Cancun is situated in the young State of Quintana Roo. It is located on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, 1 hour by air from Miami, 2 hours from Mexico City. To the North is the Caribbean Sea with wide open beaches and strong waves. To the west the shore is buffeted by Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women) causing calmer waters. To the south, between the island and the mainland is the Nichupte Lagoon which is perfect for all sorts of water sports.
Bay fishing offers red snapper and bonefish; deep-sea fishing, especially in spring and summer, yields sailfish, marlin, and tuna.
The "hotel zone," which is what most tourists think of as Cancun, is a fourteen mile long, thin island shaped like a "7."