It is true that the sea is a turquoise one only sees in pictures, and the beach has a softness that beckons like little else can. And true, too, that the resorts within it are virtually a world of their very own. But no trip to Cancun is complete without an excursion through the cultural and archeological marvels that lie beyond. For within and around this multifaceted resort city of the Yucatan can be found the cultural riches of modern Mexico intertwined with a legacy of architectural and cultural achievement left behind by the mighty Mayas that simply cannot go unexplored.

MUSEUMS & CULTURAL CENTERS In the northern end of Cancun�s famed Hotel Zone resides a little treasure that will whet the appetite of lovers of folk art everywhere: the Mexican Popular Art Museum. Situated in a tiny local establishment in the Embarcadero marina and arts complex, this museum houses a colorfully exquisite collection of folk art pieces from throughout Mexico, including masks, crosses, children's toys, trees of life and more. Other notables include replicas of a kitchen and a church, and life-sized figures meant to depict native peasants. The admission fee is $10 per person, and includes an audio tour.

Operated by the National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH) and located on the ground floor of the Cancun Convention Center, the Museum of Anthropology and History houses a collection of original artifacts culled from excavations of several pre-Hispanic settlements throughout the state of Quintana Roo. Admission is $3, Tuesday through Saturday, and free on Sunday. A multi-purpose community center in downtown Cancun, the Casa de la Cultura hosts weekly events that range from musical concerts, dances and plays to poetry readings. The center also boasts a gallery featuring works by local artists. Admission fees to exhibits and events vary, but are nominal.

Teatro Cancun, Cancun�s performing arts theater, sits in the Hotel Zone at the El Embarcadero marina and arts complex. The theater features two nightly dance shows from Monday to Saturday � the first, Voces y Danzas de M�xico (The Voices and Dances of Mexico), celebrates Mexico�s tradition-rich folk songs and dances; the second, Tradicion del Caribe, evokes the dances of the Afro-Caribbean. Admission is $29 for adults, and $14.50 for children 11 and under.

Every Wednesday, downtown Cancun�s bullring, the Plaza de Toros, comes alive with a show that combines bullfighting, folk dances and a Mexican rodeo. The ring, which seats 5,500, was opened in late 1989, and since then has maintained a record for the highest number of continuously running shows of any ring of its kind � an average of 52 a year. Admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children.

Though the city�s commercial and residential hub, Cancun�s downtown has embraced its lush natural surroundings to provide citizens and visitors alike areas ideal for rest and relaxation and engaging entertainment. Among Cancun�s downtown plazas and parks are the recently renovated Parque de las Palapas, where visitors can enjoy delectable � and inexpensive � regional food, music, dances, troubadours and even a Mayan-themed wedding; the Jardin del Artesano, which will soon serve as a meeting place and a showcase of art for artists and artisans from throughout the country and elsewhere; the Jardin del Arte, featuring artist works; the Jardin de las Tradiciones, where traditions in food, dance, song and more are on display; and the Jardin Bohemio, which will offer dance classes and more.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES In Cancun Located in Cancun�s famed Hotel Zone are the ruins of El Rey, the largest archaeological site in the city. It is estimated that El Rey was built around 300 A.D. The structures in it include 16 buildings, two plazas and two ceremonial walkways, all overlooking the Nichupt� Lagoon. The similarity in architecture it shares with the ruins of Tulum, Xel-Ha and El Meco suggest that the inhabitants had trade and cultural ties with other coastal communities. Inside structure 3B one can see murals and a niche containing a deep relief carving of a figure referred to as The King (El Rey). The admission fee to the site is $3.

Just north of Cancun�s downtown lie the ruins of El Meco, opened to the public only three years ago. This civic-religious center has 14 structures, including the largest pyramid in the northern end of the state of Quintana Roo, which offers an excellent view of Chacmochchuc Lagoon and the Caribbean. The admission fee is nominal.

Surrounding areas An early morning arrival is an especially pleasant treat when visiting sea-side Tulum, located about 1.5 hours south of Cancun, for not only is the afternoon heat evaded, but the nice cool breeze and the absence of crowds make a morning beach swim hard to resist. This walled city, which served as a seaport for Maya traders, appears to have originated around 564 A.D. The ruins are located about 86 miles south of Cancun. The admission fee is approximately $3, with an additional $3 charge for the use of non-commercial video cameras. No tripods are allowed.

Southwest of Cancun, near the colonial city of Valladolid lie the recently excavated, and as of yet little visited, ruins of Ek-Balaam. This site distinguishes itself for its remarkably well-preserved structures, its lush location, and its record as the longest continuously inhabited community � the Mayas arrived in 100 B.C. and remained until the Spanish arrived. The admission fee is nominal.

Visits to Coba, situated only about 20 minutes from Ek Balaam, can make for daylong affairs � this mega-complex of still largely unexcavated ruins lies in a dense, expansive stretch of jungle on the shore of two lakes. The site, which prospered between 400 and 1100 A.D., had at one time 50,000 residents residing in it, and boasts the largest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, the Nohoch Mul. The admission fee is $3.00. Bicycles and �bicycle taxis� are available at an extra charge.

Approximately 3 hours southwest of Cancun, in the state of Yucatan, one finds Chichen Itza, one of Maya culture�s most important � and today, most visited � cities. The ruins are divided into two groups � those built during the Classic period and those belonging to the Maya-Toltec era. The admission fee, which includes a nightly light show, is $8, in addition to a small fee for the use of non-commercial video cameras.

About Cancun A Mecca for travelers from all walks of life, with treasures for every taste, Cancun combines rich traditions and legends of the past with the luxury and comforts of the present � in the heart of an ancient and mysterious Mayan world. With 27,000 first-class hotel rooms, and a host of attractions from adventure, romance and golf, to spa, dining and shopping, Cancun is the Million Dollar Getaway. The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau invites visitors to experience the warm hospitality and natural wonders of Cancun. For further information, visit www.cancun.info.

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Media Contact: Ana Mari Irabien +52 998 8846531 amirabien@prodigy.net.mx