space, Yucatán looks like the end of a giant fishing hook. Cancún is the center of the Riviera Maya holiday area. About 630,000 people live there. Cancún is famous for its 23 kilometers of beach. In 2016, over 6 million visitors were counted there. And did you know that the name Can Cún in Mayan language means “snake nest” or “snake pot”?
Special Beaches
As you might imagine, the main reason people travel to Cancun is for the gorgeous beaches with the bright white sand and the clear, glittering water. Just relaxing on these beaches is easily one of the best ways to pass a whole day. One neat thing about the beaches here are the local vendors who walk around selling souvenirs and homemade goods, such as sarongs, jewelry, and seashells. An interesting quality about the beach itself is the cool sand. Cancun sand is made of ground up coral instead of the silica sand we know, and because the coral doesn’t absorb heat, it stays pretty cool.
Cozumel and Isla Mujeres
If you’d like to travel to the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, you can take a passenger ferry from companies like Ultramar. These beaches are definitely worth visiting, and not just for the beaches. Cozumel has Chankanaab National Park, a pristine natural preserve, and Isla Mujeres has Garrafon, an ecological water park.
The Mayas
The Mayan empire spread over much of what is Central America and Mexico, with the heart of the empire in the Yucatan Peninsula. This means that Cancun is near some breathtaking Mayan ruins that make for great ways to learn a little about the area’s history and culture. One very close to the hotels along the beach is El Rey Ruins, where Mayans lived from around 900-1550 AD. The name – El Rey – means “The King,” and it got this name from the large ceremonial mask, sculpture of a noble man, and a skull meant as a gift to the god associated with the sun. In this ruin, there are 47 structures in all, with two very impressive large ones, and be sure to look out for the population of iguanas and peacocks. If you are interested in seeing more Maya sites, there are plenty located a little outside the area, and they are certainly worth seeing.
And Much More
If you’ve always wanted to truly experience paradise, consider heading to Cancun. There is so much more to do than what is mentioned here. Don’t miss out on swimming with the dolphins or taking a horseback ride on the beach, and be sure to swing by the Interactive Aquarium, where you can touch sea urchins and feed sharks.
Source Head Photograph: https://pixabay.com/en/photos/cancun/
