Situated in the Quintana Roo state of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun is one of the most popular and lively resorts on the Caribbean coast of Mexico today. The setting is an idyllic and unspoiled length of tropical coastline with powder-fine whitesand beaches and palm groves coming down to the shore. Weatherwise, it's about as perfect as it gets; the jungles inland draw the rain off the coast and so the rainy season here is minimal.

Cancun was originally a small Mayan settlement until, after 3 years of research in the 1970's, the area was chosen to become one of Mexico's premier resorts. The care with which the area was selected and developed has certainly paid off, for this purpose-built paradise is one of the most comfortable, modern and well-serviced resorts you could ever hope to visit.

English is widely spoken here and the US dollar is accepted currency. The standard of accommodation and choice of amenities available is kept very high as hotels constantly vie with one another for top rating.

The Hotel Zone, where the main resort complexes are, lies on a narrow island separated from the mainland by a tropical blue lagoon and boasts 14 continuous miles of beach. Cancun City, on the mainland, started out as the service town to the main resort but now consists mainly of budget hotels, shopping malls, markets and restaurants.

With clubs, bars and restaurants in every hotel and the additional selection of venues in Cancun City, there is never a shortage of places to eat and the nightlife is pretty frenzied. Shoppers will find themselves in seventh heaven as the choice of hotel arcades, malls and markets is truly breathtaking - international as well as local brand-name and duty-free shops, and art & crafts are all crammed into this one location.

The Yucatan area has great natural beauty and ecotourism is a growing industry, with eco-theme parks, hotels and nature tours becoming more numerous in recent years. So, amongst the multifarious outdoor diversions Cancun has to offer, you will find not only just about every water sport you care to imagine and the usual resort theme parks, but also trips into the local jungle to see the incredible wildlife, indulge in adventure sports and visit the amazing pre-Spanish Mayan ruins which litter this part of the country.