Cancun is today one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. It has approximately 200 hotels, with more than 36 thousand rooms, being the main tourist destination in the Caribbean and all of Latin America, surpassing Brazil, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and Buenos Aires.

Knowing these facts now, it is difficult to think that its story used to be uninteresting. Of course: the passage of the Mayan communities left a very important legacy, but what is known today specifically as Cancun was nothing outstanding; There were some constructions by the sea to monitor navigation as it was part of the maritime route where commercial exchanges were made. The few remaining Mayan communities settled in Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.


Cancun, Mexico
Credit: twenty20photos

This abandoned, hidden paradise, with pristine beaches, coral reefs that nature created for hundreds of years, giving life to colorful and endemic aquatic fauna, 70 years ago, nobody knew it existed.

It was around the 1970s when Mexican President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz gave the order to the Bank of Mexico to find a place in the country that could exploit tourism. After many trips and tests, Cancun was chosen for its stable temperature, beaches, sand and cenotes. At that time, Cancun only had three inhabitants: Emilio Maldonado, Antonio “Cachito” Hernández and Gabriel “Gabuch” Garrido, who today are officially recognized as the first inhabitants of the city.

When the city's air operations began, the runway was so rudimentary that the control tower was made of sticks and palm. Crecencio Ballesteros, who was president of Mexicana de Aviación at the time, commented upon seeing that precarious airport "forgive me for saying this, but I think that a Mexicana jet will never land here." In memory of that fragile control tower (which operated until 1973), a replica of it was made at the entrance to the city, near its original location.
Currently the Cancun International Airport is the one that receives the most international traffic in Mexico.


Cancun International Airport
Credit: Cancun Airport

Initial investments were slow, so the Mexican government had to finance the first 9 hotels: Hyatt, Playa Blanca, Bojorquez and Cancun Caribe among others; these opened their doors in 1974.

Cancun was a success and grew smoothly until the 1980s, but in 1988 the city was hit by Hurricane Gilberto and having no recorded history of any tropical cyclone, the destination could not prepare adequately . The category 5 hurricane with winds of more than 320 km/h, made tourist activities stop 100% for a week, while the process of recovery and cleaning, restoration of electricity and drinking water began. This hurricane also destroyed one million hectares of tropical forest and mangroves.
Cancun managed to recover quickly from this adversity and to this day it has demonstrated resilience and security.


Cancun, Mexico
Credit: Government of Cancun

Here you will find modernity, first-class hotels, fine restaurants and nightclubs for all tastes, and at the same time there is a mix of cultures and traditions, with warm and friendly local people who will make your trip spectacular.

What are you waiting for to travel to Cancun? You are just a few clicks away! In My Guide Mexico we have the best selection of Hotels, Restaurants and Experiences where you will easily and quickly organize an incredible trip.