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Just
over 30 years old, Cancun is
one of Mexico’s most popular
tourist destinations. Situated
at the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula,
the area is equally famous for
both the modern and the ancient.
All of the tourist related areas
on the beaches are brand new.
The Yucatan, however, has been
known for many years as the
site for ancient Mayan ruins.
 Shaped
in the form of the number seven,
the area’s Hotel Zone, is lined
with deluxe hotels, restuarants
and nightclubs, and the downtown
area, offers shopping, a theater
and convention center. Over
2 million people flock to the
shores of Cancun annually, and
there is good reason for this.
The local environment is stunning;
the beaches are pristine and
the sea here is perfect for
swimming and water activities;
added to this, within a short
traveling distance visitors
can find themselves at the heart
of some of the most amazing
and breathtaking archaeological
wonders of the world.
Just south of Cancun, you can
tour the Mayan Riviera and check
out Playa del Carmen, Xcaret
and Xel-Ha, ancient Mayan ports
that have been converted into
modern-day paradises. Like cave
diving? Hundreds of miles of
underwater rivers traverse the
Yucatan. Also nearby is Tulum,
a fascinating archaeological
site perched on the shores of
the Caribbean. It was the only
walled city built by the Mayans.
Just offshore and easily enjoyed
as a one day trip are Isla Mujeres
and Cozumel where you can enjoy
the experience of snorkeling
and scuba diving along the coral
reefs.
Diving
from the mainland of the Yucatan
penninsula offers an array of
choices. From the shallow and
colorful reefs off Cancun and
Playa Del Carman to the miles
of cenotes that have made the
Yucatan one of the top cave
diver destinations. Farther
south is the newest destination,
the Chinchorro Banks, part of
the second largest barrier reef
in the world.
Offshore, visibility is an average
of 100 ft., inshore expect a
little less. The cenotes offer
crystal clear visibility at
all times.
Getting
There
Cancun’s
international airport is the
country’s second busiest
airport after Mexico City. There
are direct flights to practically
all the  world’s
major cities and connections
to other cities in Southeast
Mexico and Central America.
Cancun occupies a strategic
geographical position on the
continent and, being the premier
Caribbean tourism destination,
Cancun’s airport has become
very important to the region.
Twenty-one airlines arrive and
depart from Cancun for domestic
and international flights and
four airlines have formed a
regional flight network linking
cities in the Maya World.
Located just eight kilometers
(5 miles) from the city, five
kilometers (3 miles) from the
Hotel Zone and 379 kilometers
(235.5 miles) from state capital,
Chetumal, the airport covers
an 800-hectare area (1977 acres).
Airlines Servicing Cancun
Aero
Caribe / Aero Cozumel
Aero
Mexico
American
Airlines
Aviacsa
Aviateca
British
Airways
Continental
Iberia
Lacsa
Martin
Air
Mexicana
Northwest
Entry
Requirements
Note:
No brief account of the complex
Mexican Passport/Visa regulations
is likely to be fully successful
and visitors are advised to
use the following for general
guidance. Non-compliance with
visa regulations will result
in fines and transportation
(at the carrier's expense)
to the visitor's country of
origin.
PASSPORTS: Passport valid
for at least 1 year after
date of entry is required.
 Tourist
cards: Available only to people
entering Mexico on vacation,
for reasons of health, or
to engage in scientific, artistic
or sporting activities which
are neither remunerative nor
lucrative. Valid for the holder
only. Other persons (including
minors) travelling on the
same passport must have their
own card. The card is a single-entry
document and is issued free
of charge. The Consular office
retains the right to request
further evidence of the applicant's
intention to visit Mexico
as a tourist whenever such
intention has not been established
to the Consul's satisfaction.
The same right applies with
regard to evidence of the
applicant's financial means
to sustain him/herself while
in Mexico.
Note: (a) Visitors eligible
for Tourist Cards (see below)
can be issued with Tourist
Cards by any Mexican Consulate,
on board the plane or at the
point of entry in Mexico.
(b) Tourist Cards must be
kept by the visitor during
the entire length of stay
as they will have to be presented
and stamped on leaving.
Nationals of the following
countries are eligible for
a Tourist card: (a) 1. EU
countries for stays of up
to 180 days (except nationals
of Austria, France, Greece
and Luxembourg who can stay
for up to 90 days);
(b) 2. Australia, Canada,
Japan and the USA for stays
of up to 180 days;
(c) Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda,
Chile, Costa Rica, Hungary,
Iceland, Liechtenstein, New
Zealand, Norway, San Marino,
Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland
and Uruguay for stays of up
to 180 days;
(d) Czech Republic, Israel,
Monaco and Poland for up to
90 days;
(e) Korea (Rep. of) for up
to 60 days;
(f) Brazil and Venezuela for
up to 30 days.
For requirements and regulations
relevant to other nationalities,
contact the Mexican Embassy.
VISAS: Required by all except
holders of a Tourist Card
or visa-replacing document.
Nationals of the following
countries require a special
authorisation from the Ministry
of the Interior in Mexico:
Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia,
China (PR), Croatia, Eritrea,
Iraq, Iran, India, Jordan,
Korea (DPR), Lebanon, Libya,
Macedonia, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan,
Turkey (unless permanent residents
of UK), Vietnam and Western
Sahara region. Authorisation
takes approximately 3 to 4
weeks.
Application requirements:
Tourist Visa: (a) Passport
with minimum of 6 months'
validity. (b) Application
form. (c) 1 passport-size
photo. (d) Original return
ticket. (e) Fee (payable in
cash only). (f) Proof of sufficient
funds (US$50 per day) to cover
length of stay. (g) Postal
applications must be accompanied
by a covering letter specifying
the purpose of the trip and
the dates of entry and departure.
Applications should be made
in a stamped, self-addressed
envelope with recorded or
registered delivery.
Business Visitors Card: (a)-(b)
and, (c) 2 passport-size photos.
(d) Letter from applicant's
employer accepting financial
responsibility to cover the
applicant's stay, which also
states the nature of business
to be undertaken and the name
and address of the business
contact(s) in Mexico. For
visits of more than 30 days,
a multiple-entry card is needed,
as well as a letter from the
local Chamber of Commerce
(or Department of Trade and
Industry) confirming the sponsoring
company is a member of either
body. (e) Fee (payable in
cash, postal order or company
cheque). (f) Postal applications
must be accompanied by a stamped,
self-addressed envelope with
recorded delivery.
Note: 3. If intending to undertake
business or work of a technical
or scientific nature, normal
visa regulations do not apply,
and it is necessary to obtain
a Visitors Card. It is vital
to contact the local Mexican
consular representative well
in advance of the intended
date of departure in order
to secure the necessary authorisation
(see address section). Non-British
Nationals seeking to visit
Mexico on business are advised
to check with the Consulate
regarding visa requirements
and fees.
Visitor
Information
Getting
Around
Tourist information is available
at most of the resort hotels.
You'll also find the tourism
office in Cancun City on the
east side of Avenida Tulum
between Avenidas Coba and
Uxmal. It's open daily 9 am-9
pm.
 You
can explore the Hotel Zone
on your own by taking a public
bus or taxi along Paseo Kukulkan,
the main thoroughfare (and
almost the only street). The
distances between resort hotels
can be long, however, so walking
may not be practical. You'll
definitely need transportation
to get from the Hotel Zone
to Cancun City.
Both the Hotel Zone and Cancun
City are considered safe to
walk around,
While it isn't necessary to
rent a car while in the Cancun
Downtown / Hotel Zone area,
you may decide to venture
further south to the Mayan
Riviera, Playa Del Carmen,
Chichén Itzá,
etc. Rental cars, primarily
standard-shift sub compacts
and four-wheel-drive vehicles,
are available at the airport
and throughout Cancun. The
standard rate is about $50
USD per day for the car, tax,
and insurance. You can also
rent an automatic car with
air-conditioning at a much
higher price. You can also
hire a big, late-model car
with air-conditioning and
an English- speaking chauffeur
at many hotel travel desks.
You must have a license and
be at least 21 years old.
Driving in the Yucatan is
on the right. Streets and
roads outside Cancun are not
always up to the standards
you may be used to. If you
drive on the mainland, keep
your tank filled-gas stations
are scarce.
- Rental Car and Driving Tips
- Look over the rental car
and have the rental agent
write down anything that is
wrong with it, no matter how
small. When you return the
car you may be charged for
even the most minor scratches
(even on the bumper) if they
aren't noted on the paperwork.
Also, make sure the lights
and wipers work. You can't
be too careful with this process
- they will get you for anything
not written down.
 -
Buy the Mexican insurance.
Yes, sometimes rental car
insurance comes with your
credit card, but this doesn't
work the same way in Mexico.
Although your own insurance
says it covers you in Mexico,
they generally mean they will
reimburse you for damages.
If there are problems and
you do not have the Mexican
insurance you may be required
to pay the damages before
you are allowed to leave the
country, and can be held in
jail until the money arrives.
Even with Mexican insurance,
there is often a $1000 deductible
you have to pay if the car
is damaged.
- Pass with caution. Passing
is a major cause of car accidents
around here. Other drivers
are probably going much faster
than you realize - so don't
pass unless you have more
than enough room. Oncoming
traffic will sometimes pass
when they are heading straight
at you - and they are expecting
YOU to move onto the shoulder
to give them room to pass!
If you pass without enough
room, the driver in your lane
and the one coming the other
direction will not make it
easy for you to pull back
in.
- Avoid driving at night whenever
possible. Things appear in
the road without warning (cattle,
people, etc.); some highways
are poorly lit; some drivers
don't even turn their lights
on.
- Remember... Distance and
speed limits are posted in
kilometers instead of miles.
To convert kilometers to miles,
multiply kilometers by .62.
(Something 100 kilometers
away is 62 miles away; 100
kilometers per hour is 62
miles per hour, etc...)
Military Check Points. There
are military check points
at all state borders and sometimes
just South of the Cancun airport
and in Tulum, often looking
for illegal drugs. The soldiers
working there are generally
very polite. They ask where
you are coming from and going
and what you did there. Tell
the truth. If you are at a
state border, they will also
ask about agricultural products
like fruit or chickens.
- Speed Traps. Around Cancun
there are several speed traps
where local police wait for
rental cars to come speeding
by so they can stop them and
try for a bribe. Here is your
best defense - do not speed
in and around Cancun, particularly
in the hotel zone and between
Cancun and the airport.
If you run out of gas or break
down, don't leave the vehicle;
Mexico's "Green Angels,"
part of the Tourism Department,
patrol the main roads and
will lend you assistance.
- Gasoline is sold in liters
(3.78 liter=l gallon). Nova
(blue pump) is leaded; Magna
Sin (green pump) is unleaded.
Only cash is accepted. Most
stations close by 10 PM. There
is no self-service, and it
is customary to tip your attendant
with a few coins.
Scooters and mopeds can be
rented for about US$25-$30
a day anywhere in the Hotel
Zone. But be aware that speeding
traffic,  particularly
along Avenida Kukulkan, makes
this a dangerous way to travel.
Helmets are required by Mexican
law.
Taxis are available at all
of the resorts. Expect to
pay US$4-$6 for a ride along
Paseo Kukulkan. Be prepared
to bargain, and settle on
the fare before entering the
vehicle.
Public buses run along Paseo
Kukulkan in the Hotel Zone
and stop at paradas (bus stops),
which are marked with kilometer
posts. Buses also connect
to the commercial area along
Avenida Tulum in Cancun City.
You can take the bus anywhere
along Kukulkan for less than
US$1
Banks
Banks are open Monday to Friday
from 9 am to 3 pm, some until
5 pm. A few open on Saturdays
from 10 am to 1:30 pm, and
there are banks and ATMs in
the Riviera Maya.
Shopping
 Duty
free shops can be found at
the forum by the Sea Plaza,
La Isla Plaza, Cancun International
Airport and Puerta Maya.
If you want bargains, head
to the mainland to Cancun
City's outdoor markets lining
the east side of Avenida Tulum-but
note that while prices may
be lower there, the quality
can be, too. Market vendors
may not accept credit cards;
even if they do, you can often
get a better price if you
offer cash instead of credit
cards. Almost all stores take
U.S. dollars as well as pesos-often
you'll find prices marked
in both currencies-or even
just U.S. dollars! Bargaining
is expected in the markets
in Cancun City, but plan to
pay the marked price in shops
in the Hotel Zone. Almost
all the shops in the Hotel
Zone take major credit cards.
Shopping is a popular pastime
in the Hotel Zone, but don't
expect many bargains in the
shopping malls. In fact, you
can expect prices to be higher
than in other parts of Mexico.
The shopping malls contain
everything from souvenir shops
to internationally known boutiques-resort
wear and handicrafts are among
the best buys. Handicrafts
include handwoven fabrics,
blown glass and jewelry. The
largest shopping malls are
Plaza Caracol, Plaza Kukulkan
(midway along Paseo Kukulkan)
and Plaza Flamingo.
Nightlife
During the day Cancun is pretty
laid back. That changes at
night when both the Hotel
Zone and downtown start rocking
with music. It’s all
here: salsa, meringue, flamenco,
reggae, jazz, classical, disco,
rock and roll, hip-hop and
techno. Many restaurants do
double duty as party centers
with “all you can drink”
specials and waiters who don’t
hesitate to get up on stage
and dance in between serving
drinks. Cancun Discos and
dance bars usually have taped
music accompanied to high
tech laser light shows with
the occasional live band thrown
in for good measure. The Cancun
nightclubs, especially the
Latin Clubs, all have live
music and import some of the
hottest bands from Latin America.
Barhopping during happy hour
(4 PM – 7 PM) is a great
way to check out the different
hotels and evening cruises
have a high-energy, party
atmosphere. For a taste of
how the locals like to party
head to one of the Salsa clubs
or check out the clubs in
the downtown area. There is
usually a free evening concert
in the downtown Parque de
las Palapas and close by are
some excellent jazz clubs
featuring local musicians.
Just choose your spot and
you can dance until the wee
hours of the morning.
Electricity
110 volts, same as in the
U.S.
Water
Most hotels and restaurants
use purified water, but you
should be safe and drink bottled
water whenever possible -
don't let yourself get dehydrated
because you're afraid to drink
the water.
Dress
Dress in Cancun is very casual
with the accent on comfort.
Remember to pack comfortable
walking shoes. The activities
at the hotels and the area
dictate sporting clothes.
In the evenings, you may want
to dress up, but not too much.
Rubber soled shoes are recommended
for tours to archeological
sites. Boots, long sleeve
light cotton shirts and long
trousers are best for those
interested in jungle treks.
A light jacket, shawl or sweater
is advisable for the evenings
of November, December and
January.
Tipping
Tips in Mexico are generally
15%, tipping cab drivers is
not expected, and tipping
the maid in the hotel a couple
of dollars a day (per room)
is greatly appreciated.
Time Zone
Equal to U.S. Central Time
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