1700 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 401 Washington, DC 20009-1134 ales Contacts: Patricia Fisch, Walter Holtsmaster Phone: (202) 797-1222, (800) 833-5254 Fax: (202) 265-5930
Vital Statistics With the growth of its resorts, convention facilities, and services over the past ten years, Cancun is no longer simply an exciting vacation spot, but a world-class destination for meetings and incentive groups. Average temperatures range from 70 to 80 degrees year-round. All hotels are built to international standards, and most use double-purified water. The Cancun airport is served by American, Continental, Northwest, and Midway, as well as charters and most international airlines. The time zone is Central Standard Time; the New Peso is the official currency. Passports for U.S. citizens are not required (though proof of citizenship is), but are recommended for ease of entry and exit. Spanish is the official language, but English is commonly spoken. There are 22,000 first-class hotel rooms, most of which are located along Cancun's 14 miles of beach.
Recent Developments The Cancun Convention Center opened its doors in 1994, and the convention and visitors bureau began operation in 1996.
Meeting Venues Many of Cancun's 59 top-quality hotels and resorts are equipped to handle groups. They include the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, Fiesta Americana Condesa, Fiesta Ameri-cana Cancun, Westin Regina Resort, Melia Cancun, Caesar Park Cancun, Camino Real Cancun, Marriott Casa Magna, Omni Cancun, Sheraton Cancun, Continental Villas Plaza, Hyatt Regency Cancun, and The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun.
Sights to See Exciting trips to Mayan ruins reveal an ancient culture both exotic and sophisticated. Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park with a jungle, small Mayan temples, and spectacular underground rivers. The ruins of Xel-Ha have a series of freshwater inlets--a snorkeler's haven. A cruise to Contoy takes you to an uninhabited island and bird sanctuary with more than 70 species of birds. There are also longer excursions available to the world-renowned Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum.
Special Events & Theme Parties Themed events and parties are a specialty of this Mexican resort. Dramatic Mayan banquets turn the clock back 5,000 years. Chartered boat trips offer a moonlit cruise and dinner on a deserted beach. Groups can also schedule jungle jeep tours, a folkloric show and dinner, deep-sea fishing, and golf outings.
Recreation Bargains abound at Cancun's many shops, which feature a wealth of native crafts and commercial goods. Most hotels are situated on the beach or an inlet, and water sports of every kind are available including boating, windsurfing, waterskiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and parasailing. Golf and tennis are also popular activities. Cancun has hundreds of restaurants, many catering to North American tastes, and a busy nightlife.
