Search flights to Cancun

Cancun is described as Mexico’s ‘tropical holiday paradise’ and is a very popular tourist destination. Cancun is the top tourist destination in the country, after Acapulco. It is located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Pacific Ocean. Established on the mainland, the city was a small fishing village in the 1970’s. With the transformation of the nearby island into a tourist destination, Cancun began to change. Cancun is a waypoint that connects to the mainland and it welcomes 4 million tourists a year. In ancient times it was a Mayan city; it was discovered and named by American explorer John Lloyd Stephens and British explorer Frederick Catherwood. The two explorers named the city Cancun in 1843 in their book, “Incidents of Travel in Yucatan”. The city’s main source of income comes from tourism and conventions. Most of the tourists who come for entertainment, dining and shopping come from Canada and the U.S. Cancun is famous for its white sandy beaches, palm trees, and coral reefs. The 20 km coastline can be considered the hotel region, and while Cancun offers many luxurious options it is also equipped with hotels that can suit every budget.

Cancun is home to the world’s first underwater sculpture museum. The museum was founded in 2009 with the goal of raising awareness and protecting marine life; the vast majority of the pieces in the museum belong to British sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor. The museum has 400 sculptures. Among places to visit in the city are the Cancun Underwater Museum, Isla Mujeres, Mayan temple, Playa Langosta, Xcaret Eco Theme Park, and the Chichen Itza ruins, which are located 3.5 hours from the city center.  The city has a tropical climate with warm weather year-round. The Cancun International Airport is located on the mainland, 19 km from the city center.