Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

CANCUN :  OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

Cancun, Mexico is a popular tourist destination located on the Yucatán Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo.  Located on the Caribbean Sea, the Cancun region is sometimes known as the Mexican Caribbean.  Cancun is best known for its beach and party scene.  There are a multitude of restaurants and hotels to fit all budgets and that have wheelchair access.   If you are looking for culture, Tulum and other historic Mayan sites are located just a few hours drive away.  Accessibility in Cancun is better than most of Mexico, but is still a challenging area for wheelchairs.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, but given the high tourist concentration most people also speak English.

CURRENCY

The Mexican Peso is the preferred Currency but U.S. Dollars are often accepted.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

CANCUN : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Cancun International airport: The Cancun International Airport is relatively modern and accessible.  There are jet bridges to assist travelers.  The airport is primarily on one level with some areas requiring elevator access.  There are wheelchair accessible restrooms but no companion restrooms.  There is a large dining and shopping area. 

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Cancun Accessible: Cancun Accessible offers tours, transportation, equipment rental and other support for physically challenged travelers. 

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TAXI

There are no readily accessible taxis in Cancun for transportation.

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 SHUTTLE

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BUS

Unfortunately, the buses in Cancun are not wheelchair accessible.

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TRAIN (Light Rail)

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TRAIN (Heavy Rail)

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CANCUN: Accommodations

HOTELS

The Westin Resort and Spa: The hotel is located at the end of the Hotel Zone, the Westin is in a relatively quiet spot.  This is great for the traveler or family looking to escape some of the crowds.  The hotel has 4 accessible rooms with roll in showers.  The only challenge with the Westin is the ocean side beach access. There are some ramps from the hotel to the beach but they are not complete in all areas.  The pool area is fully accessible.  The lagoon side is more accessible with full wooden paths along the beach, there is one curb step but the beach does not require any ramps. 

There are several restaurants at the Westin.  Some are more accessible than others, but one can consistently eat near the pool, which is fully accessible. 

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CANCUN : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Cancun Accessible: Cancun accessible offers wheelchair accessible sightseeing tours to popular cultural sites such as Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Playa Del Carmen to name a few.

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ACTIVITIES

Isla Mujeres: Isla Mujeres is a popular island destination just outside of Cancun.  It is known for its more laid back atmosphere, beaches, and the arts.  Over the years there has been a growing artist community there. 

In order to get to the island you have to take a ferry, which does pose challenges, but the staff at UltraMar is committed to its passengers, and if you call ahead they will make sure to have the proper staff and resources to get a wheelchair onboard. 

Once arriving in Isla Mujeres one will find lots of cute streets w/ shops and restaurants.  Some of these places have stairs at the entrance, but many are accessible. 

La Playa Norte: (the north beach) is the most accessible with access directly from the main road, but you will need to have additional mats to support wheelchair access. 

La Isla Shopping Mall:  If you need a break from the sun, La Isla is a beautiful outdoor mall complete with ramps and other accessible features, such as restrooms.  There are many dining options there and also a movie theatre playing mostly American flicks. 

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Lorenzillos: Lorenzillos is located on the main strip. Lorenzillos is a mid/upper range seafood restaurant with full accessibility including a restroom on the main floor.  The restaurant is located right off the main street and has ramps to support access. 

JC Capitan: The restaurant is located near the Westin Spa and Resort (kilometer 19). JC Capitan is a mid range seafood restaurant with full accessibility and beautiful sunset views from the lagoon.  It has full ramps and is very accessible. The restroom is the only challenge; they do not have accessible restroom facilities.  

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Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Cancun Accessible: Accessible Cancun offers equipment rentals and other support for physically challenged travelers. 

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CANCUN : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The weather can be very hot – be sure to stay hydrated and out of the sun when appropriate. 

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