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Cancun -- Local Guide

Author: Staff
Tourist Information: The Mexican Government Tourism Office (212-755-7261).

Location: The 14-mile-/22-kilometer-long island of Cancun is located on the Yucatan's northeast Caribbean coast, approximately 550 miles/880 kilometers from Miami, making it one of the most accessible resort areas to the Midwest and eastern United States. Downtown Cancun is connected to the resort area by a bridge and lies just a short trip inland from the hotel zone. The western tip of Cuba is about 90 miles/144 kilometers to the east, across the point where the Gulf of Mexico converges with the Caribbean Sea.

Topography: When the Mexican government decided to build a major resort area, they chose Isla Cancun because it was an uninhabited jungle area with pristine limestone sand beaches. Clearing the area was easy; the highest point above sea level is a mere 200 feet/60 meters. The island of Cancun is separated from the mainland by several large lagoons, filled by narrow channels from the sea.

Currency: While Cancun's official form of currency is the new peso, U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere, although change is frequently returned in pesos. Money can be exchanged at the airport, hotel desks or banks, some of which also have ATM machines dispensing pesos. Money booths at the airport will exchange pesos for dollars for a small fee. At press time, the rate of exchange was US$1 = NP8.3. New peso coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 centavos (cents) and 1, 2, and 5 pesos. Bills come in denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100. Traveler's checks and major credit cards are widely accepted.

Language: Spanish is the official language of Mexico, but in the hotel zone of Cancun, English is spoken everywhere. One will also hear French and German due to the international tourist trade.

Area Code: 98 for the entire region. (From the U.S., dial 011-52-98 and the six-digit local number.)

Documents: All visitors to Mexico are issued a tourist card upon entering the country. You must have a passport or birth certificate along with a photo I.D. to prove your nationality; a driver's license alone will not suffice. Guard your tourist card carefully, as it can be very hard to replace and needs to be presented upon departure.

Electricity: All electrical outlets in Cancun are 120V/60 cycles, the same as in the United States.

Taxes & Tipping: There is a US$12 departure tax from Cancun International Airport. Room tax is 10 percent, and 15 percent service charges are usually added to bills. Service personnel should be tipped according to level of service provided; 10-15 percent is the mean for taxi drivers, wait staff, bellhops and bartenders.

Climate: Cancun was created, in large part, for visitors to enjoy almost perfect year-round weather. Thanks to the cooling influence of winds off the sea, temperatures never fluctuate much from the 800F/270C range, and the sun shines every day for more than two-thirds of the year. However, those planning to visit inland areas such as the Maya ruins at Chichin Itza should be prepared for much more sultry conditions. Only rarely does Cancun experience temperatures below 600F/160C. Rainfall is sporadic, more during the late summer months, and averages just 41 inches/104 centimeters a year.

Tourist Season: Year-round with high season from December through April.

Ground Transportation: Walking the Paseo Kukulcan that stretches the length of the hotel zone can be a bit dangerous if you're not paying close attention to cars zipping in and out of ramps and driveways. Unless you're just going a short distance, traveling by bus or taxi is recommended. Bus stops are frequent, and the buses run 24 hours a day, providing the cheapest form of transportation. The city's regulated, well-marked taxi cabs are also inexpensive. Rental car companies that have agencies at the airport and in hotels include Avis (800-331-1212), Budget (800-527-0700) and National (800-328-4300).

Airlines: Cancun International Airport, located about 10 miles/16 kilometers outside of downtown Cancun, is visited daily with flights from all over the globe. Some of the North American carriers include American (800-433-7300), Mexicana (800-531-7921), AeroMexico (800-237-6639), Continental (800-525-0280), Northwest (800-225-2525), USAir (800-428-4322) and TWA (800-221-2000).

Cruises: Nearby Cozumel gets the brunt of the cruise ship trade, serviced by almost all the major Caribbean lines including Carnival (800-327-9501), Celebrity (800-437-3111), Royal Caribbean (800-327-6700) and Cunard (800-5-CUNARD). But if you're intent on seeing Cancun from the bow of a large ship, may we suggest one of several dinner cruises: Cancun Queen, (85-2288); Columbus (the "Lobster Dinner" cruise), 83-3283 and Pirate's Night (83-1488).

Emergency Numbers (local): American Hospital, 84-6133; police, 84-1913; fire, 84-1202; Canto Pharmacie, 84-4083; Paris Pharmacie, 84-0164; U.S. consulate, 84-2411.

Posted online 02/01/98.

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