Mayans

The Maya were settled mostly in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula which rose from underwater and was made primarily of reef material. The lack of fresh water to drink was always a struggle for Mayan society and, as a result, the majority of Mayan population centers were built near cenotes (see-NOH-tays), natural "holes" (possibly sinkholes) in the ground that collected water and/or acted as wells to deep groundwater. Feeding the people of the cities was difficult, too. Agriculture is stymied by the jungle growths of the surrounding area. Much like the Romans, however, the Maya also had a sophisticated highway system for transporting goods and foodstuffs on paved, water-runoff-controlled roadways, which made their lives somewhat easier. The Maya were the super weapons designers of the pre-Columbian era so, they could easily fend off attacks from neighbors and other Mayan tribes (the local volcanic glass-obsidian-could be made into fearsome, sharper-than-today's-surgical-steel blades). The inventors of chocolate* (xocolatl), the Maya consumed massive quantities (mostly as a drink) and used it for money when trading with the locals who were all too happy to get some. Their biggest failure was to rely on God (the Great Modeler-Maker and Spirit of the Earth and Sky) and various sub-Gods (mostly from Xibalba, the underworld, death or hell) to cure their woes when the root of the problem was simply nature itself (drought, disease, famine). The people lost faith in their cultural and spiritual leaders when God/Gods would not answer the leaders' prayers and requests.

That said, the Maya solved more problems than they faced, being the intelligent, inventive and creative people they proved themselves to be, even when compared to modern day society. Genetically cultured corn, dentistry, astronomy, suspension bridges, the arch, running water, advanced sewerage, surgery, sutures, the number zero, concrete, the earth revolving around the sun, the earth being round and many, many other "firsts" belonged to this great civilization. The Egyptians only built about 100 pyramids; the Maya built close to 5,000 pyramids-including the world's largest one in Cholula... home of the hot sauce!

*Some may argue that the Aztecs invented chocolate but, they would be completely incorrect! The Maya predate the Aztecs by hundreds of years (containers used to store and make the cocoa bean confection have been verified by the remains of chocolate found inside them). Also, the Maya noted the arrival of the "stupid people that live in the hills without houses." Methinks the reason why the Maya thought the Aztecs to be stupid is that they did not speak the Mayan language! -InThree21

Cancun and the Mayan Riviera are on the eastern, Caribbean side of the Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun is at the northeastern corner of such Peninsula, while the Mayan Riviera is a stretch of land along the Cancun-Chetumal federal road, from Puerto Morelos (some 8 kilometers or 5 miles south of Cancun) down to Punta Allen, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) due south.

In terms of nightlife, Cancun has much more variety, including many bars and restaurants along the Zona Hotelera. If you prefer to see archaeological ruins, do some ecotourism or simply are looking for empty beaches where to spend some relaxing time, the Mayan Riviera is your best bet.