Cancun isn’t just a beautiful tourist destination that brings thousands of visitors to vacation there. It is true that Cancun has breathtaking beautiful beaches and plenty of exciting outdoor activities to enjoy year round. In fact, Cancun is currently the number one tourist destination for Americans that are traveling out of their country. Would you like to learn 5 interesting facts about Cancun that you probably never heard of? Here are 5 interesting facts about Cancun and fun Cancun activities that all visitors will enjoy.
#1 Largest Reef in Cancun
The largest reef in Mexico and the second largest reef worldwide is called the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System or (Great Maya Reef). Australia has the largest reef which is the Great Barrier Reef. There are over 700 miles of coral reefs in Cancun that make up the Great Maya Reef, and the coral reefs start at the Northern tip of Yucatan Peninsula and extend all the way down to Belize. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System extends out to Guatemala and Honduras coasts due to the massive size of the reef. Along with the large reef, Cancun also has a large diverse marine life as well, but unfortunately many of the local species have been placed on the endangered species list. The Cancun coastal waters near Contoy Island are where you will be able to see a whale shark, which is the biggest fish on this planet. Cancun activities such as this are endless thanks to the natural beauty of the region.
#2 Numerous Ruins In Cancun
Cancun is home to numerous archaeological ruins which make for another great Cancun activity to enjoy. The mystical Mayan ruins are a popular tourist activity in Cancun, and the Mayans were well-known and recognized for constructing cities that have distinct and intricate architecture. Around the southern area of Mexico is where the Mayan ruins are located, and they also are located in Central America’s northern regions. The Coba, Chichen Itza, and Tulum have impressive ruins, and in the heart of Cancun visitors can still also visit amazing Mayan ruins that are centrally located. The El Rey ruins are known as the Mayans playground, and if you are staying at the Hilton Club or nearby, then you can visit the El Rey ruins with a short walk. The San Miguelito ruins are another popular ruin in Cancun. The San Miguelito ruins have a few pyramid-shaped temples that have been preserved, and the ruins were occupied from 1250 through 1550 A.D. Cancun has recently constructed the Mayan Museum and if you are going to visit the museum you can stop at the San Miguelito ruins on your way. The Yamil Lu’um is another popular ruin site that also has two temples that
#3 Migrating Sea Turtles
During the month of May, thousands of sea turtles migrate to Cancun each year. The sea turtles migrate to the white sandy beaches of Cancun each year to lay their nest of eggs. The turtles’ nest are protected by several environmental agencies, and the Hotel Zone residents are also involved in protecting the nests of turtle eggs. Many of the local hotels have also joined in to protect all the nests that are on the beach in front of their hotels. During the latter days in May through September and sometimes even October, visitors can join in this Cancun activity with the protection of the nest of sea turtle eggs. Visitors may be lucky enough to get to see the baby turtles hatch, and start their journey into the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
#4 Cancun was Originally a Tiny Fishing Village
Can you believe that Cancun was previously a tiny fishing village? It was a quiet and sleepy town until then President Gustavo Ordaz was granted government funding to boost the tourism in Cancun. He requested the funds from the Bank of Mexico, then he used the funds to promote Cancun into becoming a top tourist destination. Many top engineers and architects was asked to provide proposals to make Cancun a popular tourist destination, then in 1970 the development started. Today, Cancun has almost one million residents so it is clear that President Ordaz’s vision and project was a total success and today many visitors enjoy the endless Cancun activities available.
#5 The Largest Mexican Flag
Looking for a simple Cancun activity to enjoy? Did you know that Cancun flies the largest Mexican flag in the world which can be seen in the Hotel Zone? The materials that were used in constructing parachutes are the same materials that are used in constructing the large Mexican flag. The flag is over 500 pounds and it is over 4600 square feet in size. Then President Ernesto Zedillo in 1988 inaugurated the Mexican flag, and forty soldiers had to work together to raise this large and heavy flag on the flag- pole that is 344 feet tall. Check out the flag in Cancun when you are there as it is quite a sight to see in person.
You have just read 5 interesting facts and Cancun activities that will make your trip even better. We hope you enjoyed it. The next time you are in Cancun, you should make sure you see some of the sights mentioned above such as the Mayan ruins, coral reefs, and the impressively large Mexican flag.