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Cancun, Mexico initially enjoyed status as part of the Mayan Empire before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. In the years leading up to Cancun's founding in 1970, most of the land has been part of a coconut plantation. Nine hotels opened in Cancun in the 1970s, launching the start of the modern tourist industry that fuels most of the activity in this area.

Downtown Cancun is a vibrant hub of shops and restaurants and where tradition and modernity go hand in hand. The main boulevard in the area is Tulum Avenue, which is very easy to recognize owing to the large sculpture of shells and shellfish in the middle of a traffic circle. It is known as "El Ceviche" and at night the feature is a particularly dramatic sight when illuminated. The avenue is filled with restaurants, cinemas, handcraft markets, shops, department stores and malls.

There's more great shopping to be had at Market 28, the city's largest and most popular open-air market where streets are lined with many shops and stalls. Come here for handmade Mexican crafts, souvenirs, silver jewelry and lots more. Attached to Mercado 28 is a small outdoor plaza known as Plaza Bonita which looks like a small Mexican village. Browse its specialty shops for Mexican handicrafts.

Go for a relaxing stroll in Las Palapas Park, the main park in Downtown Cancun where many residents love to meet and socialize. For an exciting and eclectic nightlife, Downtown Cancun is hard to beat. The choice of restaurants and bars is extensive, particularly along Yaxchilan Avenue, the so-called avenue that "never sleeps".

Take this self-guided Downtown Cancun walking tour to get the most from your trip.