Central Cancún consists of two main parts: the Hotel Zone, a long strip of hotels situated along a 22 km-long narrow island, and what’s referred to as ‘Downtown Cancún,’ or the regular city where locals live. The two areas are connected by road.
Downtown Cancún is farther from the beach, but also cheaper. While by no means the most charming city in Mexico, Downtown Cancún is home to plenty of restaurants and supermarkets and is ideal for budget travelers.
If you’re in Cancún for a flight, I’d recommend staying near the bus station. From there, you can easily catch public buses to the Mayan sites mentioned above, while the ADO company runs direct buses to the airport.
If you’re looking for a more typical Cancún experience, then of course there are a countless number of fancier places to stay right along the beach. Isla Mujeres itself would make for an excellent base as well.
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