Dear Cha-Wel-Dor-Sue:

Pat and I any made three trips to Cancun, Mexico in the years 1975, 1999, and 2000.

Prior to 1974 the island of Cancun existed only as a small fishing village. It was then that the president of Mexico decided that this area and would be an ideal site to develop as a resort, comparable to the Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast. He created a task force called Fomatur whose purpose was to draw up a master plan with hotels along the oceanside and a city on the mainland, with a causeway uniting the two developments. He felt that it would bolster the sagging economy of the Yucatan and would provide employment for many of the idle workers in the area. The growth in the past quarter century has been phenomenal. Today there are over 100 beautiful hotels along the ocean front providing over 25,000 rooms, accounting for a third of the nation's tourism income. In 1974 there were only three hotels, and the city of Cancun consisted only of a few square blocks under construction. Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia was there and his advice was being sought because he had successfully developed the Adriatic coast of his country and had provided thousands of rooms for the visitors to that area from all over Europe.

The physical geography of Cancun is interesting in that it looks like the No. 7 with long arm being the Hotel strip (10 mi.) and the short arm (4 mi.) the causeway leading to the mainland and the city of Cancun. Though the island is small there are excellent bus and taxi services and the transportation is no problem. Kulkulkan Boulevard is the main thoroughfare and the only road leading North and South. Along this route are several Mayan archaeological zones with their temples. On the western side of the strip there is a large lagoon which offers opportunities for riverboat sailings and dinner cruises.

The hotel zone contains several large malls with many shops and they offer a wide variety of domestic and imported arts and crafts. They're also at a great many jewelry shops which offer beautiful jewelry made of Mexican silver. Along the Boulevard there are also a great many fine restaurants which cater to the tastes of the visitors from all over the world. Tequilla cocktails, the so-called margarita, is probably the most popular drink in the area although pina coladas are also popular. Mariachas along with its Caribbean rhythms provide some of the background setting in many of the restaurants. There are a couple of small golf courses but it is the sun and the beach that bring people to this Mayan and/or Mexican Riviera. More and more of late it is the mecca for many students on their spring break.

Our visit to Cancun in 1999 took us to a fine hotel, the Pyramids, a time share operation. On that occasion we were introduced to the Palace Resorts Organization which maintains three hotels in the zone, the Beach Palace, the Cancun Palace and the Sun Palace and the fourth and fifth palaces, the Moonrise and Sunrise palaces situated about 10 mi. south of Cancun. The unique features of this organization's operation is its "all inclusive" design. This means that the cost of the stay, which usually is a week, includes everything: hotel accommodation, all meals, bar services, pool and water sports, tennis, entertainment, transportation, and travel trips to the nearby Mayan ruins, including the well-known sites Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza, all fascinating to one unfamiliar with the Mayan culture and civilization. This comprehensive concept of an operation may have been borrowed from that of the Club Mediteranean's at the southern end of the hotel's zone. All beaches, being government property, are open to everyone. The upfront cost of this kind of operation has great appeal for many people.

Just north of Cancun and readily accessible by small boats or ferry is the island Isla Mujeres, a quiet fishing village that provides a contrast to the excitement of Cancun. It has beautiful beaches and ideal areas for snorkeling and scuba diving. The old lighthouse and several estates lend added interest, and there are many unique shopping areas as well.

Mexican Riviera

Ten miles south of Cancun is a rapidly growing area called the Mayan Riviera. Its pristine beaches along Quintana Roo's coastline and its vast undeveloped land is ideal for mega resorts , condominiums, luxury hotels, and golf courses, and is surely the wave of the future. Further south are well developed attractions built at the sites of former sacred Mayan shrines. Among these are a Xcaret, Xel-Ha, and Playa del Carmen. It is from this latter site that the Maya made their pilgrimage to the sacred island of Cozumel . Xcaret, "little inlet", was formally used as a Mayan ceremonial center and small seaport but today is a private park with an underground river that carries it swimmers through spectacular caverns. It swarms with tropical fish and is ideal for snorkeling. There is a charge to visit this area but it does provide marine gear if needed, has a picnic area, a snack bar, and restaurant. 

Xel-Ha is an exquisite lagoon once sacred to the Maya and today a national underwater park. Walk ways circle the lagoon and visitors can see many multi-colored fish. A small zoo is also there, as well as a gift shop and restaurant. There is a charge also made to visit this area. 

Pat and I stayed at the Moon Palace during our week stay in Cancun in February of 2000, and were truly impressed with the resort. The Moon Palace was built first and a year or two later the Sunrise was added. They are indistinguishable from one another. They extend along the Atlantic Ocean for a distance of a mile and their walk ways, gardens, and lawns are all beautifully designed and most attractive. One is able to walk anywhere in the area safely and is secure from any inclement weather. Valet driven golf courts are available should they be is desired or needed. The entire area is essentially "an ecological development" surrounded by tropical gardens, lagoons, and mangrove swamps. It is just 7 mi. from the airport and 10 mi. from the city of Cancun itself. The combined palaces are truly five star resorts and situated in a most secluded area along the coast. They provide all the privacy one could possibly desire. The buildings are all of one design, face the ocean, and are all equipped with a balcony or terrace. All of the rooms are well appointed and have been furnished with jaccuzis. There are 2070 rooms and the service corps average 1.7 personnel for each guest. It seems that someone is always within sight or reach to administer to anyone's needs, be it a drink , or a bite to eat, or help of any kind. Their bars are seemingly everywhere. There's a daily show or entertainment in the evening and there are many excellent specialty restaurants. There's also a lovely gift shop where one can procure most of one's everyday needs. There is a top-notch multilingual staff, a gymnasium and exercise room, a travel agency, and tennis and basketball courts. There is a skin diving tank and a large variety of water sports. The convention center center is equipped to handle as many as 4000 guest. 

Here at the Moonrise and Sunrise Palaces the sounds and excitement of the tropics are available and are provided under the "all inclusive concept". Everything, and I say everything, is provided in the pre-established price, and that to our surprise included a massage, a manicure, and pedicure. Everyone wears either a yellow band (member) or a green band which indicates that he is at a guest, and that is all that is required to gain entrance and to receive services at any of the five palaces.

Mayan Ruins 

The Cancun area it is particularly famous for its Mayan sites of TULUM and COBA. Tulum is situated 65 mi. south of Cancun on the main highway south to Belize and represents the remains of a great Mayan trading post. It was founded in 568 A.D. during the classic period (300-900 A.D.) and was a thriving metropolis at the time of the Spanish conquest (1518.) It was a strategically designed and fortified city with only five gates permitting access to the city. The Temple of the Frescoes is a large structure and is adorned with mural paintings in the Toltec style. They tell the story of the "Descending God". 

Coba lies directly across and inland from Tulum and its ruins are largely untouched and are far less well-known. It was founded in the late Classic Period (700-900 A.D.) and was thought to contain as many as 20,000 structures in a 42 Mile Square area. It contains Yucatan' s largest structure which is 138 ft. high with several platforms and a Temple on the top. Coba is also famous for its many stelae and for the human figures carved upside down ,"Descending God". Unfortunately, Pat and I were unable to get to Coba, but since it is being actively excavated and explored at this time perhaps another opportunity will be a more rewarding time for a visit.

Chichen Itza 

This well-known and heavily visited Mayan archaeological site was the most important religious center of the region and reached its peak of glory during the classic period (150-900 A.D.); in fact it was the the Mecca for pilgrimages from all over the Mayan world. Chichen Itza is best known for its sacred cenote or well where sacrifices were made to Chac-Mool, the Mayan God of rain, corn, and fertility. Sacrifices were said to have been made of young virgin girls but this has never been documented. Chichen Itza is divided into two sections, "Old Chichen Itza" built in 455 A.D. and abandoned in 692 A.D. and"New Chitchen Itza" developed in 927 A.D. under the influence of the conquering Toltec tribes. The Castillo (Kulkulkan) commands the most attention and stands in an open plane as a massive pyramid 72 feet high and with a base 120 feet on each side. There are 9 levels and a temple rests on the top. It is very steep and difficult to climb as the steps are narrow. In the front there is a guide wire to assist in one's ascension. Each of the four sides has a stair case of 91 steps for a total of 364, and this combined with the temple on top adds up to 365 or the Mayan solar year. The Ball Court is another huge structure and is the largest Pelota in the Mayan world. The Altar of the skulls, The Temple of the Warriors, The Observatory, and The Platform of the Jaguars and Eagles are other structures worthy of a visit. The Mayaland hotel is on the grounds and was available for lunch. 

Cancun has a great deal to offer to the traveler and vacationer and is readily accessible by air from the U.S., especially from Miami, Florida. 

With Love,

Dad