Cancún

Today, Cancún is known worldwide for its turquoise-blue water beaches, luxurious resorts, and bustling nightlife. But before this Mexican city became a major tourist destination, the region, which was once home to the Mayan civilization, was mostly wetlands, mangroves, jungles, and untouched beaches. After it was left abandoned for centuries, the Mexican government finally realized in 1968 its true potential as a holiday hotspot. Currently, Cancún is divided into two distinctive districts, the famous Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera), a beachfront strip of hotels, resorts, eateries, shops, bars, and nightclubs, and the actual city of Cancún, known as El Centro. The Hotel Zone, which is surrounded by 25 kilometers of pure white sandy beach, is linked to the city via the four-lane Boulevard Kukulcán.