SPOTLIGHT
FROM SEA TO SI Canada’s love affair with Cancun continues By Mark Chesnut
As Mexico’s most-visited tourism destination, Cancun attracts travellers from around the world with its silky sand, enticing hotels and memorable activities. Now, this beachfront paradise is on the upswing, as new health protocols have helped to place the city back on travellers’ wish lists.
DIVING IN THE CRYSTAL-CLEAR CARIBBEAN SEA
“Cancun was the first destination in the American continent to receive the Global Safety Stamp, approved by the World Travel and Tourism Council,” notes Dario Flota Ocampo, CEO of the Quintana Roo Tourism Board, which handles tourism promotion for the state where Cancun is located. The international recognition, Flota explained, is the result of the Mexican Caribbean Clean & Safe Check Certification, a state program that has helped more than 7,000 companies in the region to protect visitors and local residents alike. “This certification program, available for all the companies in the tourism industry, aims to maintain the highest sanitary measures for the prevention and containment of COVID-19.” CHICHEN ITZA, AN ANCIENT MAYAN CITY
CANADA’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH CANCUN Even with all the new protocols, Cancun maintains the inviting qualities that first made it a vacation hotspot in the 1970s, according to Flota. “This year, Cancun celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the Cancun experience maintains the iconic, welcoming atmosphere it has had for 50 years, now with stricter health protocols that emphasize the health of individuals before all else,” he says. “From the airport to checking in at the hotel, to restaurants, tours and every aspect of the vacation experience, travellers will notice social distancing, mask usage and constant sanitation, while still experiencing classic Mexican Caribbean hospitality.” Mexico’s legendary warm welcome for Canadians is indeed a big draw for Cancun, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to why they keep coming back. Situated on the northeastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, the vacation spot is perfectly located for those looking to satisfy a variety of cravings. Its soft sandy beaches and warm, clear Caribbean waters are perfect for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. Meanwhile, the range of waterfront hotels in the city’s famed Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) ensures there’s something for every taste and budget, from intimate boutique hotels to adults-only resorts and luxurious five-star accommodations. Vacationers can easily craft their own idea of paradise in Cancun. Some might opt to spend their entire visit within
28 • Vacations ® • Winter 2020-2021
