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As the most popular destination for international travelers in Mexico, Cancun is always looking for new ways to bolster its already excellent offerings.
This year, environmental experts are launching a brand new underwater attraction in the popular El Meco area by sinking dozens of sculptures in an attempt to draw more visitors to the area.
The move is part of an effort to protect the region’s delicate marine ecosystems and to prevent further erosion of Cancun’s coral reefs.
The new underwater attraction will offer travelers the opportunity to explore Cancun’s stunning marine wildlife through a number of guided tours.
With travel to the coastal city skyrocketing in 2024, here’s the latest on this exciting new attraction.
New Underwater Attraction To Benefit From Cancun’s Crystal Clear Waters
Cancun has always been popular for its beaches and some of the cleanest water in the Caribbean.
Although the city is already home to an underwater museum – the famed MUSA – officials recently gave the green light to add a further 21 sculptures as part of Cancun’s growing underwater landscape.
With interest in exploring Cancun’s marine wonders, authorities are concerned over the effects of mass tourism on the city’s coral reef systems, which are struggling to cope with harmful practices.
To mitigate the situation, up to 21 new sculptures will be sunk off the shore of Cancun, near the popular El Meco ruins just north of the city’s resort zone.
According to Francisco Fernández Millán, the head of Cancun’s Nautical Association, the 21 sculptures to be used for the new project will be flown in from Mexico City, and will reflect several themes considered important for local culture.
The new initiative is set to deliver a number of benefits in the short and long term. Not only will travelers have a brand new attraction to explore within Cancun’s growing number of eco-friendly activities, but the project is also expected to help the area’s coral reef systems thrive.
According to officials, the new underwater attraction will take shape at the end of May, when the city’s Nautical Association plans to submerge the sculptures in what is yet another move to bolster Cancun’s ecological basis.
Travelers will still have to wait some time for the project to be fully operational, with ticket prices for the new attraction expected to be released later this month.
The new project will be the second of its type in Cancun. The already hugely popular MUSA (Underwater Museum of Art) boasts over 500 life-size sculptures and other underwater objects that can be explored through a number of guided tours.
The sculptures are mainly located around Punta Nizuc and cover a vast area of Cancun’s protected waters.
Snorkeling and glass-bottom tours depart from both Cancun’s resort zone and Isla Mujeres, giving travelers plenty of opportunities to explore one of the world’s most unique underwater experiences.
Cancun has made strides in improving its environment over the past several years.
As tourism numbers continue to skyrocket ahead of the launching of the Maya Train project, officials have implemented a number of measures to protect beaches & coral reefs in the coastal hotspot.
The Mexican Caribbean resort destination offers travelers a number of eco-tourism options; from Puerto Morelos’ cenotes to Isla Mujeres’ pristine white-sand beaches, visitors are encouraged to explore everything the region has to offer.
Although most nature attractions are easily explored independently, travelers can also book guided tours & excursions through online platforms like Tripadvisor.
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