Sep
09
2010
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World Travel - Global Travel News

Cancun - Not Just for Spring Break

For years, vacationers have been drawn to the beautiful scenery that Cancun has to offer. There is, after all, a reason why the Mexican government chose this coastal city to be its tourist flagship. Blue waters, white sands, and plenty of room for development meant that Cancun was the perfect place to draw in visitors.





Image and Reality





Cancun's popularity with American travelers - meaning English is widely spoken and popular chain stores and restaurants can be found there - and relatively low costs have helped it to become a haven for spring breakers, and has become better known as a party spot than the tropical escape that it was designed to be. Still, many vacationers looking for a resort location that is perfect for honeymoons or other peaceful getaways also consider Cancun.





How can honeymooners mix with the out-all-night lifestyle Cancun is becoming so well-known for? The simple answer is that Cancun has come to be the name used for the entire Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. The Yucatan peninsula contains the state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun resides. In fact, so do fascinating Mayan ruins and wide stretches of nearly untouched beaches. Cancun isn't the only place travelers may choose to visit in the Mexican Caribbean.





Plenty of Places to Go





Cozumel, an island off the coast of Mexico, is home to a small city and an airport. You'll also find plenty of world-class snorkeling and diving on the world's second largest reef. Mayans held this island as the sacred home of the fertility goddess Ixchel, and it now houses ruins for visitors to explore.





Those looking for something upscale and secluded, on the other hand, may want to consider the area known as the Mayan Riviera. It's called by several variations of this name, such as the Riviera Maya, and stretches along the coast from Cancun to Tulum. Areas like Playa del Carmen are a part of this beautiful coastline. Rental villas with private slices of beach, rather than sprawling hotel and resort complexes, line the shores here. Some areas of the Mayan Riviera, such as Xel Ha and Akumal, are also known for their eco-tourism opportunities.





The ruins at Tulum are some of the most famous in Mexico. Here travelers can see a holy Mayan city and visit "The Castle." This fortress is built on a bluff overlooking the ocean, offering spectacular sights for visitors willing to take the trip. Unlike the hustle and bustle of Cancun, this area is a haven for backpackers and ecologically-oriented travelers. Isla Mujeres is another popular island just miles away from Cancun in the Caribbean Sea; you'll find the ruins of many Spanish galleons sunk just off its coast.





So while it's easy to see why students may enjoy the wilder side in the city of Cancun, it's not difficult to understand how travelers can find the perfect honeymoon escape and family travel in the area as well. Mexico's Caribbean coast has much more to offer than just Cancun, though the city has become a figurehead for its tourism.





About Author

Jennifer Smith writes for http://www.Cancun-Guide.info, http://www.DominicanRepublic-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites. 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc. Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

Source: ArticleTrader.com
Read more at: http://www.articletrader.com/travel/vacations/canc%FAn-%96-not-just-for-spring-break.html.
 
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