Today when we think of Cancun, it’s usually in association with a tropical vacation. Families visit the beautiful white sand beaches for hard earned getaways, and each year thousands of spring breakers make the trek down for an epic amount of revelry. Most are vaguely aware that there’s some history behind the region, something to do with the Mayan’s, but that’s about the extent of their knowledge. They’d rather do a search for “travelocity promo code Cancun” than one for “Cancun’s culture.” Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the natural beauty and world-class amenities of this resort destination, but there’s also an interesting back-story that’s worth telling. Read on to learn more of the history of Cancun.
Pre-Development
Cancun was known to natives as Nizuc, which means “point of grass.” It was originally inhabited by the Mayans, though during the Spanish conquest, much of their population died. In the 18th century, the name Cancun began to appear on Spanish maps of the region, and it is unknown whether this name is of Mayan origins or not. There are many great Mayan ruins still near Cancun today, including Chichen Itza, which is home to an amazing pyramid and temple where sacrifices were made. There is also an amazing spot right outside the temple called the Sacred Cenote, a great deep hole where many sacrificed victims, and also some of the sick, where disposed. Seeing the Cenote is both an awe-inspiring and spine tingling experience, and the ruins in general are worth checking out as they give us some of the best insight into the lives of the region’s first inhabitants.
Cancun - credit Real Estate Global Network
Early Development
In 1960, there were about 1,000 residents in Cancun, mostly local fisherman. Realizing the tremendous economic opportunity that such an unspoiled paradise could provide, the Mexican government decided to develop the region for tourism. Engineers arrived in Cancun in 1969, and the Mexican Government laid out three objectives:
1.) To develop a hotel zone that was supported by shopping, golfing, and other revenue generating projects.
2.) To develop a permanent residential zone so that a local population could support the tourist zone
3.) To develop an international airport
You can say what you want to about the inefficiencies of the Mexican government today, but they were very successful with their Cancun plan. The first hotels opened in 1974, and the area quickly gained notoriety as a top tourist getaway. The city began to be looked at as a tropical paradise, a reputation that it still enjoys today, though natural and man-made disasters did (and still do) hamper this image from time to time. Of the first type of disaster, Hurricane Gilbert was an especially notable event. It was the second strongest Hurricane to ever be observed in the Atlantic, and it cost the region about $87 million dollars in lost revenue. Of the second, it must be noted that the area has become a very popular drug smuggling corridor, and while generally considered safe to tourists, it is home to major operations by the Juarez, Gulf, and Los Zetas cartels.
Today, there are over 600,000 residents in Cancun, as well as over one hundred hotels. It is probably the most popular tourist site in Mexico, and the International Airport is the second busiest in the country. What makes the city so special is that, while very developed, it remains surrounded by a bounty of unspoiled natural beauty.
Stefan Georgi is fascinated by Cancun’s rich history. He highly recommends doing a search for Travelocity promo code to Cancun when trying to find hotel deals on a vacation to the region.
Related Reading:
Lonely Planet Mexico, 12th EditionLonely Planet knows Mexico. Whether you want to climb mysterious Maya temples in the Yucatán, eat nouveau Mexican cuisine in the capital, or simply s... Read More >
Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs (Sixth Edition) (Ancient Peoples and Places)"Masterly....The complexities of Mexico's ancient cultures are perceptively presented and interpreted."—Library Journal
Michael D. Coe's Mexic... Read More >
One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico (101 Beautiful Small Towns)One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico broadens the successful One Hundred & One Towns series with a tour through the virgin coastal hamlet... Read More >
Off We Go to MexicoSwim in turquoise seas, admire grey whales and monarch butterflies, trek to native villages and sing and dance to the music of Mariachi bands. Along the way, you can learn Spanish words and phrases and discover Mexican culture. Enjoy your journey!
