Cancun 1st part: The Hotel Zone

Cancun's Hotel Zone is a 24 mile long island also known managed by FONATUR. It has more then 24,000 rooms and every year receives approximately four millions visitors, the equivalent to 190 flights per day.

Definitely the biggest attraction in the hotel zone is swimming or participating in any kind of activity in the calm waters of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

The name of the principal avenue is Kukulkan Boulevard. If you are heading downtown you´ll see the ocean to you right hand and the lagoon to your left .If you are heading the airport you´ll see the lagoon to your right and the ocean to the left.

The whole lagoon system is formed by two different lagoons: Bojorquez and Nichupte. The reason why they are salty is because they join with the sea in several spots (Puente Nizuc, Puente Caleta & Puente Calinda).

Photograph by Mónica Meza Huerta

Jungle and snorkeling tours are good options to discover the mysteries of the lagoon. Drive a jet-ski, walk through the mangrove trees, snorkel surrounded by hundreds of colorful fish. Some parts of the lagoon are natural refugees of crocodiles so we highly recommend to hire an expert in case you want to explore the lagoon. Other activities you should try doing here are wind-sailing, kayak, water ski and scuba diving.

There are several public beaches (Las Perlas, Playa Linda, Langosta, Tortugas, Ballenas, Delfines) along the Kukulkan Boulevard. On weekends many of them get really crowded with the local people; Nevertheless it´s a good experience to visit them. Perhaps the most famous of these beaches is Playa Delfines because it´s also an observation post. There´s no better place to admire the majesty of the caribbean.

In front of this beach, crossing the boulevard, you can visit a small archeological site: El Rey. It´s open daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The cost of the entrance is $37 pesos + $35 pesos in case you want to film.

Mónica Meza Huerta / Ruinas del rey

In Cancun shopping can turn into an adventure also. We have small, medium and large shopping malls all along the Kukulkan Boulevard. The 5 bigger are Plaza Caracol, Plaza Flamingos, Plaza Kukulkan, Plaza Forum and Plaza La Isla. The first two plazas became very popular when Hard Rock Cafe and Planet opened there but, once they moved after several years, they died. Don´t miss them because they still offer great merchandise and disscounts.

Kukulkan Plaza it´s an interesting mall to visit. Here you can go bowling, shopping or eating in a fancy restaurant. Also here you can find the famous Luxury Avenue which gathers all the world's best brands in a conept that offers you the latest in jewelry, gifts, accessories and fashion. Go crazy with boutiques from Cartier, Mont Blanc, Louis Viutton, Fendi, Carolina Herrera, Tous, Salvatore Ferragamo, etc.

With no doubt Plaza La Isla is the best option in the Hotel Zone. It has a new concept and offers a bunch of activities for all tastes. It has a nice interactive aquarium, tyrolese, nice shops and restaurants, an awesome view of the lagoon, spectacular fountains and a watercourse in the middle. For sure a nice place to spend a whole afternoon.

Photograph by Mónica Meza Huerta

In Plaza Forum you can find Hard Rock Cafe, Rain Forset Cafe, Carls Jr, among others. This plaza is in the middle of what we call the party zone. If you want to dance, get wild, meet people this is the right place. Shake your body at Coco Bongo, The city or Dady´O; have a beer at Hooters , Señor Frog´s or the Corona Bar.

HINT: THERE IS A STREET IN FRONT OF COCO BONGO WHICH TAKES YOU TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOULEVARD. THE STREET IS KNOWN AS "EL CALLEJON DE LOS MILAGROS" (THE MIRACLE ALLEY) SOME PEOPLE SAY ITS A DRUG DEALING ZONE.TAKE YOUR PRECAUTIONS.

The bus fee in the hotel zone is around $7.50 pesos per trip.There is only one route that takes you downtown. Taxis have diferent rate depending on the distance. For example if you want to go downtown perhaps you´ll have to pay $200 pesos.

Other interesting spots in the hotel zone are: the Flea market Coral Negro, Convention Center, Pok-Ta-Pk Golf Club, Captain´s Hook (Pirate Experience), the Scenic tower at El Embarcadero.

This is a small review of Cancun's Hotel Zone highlights. If you are looking for further information let us know.

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