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Acapulco Travel
Guide:
Acapulco remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, and for good reason. Visitors from around the world flock to Acapulco each year seeking beautiful beaches and crystal blue waters of the deepest azure. Recreational activities abound in Acapulco as well, with everything from deep sea fishing and scuba diving to tennis and golf competing for the attention of the visitor.
Acapulco offers an exciting adventure for every type of visitor. If you like round the clock activity, you can find in Acapulco. If you prefer a more relaxed, serene atmosphere, one of Acapulco's luxurious resorts can provide you with a secluded environment in which to unwind and let the world drift by. |
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Acapulco is a city with a long and storied history. As far back as 1530, the Spanish built ships on the settlement occupying present day Acapulco. The Spanish occupiers used the resulting fleet of ships to trade goods from Mexico for goods from the rest of the developed world. Thus, ships laden with fine Mexican silver and other luxury items would go out bound for the Philippines, where traders from around the world would meet to trade their goods. After the trades were negotiated, Spanish ships returned to present day Acapulco carrying Chinese silk, spices, ivory, pearls, and other precious stones. These early Spanish traders helped introduce the people of Mexico to these exotic goods from around the world.
People from around the world still come to Acapulco of course, though not necessarily in search of silk, ivory and spices. These days visitors to Acapulco come in search of fun, sun and surf, and they find all this and more in great abundance.
When planning your Acapulco vacation, it is helpful to remember that Acapulco actually consists of three separate areas. The first area of Acapulco is known as the Playa Revolcadero. This section of Acapulco is located near the airport and to the south of Acapulco Bay. The area boasts a long stretch of open beach backed by a lush tropical lagoon. This area is home to a few resorts, and has recently undergone a wave of new construction. |
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The second part of Acapulco is the Puerto Marquis region. This area lies to the north of Playa Revolcadero region, in the middle section between the airport and Acapulco Bay itself. For many years, this part of Acapulco was largely ignored by developers, missing out on the construction boom going on elsewhere in the city. This trend has recently begun to reverse itself, however, with the recent opening of the magnificent Acapulco Diamante resort. Other resort and residential development is planned for the area as well.
The third part of Acapulco is what most visitors think of when they here the term. Acapulco Bay is a magnificent natural harbor framed by a scenic mountain range. Acapulco Bay rivals the best places in the world for its natural scenic beauty. This part of Acapulco is home to almost all of the high-rise hotels and resort properties that call Acapulco home. In addition to the many hotels and resorts, the Acapulco Bay region features 24 hour nightlife, and extensive shopping and dining opportunities.
Speaking of dining, the culinary options in Acapulco are virtually limitless. In addition to some of the finest and most authentic Mexican food to be found anywhere, just about any other type of cuisine can be had in Acapulco. Owing to the nearby sea, wonderful fresh seafood abounds in Acapulco. But its not just the variety of cuisine that makes Acapulco special. As any vacationer knows, the location of your table can be as important as the food on your plate. Acapulco offers many outdoor seating opportunities, many of them with magnificent views of Acapulco Bay. Imagine sharing a special dinner by candlelight while the sun sets over Acapulco Bay. |
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Cancun Travel
Guide:
Cancun is many things to many people. To college students on spring break it is a week long, 24 hour party hot spot. To honeymooners it is the perfect romantic getaway to start a life together. To outdoor sports enthusiasts, Cancun is the perfect |
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place to catch some great waves, go parasailing or dive in the clear blue ocean.
From ancient ruins to beautiful beaches, Cancun has something for every visitor. Indeed, it would be hard to design a destination with better natural beauty, archeological riches and man-made attractions. No matter what you are seeking from a vacation, chances are you will find it in Cancun.
Before Cancun became the premier resort destination it is today, vacationing in Mexico meant heading to the beaches and resorts along the Pacific coast of Mexico. This area, also known as the Mexican Riveriera, stretches from Mazatlan to Acapulco. For many years, the Mexican Riviera was virtually the only region of the country with attractions and facilities to tempt visitors from abroad. Luckily for the Mexico vacationer, this changed during the mid 1980's, when a building boom made Cancun the renowned vacation spot it still is today.
Given the natural beauty of Cancun, it is hard to believe it took so long for it to become a vacation hot spot. The stunning beaches of Cancun simply must be experienced to be believed. Imagine silky smooth, sugar white sand being caressed all day by the warm and inviting emerald and turquoise waters of the Caribbean. |
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The Cancun region can be divided into three distinct but interrelated sections. Where you choose to stay depends on what type of vacation experience you are looking for.
- The city of Cancun is a booming area, home to 200,000 people. It is a popular destination for dining, shopping and features less expensive accommodations than the resort area
- The ecological reserve of Cancun features beautiful lagoons and mangroves. You could literally spend years exploring this unspoiled beauty.
- But it is the resort zone most people think of when they think of Cancun. It is the resort zone you see on all the picture postcards. The white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters of the resort zone make Cancun a destination like no other.
The entire Cancun region is a treasure trove of Mayan influence. Stone temples uncovered during the construction of the areas resorts tell a tale dating back to the 12th century. As you move further inland, you find magnificent ancient cities and ceremonial centers of Mayan life. In all, there are more than 200 archeological sites, some are wonderfully restored while others are still surrounded and obscured by the tangled jungle of the region. All 200 sites are within a few hours drive from Cancun. The wonderful archeological treasures of the region have survived and prospered despite the tourism boom of recent decades.
As befits its resort reputation, Cancun offers extensive visitor facilities to pamper any visitor. Cancun combines a wonderful and exotic tropical island setting along with modern conveniences. The Cancun area is home to more than 18,000 hotel rooms and over 200 restaurants. In addition, the visitor is free to indulge their shopping needs at more than a dozen American-style shopping malls. Cancun has certainly succeeded in combining ancient culture with modern convenience. |
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Cozumel Travel
Guide:
For those people planning a vacation in Mexico, Cozumel is definitely one of the places to consider. Even after decades as a popular vacation resort, Cozumel remains a serene, quiet and undiscovered piece of paradise.
The resort of Cozumel is actually the largest inhabited |
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island in Mexico. The combination of natural beauty and visitor amenities rivals any Caribbean island destination. Until recent years, Cozumel was known mainly as a popular port-of-call for cruise ship passengers and not much else. That has begun to change, however, as more and more visitors discover the stunning natural beauty of Cozumel.
The city of Cozumel is sometimes overrun by day trippers from Cancun and departing cruise ship passengers. This temporary population swell dissipates a few hours later, and the many wonders of Cozumel can then be explored at a more leisurely pace.
The jewel shaped, beautifully flat island of Cozumel lies a mere 19 kilometers off the Yucatan Coast. The interior of the island of Cozumel features lush jungle vegetation, while the shore line boasts white sand beaches surrounded by the bluest, clearest water anyplace on earth.
Cozumel has long had a reputation as the premiere spot for serious divers, and with good reason. The waters surrounding the island feature some of the most beautiful and delicate coral formations anywhere in the world, and the sea creatures that call those coral reefs home are some of the most fascinating and beautiful to be found anywhere. |
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The diving and snorkeling opportunities in Cozumel are the stuff of legend. Divers can spend hours exploring the undersea coral formations and exploring the remains of the great Spanish galleons that once made Cozumel their home.
Nature lovers of all sorts make Cozumel their destination. The giant sea turtles who live on Cozumel lay their eggs from May to September - a fascinating sight to behold. In addition, Cozumel offers some of the best birding opportunities anywhere in Mexico. In addition, Cozumel is only a short distance from the Tulum Corridor, which teems with hidden beaches and archeological ruins to tempt both history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts.
The lodging on Cozumel has been greatly upgraded in recent years. While there are still a great variety of budget hotel offerings and rustic bungalow hotels, there are also a great many upscale resorts, where the visitors every need can be indulged. These resort properties include Allegro Resorts, Melia, Plaza Las Glorias. Another recent trend is the growth of the all-inclusive resort hotel. Several all-inclusives have opened in recent years, giving visitors everything they need at one wonderful price. |
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