Cancún's white sandy beaches and warm, crystal waters make it a paradise for all beach and water sports enthusiasts. Add a vibrant nightlife and the closeness to the breathtaking Mayan ruins and you have Mexico's most popular tourist hot spot. Caring for four million tourists yearly, it´s hard to understand this beautiful resort was a sleepy fishing village just a few decades ago. Its colourful buzz and ancient traditions co-existing with ultra-modern developments enchant everyone, from backpackers to luxury travellers.
Mexican Peso 1 $ = 100 Centavos
USD are widely accepted in tourist areas.
Prices may be in USD or MX pesos.
General Emergency No 066
Novedades de Quintana Roo (Spanish)
Miami Herald Cancún Edition (English)
Hours are guidelines:
09.00 – 21.00 downtown
10.00 – 22.00 Hotel Zone
Shops & malls are usually open 7 days a week.
Small shops may close for siesta between 14.00 – 16.00
725,000
Cancún Convention Centre
Cancún center, First floor
Boulevard Kukulcan, Hotel Zone, KM 8
Phone: +52 998 881 2745
E-Mail: info@cancuncenter.com
Opening Hours: Daily from 10am
The City
Cancún is naturally divided into two distinctive districts, the famous Hotel Zone (Zona Hoteléra) and the actual city of Cancún, known as Centró. The Hotel Zone, shaped like a narrow horseshoe and surrounded by 25 kilometers of pure white sandy beach, is linked to the city on the mainland via the four-lane Boulevard Kukulcán.
Do & See
Caring for four million tourists yearly, it´s hard to understand this beautiful resort was a sleepy fishing village just a few decades ago. Cancún is best known as a family, sporting and wedding resort where you can chose your own pace and lifestyle to suit your frame of mind.
Hotel Zone
Dolphinaris Cancún
Mayan Ruins
Cenotes
Isla Mujeres
Eco Parks and Tours
Parque Las Palapas
Puerto Cancún
Rotating Scenic Tower
Cancún Theatre & Mexican Folk Art Museum
Cancun Golf Club at Pok Ta Pok
Aquaworld
Interactive Aquarium
Downtown
Dining
Mexican cuisine is very versatile and best known for its intense and varied flavours, colourful decoration and variety of spices. Tacos, nachos and guacamole are only a small part of Cancún’s culinary repertoire beside the large palette of foreign cuisine. Whether you fancy a quick snack on the trot or a gourmet meal in stylish settings, Cancún has a fantastic selection of restaurants featuring dishes from all over the world.
La Destilleria
La Dolce Vita
La Parilla
La Palapa Belga
La Troje
Du Mexique
Wazaaabi Sushi House
Blue Gecko Cantina
Peter's Restaurante
Bovino's Churrascaria
Puerto Madero
Casa Tequila
Senor Frog
Thai Lounge
Cafes
Home to some of the best coffee worldwide, Cancun’s café culture is somewhat different from that in most countries. Most people prefer to take their coffee inside with air conditioning rather than outdoors and because all bars double as cafés, ‘European style’ street cafés is a relatively new phenomenon but gaining fast in popularity.
Cafe Andrade
Cafe Antoinette
Cafe Nader
Cafe Con Gracia
Ah Cacao Chocolate Café
Bars & Nightlife
Whatever you are in the mood for, you will find it in Cancún. Shake your hips to Latin music, break it down to hip hop, pump it up to club music or enjoy an extraordinary cabaret show - Cancun has developed around tourism and won´t fail to fulfill your expectations.
Carlos’n Charlie’s
The City
Coco Bongo
Mambo Café
Palazzo Nightclub
Pub Crawl
Dady´O
Mandala
Casa Tequila
Senor Frog's
Congo Bar
Crazy Hot Coyote
Shopping
Amidst the beaches, jungle and culture, Cancún also provides its visitors with every shopping experience imaginable, from flying salesmen and market stalls to boutiques and modern indoor and outdoor shopping malls. Cancún’s shops are as versatile and creative as its people and the privileged tax status of Cancún (10%) makes it popular for buying luxury items. You can still practice your bartering skills at the markets, although most shops have fixed prices. Mexico is the world’s number one exporter of cowboy boots and is also famous for its silverware, tequila, hot chili sauces and handcrafted pottery. Other popular souvenirs are vanilla essence, Aloe Vera products, blankets, and of course the famous Mexican sombreros.
Down Town
La Isla Shopping Village
Kukulcan Plaza
Market 28
Luxury Avenue
Plaza Las Americas
Forum By The Sea
Las Plazas Outlet
Essential Information
Best Time To Visit
If you are looking to avoid holiday crowds and high prices, visit Cancun anytime from May to November, particularly in September and October. However, these two are also the rainiest months. If you prefer escaping the cold winter to relax in the sun, book your trip in December or January, the high season in Cancun.
Passport/Visa
Mexico can be visited visa-free for up to 180 days by citizens of all European countries, USA, New Zealand, Japan, South-America, Japan, South-Korea and more. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. All visitors who enter Mexico and travel farther than 20 kilometers and stay longer than 72 hours need to obtain the Forma Migratoria Multiple which you can present at the checkpoints of the country.
Cancún Airport International
Cancún Airport International (CUN) is Latin America´s 4th busiest airport. Located outside the city of Cancún at KM 22 of the Cancún-Chetumal highway, the approximate transfer times to Cancún’s City or Hotel Zone is 20-30 mins. Buses, shuttles, private transfers, VIP vehicles, and Limousines are available for pickup and every terminal has a designated taxi service available. A public modern air-conditioned bus service to Cancún’s central bus station is available outside Terminal 2.
Address: Cancún Airport International, Cancún
Email: information@cancun-airport.com
Website: www.cancun-airport.com
Public Transport
Cancún’s central bus station is located at the corner of Avenidas Tulum and Uxmal, offering excellent and regular connections to most touristic destinations. A regular shuttle transfer to Playa del Carmen leaves every 15-30 minutes. The frequent local bus service between the Hotel Zone and downtown (R-1 or R-2 buses) is quite efficient and runs 24 hours.
Buses stop on hand signal and would often leave before everyone is seated ; bus stops are marked with a blue and black sign with a picture of a bus.
You can buy tickets on board but don´t forget to check your change before taking your seat.
Taxi
Taxis are a common mode of transport in Cancún and Mexico. Despite warnings to agree on a price before getting in, one should know that all taxi drivers belong to a syndicate and there is an official fixed price list split into various zones that all taxi drivers must carry (also available in all hotels). Taxis in the Hotel Zone are more expensive than downtown and a standing taxi always costs slightly more than one flagged down from the curb. One alternative is the Cancun Cab that serves all over Cancún.
Phone: +52 998 840 0321
Website: www.cancun-cab.com
Post
The postal service in Mexico is very slow and often not very reliable. Sending anything of importance or value is usually safer by courier service.
Cancún’s main post office is located in the city center where stamps or postcards can be found; mail boxes are red and easy to recognize.
Address: Sunyaxchen and Ave. Xel-Ha, Cancún
Phone: +52 998 884 1418
More Information: Market 28 on the corner of Ave.
Pharmacy
There are two types of pharmacies in Mexico, the regular Farmacia and the Farmacia Similares. The former sells well-known brand medications whilst the latter sells cheaper, not-branded medicines. Prescriptions are generally not required for anything and most medicines are widely available. You can find a Farmacia on almost every corner within Cancun´s downtown, with several located in the Hotel Zone. Many Farmacias are open 24 hours and have also a delivery service for a small surcharge.
Address: Boulevard Kukulkan 8, Zona Hotelera,Cancún
Phone: +52 998 883 0923
Telephone
Country code: +52
Area code for Cancún: 01998
Please note that not all international mobile phones will work in Mexico and it is therefore best to check with respective providers beforehand to ensure service.
Electricity
110 Volt. Hotels usually offer voltage converters for 220 Volt devices.