Mexico Guide
The Yucatán
Cancún
If nothing else, CANCÚN is proof of Mexico's remarkable ability to get things done in a hurry, so long as the political will exists. Between 1970 and 1974, a near-deserted stretch of beach was transformed into a viable resort destination, as the Mexican government built city infrastructure from scratch. International hotel chains flocked to the area, workers and tourists arrived in droves and now Cancún has a resident population of more than half a million and hosts almost two million visitors a year. The place has a lot to offer the active vacationer – striking modern hotels, hectic nightlife and high-energy entertainment – and from here much of the rest of the Yucatán is easily accessible.
For independent travellers the beachfront pleasures can be expensive, and, for anyone who has been out in the rest of the Yucatán or is eager to get there, the abundance of concrete and apparent lack of local culture can be very off-putting. However, a night spent here on the way in or out doesn't have to be wasted time, so long as you appreciate the city as an energetic, successful frontier experiment, rather than lament its lack of history. A closer look reveals lively salsa clubs, bare-bones beach bars and inexpensive taco stands, all frequented by cancunenses who are friendly and proud of their city's prosperity.
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