Samantha Appelhans
Cancun, Mexico
Getting There
Once you've landed in Cancun and have gone through customs, it is important to find a way out of the airpot and to your hotel. Most hotels offer transportation, such as busses, to the hotel, depending on how far away it is from the hotel. If you book these in advance, these will be available. Rental cars are also an option if you know your way to your hotel. These also give you an advantage on your overall trip, because you wont have to rely on the transportation services to be on time. Prior booking is needed to rent a car as well. However, if you miss the chance to book transportation ahead of time, you can always take a taxi to your hotel or resort.
It is convenient that there are many ways to get to and from your desired destinations, it is just up to you to find the right ways for you and your budget.
Where to Stay
Activities
For one, Cancun has many beautiful beaches throughout the area. If you're into people watching, head over to the Playa Delfines beach area. For the more athletic type, Forum Beach is a great place for swimming and water sports. And finally, if you're looking for a less hectic beach, Playa Linda is the place for you!
If you're looking for more than just a lounge on the beach, Cancun also has many great tourist sights further inland. If you're into history and culture, the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza are perfect for you. Here you'll be able to take a hike through the rainforest to the ancient temples of the Maya. Guided tours are available, and are a great way to learn a bit about the land from the local natives.
Xel Ha (pronounced Shell ha) is another popular tourist attraction in Cancun. Xel Ha is an aquarium park that gives travelers the oportunity to experience the natural wonders of mexico by snorkeling down a large river and hiking through the jungle. There is also small zip lines and rope swings that provide a fun way to swim. Xel Ha is fun, educational, and relatively inexspensive.
The adventure doesnt stop there, though. Cancun also offers many great shoping areas, museums, aquariums, and golf clubs. Cancun is the perfect place for any tourist, and there's many ways to keep any person busy during their stay.
History and Cultures
Cancun is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Four decades ago, Cancun was a deserted island made of large swamps and sand dunes. The area had once been home to one of the most commonly known indians, the Maya's, but had been deserted centuries ago when the Spaniards conquired their temples. Although Cancun's soil was rich with famous historical and cultural history, the current Cancun area was foreign, and many people didnt even have a proper name for it. Some spelled it's name 'Kancun,' with a K, or 'Can Cun,' like two words. Some perhaps even called it 'that giant pile of sand over there'.
In 1970, the government of Mexico began the 'Cancun project,' which consisted of three main goals; build a tourist city, add an airport, and add a residential zone. Thanks to the efforts of those who helped, Cancun has been one of the nations most dynamic cityies since 1989.
Problems/Solutions
Like any vacation, it is not guaranteed that you can be 100% problem-free no matter what. However, there are many ways to plan ahead to help lower your chances.
When traveling to any foreign country, it is quite important to know before hand about their language and culture as to better understand how to interact with locals. Cancun, being the tourist city it is, gives you the advantage that most guides and people you meet will know English, however it is still a good idea to learn a few phrases in Spanish to better prepare yourself for awkward situations.
One big thing to take into account when traveling is transportation. It ok to plan where you want to go ahead of time, but it doesn't matter if you don't have a way to get there. As I have mentioned before, most hotels provide transportation services to and from the airport and to some popular destinations, but this means you are putting all your trust in the fact that they will be on time. If you don't want to worry about relying on transportation services, you can very easily book a rental car for the duration of you trip, as long as you plan in advance. Of course, if you don't plan on going anywhere out of walking distance from your hotel, transportation wont be a problem for you.
When traveling, it is important that you have enough money to pay for food and extra services, as well as enough for any souvenirs you would like to bring back with you. You should plan to bring an extra hundred or so with you on your trip. While you can put most hotel services and meals on a room tab, any outside food or un-booked destinations may cost you extra cash.
On any vacation, it is important to plan ahead for any possible problems you may encounter, and while no trip is ever completely safe, there are many easy ways to make bad situations more avoidable.