Cancún, the host destination

Cancún, nestled in the heart of the Mexican Caribbean, is located in Benito Juarez County, state of Quintana Roo, a part of the Yucatan Peninsula.

A mere three decades ago, Cancún was a small island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon.  In 1970, the Mexican government came up with an ambitious plan to develop tourism in the area that today has become a resounding success story with more than 27,500 hotel rooms.

Cancún's Hotel Zone, as it's called nowadays, is a 14 mile long island shaped like a "7" and connected to the mainland by bridges at either end.

Pictures of Cancún

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The Mexican Caribbean

The harmonious mix of natural wonders has made the Mexican Caribbean a truly unique spot.  Some 25% of its natural surroundings are protected in ecological reserves and it has the second largest reef system in the world.  Part of its cultural heritage can be seen in dozens of remains of ancient Mayan cities—some more than 2,600 years old—encompassing more than 5,000 buildings or temple mounds.  The Mexican Caribbean also boasts one of the Caribbean's largest tourism infrastructure bases.

The Mexican Caribbean is located in southeastern Mexico, along the coast of the state of Quintana Roo, a part of the Yucatan Peninsula.   The tourist area is comprised of several destinations:  Cancún, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Holbox Island, Isla Mujeres and the Grand Costa Maya, each with its own distinctive attractions and style.

For centuries, today's Mexican Caribbean was entirely forgotten, until Cancún rose from the jungle to become the capital of Mexico's international tourism trade.

Visitors from all over the world are awestricken by the marvelous turquoise-blue sea, the lush jungle, colorful folklore and Mexico's traditional hospitality.  The growing number of tourists each year has driven continuous updating of services, turning Cancún into a premiere destination.

Location and Climate

Cancún is located on the Tropic of Cancer, just under 23° Latitude North, in the thermal zone cal the Northern Tropical Zone, which is responsible for the destination's warm, rainy climate, although precipitation is more abundant in the summer.

Average city temperatures vary seasonally:

• From January to March: 20° to 30° C (68° to 86° F)
• April to June: 22° to 32° C (71° to 89° F)
• July to September: 24° to 33° C (75° to 91° F)
• October to December: 20° to 31° C (68° to 87° F)

Visitors should use casual wear: cotton or linen are always fresh for these climes.

Cancún is on GMT –5, which is in effect until mid-October, when Winter Time of GMT –6 starts.