travel, hotel and booking Information

Mexican Caribbean -- Destination Overview

POPULATION: 350,000 (Cancun); 55,000 (Cozumel)
CURRENCY: Mexican Peso
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Spanish
POLITICAL STATUS: Part of Mexico

The downtown district of Cancun, on the mainland of the Yucatan peninsula, is separated from the nine-mile island of Cancun by a lagoon. One road runs the length of the flat, L-shaped island. Though every inch of Cancun is developed-high-rise hotels and restaurants with views bump hips with late-night discos and thriving mini-malls-the balance is perfect, thanks to careful planning. Even in the high season when most of the 17,000-plus accommodations are booked, few restaurants have waiting lines.
Cozumel is Cancun's alter ego. Despite the fact that Cozumel is considerably larger than its compatriot to the north, just eight percent of the land supports commercial ventures. Dining, for the most part, takes place in informal eateries. The hotels do not feel the need to outshine the natural attractions. The north west curve of the island is bordered by a lazy lagoon. Altogether, the atmosphere is easy going.

HISTORY
The Mayan women of Mexico used to make annual pilgrimages to Cozumel to worship Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. Despite their best efforts, however, their numbers dwindled. In the 1500s, Spain conquered Mexico and the ensuing settlers mixed with the Mayan people. Their descendants are known as mestizos. In 1821, Mexico achieved independence.
The First hotel opened on Cozumel some 40 years ago. Soon after, divers discovered the spectacular reefs that line the island's west coast, and it has become a mecca for the scuba set.
In 1974, a computer decided that the strip of sand called Cancun was ideal for a planned resort town. Well-behaved weather and the island's close proximity to North America ensured its popularity. Thus, Mexico's number-one tourist destination was conceived.

HIGHLIGHTS
In an effort to please every vacationer, Cancun has at least one of every water toy. The inventory includes jet skis, water skis, wave runners, sailboats, catamarans, water bikes, floats, banana boats and a parasail for two that soars more than 400 feet above the sea.
If you think bargain hunting is a game, stroll past one of Cancun's open-air markets. Haggling is expected. Great deals can be found on anything onyx. Silver is to Mexico what water is to the Caribbean. You can't miss the million multicolored Mexican blankets.
On Cozumel, motorized water sports are not as popular as those that are man-powered. Swim in the placid blue-green waters of the west coast. Deep-sea fishing will probably net you a marlin or bonito. Shopping in the town of San Miguel is significantly less aggressive than in Cancun. There is a lighthouse at each end of the island; ruins that whet the appetite for the larger, more elaborate ones of the mainland lie scattered in between.

DON'T MISS:
*The impromptu Sunday-night serenades in Cozumel's central plaza
*Water sports on Cancun's dazzling blue waters

Posted online 06/01/99.

[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]