Cancun - History
For
decades, vacationers heading to Mexico's renowned beach getaways had to
look no further than a string of sunny resorts along the Pacific Coast.
From Mazatlan to Acapulco, Mexico's Riviera was the only region with any
developed visitor attractions and facilities.
then in the late 1960's, the government took interest in a remote sandbar on the eastern shore of the Yucatan Peninsula. The resort of Cancun (kahn-KUHN) was born, transforming not only a frontier region of Mexico, but also Mexico's identity from a "Pacific Coast-only" destination.
It
all started in 1967 when the Mexican government, recognizing the
importance of tourism to the country's economic future, began a detailed
search to pinpoint ideal sites for tourism development. Can-cun emerged as
the government's top candidate. Still, the new resort reached the 1980's
as a relatively small and undiscovered destination with a dozen or so
hotels. A building boom in the mid-1980's finally vaulted Cancun into the
global tourism arena as THE resort of the '90's.
From
ruins to riches, Cancun has it all, offering an exotic, tropical island
setting buoyed by modern comforts and conveniences. In fact, it's hard to
imagine a site better endowed with natural, cultural, and man-made
attractions. Technically an island, Cancun's resort zone is a 22.5 km long
slender ribbon of sand, shaped like the number se ven. Its stunning
beaches must be seen to be believed: silky smooth, sugar-white sand,
lapped by the turquoise and emerald waters of the Caribbean.
Cancun
is comprised of three distinct but integrated areas: the City of
Cancun, a raffish boomtown of 300,000 people, popular for shopping,
dining, less expensive accommodations; the ecological reserve
- lovely lagoons and mangroves; and the resort zone, an island.
Development is designed around an ecologically-sensitive master plan,
divided into three phases. Phase two is completed; phase three will
include two mega-projects: a new 1,500-slip marina/resort 
complex to the
north of Cancun City (Puerto Cancun), and a 170-acre lagoon resort
complex (Malecon Cancun). A well-planned layout and modern
infrastructure give the destination a polished (although mostly
un-Mexican) appearance.
The area's history is rich with Mayan influences. The Yucatan Peninsula is where Mayan culture flourished for centuries prior to the Spaniards' arrival in 1519. Over 1200 archaeological sites are scattered within a few hour's drive from Cancun. Many sites have been wonderfully restored, while others are still shrouded by tangled jungle vegetation. Even Cancun's ultra-modern resort zone harbours ruins dating to the 12th century. Popular day tours to sites like Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza afford visitors the opportunity to appreciate the work of one of the world's most advanced ancient societies. Beyond the area's famous ruins, the Mayan culture has survived despite tourism's rapid encroachment. In fact, much of Cancun's population is of Mayan descent.
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