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Visitors from the United States are flocking to the Mexican Caribbean this year more than ever before and remain the strongest market for tourism within the region, followed by visitors from Canada and the United Kingdom.
Cancun is the reigning champion among Americans and with good reason; the area continues to respond to the demands of its tourists and find new ways to stay on top, as it evident by the record-breaking year it is having.
From January to August 2023, there was a registered 4,285,080 American visitors to the Mexican Caribbean, with places such as Cancun seeing hotel occupancy levels almost reaching capacity during the summer.
So what is it about Cancun that makes it a cut above the rest for Americans?
Here are five reasons why we think they are flocking here more than anywhere else:
1. More and More Flights
Cancun is convenient for Americans.
With the promise of a beach paradise and the best ocean waters you’ve ever seen being a mere few hours away, why wouldn’t Cancun be on your list?
Without the hassle of long-haul flights, changeovers at different airports, and no real problem of jet lag, this affordable option for American tourists is a no-brainer.
It was only recently that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration updated Mexico’s safety rating to ‘Category One’ after it had remained ‘Category Two’ for the past two years, resulting in fewer flights and routes to the now booming destination.
@elizadromgoole happy place🌴🌴🌴 #cancun #mexico #travelwithme #beach #vacationvibes #cancunmexico #laplaya #happyplace ♬ original sound – J-Key
The region is seeing a huge increase in flight frequencies and bookable seats, with heavyweight airline companies leading the charge, meaning more options to fly to Cancun are becoming ever more available and even more affordable.
With the cost of living crisis and the remnants of the pandemic still lingering worldwide, affordability and convenience are two things that seem to be high on everyone’s list.
2. Endless Fun For The Entire Family
Cancun is situated in an absolute gem of an area, with fun waiting around every turn.
While it remains the place that is best known for its famous hotel zone and pristine sugary sandy coastlines, it is what lies just beyond Cancun that makes it the perfect base for your stay.
Archeological tourism is seeing its popularity soar, with the most popular site in the Mexican Caribbean, Chichén Itza, located extremely close to Cancun.
This seminal site hosts temples, pyramids, and structures that date back to Ancient Maya times some 1,500 years ago and continues to capture the imagination of millions of tourists each year.
@jenjenmunoz This is your sign to visit Cancun in 2022 #cancun #mexico #travel #fyp #carribean #chichenitza #islamujeres ♬ Paradise – Bazzi
Cancun is also located near Isla Mujeres, an island that is growing in popularity also, with some of the prettiest beaches you’ll see in the Mexican Caribbean, as well as being a water lovers paradise.
The area is host to an underwater museum known as the MUSA, a completely unique attraction that hosts some incredible structures buried on the ocean floor, perfect for snorkelers and divers.
The island is also home to the largest concentration of whale sharks in the world, and with them being harmless to humans, they can be witnessed by swimming and snorkeling near them, a must-do opportunity.
Cancun is also located near ‘Magical Towns’, such as Merida and Valladolid, which have been given that title for being historically, culturally, and environmentally significant to the region.
Perfect for day trips or longer, these towns offer something a little different from typical Cancun, with colorful buildings dating back to 17th-century colonial times and unique options for cuisine that you won’t find anywhere else.
These towns are about to become easier than ever to get to with the new Maya Train, a billion-dollar infrastructure project that is set to unlock the entire Yucatan Peninsula for tourists, meaning Americans visiting Cancun will have no reason not to visit!
The list is genuinely endless; archeological sites, environmental parks, cenotes, watersports, island attractions, incredible gastronomy options, magical towns, and much, much more.
3. You Are Safe
While Mexico can sometimes get a bad rap when it comes to safety and security in American headlines, places like Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean are some of the safest places for tourists to visit.
Knowing just how fragile the tourism market is, local governments are doing everything in their power to deter criminals and keep the feeling of safety felt strongly among visitors and locals alike.
A Summer Safety Programme was brought in by Mara Lezama this year, which included an increased presence of patrols on beaches and popular tourist areas by the police and the National Guard, as well as a huge investment in security equipment such as 24-hour CCTV operations and more police vehicles on roads.
This has already had a huge impact on crime levels in tourist hotspots, and while nowhere is ever without some threat of crime, Cancun is certainly an extremely safe place to be.
4. Luxury Accommodation As The Go-To
Another reason Americans continue to return to this favorite destination is the staggering number of accommodation options.
Cancun is seeing luxury accommodation becoming the most popular choice for visitors, and heavyweight hotel chains like Hyatt and Hilton are noting.
With new resorts opening this year and with more and more planned for the future, luxury accommodation has come a long way from what it used to be.
No longer a cookie-cutter experience, these luxury hotels offer unique stays for their guests, giving them everything they could ever want without ever having to leave their walls.
Endless gourmet restaurants, numerous pool options, beach clubs, luxury spa amenities, private beach access; you name it, they’ve got it.
Americans are also finding that all-inclusive hotels seem to have better deals than when booking more boutique options, as food and drink are already covered in their prices.
They also have around-the-clock security, giving families peace of mind and allowing them to have the best possible trip they can!
5. Life Is A Beach
It would be remiss of us not to mention the incredible beaches on offer in Cancun, which are of course the first thing people think of when they book here.
White, sugary sands and crystal-clear waters are the norm here and are perfect for basking in the sun all day long or making the water your playground, with water sports on offer everywhere you go.
Cancun has a plethora of Blue Flag beaches, an award given to beaches of the highest standards in safety, accessibility, cleanliness, and scenery, so it is definitely the place to be if you are a sun worshipper, that’s for sure!
The destination truly has everything you could ever want, with adventure just waiting for you at its doorstep, and it is no surprise that it is the firm favorite for Americans and vacation-goers all over the world!
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