Cancun Live Cam

First opened for business in 1974 with just one hotel, Cancun has grown explosively to 21,000 hotel rooms spread out over 14 miles of gorgeous beach. There are so many things to do in Cancun besides sunbathing, such as exploring Mayan ruins, golfing, scuba diving and sportfishing, exotic shopping, alligator watching and jungle hiking. The Yucatecan cuisine and quality of the air and water alone are worth your trip to Cancun.

Mayan Ruins - Chichen Itza This huge complex of magnificent Mayan ruins is one of the biggest in Mexico. It features in the center the majestic pyramid of Kulkulkan, and its accompanying buildings. Tulum is the only walled city near the ocean the Mayans ever constructed.

Coba means "water stirred by wind," getting this name for the beatiful lakes nearby. The Nohoch Mul is the tallest pyramid on the peninsula with 138 feet. Other ancient ruins worth visiting are Uxmal, Monte Alban and Mitla.

Isla Mujeres - The island is five miles long and half a mile wide, and only six miles away from Cancun. There are three excellent beaches. The most popular is Playa de los Cocos in the north end, with calm waters, silky sand and all manner of water sports. Lastly Playa Garrafon is a national underwater park perfect for snorkeling.

Cozumel Island - 68 kilometers south of Cancun, Cozumel has excellent hotels and resorts, beatiful beaches with water sports of all kind, world-famous snorkeling and diving and a National Archaelogical Park with Botanical Gardens.

Xcaret - A 250-acre ecological theme park located along the Caribbean coastline, featuring an underground river for swimming and a Dolphinarium where visitors can get in the water with tame dolphins.

Xel-Ha - The world's largest natural aquarium puts together a group of inlets, lagoons, sinkholes and caves for your enjoyment. You can go snorkeling or swimming, sunbathe, take a walk while admiring the beautiful surroundings or discover what once existed of the Ancient Mayans.

National Institute of Anthropology and History - Museum located on the ground floor of the city's convention center, features a collection of 1,000 to 1,500-year-old artifacts showcasing the Maya culture.

Ruinas del Rey - This archaeological, even though is small, is notable for its unusual architecture of two main plazas bounded by two streets.

Archaeological Zones

Cancún'um is on the highest point of mostly flat Cancún. The two small temples (15 meters high) were probably used as watchtowers and lighthouses along this navigational route. Between 400 and 700 years old, they were first noted in 1841 by two intrepid American explorers, John L. Stephens and Frederick Catherwood.

Laguna De Nichupté

This large lagoon, ringed by Paseo Kukulcán, is fed by a combination of freshwater from underground springs and saltwater that enters from two openings to the sea. In certain areas where the water is still and swampy, mangroves provide hiding places for the cayman, little brother of large crocodilians found on other parts of the Peninsula. Birdlife is plentiful, with a treasure trove of over 200 cataloged species including herons, egrets, ospreys, parrots, and parakeets; the sooty tern returns here to nest each year. The best way to see the lagoon and its wildlife is by boat. You can arrange a boat and guide at your hotel or at any travel agent in town.

Along the north end of the large lagoon the marinas bustle with activity, and the trim greens of the Pok Ta Pok golf course extend out over the water. Nichupté is a favorite for water-skiing, sailing (Sunfish and Hobie Cat rentals), riding Wave Runners, and sailboarding.

All of Cancún is scenic. But the most scenic beaches are on the seaward side of the island, a 21-km stretch along Paseo Kukulcán. Walking along the coast is rated a five-star activity, and it's free (all beaches in Mexico are public).

The hotel-zone hotels all have beaches; some provide their guests with a variety of facilities, including palapa sun shelters, volleyball courts, aerobics classes, bars, restaurants, showers, restrooms, towels, and lifeguards. Note, however, that everyone is free to use the 18-meter (60-foot) strip of sand along the sea on any part of Cancún; signs indicating this are prominently posted everywhere by SECTUR, the Ministry of Tourism.

Don't expect lifeguards or showers on these beaches; some have snack stands and good parking areas. Playa Linda is close to the city (10 minutes by bus) on Paseo Kukulcán near the Nichupté bridge. Two km past Playa Linda on Paseo Kukulcán is Playa Tortuga, where the water is clear, calm, and deep and a palapa-covered snack bar serves beachgoers.

Playa Chac Mool is beyond the Convention Center, around Punta Cancún and then south. This stunning beach displays the vibrant colors that make the Caribbean famous. You can walk out to sea 14 meters in shallow water before it begins to drop off. Check the tide conditions on the sign just south of the beach cafe-the water at times gets rough. Playa Delfines at the south end of the hotel zone is a favorite of locals, since this stretch of sand is free of hotels thus far. Sunset-watching from the low rise over the beach here is particularly fine.

The calmest and most protected ocean beaches face Bahía de Mujeres on the north end of the island; the stretch of beach from the youth hostel to Playa Linda usually provides calm water. The lagoon is also usually calm, but not as clear as the sea.

The water on the ocean side of Cancún can be hazardous. Many beaches do not have lifeguards. None of the Cancún beaches are suitable for surfing, but from Punta Cancún to Punta Nizúc the surf can be as high as three feet, and at certain times you't swim. Each year a few people drown off the beaches of Cancún because of a lack of respect for the power of this beautiful sea.

Cancún is one big beach, or more accurately, a series of breathtaking beaches laid end to end. If you are not already in the hotel zone or if you are in a zone where the beach is not accesible, you can walk, take a cab or a bus.

Cancún'll see plenty of sun-loving fish such as tanned beauties and burnt-back beach nappers. Guests at the Camino Real Cancún have access to a calm, artificial lagoon ideal for viewing tropical fish and sea turtles from small to large. Intermediates can head to Punta Nizúc, where coral outcroppings attract large numbers of fish. Parque Nacional El Garrafón, across from Cancún on Isla Mujeres, is another good spot for beginners and intermediates; tour boats go there daily from Cancún and carry snorkeling equipment. Snorkeling equipment is also available for rent at all the marinas and some of the hotels.

For the experienced scuba diver, Cancún would be a distant second choice to Cozumel, but as dive spots go, none of the Caribbean is dull.

At Punta Nizúc (next to Club Med), divers and snorkelers can explore the starting point of the Belize Barrier Reef, which runs parallel to the Quintana Roo coast some 250 km (150 miles) south to the Gulf of Honduras. It's card. Resort courses (for one dive accompanied by the divemaster) and certification classes are offered.

Hobie Cat and Sunfish rentals are available at a few hotels and most of the marinas. These small boats will give you a good fast ride if the wind is up. Negotiate for the fee-sometimes you can get a good daily rate, better than the hourly rate posted.

In a brisk breeze, sailboards (aka Windsurfers) provide exhilarating rides-skimming across the waves at mind-blowing speeds. Lessons are available at most of the marinas. Usually six hours of lessons will give you a good start. Sailboards are available for rent at many of the hotels and marinas.

Parasailing is popular at the busy beaches. The rider, strapped into a colorful parachute and safety vest, is pulled high over the sand and surf by a speedboat; after about 10 minutes of "flying" he or she is gently deposited back on land with the help of two catchers. Once in a while the rider is inadvertently dropped in the bay-usually to the guffaws of the beach crowd. Most hotels post signs stating they are not responsible for parasailing accidents and injuries that occur by their beaches. Accidents do happen; watch a few passengers take the trip before you go up, and check the harnesses for wear and tear.

Water-skiing is popular in Cancún; most skiers prefer Laguna Nichupté, although some can often be seen on calm days in Bahía de Mujeres north of the island. Equipment and instruction information are available from the marinas.

You'll see a lot of personal watercraft-Jet Skis and Wave Runners-on the lagoon. These speedy water-cycles really move! Kayaking is becoming popular in the Caribbean, and many hotels now offer kayaks to their guests free of charge.