Exploring the Mexican Caribbean

Quintana Roo, Mexico´s youngest state, is located on the eastern seaboard of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The land of a Thousand beaches, of clear skies and a tropical sun, the entire state is open to tourism and it assets outstrip every other sun and surf destination in the hemisphere. Quintana Roo is Mexico, the Maya World and the Caribbean ; it is Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. It is prime, oceanfront property waiting for men with vision.

Cancun in Northern Quintana Roo, is the greatest success story in the history of Mexican tourism. Its unflagging popularity generates a year-round potential market for future projects. The Riviera Maya was the first area to benefit from its proximity to the megaresort, becoming a popular destination in its own right. Now it is the turn of southern Quintana Roo. The success of the north can be repeated in the south via low-impact eco and adventure tourism development that complements rather than competes with the state's larger resorts.

Offering visitors a combination of natural beauty and ancient history, the south is ripe for tempered development, and no part of it more so than the Costa Maya. This deserted stretch of coastline shadowed by the longest reef in the hemisphere.

Mexico is one of the world´ s leading travel destinations. Its vast territory is crammed with natural wonders, pre- Hispanic cities and colonial monuments, and its people are famous for their colorful traditions and boundless hospitality.

The country is ripe for investment. A leading economic activity, tourism is eclipsed only by the oil and gas sector. Furthermore, as new destinations are promotes and special interested markets tapped, its contribution to the national economic is likely to increase. Nowhere is the travel industry more important than Quintana Roo, known as the Mexican Caribbean. Quintana Roo Tourist Board statistics show that over four million people visited the state in 1999.

Quintana Roo is the youngest of the three states ( the other two are Yucatan and Campeche )that make up in the Yucatan Peninsula. It gained statehood in 1974 mainly to facilitate the construction of Cancun- today, one of the top destinations of its kind in the world.

In the 1960´s, Cancun was virtually uninhabited, its island, now the glitzy hotel-zone, was a deserted sandbar. A group of bankers saw the area's potential and selected Cancun to be the site of a resort mega project. They were swayed by its powder- white beaches, turquoise seas and nearby reefs, a perfect climate and the natural wonders and magnificent archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Tulúm in its hinterland. They also took into account Cancun's proximity to mayor cities in the US, the plentiful labor force available in the Yucatan and the urgent need for regional development.

Building began in 1970 and today the resort welcomes visitors from all over the globe- 2,818,326 in 1999.
In 1999 Quintana Roo alone accounted for 36% of Mexico's tourism revenue.

The Mexican Caribbean experience doesn't stop with Cancun, however, there is much more to see. The Riviera Maya is a 100-mile stretch of shoreline from Cancun to Tulúm dotted with resort communities, beaches, eco parks and archaeological sites. Much of the development is centered on or around Playa del Carmen, the district capital, and one of the nation's fastest growing cities.

Quintana Roo has three offshore islands, each one a tourist destination in its own right. Isla Mujeres is a little piece of the Caribbean of yesteryear, Cozumel is a world-famous for its spectacular coral reefs, and little known Holbox has been earmarked for low impact development and ecotourism.
Central Quintana Roo is the Yucatan Peninsula's Mayan heartland, a scattering of rural communities where ancient beliefs run deep. The area is also straddled by the massive Sian Ka´an Biosphere Reserve, a paradise for nature buffs. Then there is Southern Quintana Roo. With its pristine coastline, dense forests and cultural heritage, it's a destination waiting to be discovered.

Terrain.

The terrain is flat, covered by low tropical jungle, and its coasts alongside the Caribbean provide many kilometers of powdery white sand beaches, inlets, bays, and mangrove swamps. Due to the limestone soil in this entire zone, there are no important rivers with the exception of the Hondo, a navigable river on the border with Guatemala. The most important lagoons are Coba, North of Tulum, Bacalar to the Northeast of Chetumal, the State's capital, and Chichancanab, between Santa Rosa and Polyuc. Sweetwater "cenotes" are abundant in the region, giving rise to the ancient population centers of the Maya culture.

Climate.

In the continental region the climate is semi-tropical, with an average yearly temperature of 26 degrees Centigrade, which can rise to 35 degrees in summer. Average rainfall per year is 1400 mm. The highest temperatures and most abundant rains occur during the months of April and May, and from September through January. During the day, the climate is hot.

Money.

The official currency is the mexican peso. One dollar is the approximate equivalent of 10 mexican pesos, with some variation according to the rate of exchange.

Transportation.

The main point of arrival is Cancun International Airport, from here, the Riviera Maya can by covered via the coastal highway which links the city of Cancun with Tulum and continues Southwest, and another which links the cities of Tulum and Cob'a. Available transportation from the airport includes buses, rental cars or taxis which depart from the terminal. Playa del Carmen has a small airport with planes which make short hops to the more distant places. Ferries also depart from Playa del Carmen and Calica, linking the continent with the islands. There are also local bus lines which service different locations along the highway.