Traditions and culture in Cancun

Cancun was developed in the 1970s by ambitious planners who wanted to establish a holiday destination which could trump the world-famous Acapulco.

The impressive resort has grown in the last two decades from being a deserted sand spit offshore from the tiny fishing village of Puerto Juarez into one of the most popular venues in the world.

As such, it does not possess a huge amount of culture in terms of history and well observed traditions, particularly after the effects of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

However, the Mexican government has invested heavily in making the resort what it is today, a veritable mix of modern buildings, well-paved, straight roads and lengthy sandy beaches.

Things to do in Cancun

In terms of activities in Cancun, most tend to involve the sea, with fantastic diving and snorkelling opportunities available within a short boat ride from the shore.

Deep-sea fishing is also a popular pastime in the region, with hotels offering various deals or the ferry dock close by for travellers wishing to negotiate with the fishing-boat captain.

The atmosphere in the resort is hedonistic and festivals such as the Carnaval, held every year in February or March, are joyously celebrated, while the mid-May jazz festival can attract big names.

Checking out the Maya ruins may not be the most thrilling excursion but the feel-good factor extends to the resort's nightlife for anyone looking to party on their holiday.

In addition, the chance to find flights online or secure a good value hotel should not be a problem - there are around 140,000 hotels in Cancun and four million visitors arrive each year, spread across 190 flights per day.

Weather in Cancun

Cancun enjoys semi-tropical weather, with the sun shining for an impressive 253 days per year on average - a real boost for anyone taking a holiday in the region.

The average temperature is usually around 20C throughout the year, while summer temperatures can push the 35C barrier.

In addition, the levels of humidity are just high enough so that the sea stays pleasantly warm for swimming.

Destination checklist for Cancun

Cancun has a population of 1,664.

The resort is six hours behind GMT/UTC time.

The official currency is the Mexican peso.

Spanish is the official language spoken.

The resort's international dialling code is +52.