| Off The Beaten Path In Downtown Cancun
Over the last several years, Cancun has grown into a
beach city to rival the best in the world. However, many tourists
never venture outside the Hotel Zone – a small stretch of land
jutting
into the Caribbean. Just a few miles inland, permanent residents and
informed travelers mingle in the downtown area – known locally as El
Centro. Besides offering a peak at authentic Mexican culture, this
area is teeming with excellent restaurants and shopping
opportunities.
Though Cancun is a very young city – major growth began only 40
years ago – the downtown area resembles a more rustic
Mexicancommunity in many ways. Throughout the streets, you will
seemariachi bands and other types of traditional performers. If you
want to witness a popular sport of yesteryear, visit the Cancun
Centro Bullring for a bullfight. Even the restaurants and
markets maintain the flavor of Mexican tradition, offering a nice
counterpoint to the glitz and glamor of Cancun's Hotel Zone.
Tulum Avenue is the main thoroughfare of downtown Cancun and a good
place to start exploring the area. Along the 20 blocks of this
street, you will find everything from bars and restaurants
to outdoor markets and shopping malls. If you enter the city on the
R1 bus, the first stop on Tulum Avenue will put you in the heart of
Market Ki-Huic. This bustling market is one of the best
places in Cancun to find locally made products and souvenirs
–including beautiful silver jewelry and handmade blankets.
To complete your shopping experience in downtown Cancun, you should
also visit Market 28 – known locally as Mercado Ventiocho. This
marketplace is full of local artisans selling their paintings,
pottery and jewelry. As it is customary for shoppers to bargain with
vendors, you are unlikely to find better prices on souvenirs
anywhere in Cancun. Next to Market 28, you will also find Plaza
Bonita – a rustic collection of small boutiques and galleries.
As most tourists visit downtown Cancun for a taste of an authentic
Mexican city, restaurants featuring local cuisine arevery popular.
Within a short walking distance you will find such
celebrated restaurants as La Parilla, Pericos and La Habichuela.
Many of these authentic Mexican restaurants also feature dinner
entertainment, typically incorporating music and dance
performances by local artists. Most importantly, such eateries won't
break your family's budget. If you have had your fill of Mexican
cuisine, you can also try several highly rated restaurants serving
everything from traditional Italian and fresh seafood to Chinese
fare.
Unlike many restaurants in the Hotel Zone, several establishments
also open for brekafast in downtown Cancun. For example, Los
Bisquets de Obregon serves a family-style breakfast
in a casual setting. If you get to downtown Cancun in the morning,
you can also beat some of the crowds to the popular markets and
still have plenty of time to return to the beach in
the evening.
If you stick around downtown Cancun after the sun sets, there is
plenty to do in the streets surrounding Yaxchilan Avenue. Located
near Market 28, this stretch of bars and clubs is one of
the best areas in all of Cancun to experience the nightlife. You can
sample some local tequilas or just kick back and enjoy live music.
Though there is plenty of excitement for even the most
party-oriented travelers, Yaxchilan Avenue remains a family-friendly
destination – evidenced by the multitude of all-ages cafes and
boisterous mariachi bands on the street.
Getting to downtown Cancun is simple. From the Hotel Zone, you can
take a taxi – a fare that usually averages only a few dollars – or
the R1 bus. The reliable Cancun public transportation system visits
stops near all the major resorts and rides within downtown cost less
than a dollar. To help you get around downtown Cancun, you can pick
up a map of the area from your resort or visit one of the shops or
restaurants downtown.
About the Author:
Justin Burch writes articles about travel in
Cancun
http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/cunmx-casamagna-marriott-cancun-resort
and Mexico tourism for the Marriott Resorts.
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