Paradise Alfred

Paradise Alfred

Cancun - Planning The Perfect Escape To Paradise

Everyone has heard of Cancun, that veritable tropical paradise where all your troubles are stripped away in the sparkling turquoise water. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun is a prime beach destination. Famous for the clear water, white sand, abundant sea life, and more, Cancun is a great spot for anyone looking to relax on the beach. If you are considering traveling to Cancun, you will need to get a passport cards or passport book first.

Cancun makes a great vacation choice for another reason: you don't need to invest in passport books to get there. Instead, you can use a passport card, which are much cheaper. They can be used to travel to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and only if you're going by boat or car. Taking an airplane means you will need a regular passport. There are USA Passport online application for both passport cards and passport books, which can greatly speed up the process. Expedited passport delivery means you can be in Cancun within the week.

Of course the main lure of Cancun is the beaches. Soaking up the sun on the white sand and being able to cool off in the crystal-clear water is a great way to spend the afternoon. Many times local vendors will walk on the beach selling shells, sarongs, accessories, and more. One unique feature of Cancun beaches is the fact that the sand doesn't get very hot. Because the sand is composed of ground-up coral instead of the silica-based sand we are used to, it doesn't absorb the heat.

Don't miss out on taking a ferry to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, two very gorgeous places. Ultramar offers a very pleasant ferry service. While the beaches on these islands make for excellent day trips, they offer even more. Isla Mujeres has an ecological water park named Garrafon that is worth visiting. Cozumel has it's own nature preserve, Chankanaab National Park.

The Mayan empire spread over much of what is Central America and Mexico, with the heart of the empire in the Yucatan Peninsula. This means that Cancun is near some breathtaking Mayan ruins that make for great ways to learn a little about the area's history and culture. One very close to the hotels along the beach is El Rey Ruins, where Mayans lived from around 900-1550 AD. The name - El Rey - means "The King," and it got this name from the large ceremonial mask, sculpture of a noble man, and a skull meant as a gift to the god associated with the sun. In this ruin, there are 47 structures in all, with two very impressive large ones, and be sure to look out for the population of iguanas and peacocks. If you are interested in seeing more Maya sites, there are plenty located a little outside the area, and they are certainly worth seeing.

If you need an escape to paradise, Cancun is only a short distance away. While these are some good suggestions, be sure to also check out the opportunity to swim with dolphins, take a horseback ride on the beach, and feed sharks and touch sea urchins at the Interactive Aquarium. Before you can escape, however, you need to get your US passport cards. Once you fill out a United States passport online application, all that's left is to plan your trip in gorgeous Cancun.ALFRED APAKA with Hawaii Calls / Hawaiian Paradise