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Cancun

Mexico
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Cancun, filled with turquoise waters and bursting with Mayan culture.

Overview

Approximate flight time:
10 hours 5 minutes (total distance 4879 miles)

Airlines that fly direct:
TUI

Airport in destination:
Cancun Airport (CUN)

Seasons:
High: December - March
Low: May - October

Currency:
Peso ($)

Arriving at Cancun Airport

Located 12km from downtown Cancun, transportation from the airport is plentiful.

The Cancun Airport Bus offers direct services to Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Merida in a very comfortable, modern bus with air-con. Rates and bus times depend on the destination and you can buy your tickets online to avoid the queue when you arrive.

If you’d prefer a more direct route, you can take a taxi from the airport. Pre-book online before you travel to save stress when you arrive. You can choose between a shuttle bus (dropping other passengers off at different hotels along the way) or a private ride which will take you directly to your destination.

Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.

What to expect in Cancun

Whether you’re looking for beaches or culture, Cancun’s got you covered. Once the go-to resort for hedonistic spring breakers, modern Cancun has an altogether more sophisticated vibe. A tale of two cities, the Zona Hotelera offers majestic Caribbean beaches, while Maya Culture and Cancun Centro provide the local flavour.

The official language in Cancun is Spanish but most of the Mexicans working in the tourism industry speak English. You may also hear Mayan being spoken by local indigenous people who use it as their first language. Picking up a few Spanish phrases like hello (hola), goodbye (adios), please (por favour) and thank you (gracias) will help you and the locals will appreciate your efforts.

Cancun’s climate is tropical with a generally muggy, rainy season from May until October and a cooler, relatively dry season from November to April. This high season enjoys warm, pleasant temperatures and a lovely, bath-like temperature for swimming in the sea.

Culture in Cancun

The Museo Maya de Cancun, a world-class museum with some 400 Maya artefacts on display, is a must-see, and its adjoining San Miguelito archaeological site is well worth checking out as well. For a day of ruins-hopping, head about 2km south to El Rey, known for its small temple and several ceremonial platforms.

One of the region’s most popular tourist attractions is Xcaret, a nature play park near Playa del Carmen. Visitors can swim in underground rivers, watch dance performances in an open-air theatre and learn about the local marine life in a coral reef aquarium.

The region has a growing reputation for gastronomy, but you’re just as likely to have the best food of your holiday down some unassuming side street as you are in a high-end restaurant. For a true taste of Cancun, try cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork with achiote and orange juice) and panuchos (bean-filled fried tortilla snacks), both rank among Mexico's most iconic dishes.

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