For decades vacationers have been drawn to the Pacific Coast of Mexico. From Mazatlan to Acapulco, the “Mexican Riviera” was the most famous stretch of beach in the country. However, in the late 1960’s things on the Mexican tourist scene began to change. The government began to take interest in a remote sandbar on the Eastern Shore of the Yucatan Peninsula. As a result, the resort of Cancun was born and the Pacific Coast destinations were in for some big competition.

Even though the prospects of Cancun as a major player in the tourist business were considered in the 60’s, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that things began to really take off. Then a string of hotels and promotions made Cancun the “hot spot” of Latin America in the 1990’s. As a matter of fact, the state of Quintana Roo (where Cancun is located) now garners 35% of all Mexico’s tourism revenue.

I think that for most “beginner” travelers to Mexico, Cancun is a great destination choice. The American restaurants, shopping malls and the widely spoken English keep things easy for the gringos who might not be interested in delving too deep into the authenticity of Mexico. Built specifically as a tourist destination, Cancun is designed to cater to a predominantly American clientele.   If you aren’t hip on big crowds you may want to stay outside the city, but either way, there is an astounding amount of things to do and see.

Cancun is ruins and riches, beaches and shopping, fishing and snorkeling, and has all the exotic flavor of a tropical paradise.  It is a perfectly melded mixture of natural, cultural and man-made attractions. Technically an island, Cancun’s resort zone is approximately 14 miles of sugar-white sand shaped like the number seven. Framed by the turquoise and emerald waters of the Caribbean, Cancun is without question one of  the most stunning resorts not only in Mexico, but all of North America.

The lay of the land is very easy to follow as it is divided into three distinct yet integrated areas. The “city of Cancun” is a booming town of 300,000 and popular for dining, shopping and less expensive accommodations. The “ecological reserve” is a haven for nature and a collection of lovely lagoons and mangroves. And, as mentioned, the “resort zone” is an island. Though growing at a rapid rate, development is designed to be ecologically sensitive therefore always maintaining the integrity of the land and natural surroundings.

In addition to accommodating the constant influx of tourism, Cancun works hard to remain focused on its most fascinating treasure – history. For centuries, prior to the Spanish arriving to the Yucatan Peninsula in 1519, the Maya Indians and their culture flourished here. Over 1200 archaeological sites are scattered within a few hour’s drive from Cancun. Some of the sites have been beautifully restored while others remain undisturbed in the jungle vegetation. Even the modern resort zone is home to ruins dating back to the 12th century. The Mayan society was one of the most highly advanced of the ancient cultures and day tours to sites like Tulum, Cobá and Chichén Itzá will demonstrate the magnificence of a lost civilization.

If you prefer to step away from the fast pace of Cancun, be sure to travel about an hour south to Playa del Carmen. This is a “real” Mexican experience. Though this town is growing as well, Playa del Carmen maintains its rustic charm and laid back lifestyle. Cozy restaurants and an active nightlife keep the town colorful and a lot of fun. The beaches can get crowed but the energy is relaxed. I would most certainly recommend including a stay here in your Cancun itinerary.

Cancun has achieved a unique goal. It has successfully combined the best of Mexico with the best of the Caribbean, and that makes for quite a combination. And though commercial tourism has boomed, there is no denying the seductive appeal of Cancun’s history, culture, beaches and resorts.

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are home to the states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. Out of the mainstream of tourism, these are places to consider if you are looking for a sampling of Mexico that is a bit off the beaten path.

Veracruz is the most popular state in the country for Mexican travelers, but it’s still relatively unknown to the American tourist. It is refreshingly and even brazenly different than the Mexico known to most travelers. Six hundred miles of coastline leave room for plenty of beach, but comparatively speaking, they are average. It is the state’s astonishing natural beauty, fascinating history and genuinely hospitable people that make up for just about anything. The City of Veracruz packs more history and ambiance per block than any other city in Mexico. It is also one of the world’s great seaports and has an incomparable tropical atmosphere. In terms of diversity, Veracruz rises from seal level to over 19,000 feet at the summit of Pico de Orizaba. “El Pico” as it is locally known, is the second highest volcano in North America.

Tabasco is a small state wedged between the States of Veracruz and Campeche. Vast deposits of oil have created an air of relative prosperity and affluence. The capital of Villahermosa has grown in recent years and is working diligently to increase tourism. It has a very interesting archeological park and an outdoor museum featuring massive sculptures, particularly the giant Olmec stone heads found in the La Venta jungle. Even though the archeological site of Palenque is located in the state of Chiapas, is more easily accessed from Villahermosa. Its pyramid structures feature intricately carved bas-reliefs depicting historical and mythical events relating to the reign of a Mayan ruler.

Long time known as a Mecca for hunters and fishermen, the state of Campeche is beginning to attract tourists. The capital city of the same name has renovated its downtown area and can be toured by old fashioned street cars. Pastel-colored facades with white trim and delicate wrought iron balconies line cobblestone streets. Famed for seafood and fiestas, I think it has potential!

Mexico, beautiful, glorious Mexico… This is only scratching the surface of one of the most intriguing and incredible countries in the world. Once you let it into your heart and begin to understand its ceaseless magic and excitement, you will never be the same.

The Mundo Maya or Mayan World includes the states on the Yucatan Peninsula:  Yucatan and Quintana Roo. This is the land of the Maya Indian and is very different from the rest of Mexico. It is sometimes even thought of as a country within itself. The giant land mass jutting out from between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea is actually a limestone shelf honeycombed with underground rivers, caverns and sinkholes. It is topped with expanses of green jungles, archeological ruins, undisturbed beaches with bleached white sands and aqua waters, and peppered with modern resorts and fishing villages.

Mérida, capital of the state of Yucatan, sits on same land as a Mayan city did 450 years ago. A classic colonial city, it has the unique ability to showcase a rare combination of European style and Mayan tradition. Mérida is the perfect starting place to explore the area’s fantastic archeological sites. Chichén-Itzá is 80 miles east of the city and is the most recognizable of Mexico’s ruins. Said to have been built as early as 600 AD, the six-square-mile site has prominent and well preserved structures including a 272-foot long ball court. Uxmal, with its beautifully carved facades, majestic columns and broad plazas, is only 58 miles south of the city.

Quintana Roo became a state in 1975 and suddenly the Caribbean coast of Mexico was on its way to notoriety. Not only does it boast the red hot resorts of Cancun and Cozumel, but it is also home of between 2,000 and 2,500 Mayan ruins. The state capital, Chetumal is located on the border of Belize and has a strong tourist following in its own right, but it’s the cities to the north that get most of the glory.

It was only 30 years ago that Cancun was simply a sand bar on a gorgeous piece of Caribbean coastline. Today, Cancun hosts over 2 million visitors a year. Cancun’s may be the world’s first totally planned vacation resort, all the way from its basic infrastructure to its superstructures hotels, shopping centers and golf courses. Complete in every sense of the word, and resting solidly on its reputation, Cancun is the number one tourist destination in the country.

Cozumel, an island 30 miles long and 10 miles wide is the original Mexican Caribbean playground. During World War II, the U.S. built an air base on Cozumel for planes hunting U-boats in the mid-Atlantic. The frogmen who trained at the base returned home with stories of crystal water and magnificent underwater vistas. In 1962, oceanographer Jacques Cousteau visited the island and proclaimed it to be one of the finest diving sites in the world. The rest, as they say, is history.

South of these mega resorts is the area now referred to as the Riviera Maya. Here you’ll find plenty of new hotels and countless ecotourism based parks, along with some of the Mayan’s world most fascinating ruins. Tulum is the only walled city the Maya built and the only one on the Caribbean. Cobá, equally impressive yet largely unexcavated, is the largest Mayan city yet discovered containing hundreds of structures and encompassing an area of 10-square miles.