Flights Mexico City Cancun

Cancún, often spelled Cancun in English, is the most populous city in Quintana Roo, a southeastern state in Mexico. Located on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, it's a major tourist destination known for its position on the Caribbean Sea. Being one of Mexico's easternmost points, it's just north of the famed Riviera Maya resort area. Its name, derived from Mayan, intriguingly translates to 'nest of snakes' or 'place of the golden snake'. The city's emblem, designed by Mexican-American artist Joe Vera, reflects its coastal beauty with blue for the Caribbean Sea, yellow for the sand, and red for the sun. Despite its vibrant present, Cancún has a somber past, with its Maya population drastically reduced post the Spanish conquest. Today's Cancún is a planned city, purposefully developed for tourism since 1970.