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Cancun, Mexico: City In Detail
When To Go, How to Get Around....
The little details of Cancun, Mexico.
How to get around:
A counter at the airport exit sells tickets for buses (called colectivos), which cost about $8. The buses are air-conditioned and sell soft drinks and beer on board. You can also take a government-subsidized cab. The driver will accept the taxi vouchers sold at stands inside or just outside the airport.
Population:
400,000
Location:
In the State of Quintana Roo, off the northeastern end of the Yucatan peninsula, directly south of New Orleans. Approximately 1.5 hours flying time from Miami.
Elevation:
16 feet
Area:
Cancún city is located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and is essentially a service town for the resort area of Cancún situated on L-shaped Cancún Island (13 miles [21 km] long by 0.25 mile [400 m] across). The resort area of Cancún (also called the Zona Hotelera ["Hotel Zone"]) is linked by a causeway to Cancún city.
Languages:
Spanish and Mayan, but English is spoken in most areas. The original inhabitants of this part of Mexico were Mayan and although Spanish is the official language, most of the indigenous population still speaks their native tongue. In the past few years, people from all parts of the world have settled here, giving this region a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is fairly easy to encounter English, German, Italian and French- speaking people, especially in hotels and in larger towns.
Time Zone:
Central Standard year round. The time is one hour behind that of New York City. When it is 11:00am in New York City; it is 10:00am in Cancún.
Weather:
Cancún is warm year round, but the steady sea breeze tempers the heat. There is outdoor swimming all year. Rainfall is evenly distributed over the twelve months. The chance of hurricanes is greater in September and October. The sun reflected from the water is intense, so it is important to come prepared with sunblock. Most visitors wear shorts and T-shirts. A sweater is useful for air conditioned places and for the occasional cool winter day.
Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
|
High |
Low |
| January - March |
84F |
67F |
| April - June |
89F |
73F |
| July - September |
90F |
76F |
| October - December |
87F |
69F |
Tourist Assistance:
Secretariat of Tourism
91-800-90392
Consulates:
United States Of America 830272
Plaza Caracol II # 2 3rd Floor 832296
Canada 833360
Plaza Caracol II 3rd Floor #L330 833361
Currency:
New Peso, Old Peso, U.S.Dollar
Banks and Currency Exchange Facilities:
US Dollars are easily exchanged into pesos in banks, major hotels, airports and exchange houses. Mexican banks are open from 9 am to 2:30 pm weekdays only. Most credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels and travel agencies. Major purchases are best made with a credit card. You automatically receive the bank rate of exchange, which is higher than the rates given in town or at the hotels.
US Dollars and Mexican Pesos: In Cancún,. The US dollar is widely accepted, however, most prices are quoted in Mexican pesos. Usually, any price that has a decimal sign is in pesos. Pesos can also be indicated by a price like "N$35". The N stands for "new pesos". If you see a bill with a high value, in the thousands or millions, that is "old pesos" and you have to drop three zeros from the number to get the true value.
Exchange Rates:
If no exchange rate is posted, the usual rate is 8 pesos to the US dollar. Any posted rate will be lower than this.
Credit and Bank Cards:
Before you go, check with your credit card company to get their exchange rate for Mexican pesos. You may find that plastic is more economical than cash for some purchases. However, small stores might charge an extra 10% for credit card sales, so you will need some cash. Cash advances and ATM withdrawals typically come in pesos. Major ATM cards work at ATMs at the big banks such as Banamex .Banks advertise their closing hour as 5 PM during the week.
Documentation:
Visitors to Mexico need a valid passport or must present an original birth certificate and photo ID. Minors traveling alone; with one parent; or with a relative or friend who is not their parent need notarized consent from parent(s). In addition, visitors must carry a Mexican Tourist Permit, which is issued free of charge after proof of citizenship upon arrival. This permit must be given to officials upon departure. If you lose your Tourist Permit while in Cancún, you can obtain a copy or permission to leave the country from the Immigration office located downtown.
Departure Tax:
is approximately US $17. Be prepared with US cash for this. Change may not be available. Children under 2 years are exempt.
Customs Regulations:
After passing through immigration, you must claim your luggage and pass through Customs. You must present a Customs form, which will be given to you at check-in before you leave the US or during your flight. You will be asked to press a button at a sort of traffic light: Green means go, red means your baggage will be briefly searched. Questions can be directed to the Customs office at the Cancún Airport at (52-98) 86-00-73.
Church Services:
Roman Catholic
Cristo Ray Church,15 Margaritas Street, Downtown Cancún
Daily Messes: 7A.M. and 7 P.M. Saturday: 7P.M.
Sundays: 8A.M., 11 A.M., 5P.M., 6:30 P.M., and 8 P.M.
840513.
Hotel Zone Masses
Cancún Baptist Fellowship, Hyatt Hotel each Sunday 10:00am
Hotel Camino Real , 10 P.M.
Continental Villas Plaza, Sunday 12 P.M.
Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, Sunday 10:30 A.M.
Presidente-Intercontinental, Saturday 6:30 P.M.
Sheraton, Sunday 10: A.M.
Chapel next to Plaza Nautilus, Sunday 10 A.M.
Presbyterian
Puerto del Cielo Church, 15 Crisantemos St. Downtown Cancún.
Sunday services: 10:45 A.M., 6:30 P.M.
842362
Episcopal
Marriott Casa Magna, Hotel Zone
Sunday services: 10 A.M. in English
852000
Electricity: The standard current in the hotels in Mexico is 110 volts AC. European travelers should bring a converter or check their electric devices in advance.
Telephones & Fax:
For local directory inquiries dial 847612.
From North America to Cancún:
Dial 011 (int'l access code) + 52 (Mexicos country code) + 98 (Cancúns area code) + the local number.
From Cancún, calling within North America:
Dial 00+1+area code+local number. Many US long-distance phone companies have access numbers that you must dial in order to use your phone card, usually through the Mexican telephone company public phones, Ladatel. Calls may be less expensive than direct-dialed calls from your hotel room. (Check your hotel surcharges before calling.)
Using Tel/Mex public telephones:
If you are calling within Mexico, you can pay for the call in cash or call collect. International calls are collect only at some casetas. The service charges may apply whether or not you connect and there might be an extra charge for information or any other service involving the international operator. Only use official TelMex phone booths for long distance calls, as all others charge very high fees, so high that the government is now removing the phones. The non TelMex phones usually have a little ad on them urging you to call collect, decorated with an American flag. Don't be misled by the ad.. use Telmex.
Ladatel
The least expensive way of paying for an international call is to buy a Ladatel card at one of the locations that sell them, such as the newsstand in front of the post office. These come in amounts from 30 pesos up. You put the card into a slot in a Ladatel public phone and direct-dial the number. The amount of credit you have left will appear on the display and be updated when you connect. The charges are automatically deducted from the card.
Credit Card Calls:
- Some credit cards will also work in Ladatel phones, including Master Charge and Visa International.
Fax:
You can send faxes from the post office or from any Caseta de Larga Distancia. The two most convenient locations are:
[1] Downtown next to Lavandería Alborada on Nader.
[2] Mercado 28, near Farmacia YZA.
Computel:
Downtown - Av. Tulum just past main bus terminal.
Hotel Zone - Coral Negro Market, Plaza Kukulcán, 2nd level. Fast, efficient fax service.
A one-page fax to the United States will cost about $3.35 in this computerized telephone and fax service.
Internet:
Public internet service is available in all major hotels at rates of about $10 an hour. There are also many Internet cafés in the Hotel Zone and Downtown. Hotel Zone malls with Internet service include Plaza Caracol, Plaza Kukulcán and Maya Fair, but there are many other locations.. Service in downtown Cancún ranges from $1.50 to $5 an hour.
National Holidays:
Jan 1 - New Years Day (Año Nuevo)
Feb 5 - Constitution Day
Mar 21 - Birthday of Benito Juárez, Mexican president and national hero
Holy Week - (Semana Santa) Good Friday through Easter Sunday
May 1 - Labor Day (Día del Trabajo) with workers' parades
May 5 - Battle of Puebla commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862
Sept 1 - The president of Mexico delivers the annual State of the Nation address
Sept 16 - Independence Day
Oct 12 - Day of the Race (Dia de la Raza) Columbus Day
Nov 1-2 - The Day of the Dead
Nov 20 - Revolution Day: Anniversary of the 1910 Mexican Revolution
Dec 12 - Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadelupe
Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Emergency:
Local Police 841913/ 842342
Fire Department 841202
Highway Police (Federal) 841542/ 841107
State Police 841171
Federal Police 887291
Business Hours:
Most stores are open from 10 am to 10 pm daily in the Hotel Zone. Stores downtown may close between 2 pm and 4 pm for the traditional "siesta" and on Sundays.
Hospitals: Mexico has a nationalized healthcare system and almost every town and city has either a national hospital or medical clinic. Most hotel have a 24-hour doctor on call. No vaccinations are need to enter Mexico from the US or Canada. Below is a list of local hospitals and clinics.
Hospital Americano
84-61333/84-6068 (24-hours)
15 Viento Street, SM4
Red Cross
84-1616 (24-hours)
Yaxchilan Avenue, SM21
Total Assist
84-1092, 84-8116 (24-hours)
5 Claveles Street, SM22
Social Security Hospital
887274 /887354
General Hospital
842967/ 842666
Public rest rooms:
Restrooms are difficult to find in most places. You are expected to supply your own toilet paper.
Children:
Many resorts, hotels, and beachfront villas have many activities especially for families with children.
Car Rentals:
Major rental car companies operate from the airport and some hotels. You must be 25 years old, hold a drivers license and major credit card. Road signs are in Spanish.
Public Transportation:
Tips and Taxes
In cases where the gratuity is not included or provided for, 15% is the accepted amount. Most items sold in Mexico have a "value added tax" or sales tax of 10% that is additional to the posted price. In Spanish, it is called IVA. You will see it itemized separately on your receipt. City buses and taxi vans run through the hotel zone and downtown. Localurban bus companies service the hotel zone. They stop by all hotels during the day.
Taxis
Taxi Union 886992
Local Bus Service:
The bus system in Cancún is very convenient and inexpensive. The fare is 3 pesos. It is much better to pay in pesos because, according to some travelers, if you pay with US money the fare is $1, and no change is given.
Ferries and Boats
The ferry for foot passengers runs to Isla Mujeres departs Puerto Juarez, just north of downtown Cancún, eight times a day in both directions.
The Caribbean Express and the Caribbean Miss (tel. 987/70254 or 987/70253), both air-conditioned cruisers with bar service, make several 30-minute crossings daily from Puerto Juárez, just north of Cancún, to Isla Mujeres, a small island resort offshore. Boats run from 7:30am - 7:30pm at approximately 30-minute intervals; the fare is under $4 per person.
There are three passenger ferries that leave at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10, 10:30, and 11:30 AM, and on the half hour from 12:30 to 7:30 PM; the schedule varies depending on the season, so check the times posted at the dock. The one-way fare is only about $1.50 and the trip takes 45 minutes.
Airports:
Cancún International Airport - Phone 870088 Airport is 9 miles southwest of the heart of Cancún City, 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the southernmost point of the hotel zone.
Shuttle (tel. 98/83448), runs directly from the Playa Tortugas dock in Cancúns hotel zone to the airport at least four times a day and costs about $15 round-trip.
Marriage while in Cancún:
Due to Cancúns popularity as a honeymoon destination, most major hotels are happy to arrange a wedding for a visitng couple, and will likely have a wedding coordinator on-site, or be able to refer you to a local company that provides those services. The legal requirements for marriage in Cancún are as follows:
(1) Certified copies of both parties' birth certificates or valid passport
(2) Blood tests from their doctors taken within 15 days of their wedding date; tests for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
(3) A copy of their tourist permits or visas if required for entry
(4) Four witnesses
(5) If previously married, the parties will need to show the divorce decree or a certified copy of spouses death certificate, if widowed.
For more info on Cancun hotels and lodging:
Cancun Lodging Guide
Cancun Bed and Breakfast Guide
Cancun Overview
Cancun Attractions
Cancun Family Fun
Cancun Events
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