THOUGH
MANY
KNOW
it
only
as
a
haven
for
spring
break
revelers,
Cancun
in
Mexico
has
grown
from
a
mostly
undisturbed
jungle
into
a
world-class
vacation
destination
with
a
developing
gay
scene
during
the
past
20
years.
My
partner
and
I
discovered
Cancun
five
years
ago
and
immediately
fell
in
love
with
the
white
powdery
coral
sand
beaches
and
clear
crystal
blue
water.
The
city
is
divided
into
two
zones,
downtown
Cancun,
or
“El
Centro,”
on
the
mainland
and
the
hotel
zone
on
Cancun
Island.
A
lagoon
to
its
east
and
the
Caribbean
Sea
to
its
west
frame
the
14-mile
long
island.
The
public
beach
toward
the
southern
end
of
the
hotel
zone,
adjacent
to
the
Hilton,
is
popular
with
local
and
visiting
gay
travelers.
Unlike
Mexico’s
more
established
gay
hot
spots,
such
as
Acapulco
and
Puerto
Vallarta,
there
are
no
gay-specific
accommodations
in
Cancun.
But
don’t
let
that
dissuade
you.
There
are
a
number
of
gay-friendly
hotels
such
as
the
Akul,
a
12-acre
property
in
the
center
of
the
hotel
zone
that
began
as
a
guest
ranch
for
dignitaries
and
celebrities.
During
the
high
season,
November
to
May,
you
will
often
find
half
the
hotel
occupied
by
gay
men
and
lesbians.
The
Akul
is
also
the
host
hotel
for
the
Cancun
International
Gay
Festival.
This
annual
event,
which
includes
a
series
of
parties,
a
Caribbean
cruise
and
sightseeing
tours,
attracts
more
than
1,000
participants,
primarily
gay
men
from
the
United
States,
Canada
and
Mexico.
The
2004
festival
will
be
held
May
6-10.
In
November,
to
mark
the
return
of
the
high
season,
there
is
a
smaller
but
growing
festival
called
the
Mayan
Riviera
Gay
Fall
Fiesta.
Kevin
Chappelle
with
Arco
Iris
Travel,
which
specializes
in
gay
travel
to
Mexico
and
is
the
official
U.S.
travel
agency
for
both
festivals,
credits
Cancun’s
mix
of
modern
hotels,
active
nightlife
and
rich
cultural
history
as
the
primary
reason
for
the
increased
interest
in
Cancun
as
a
gay
travel
destination.
YOU
SHOULD
NOT
be
concerned
if
you
do
not
speak
Spanish.
Like
most
of
the
major
tourist
areas,
the
locals,
especially
in
the
hotels,
restaurants
and
retail
shops,
speak
English.
Although
surrounded
by
ancient
history
and
often
referred
to
as
the
gateway
to
Mayan
culture,
it
is
the
nightlife
that
has
made
Cancun
famous.
And
you
will
find
plenty
of
life
in
Cancun’s
two
gay
clubs.
Karamba
is
the
place
to
go
for
great
dancing.
The
DJ
mixes
up
a
groovy
blend
of
salsa,
American
pop
and
’70s
disco.
The
club’s
crowd
begins
gathering
after
midnight
and
goes
until
7
a.m.,
with
Thursday
through
Sunday
being
the
most
popular
evenings.
Depending
on
the
night
of
the
week,
you
will
likely
find
a
drag
show
or
go-go
boys.
Picante
is
much
smaller
than
Karamba
and
has
more
of
a
neighborhood
bar
feel.
It’s
a
good
place
to
grab
a
few
drinks
before
hitting
the
dance
floor
at
Karamba.
With
only
two
primary
gay
establishments,
you
should
find
a
diverse
crowd,
with
a
fair
mix
of
gay
men
and
lesbians.
The
bars
are
about
a
15-minute
taxi
ride
from
the
hotel
zone
and
only
a
few
blocks
apart.
If
you
still
have
the
energy
after
dancing
the
night
away
and
can
pull
yourself
away
from
the
beach,
I
recommend
a
day-trip
to
one
of
the
ancient
Mayan
ruins,
such
as
Tulum
or
Chichen
Itza.
The
waters
surrounding
Cancun
are
also
great
for
snorkeling,
and
you
can
find
a
number
of
different
tours
to
fit
your
budget
and
schedule.
