Cancun History
Cancun has the reputation of being a young and vibrant resort area, but it also has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Everywhere you go in Cancun you can see glimpses into this rich past.
	Mayas The mystical ancient Mayas settled the Yucatan, where Cancun is located, some thousands of years ago. They inhabited the region until about 60 years before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors in Mexico. During their magnificent reign of the Yucatan, they built the beautiful and famous buildings of Chichen Itzá: the Snail, the Castle, the Warriors Temple, the Ball Game, the Tzompantli, the Eagles House, the Osario, the Temple of the Chac Mool and more.
Discovery After the arrival of the Spanish and the then subsequent creation of the Country of Mexico, the Yucatan area seemed to fall away from the memories of the people and became forgotten. This Caribbean jungle region wasn't even given an official territory name until 1902. Then it was named after the illustrious army general Andréas Quintana Roo, even though he had never served in the area. The Creation Then, in 1960s, the Mexican government rediscovered the beauty of this area with miles of white sandy beaches on the Caribbean Sea. Until this time, only a few local fishermen and out-of-the-way travelers knew what the area had to offer. Lucky for us, the government chose to turn the barrier "7-shaped" island into the gorgeous resort of Isle Cancun.   Workers and their families came to the area and set-up a makeshift city that evolved into today's Cancun City. They bridged the island to the mainland, and paved the way to the prosperity of a magnificent and fun tropical getaway. They tamed wild mangroves and scrub brush into stunning manicured tropical gardens. Then they accentuated the vertical characteristics of the area with beautiful multi-story luxury hotels.
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