British Airways launches direct flights to Cancun!

British Airways is stepping up their game after (and continuing) to deal with employee strikes and cancelled flights. British Airways launches 2 new direct flights from London Gatwick to Cancun, starting November 2010. Here’s the details and some Cancun inspiration!

The much awaited route will be serviced by Boeing 777s, making British Airways the only UK scheduled airline to offer this route directly. Tickets went on sale June 16th and the first flight leaves on November 3rd, taking off shortly after lunch and touching down in Cancun right before dinner. The flights will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Need a little inspiration for your holiday in Mexico?

Cancun for the beach-bum:

Famous for its white sand beaches along the coast, Cancun is home to some of the world’s most posh resorts, spas and golf courses. While the mister is practising his drive, you might want to discover one of these beaches.

• Playa Langosta (Km 5) – Small with calm waters, this beach has clearly marked swimming areas, great for families with kids.
• Playa Tortugas (Km 6.5) – Swimming is excellent here, thanks (but really no thanks) to erosion caused by Hurricane Wilma. You can find snorkellers here, paragliders and kayakers.
• Playa Cabaña Beach Club (Km 9) – Enjoy the resort experience without dishing out more than $10 for it. Hang out in one of the 32 cabanas, swim in the multi-level pool, bath on the sun deck and enjoy a bite to  eat at the restaurant or sushi bar.
• Playa Delfines (Km 20) – The swimming isn’t good here but the surfing definitely is. It is one of the few beaches that wasn’t scathed by Hurricane Wilma and is the best place to take surfing lessons.

Cancun for the adventurer:

The Mayan Riviera is incredibly rich in wildlife, fauna and landscape, both sea and sand. Stay dry by exploring Mayan caves and ruins or get wet by joining a snorkelling group, discovering the underwater world.

• Xel-Ha – Known as one of the world’s natural wonders, this open-sea aquarium is incredible.
• Aktun Chen – Walk inside a Mayan cave, learn the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, zip line through the jungle canopy and visit the wildlife zoo.
• Sian Ka’an – This small eco-tourism centre is known as one of the the greatest biosphere reserves in the world. Explore forests, lakes, mangroves, lagoons and reefs.

  

Cancun for the historian:

• Yamil Lu’um – Located atop the highest point of Cancun is this archaeological site. There are two structures, a temple and a lighthouse. They were discovered in 1842 and are thought to date back to the 13th and 14th c.
• Ruinas del Rey – Although smaller than other surrounding ruins, this one is also worth a visit. Although first found in the 16th c, it wasn’t explored by archaeologists until the early 1900s. Dating to the 2nd c BC, El Rey has two plazas (most Mayan cities only have one) and a pyramid.
• Tulum – This is one of Mexico’s best preserved Mayan sites which stand perched on a 12m high cliff in the Yucatán Peninsula. The most spectacular building in the complex is the Temple of the Frescoes.
• Chichén Itzá – Pre-Columbian, Chichén Itzá is a focal site for traveller’s looking to discover Mexico’s history. Most of the buildings have now been restored and are divided by Platforms.

Fancy a trip to Mexico? Finding cheap flights to Cancun is easy. If you’ve been before, share some of your stories from your trip? What did you enjoy doing most: laying on the beach, exploring the natural wonders or hiking up a Mayan pyramid?

Img: mdanys / flickr cc