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Quintana Roo, Mexico: Cancun, Mayan Riviera, more
What a great name for a state: Quintana Roo (pronounced "Row"), is a pleasure to roll off the tongue. But the words have important meaning too, commemorating Andres Quintana Roo, who played a role in the Independence movement of Mexico; with his wife, he was imprisoned, escaped from the Inquisition, and generally lived a life that deserved to be famous even if he hadn't been a distinguished poet as well.
As for Quintana Roo, the state: it's in the
eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, at Mexico's south-eastern tip. Quintana
Roo has land
borders to the south with Guatemala and Belize, and has warm Caribbean seas to the east and
north. (Left: scenic lookout, at Garrafon Park; most of Quintana Roo coasts are
sandy beaches, not rocks!)
Quintana Roo for
visitors:
-
Cancun is
the tourist powerhouse for all of Mexico, with its giant Hotel Zone with
lagoon side and Caribbean beach side. Read about
Cancun all-inclusives for families.
- Isla Mujeres is a laid-back island a short boat ride from Cancun, with small hotels, the Garrafon National Park which has snorkeling and other activities, and the all-inclusive Avalon Reef Club Resort.
- Puerto Morelos is a still-sleep small town, about 20 minute drive south of Cancun, midway to secondary tourist mecca Playa del Carmen (itself a sleepy town not so long ago.)
- The term "Mayan Riviera" refers to the long stretch of beach extending
south of Cancun, a super area for vacations that offers interesting activites
in addition to its beautiful beaches. Options include:
- resort areas such as Akumal
- all-inclusive resorts for families
- Mayan ruins: beautiful sea-side ruins at Tulum, and extensive ruins at Coba, inland
- world's second-largest coral barrier reef
- snorkeling lagoons
- giant caves you can tour, featuring underwater lakes
- "cenotes" - pools of freshwater created when limestone caves in
- Xcaret - unique eco-archeological theme park
- Xel-ha, Xcaret's sister eco-park
Read more about Quintana Roo's Mayan Riviera, and see photos, at TWKids.
-more about Quintana Roo for visitors
-back to A to Z Summer Vacations
*photos (c) Teresa Plowright.
