Cultural Cancun

Description:

The Modern Art Café, famous in Mexico City, has a branch in Cancún. Offering a new concept in restaurants, they have modern art exhibitions in the corridors and sell some paintings at the gift shop. The menu has international dishes and there is also a souvenir shop. The art pieces sold include oil paintings by contemporary artists, card reproductions, printed T-shirts, sculptures and crafts.

Our Local Expert Says:

Located next to the El Rey archeological site, the museum and ruins offer a nice introduction into the history and culture of the region. Those interested in further appreciating the ancient Mayan culture, and with plenty of time to make longer trips, should try to visit Chichen Itza or Tulum also.

Description:

It's not just fun at the beaches and Cancún's shops; there are also some areas of cultural interest for those who like exhibitions or artistic expressions such as photography, sculpture and plastic arts. At the Museo del INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History), you will find great exhibitions year-round, displaying works by Mexican and foreign artists. Admission is free for most of the exhibitions and the works are distributed through several small rooms. Don't miss the best national exhibitions on your next visit to Cancún, a heavenly place full of fun and culture.

Our Local Expert Says:

A stunning hotel with original works of art.

Description:

Hidden in a serene area of Cancun's coast is this lovely hotel. Designed as a beautiful Mediterranean style mansion, it is a place where guests can stay in comfortable suites, and it offers the enjoyment of the natural attractions of the Caribbean Sea and other luxuries specific to this resort. From the rooms you can revel in views of beautiful landscapes or choose to have dinner at the hotel's restaurant, with a wonderful view of Cancun's glorious white beaches.

Our Local Expert Says:

Recently voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this is the most famous site of Mayan ruins in the region. A "must-see" on anyone's list, this popular site can get crowded, particularly during equinoxes and solstices.

Description:

Chichen Itza, located approximately 120 miles west of Cancun, is the largest and most important site of Mayan ruins in the region. The expansive park can be seen in two or three hours and its main focal point is a large pyramid, called the Temple of Kukulkan (also known as "El Castillo").

Each year, crowds flock to the park for both the spring and autumnal equinox. On those two days of the year, as the sun sets, shadows appear on the stairs of El Castillo in such a way that it looks as though a snake is slithering down the stairs. The Mayan people had a great understanding of astrology and mathematics. The pyramid was built with such accuracy and regard to astrology that the phenomenon of the slithering snake can only be seen on the days of the two equinoxes.

The Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012 and there is great debate about what will happen at the end of the cycle. Some people believe the world will end, but experts on the Mayan civilization believe it will simply be the beginning of a new era; a rebirth. To learn more about the Mayan calendar, and about Mayan history, visit Chichen Itza between now and the end of 2012. 

Our Local Expert Says:

A stunning hotel with original works of art.

Description:

Hidden in a serene area of Cancun's coast is this lovely hotel. Designed as a beautiful Mediterranean style mansion, it is a place where guests can stay in comfortable suites, and it offers the enjoyment of the natural attractions of the Caribbean Sea and other luxuries specific to this resort. From the rooms you can revel in views of beautiful landscapes or choose to have dinner at the hotel's restaurant, with a wonderful view of Cancun's glorious white beaches.

Our Local Expert Says:

You can still climb to the top of the pyramid at Coba. For safety reasons, climbing on the pyramids is prohibited at many other sites of Mayan ruins. For a spectacular view, climb to the top of this pyramid while it is still allowed.

Description:

At the height of its glory, Coba had more than 50,000 inhabitants and was a major Mayan city, with strong cultural ties to Tikal, in Guatemala. Coba was an economic leader in the Mayan world, using an intricate series of roads to travel to other cities to buy and sell wares. Today, some of those ancient roads still exist and you can walk or ride bicycles down those roads, inside the archeological site of Coba. 

Climb to the top of the city's main pyramid for an unbelievable, and unforgettable, view.

Coba is located approximately 100 miles from Cancun. Even though this was once a major Mayan city, this archaeological site is not nearly as popular with tourists as the nearby sites of Chichen Itza and Tulum. This is good and bad.  It's bad because there are not as many tours offered, but good because it is not incredibly crowded, like Chichen Itza and Tulum can be. 

Coba can be seen in just a couple of hours.  For this reason, many people opt to combine it with a visit to area cenotes (sink holes), Tulum, or Chichen Itza, in order to make it a full-day trip.