Cancun City Information

Population:
400,000

Location:
In the State of Quintana Roo, off the northeastern end of the Yucatan peninsula, directly south of New Orleans. Approximately 1.5 hours flying time from Miami.

Elevation:
16 feet

Area:
Cancún city is located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and is essentially a service town for the resort area of Cancún situated on L-shaped Cancún Island (13 miles [21 km] long by 0.25 mile [400 m] across). The resort area of Cancún (also called the Zona Hotelera ["Hotel Zone"]) is linked by a causeway to Cancún city.

Languages:
Spanish and Mayan, but English is spoken in most areas. The original inhabitants of this part of Mexico were Mayan and although Spanish is the official language, most of the indigenous population still speaks their native tongue. In the past few years, people from all parts of the world have settled here, giving this region a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is fairly easy to encounter English, German, Italian and French- speaking people, especially in hotels and in larger towns.

Time Zone:
Central Standard year round. The time is one hour behind that of New York City. When it is 11:00am in New York City; it is 10:00am in Cancún.

Weather:
Cancún is warm year round, but the steady sea breeze tempers the heat. There is outdoor swimming all year. Rainfall is evenly distributed over the twelve months. The chance of hurricanes is greater in September and October. The sun reflected from the water is intense, so it is important to come prepared with sunblock. Most visitors wear shorts and T-shirts. A sweater is useful for air conditioned places and for the occasional cool winter day.

Tourist Assistance:
Secretariat of Tourism
91-800-90392

Consulates:
United States Of America 830272
Plaza Caracol II # 2 3rd Floor 832296
Canada 833360
Plaza Caracol II 3rd Floor #L330 833361

Currency:
New Peso, Old Peso, U.S.Dollar

Banks and Currency Exchange Facilities:
US Dollars are easily exchanged into pesos in banks, major hotels, airports and exchange houses. Mexican banks are open from 9 am to 2:30 pm weekdays only. Most credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels and travel agencies. Major purchases are best made with a credit card. You automatically receive the bank rate of exchange, which is higher than the rates given in town or at the hotels.

US Dollars and Mexican Pesos: In Cancún,. The US dollar is widely accepted, however, most prices are quoted in Mexican pesos. Usually, any price that has a decimal sign is in pesos. Pesos can also be indicated by a price like "N$35". The N stands for "new pesos". If you see a bill with a high value, in the thousands or millions, that is "old pesos" and you have to drop three zeros from the number to get the true value.

Exchange Rates:
If no exchange rate is posted, the usual rate is 8 pesos to the US dollar. Any posted rate will be lower than this.

Credit and Bank Cards:
Before you go, check with your credit card company to get their exchange rate for Mexican pesos. You may find that plastic is more economical than cash for some purchases. However, small stores might charge an extra 10% for credit card sales, so you will need some cash. Cash advances and ATM withdrawals typically come in pesos. Major ATM cards work at ATMs at the big banks such as Banamex .Banks advertise their closing hour as 5 PM during the week.

Documentation:
Visitors to Mexico need a valid passport or must present an original birth certificate and photo ID. Minors traveling alone; with one parent; or with a relative or friend who is not their parent need notarized consent from parent(s). In addition, visitors must carry a Mexican Tourist Permit, which is issued free of charge after proof of citizenship upon arrival. This permit must be given to officials upon departure. If you lose your Tourist Permit while in Cancún, you can obtain a copy or permission to leave the country from the Immigration office located downtown.

Departure Tax:
is approximately US $17. Be prepared with US cash for this. Change may not be available. Children under 2 years are exempt.

Customs Regulations:
After passing through immigration, you must claim your luggage and pass through Customs. You must present a Customs form, which will be given to you at check-in before you leave the US or during your flight. You will be asked to press a button at a sort of traffic light: Green means go, red means your baggage will be briefly searched. Questions can be directed to the Customs office at the Cancún Airport at (52-98) 86-00-73.
Church Services:

Roman Catholic
Cristo Ray Church,15 Margaritas Street, Downtown Cancún
Daily Messes: 7A.M. and 7 P.M. Saturday: 7P.M.
Sundays: 8A.M., 11 A.M., 5P.M., 6:30 P.M., and 8 P.M.
840513.

Hotel Zone Masses
Cancún Baptist Fellowship, Hyatt Hotel each Sunday 10:00am
Hotel Camino Real , 10 P.M.
Continental Villas Plaza, Sunday 12 P.M.
Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, Sunday 10:30 A.M.
Presidente-Intercontinental, Saturday 6:30 P.M.
Sheraton, Sunday 10: A.M.
Chapel next to Plaza Nautilus, Sunday 10 A.M.

Presbyterian
Puerto del Cielo Church, 15 Crisantemos St. Downtown Cancún.
Sunday services: 10:45 A.M., 6:30 P.M.
842362

Episcopal
Marriott Casa Magna, Hotel Zone
Sunday services: 10 A.M. in English
852000

Electricity: The standard current in the hotels in Mexico is 110 volts AC. European travelers should bring a converter or check their electric devices in advance.

Telephones & Fax:
For local directory inquiries dial 847612.

From North America to Cancún:
Dial 011 (int'l access code) + 52 (Mexico's country code) + 98 (Cancún's area code) + the local number.

From Cancún, calling within North America:
Dial 00+1+area code+local number. Many US long-distance phone companies have access numbers that you must dial in order to use your phone card, usually through the Mexican telephone company public phones, Ladatel. Calls may be less expensive than direct-dialed calls from your hotel room. (Check your hotel surcharges before calling.)

Using Tel/Mex public telephones:
If you are calling within Mexico, you can pay for the call in cash or call collect. International calls are collect only at some casetas. The service charges may apply whether or not you connect and there might be an extra charge for information or any other service involving the international operator. Only use official TelMex phone booths for long distance calls, as all others charge very high fees, so high that the government is now removing the phones. The non TelMex phones usually have a little ad on them urging you to call collect, decorated with an American flag. Don't be misled by the ad.. use Telmex.

Ladatel
The least expensive way of paying for an international call is to buy a Ladatel card at one of the locations that sell them, such as the newsstand in front of the post office. These come in amounts from 30 pesos up. You put the card into a slot in a Ladatel public phone and direct-dial the number. The amount of credit you have left will appear on the display and be updated when you connect. The charges are automatically deducted from the card.

Credit Card Calls:
- Some credit cards will also work in Ladatel phones, including Master Charge and Visa International.