カンクンの観光スポット

ユカタン半島は、マヤ文明の遺跡が数多く残されている神秘的な場所であり、その中でもチチェン・イッツァは、マヤ文明の都市遺跡として有名です。チチェン・イッツァは、チチェンとは「井戸のほとり」、イツァとは「水の魔術師」という意味があり、迫力ある巨大なピラミッドの形をしています。マヤ人の高度な天文知識の結晶ともいえる建物です。世界遺産にも登録されているチチェン・イッツァは、マヤ文明に理解を深めることができるガイドツアーをお勧めします。

予言を伺うために、財宝や生贄の人間が投げ込まれたという、聖なる泉「セノーテ」も訪問する価値があります。川の無いこの地で遥か昔マヤ文明の繁栄を支えたのがこの美しい水源です。

Helping to define Cancun as more than just a tourism spot for dedicated beach lovers, the Cancun Underwater Museum is an attraction unlike any other in the world. While almost all of us have, invariably, at one point or another, been to a museum, few if any of us have been to an underwater museum. Until now, that is.

Essentially a bountiful series of sunken sculptures, the Cancun Underwater Museum is an ongoing project aimed at inspiring a love of art as well as Cancun’s magnificent coral reefs. Soon over 400 original sculptures will lie between depths of 9 to 20 feet, and so make for excellent viewing when either snorkeling or diving.

How does something this wonderful and unique come about? By simple artistic inspiration. Jason deCaires Taylor was the artistic brains behind the operation, and people have responded well to the idea.

Xel-Há Park is a large aquatic theme park south of Cancún with 22 acres (8.9 hectares) of lagoons and underwater caves for swimming and snorkeling. Named after the Mayan archeological site of Xelha, the theme park offers a variety of land and water activities and ecological attractions. Keep busy by swimming with dolphins, kayaking, crossing the Floating Bridge or diving off the Cliffs of Courage. More daring visitors will want to try Trepachanga, where crossing the rope-joined platforms is a feat of balance and strength to avoid plunging into the water below. The park uses admission fees to fund conservation efforts. Getting around Xel-Há is easy with the jungle train, and bikes are also popular to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Intrepid travelers can test their limits—and their nerves—while navigating the channels of Sac Actun Cenote System—the longest underground river network in the world. Located in the jungles of Tulum, visitors descend into the river via an ominous looking rock well, complete with a well-worn wooden ladder. Because it’s rather remote and difficult to access, Sac Actun proves an ideal destination for travelers looking to explore the beauty and mystique of Mexico far away from the crowds.

Known by locals as the Pet Cemetery because of the large number of animal fossils, Sac Actun Cenote holds a spiritual place in Mayan tradition and offers travelers spectacular views of hidden waterfalls, dark caverns dripping with stalactites as they swim through fresh water streams. Snorkeling options are also available for those looking to check out the scene even further below the surface.

観光名所で有名なカンクンの沖合いに全長8kmの小さなムヘレス島が位置しています。「女性の島」を意味するムヘレス島は、非常に美しい楽園の島で、マヤ神話に登場する誕生と医の女神からそう名づけられました。ムヘレス島はカリブの楽園ともいえる島で、美しいビーチが広がります。有名なシュノーケリング、ダイビングスポットもあり、マンチョネ・スリーフ、ケーブ・オブ・スリーピングシャーク、ウミガメ保護区では素晴らしい海の世界が広がっています。

ムヘレス島は、浮島に巨大ホテルが立ち並んでいるような風景が広がり、イダルゴ・ストリートの石畳の通りには、レヤデルカーメンのフィフスアベニューを連想させるたくさんのレストランやブティックが立ち並んでいます。 ムヘレス島は、カンクンに比べるとお値段もお安く、手頃に買い物やダイニングが楽しめます。