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 MEXICAN CARIBBEAN
 LOCALIZATION
The concern is located in the Yucatan Peninsula in the southeast of the Mexican Republic with the extreme geographical coordinates at 21º 31’ north, 17º 49’ south of north latitude; at 86º 42’ east and 89º 25’ west of west latitude.
It is adjacent to Yucatan and the Gulf of Mexico to the north, the Caribbean to the east, the Chetumal Bay, Belize and Guatemala to the south and Campeche and Yucatan to the west.
The area of this State is 50,843 km2, including the islands of Cozumel, Mujeres, Holbox, White Island, and Contoy among the most important ones. The State represents the 2.55% of the country area.
According to the Koeppen classified system modified for tropical and subtropical climates of Mexico, in the State there is hot and damp climate with rains in the summer most part of the year.
NATURE
Quintana Roo shelters an amazing and wonderful natural landscape. Dense forest with a wide variety of trees such as ceiba, red and black cedar, chechen, mahogany, and sapodilla and palm trees cover great part of its region.
The fauna, which lives in this forever-green world, is formed by a fantastic variety of animals, you can find monkeys and different kinds of birds, even large animals as the majestic jaguar. Close to the seaboard there are damp grounds, bogs and creeks where sweet and salty water mixes, creating the swamps which give shelter to several species of aquatic birds such as herons and ibis as well as crocodiles and manatees which live in the channels and lagoons.
All along the seaboard there are points, capes, keys and coastal lagoons. It also has islands as Cozumel and Mujeres and just in front of the coast a great reef barrier spreads out. The aquatic fauna is really vast; there are more than 500 different kinds of fish, there are also amphibian and aquatic reptiles.
The State shelter biosphere reserves as the Sian Kaán, Contoy Island and the Cozumel reef zones. To the south it is the Bacalar lagoon and very closed to the seaboard it is Chinchorro shoal, a coral atoll.
PAST AND PRESENT
Though there is no current information about the date, it is known that the first establishment in the Yucatan Peninsula was from 500 to 300 years BC
During the classic period, Coba, Dzibanche and Kohunlich flourished and Tulum and Muyil flourished in the postclassical, inside cities which controlled the coast commerce sailing through channels joined to the sea. All through this period the Peninsula was divided into small chieftainships.
With the end of the Mayapan league, prosperity was interrupted and nine chieftainships were formed: Ekab, Cochuah and Chetemal known also as Chactemal, they were part of what nowadays is Quintana Roo.
On the Spanish arrival, the Peninsula had reached crisis point, nevertheless the conquest was hard, but it was consummated and *"encomiendas" were created. These did not prosper and the region was abandoned, as a result the coast zone from Honduras to the Ascencion Bay became the refuge of English pirates who destroyed the Spanish store centers.
*Encomiendas (concessions, holding) were estates granted to Spanish settlers in Latin America in the colonial era. The Indians living on the land were put into the service of their encomendero or had to pay him taxes. For this part, the encomendero was supposed to look after the interests of the Indians in his territory and convert them to Christianity.
The independence changed a little bit the situations and the Mayas unruly tradition gave rise to the "Lineage War" in 1947. After several divisions of the Peninsula in 1902, Quintana Roo became a Territory with the current area. The population process of Quintana Roo changed completely and in 1974 a decree-law created a free and sovereign State.
During the last three decades Quintana Roo has experienced a considerable population increase due to the migratory flow from different States of the country and from abroad. The main attractive places are tourist resorts such as Cancun, Cozumel, Mayan Brook, Chetumal and other small towns by the Hondo river brook.
In the central part of the State there is the Mayan zone with communities that still keep their traditions and customs. In Quintana Roo Mayas, half-breeds and groups from other parts of the world flock together but the ones from the Caribbean stand out giving a special touch and color.
Quintana Roo is one of the youngest States of the Mexican Republic and the one with the highest population growth. Until 1995, there were not much more than 700 hundred thousand inhabitants, 45% come from the region and the rest are from other parts of the country and a high percentage of them come from abroad. The State is divided into 8 Districts: Benito Juarez (where Cancun is located), Mujeres Island, Solidaridad, Cozumel, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Othon P. Blanco (Chetumal), Jose Maria Morelos y Lazaro Cardenas.
CANCUN, PAST AND PRESENT
About the middle of the 1960-decade, Cancun was just a fishermen town with no more then 100 inhabitants. Cancun island, sand strip of 17 km long with sections which are not more than 50 meters wide, devoted to the coconut sowing, became in a short period of time and thanks to the titanic works of engineering, the most important tourist resort in Mexico.
In two decades Cancun was a reality, today it is known worldwide and welcomes every year more than three million of tourists. Its geographical situation makes of Cancun a link with the south of the State via Mayan Brook (Cancun-Tulum tourist corridor) and with the nearest places in Yucatan.
Cancun city has grown at a vertiginous rate, its streets have multiplied and in the central zone there are hotels, restaurants, bars, discos, shops and handcraft stores, shopping centers, banks and entertainment centers.
A COSMOPOLITE CITY
Since Cancun was born, it has hold important social, cultural and politic events. For several years the Jazz Festival, The Caribbean Festival as well as international marathons have taken place in Cancun.
The natural conditions and its efficient tourist infrastructure have placed Cancun in an excellence level that has repercussions on a wide spreading of this tourist resort worldwide. Visitors from places as The United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, some from the European Union, especially Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain, as well as Japan, come to this paradisiacal place.
SUN AND BEACH
The paradisiacal beaches washed by the multicolor water and the white sand of the Mexican Caribbean pleased our visitors offering them recreation spaces and rest, as well as multiple aquatic activities.
HOTEL INFRASTRUCTURE
Cancun has experienced a huge development which is reflected in its tourist urbanization and infrastructure, captured in its majestic and terrific hotels with more than 25 thousand rooms placed by the Caribbean beach and in front of the Nichupte lagoon.
The wide hotel variety satisfies the highest and most demanding expectations through its several Great Tourist Hotels (20%), all inclusive hotels and others designed for the family lodging, some of them have golf courses, spa and sports facilities.
CANCUN AND BUSINESS
Cancun provides a first level infrastructure to hold conventions and that is why many companies choose Cancun for their business and management meetings. The Convention Center of Cancun, the biggest in the Caribbean, has made of this destiny an international center for incentive trips, business meetings and Commerce Displays.
COZUMEL
Cuzamil, the Maya name of Cozumel means, "swallow place", and it alludes to the great variety of these birds that calls in at Cozumel between North and South America; it is placed 20 kms. From the East Coast of the Yucatan peninsula and it is the largest island in Mexico and the one which has more inhabitants, it is 48 km long and 16 km wide.
In the 1960-decade, the world set their heart on Cozumel, due to the information the French oceanographer Jaques Cousteau gave about the coral reefs around the island. At present it is one of the most well - known diving resorts. During the last decades Cozumel has become an important point for the Caribbean Cruisers.
As a result, its economy is based mainly on tourist and its development has emerged spontaneously and gradually.
THE AQUATIC WORLD OF COZUMEL AND ITS REEFS.
The numerous reefs, the plenty of sea life, the nice temperature and the transparency of the water that gives us a visibility up to 40 or 50 meters, makes of Cozumel the second best destiny for diving all over the world.
In the Western coast of the island there are 25 reefs approximately, where huge school of fish of the most variable sizes, shapes and colors live. Another important characteristic of the reefs is the profusion of soft and flexible corals known as derrick.
Following the main reefs are listed, according to the difficulty of its exploration:
For beginners: Paraiso norte, Paraiso Sur, Chankanaab, Balones de Chankanaab, Jardines de Palancar, La Herradura y Pared de Villablanca.
For intermediates: San Francisco, Punta Tunich, Tormentos, Paso del Cedral y Santa Rosa.
For Advanced: Palancar, Cuevas de Palancar, Colombia y Punta Sur.
CRUISERS
Cozumel is the first cruiser port at a national level, as during 1999 more than 853 cruisers arrived with a million 300 thousand passengers. The most important cruisers lines that arrive in Cozumel belong to very prestigious chains well known all over the world.
On the main street of the island there is a wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars which give the visitors the chance to enjoy the Caribbean atmosphere.
ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONES
In Cozumel there are 25 archeological zones, the most famous one and where most of visitors go is San Gervasio, formed by six groups of structures that cover 3 km2 approximately, some of the are considerable high, settled on big platforms, which conform an acropolis. The second most important zone is El Cedral, where you can still find rests of original painting and stucco.
MAYAN BROOK
From Cancun to Tulum archeological zone, a chain made off beautiful links spreads out which conforms one of the most charming journey in the world. The way is flanked by the dense forest which opens to worthy fishing towns, beaches protected by the Great reef, creeks which are amazing aquariums, natural wells deep into the forest and interesting archeological sites.
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Some of the most important sites in the Mayan brook are Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Puerto Aventuras, the beach zone from Xpu-Ha to Akumal, Xel-Ha and Tulum, and of course Coba, Mayan ceremonial center hidden in the forest.
In front of the seaboard, separated just by a short sailing journey is Cozumel, known all over the world for its beautiful reefs.
HOTEL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST
The Mayan brook has very exclusive and also popular sites, so you will no be surprised if you find from magnificent five star hotel complexes, with all the services and facilities, to isolated rustic cabins. In some places as Paamul and Xpu-Ha there are camping areas.
PLAYA DEL CARMEN
Due to its particular and popular characteristic, cosmopolitan atmosphere and enviable location half-way between Cancun and Tulum, and with other tourist destinies around, Playa del Carmen is one of the most favorite sites in the Mayan Brook for national and foreign visitors.
You can walk along 5th Avenue and feel a special atmosphere with tourist from all the world. There are hotels, handcraft shops, jewelry shops, boutiques and all kind of restaurants offering you national and international cuisine. You can see craftsmen, painters, dancers and musicians showing you their abilities. Trios and mariachi bands sing for you while you enjoy a delicious dinner.
ALTERNATIVE TOURISM
Due to the natural resources the Mayan Brook has in its natural wells, underground rivers and caverns, one of the main market segment that has been developed is the alternative tourism.
Close to Playa del Carmen, there are interesting natural wells as the Chacmool where several water bodies are formed, where you can find tunnels, caves and caverns; here it is the biggest submarine stalactite of the world which is 12 m long. Other wells in the region are: Azul, El Escondido, Kan Tun Chi, Zazil - Ha among others.
ECOLOGYCAL TURISM
All along the Mayan brook there are located natural and archeological parks, where they combine the different natural resources of the rivers, wells, caves, caverns, forest, sand, sun and beach together with the historical vestiges of the Mayan culture.
Tres Rios: 54 km to the south of Cancun it is a natural reserve called Tres Rios, its name comes from the crystalline rivers that run through the swamps. There are natural wells, forest area, an estuary and beaches.
There are other sports you can practice here such as swimming, kayaking, cycling and horse riding, you can also snorkel and dive in the nearest reefs.
Xpu — Ha Ecopark: in this ecological park there are three main ecosystems: low forest, swamp and coast, where you can see the flora and fauna that live in each of them. In the same way, there is an aviary with the species from the region such as pheasant, peacock, turkey, toucan, parrots and bluebirds. You can walk through a near forest to see the white tail deer and on the way to the beach there are places with crocodiles, turtles, flamingos and pijiji ducks.
Other activities you can practice here is snorkeling in the wells and creeks or kayaking.
Xel — Ha park: in Xel — Ha there is one of the biggest natural aquariums in the world, there are countless species of tropical fish that live here. This privileged place combines many attractions: underground rivers, lagoons, wells, forest and an important archeological zone.
Xcaret park: it is located 75 km from Cancun and 7 km from Playa del Carmen. It is placed in a forest area, beside a beautiful creek and a fantastic bay with white sands with palm trees.
Among the different attractions this park offers to you the most exciting ones are the two underground rivers which let you know part of the complicated system of the underground aquatic rivers of the Yucatan Peninsula.
ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONES
COBA
41 km from Tulum, in the middle of the forest and in a lagoons zone, it is Coba, important Mayan ceremonial center belonged to the Classic and Postclassical periods. At the time of its great developing it had an area of 99 km2, though at present it is reduced to 6 km2.
The most important vestige of this zone is located between the Coba and Macanxoc Rivers; it is a huge rectangle of 400 meters high and 200 meters wide and its axis face to the east/west.
TULUM
Tulum is one of the most spectacular archeological zone of the Maya World. It was built on a steep slope by the Caribbean sea and its vestiges are distributed all along the coast. Tulum means "ramparts" in Maya, name which was given at the beginning of the XX century. Its ancient citizens called it Zama " dawn", as its geographical situation let anyone admire the sunrise.
HOLBOX
It is 10 km to the west of Cabo Catoche, in the most northern point of the peninsula; it has an extension of 40 km and in its widest part it has 2 km. The few citizens live on shark, squid and lobster fishing.
At the same time it is the home and sanctuary of hundreds of birds which immigrate from different parts of the American continent, allowing the bird watch tourists admire this natural setting.
MUJERES ISLAND
It is 14 km from Cancun, it is 7 km long and 1 km wide in its wider part. During the last years, it has had an important tourist development. Island, as it is known among the local citizens, has beautiful and peaceful beaches, specially in Playa Norte, as well as the nearest reefs.
It keeps the rustic taste, as soon as the visitors get to the island they are shrouded in a Caribbean province atmosphere that its people, houses and shops give them.
MAYAN PROVINCE
It is the central part of Quintana Roo State, which includes the Maya Zone and the biosphere reserve of Sian Ka’an.
The Mayan province is formed by the Indian communities which jealous and proud have kept their customs, traditions and lifestyles for almost two centuries.
The communities are formed by the descendants of the CRUZOOB rebels from the "Lineage War" , the Maya is their language and in some places some cultural vestiges can be observed as some churches without roof.
The interest in the Mayan Province comes from the knowledge of the interesting lifestyle of the current Mayas.
In the biosphere reserve of Sian Ka’an with the 35% of its virgin extension, all the ecosystems of Quintana Roo can be found.
MAYAN COAST
In the Caribbean the Mayan Coast is located with its sunny and deserted beaches, this 58 km coastal stripe is located to the south of the State and comes from Punta Herrero to Xcalak. Likewise, few kilometers from Majahual and Xcalak it is the biggest and richest coral atoll of the world, known as Banco Chinchorro, where you can find the uncommon submarine ways of life.
This place is ideal for divers, people who love fishing or for the one who just likes to enjoy nature.
MAJAHUAL
It is 145 km to the northwest of Chetumal. At present the creation of infrastructure for low impact tourism has been promoted in this zone.
Due to its perfect geographical location, the colorful town of Majahual has been one of the first ones to take advantage of this works, being a town which depends on fishing, it has become in the main access point to the small towns and tourist resorts that stretches to Xcalak. Today Majahual has an airdrome and roads in excellent conditions, this has motivated the construction of small hotels and cabins by the sea. In Majahual you can also practice aquatic sports such as swimming, snorkeling, sailing and fishing.
It also has a dock where you can be taken to the huge and marvelous Banco de Chinchorro to meet all its hidden beauties.
XCALAK
Interesting place boarding the Mayan Coast, keeping its rustic atmosphere, it has developed in the last years a low impact infrastructure focused in the ecological tourism.
It is well communicated, a road has been built that joins it with Majahual, as well as with the airdrome, this has generating the creation of small hotels and cabins by its sunny, deserted beaches.
From Xcalak you can be taken to Banco Chinchorro to dive and fish.
BANCO CHINCHORRO
Just a short boat or yacht trip from Majahual or Xcalak you can get to Banco Chinchorro. Coral atoll which is part of the reef border, the second biggest in the world. In an extension of 800 m2 an endless natural attractions get together. Its coral configuration enables the formation of a large reef lagoon with different depth. Likewise a great variety of coral species can be found which combine with the colorful sea anemones and derricks, where without doubt many submarine ways of life are developed.
From the lagoon three keys emerge covered with swamps, palm trees and bushes: Cayo Centro, Cayo Norte and Cayo Sur. Other interesting attractions are the rests of crafts which have run aground in their reefs for many years. The combination of different and colorful ways of life together with the vestiges of the boats and galleons give us an unusual but at the same time unforgettable show.
CHETUMAL
Chetumal is the Capital of the State and it is located by the bay with the same name. Its geographical situation is ideal to explore the zone and try excursions to the closest archeological vestiges. The impulse this city and surrounding areas have received recently , has pointed to the creation of infrastructure such as hotels, highways and maritime routes that connect Chetumal with the Mayan coast. In Chetumal city there is an interesting museum of the Maya Culture, it also gives other attractions, buildings and monuments.
MAYAN INHERITANCE
In the south of the State you can have different journeys to important and monumental archeological sites of the Mayan Classical period which are placed in a forest zone where you can find at the same time the same magnificent scene of the nature, history and architecture of one of the most important Indian civilization. Dzibanche, Kohunlich, well known for its large masks; Oxtankah and Chakanbakan, among the most popular are located a few kilometers from the capital city.
BACALAR LAGOON
It is also known as the "seven colors lagoon" because of the different colors of its water, it is 38 km to the northwest of Chetumal, it is almost 50 km long and 2 km wide in average.
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© World INvestment NEws, 2000.
This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Mexico published in Forbes Global.
July 3rd 2000 Issue.
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MEXICO
