About Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Mexico state of Quintana Roo

The name "Yucatan" itself, comes from the Aztec word Yokatlán, meaning "place of richness." Rich it is and misunderstood, as the term "Yucatan" is used to refer to both a state and the entire thumb-shaped peninsula that juts upward from southern Mexico into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Location: Eastern Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula Borders: Caribbean Sea and the states of Yucatan, Campeche and the country of Belize to the south Important cities/sites within the state: Bacalar, Cancun, Chetumal (capital), islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, XCaret, Xel-Ha, Sian Kaan Reserve and the archaeological zone of Tulum

Major airport(s): Cancun International Airport (CUN), Chetumal International Airport (CTM), Cozumel Airport (CZM), Isla Mujeres Airport (ISJ) Time Zone: Central Standard Time Climate: Tropical Wet/Dry

Quintana Roo is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, bordered by the Bay of Chetumal and Rio Hondo to the south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. It is the youngest state in the country, as well as the farthest east, meaning it is the first state to see the sunrise everyday. It is also one of the only states featuring magnificent underground rivers with limestone sinkholes (sentimentally called cenotes) which are perfect for diving.

Cancun - is the reason most people travel to Mexico and offers an unrivaled combination of high-quality accommodations, dreamy beaches, easy air access, and a wide diversity of shopping, dining, nightlife, and nearby activities -- most of them exceptional values. There is also the lure of ancient cultures evident in all directions and a number of ecologically oriented theme parks. You will run out of vacation days before you run out of things to do in Cancún. Snorkeling, jet-skiing, jungle tours, and visits to ancient Maya ruins and modern ecological theme parks are among the most popular diversions. There are a dozen malls with brand-name and duty-free shops (with European goods at prices better than in the U.S.), and more than 350 restaurants and nightclubs. The 24,000-plus hotel rooms in the area offer something for every taste and every budget.

Playa del Carmen - Playa, as it is affectionately called, is the most happening place on the coast -- lots of pristine white “sugar” beaches, hotels for every budget, as well as fabulous choice’s of restaurants, snorkeling, jet-skiing, jungle tours, tours to Maya ruins and ecological parks as well as an active nightlife, most of which is on or around Avenida 5 (Quinta Avenida) Playa's very popular promenade. In the last few years the town has grown quickly, and local residents and the tourism board are working hard to keep it from becoming a smaller version of Cancun.

They are encouraging builders to use the same kind of low density (there is a height restriction cap of four stories) tropical, slightly quirky
architectural style, that the town has become known for.

Puerto Morelos - This town 30 minutes south of Cancún remains a sleepy little village affectionately known by the locals as "Muerto Morelos." It has a few small hotels and rental houses, and in the vicinity are a few secluded spa resorts. The coast is sandy and well protected by an offshore reef, which means good snorkeling and diving nearby, but the lack of surf means lots of seagrass and shallow water. If you're looking for good swimming, you should head farther down the coast. If you're looking for a quiet seaside retreat, this will work for you.

Akumal -The community at Akumal and Half Moon Bay is relatively old for this shore, which means that it's already built up and doesn't have the boomtown feel of Playa and Tulum. Akumal has a strong ecological orientation. The locals are a mix of Americans and Mexicans, who enjoy the unhurried lifestyle of the tropics, making this a good place to relax and work on your hammock technique. There are a few hotels; however most of the lodging is rental houses.
Consequently, the town is a favorite with families who enjoy the calmness of the place and can save money by buying groceries and cooking for themselves.

Tulum - The town of Tulum (near the ruins of the same name) has a hotel district of about 30 palapa hotels, which stretch down the coast of the Punta Allen peninsula. A few years ago it was mainly a destination for backpacker types, but with some of the most beautiful beaches on this coast and many improvements in hotel amenities, it now attracts people with bigger budgets. Construction is booming, both in the town and along the coast. Here you can enjoy the beach in relative solitude and quiet (unless your hotel is busy building additional rooms). The flip side of this is that Tulum doesn't have the variety of restaurants that Playa and Cancún do.

Costa Maya -- South of Tulum lies the large Sian Ka'an Biosphere Preserve and, beyond that, what is known as the Costa Maya, a term that designates the rest of the coast all the way down to Belize. On this coast the beaches are not as good as those of the Riviera Maya. Most of the coast is along the Majahual Peninsula, which is very attractive for scuba divers and fly fishermen. Farther south is Lake Bacalar, a large, clear freshwater lake fed by cenotes (wells or sinkholes). Inland from here are the many fascinating ruins of the Río Bec area