About Cancun and it´s surroundings
Cancún is located at the south-eastern tip of the Yucatan peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
The peninsula is largely a karstic formation, composed of limestone bedrock. Cenotes or sinkholes are wiedespread in the northern lowlands. These sinkholes were and are the main water source for many ancient and contemporary Maya people.
The Hotel-Zone (beach) is situated on a peninsula, approximately 20 km long and 400 m wide, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea. All the beaches are free to the public. Buses run every 3 to 5 minutes between the Hotel-Zone and downtown. Cancun has an excellent climate with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius (85 F.), and ocean temperatures about 25-28 degrees (78-83 F).
Beaches and more beaches. Some of calm waters, such as Linda, Langosta and Tortugas, which are protected by the bay of Mujeres (Women) Island; others show energetic and impulsive currents, such as Las Ballenas, Delfines and San Miguelito; all facing the Caribbean, all beautiful, all inviting us to rest on their fine sands or to refresh on their .
Etymology: There is a popular myth that the name Yucatàn comes from the Yucatec Maya phrase for “Listen how they speak” or I don`t understand your words”- supposedly said by contact period Maya when the first Spanish explorers asked what the area was called. The proper derivation of the word Yucatan is widely debated.
Weather
You can swim in the sea the whole year. Daily average high temperatures range from 81 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit ( 27 to 32 Celcius) with the hottest average temperatures in July and August. However, temperature can climb up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit ( 38 Celciuls) Low temperatures seldom dip below 65 degrees Fahrenheit ( 18 Celcius) . More information, please check on your weather channel.
Islands
Isla Mujeres is a small island about 12 miles from the coast of the Yucatan peninsula. It is a nice place for snorkeling only 20 minutes by boat from Puerto Juárez in Cancún.
Cozumel is a beautiful island with spectacular coral reefs and great nature. A one-hour drive from Cancun takes you to Playa del Carmen where you can take the ferry that leaves every hour for a 45 minute boat ride to Cozumel.
The most important Mayan Sites
Tulum is the only Mayan site located on the coast, a little over one hour south of Cancun by car or bus.
Cobá is in the middle of the jungle, 30 minutes beyond Tulúm.
Chichén Itza
one of the most important Mayan sites with spectacular pyramids, is a two-hour drive from Cancún on the road to Mérida.Chichén Itza became the capital of the Yucatán Maya after the end of the Classic period. They organized a trading empire (1000-1521) that stretched from the Gulf Coast to Honduras.