We get many questions about whether or not Cancun is a safe travel destination, based on recent reports about tourists having trouble in Mexico.

Overall, from our research and the many, many responses from both readers and Cancun travel writers, agents in the industry, etc., we understand Cancun is very safe and should not pose any safety hazards to tourists with common sense.

While we believe that Mexican tourist destinations – especially those with mostly all-inclusive, resort-style accomodations – are safe, following are some tips to ensure you have a happy and safe holiday in Cancun.

• Book with a reputable hotel company, preferably a chain with hotels in many worldwide destinations. This will ensure you are dealing with an international rather than a local management team, and can have any unforeseen issues handled – hopefully – in a professional manner.
• Purchase your airport transfers ahead of time, or book with a travel company which includes hotel transfers. There are many taxis and ‘other’ rides available at the airport in Cancun, however you are at risk of (at best) being bamboozled into a time-share sales pitch-while-driving, and (at worst) being at the mercy of an unscrupulous driver in a foreign country. Without hotel-sanctioned transport, you have no recourse should something happen to you.
• Keep your passport and other valuables with you at all times. If youu have an in-room safe, use it (with one small caveat: certain hotels have guests who reported staff theft, even from in-room safes: try TripAdvisor to see if this an issue at your hotel of choice – even if the hotl doesn’t acknowledge it - and if so you may be better off to carry your important documents with you) – lock away your passport and any other valuable paperwork, money, jewels, etc., and only open it when you need them or when you’re ready to return home.
• When planning and booking excursions, ensure the provider is reputable and ideally recommended by your hotel or travel agent. Look for a professional set-up and many happy previous customers, if possible, and use common sense at all times. Do not leave the group, watch your belongings, and follow any safety guidelines given.
• Do not partake in any activities you would not do in any large urban area: don’t go out alone late at night in unfamiliar neighbourhoods, don’t wander around intoxicated with your ID and passport in your pocket, etc..

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You’ll need Cancun maps for two reasons: before you go, to learn about the different hotel areas and choose your specific destination, and once you get to Cancun, to get around and learn where specific Cancun streets and attractions are.

With this in mind, we’ve included both types of maps. You’ll find an overall map first, which includes most of the major hotels and hotel chains, and then a link to a google map which you can play with to find your way around, scroll for closer or further out views, etc..

TIP: There is a comprehensive bus service in the main areas of Cancun, and you can take a bus almost anywhere very inexpensively. You can usually obtain bus route maps from your hotel or local stores. Happy travels!

CLICK HERE for Google Map

CLICK HERE for map of stores (Costco, etc.), hostels, movies

CLICK HERE for map of roads (if you’re renting a car)

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Article: How to Get Deeper Discounts From Priceline.com and Hotels.com

Sights of Cancun

It is a good idea to get our bearings before we proceed to the sights of Cancun.

The main resort area of Cancun was a planned resort community and is built on an island shaped like the figure 7 which is 14 miles long. The first thing that will draw your attention is the long beach that gives way to the Caribbean Sea. The beach is tropically exquisite and you will be wowed by the white sands which line the turquoise waters of the sea. Hotels line the beach along the ‘long’ part of the 7, and to the north the Caribbean Sea continues. To the west you will find Isla Mujeres – the Isle of Women. At the tip of the figure 7 is Playa Chac Mool, a public beach which has lots of restaurants and only a few hotels (such as the Riu and Dreams, as well as Fiesta Americana).

You can take a taxi or local bus into this main city of Cancun to see the sites of Cancun, and there are many markets, nightclubs and fabulous restaurants to enjoy along the way. As you drive down the Paseo Kukulcan, a 20km stretch of road that joins Cancun City to the hotels, you will enjoy the shops, hotels, and malls that line your way. Cancun’s main street, the Avenida Tulum, is graced with breathtaking reproductions of ancient sculptures. The Mexico Magico is a popular theme park.

As you leave for the mainland from Cancun you will find Nichupte Lagoon where you can enjoy all the water sports that you fancy. This lagoon is also home to two hundred species of birds. As you progress further down the coast you will enter the Mayan Riviera tourist area, which consists of a variety of hotels lining the beach and butting up against the tropical Mexican jungle behind them.

For those who appreciate the ancient Mayan culture, be sure and visit the ruins of Chichen Itza. This excavated city includes a magnificent temple and the largest Mayan ball court anywhere. This resplendent location is approximately 200km from Cancun and is accessed by car or bus, and many hotels offer tour packages. You can also visit the Coba Ruins, the most ancient Mayan site. The ruins of the six thousand buildings that made up the area are now overgrown by dense tropical jungle. Here you will also find the tallest pyramid in Cancun.

An Overview of Cancun

Cancun is a blend of both ancient history and a modern resort industry.

Over seven centuries ago Cancun was the very place where the legendary Mayan civilization and culture flourished. Today, Cancun is easily amongst the premier resort destinations on the planet. Cancun offers the whole package; tropical ambience that lasts for the majority of the year, an array of shopping options and locations, world class diving and snorkeling, exquisite restaurants that serve the most tantalizing foods, and unforgettable nightlife.

Cancun is a most beautiful place to visit. Its shores on the Caribbean coast are vast expanses of shimmering white sand merging into the turquoise waters of the sea. The Yucatan peninsula tip residents enjoy 200+ sunshine days a year. The temperatures are in the range of 80 degrees F all year long.

Cancun is also the gateway to a thriving upscale tourist area known as the Mayan Riviera. This runs down the mainland coast and is a departure from the fast life that thrills tourists in the 14-mile-long island of Cancun, which is full of hotels, shops, malls and people.

By contrast, the mainland offers decadent resorts on massive acreage, local markets, quite a number of street vendors, and lots of cafés that you can enjoy.

The 450,000 people that live here celebrate their land with fiestas and holidays. There are lots of traditional dances performed by costumed dancers for delighted hotel guests. There is the occasional bullfight, where the rules stipulate that both fighter and bull emerge unscathed from their duel.

There are lots of fun places to visit, including the Cancun Convention Centre and the acclaimed Aqua World facility that offers tourists lots of exhilarating activities like kayaking, catamarans, water skiing and more. You can explore the clear seas in underwater explorer crafts which have glass sides to enable you see the tropical fish and corals. Avid nightlife fans can enjoy the island’s discos and clubs, and romantics can always listen to sweet Latin music or go for nighttime dinner cruises.

Overall, most visitors agree that Cancun is the perfect destination for the entire family. Whether you are searching for a romantic vacation for two or a fun-filled family trip, there is a resort or hotel in Cancun to fill every need and budget.

TIP: For more information on visiting Mexico, you may enjoy this post from the Travel Insider: Travel to Beautiful Mexico cancun mexico