Though Cancun is known primarily as a luxury travel destination – home to plush resorts, scenic beaches and all forms of entertainment – the city's ideal placement amongst the rugged and diverse Yucatan Peninsula has also allowed this Caribbean hotspot to serve as one of the world's top recreation destinations. After gaining popularity as a world-class recreation and ecotourism destination in recent years, the city of Cancun was granted the prestigious honor of hosting one of the Ironman tour's premier 70.3-mile triathlon events. In addition to serving as a qualifying event for the Ironman World Championship, the Cancun Ironman 70.3 offers visitors an opportunity to see some of the world's top athletes with an awe-inspiring natural backdrop. The Cancun Ironman 70.3 competition will be staged this year on September 20.
The 1.2-mile swimming leg of the Cancun Ironman 70.3 takes place at Nizuc Beach, a exotic stretch of sand located at the southern end of the Hotel Zone. Though set just a short distance from many of Cancun's top resorts, Nizuc Beach feels like a secluded destination, as the calm water is protected by the southern tip of the peninsula and the beach is bordered by a patch of lush jungle. Both during the event and throughout the year, the water offshore from Nizuc Beach usually tops 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ironman competitors swim a looped course that is both close to the shore and marked off with buoys, allowing spectators to easily enjoy the race. Though not one of Cancun's most popular beaches, Nizuc Beach also offers an intriguing year-round destination for those hoping to experience the natural diversity of the Mayan Riviera without leaving the convenient Hotel Zone.
After completing the swim, competitors move on to the biking leg, a 56-mile trip that follows Kukulcan Boulevard through the hotel zone towards the Cancun Airport and Playa del Carmen. As many sections of the course are closed to vehicle traffic during the event, spectators can enjoy front-row views of the race near many of the top resorts. After traveling through the Hotel Zone, the bike course approaches the Cancun-Merida highway where spectators can find several more comfortable vantage points, especially near the repair and refreshment tents. Along the segments of the course outside of the Hotel Zone, both competitors and spectators will also be greeted with superb views of the Caribbean Sea and Cancun's famous white-sand beaches.
The Ironman 70.3 Triathlon closes with a 13.1-mile run along Kukulcan Boulevard. As the course is closed to vehicle traffic much like the bike race, the half-marathon offers another excellent opportunity for visitors to witness some of the world's best athletes in the heat of competition. Known not only on the Ironman circuit, but throughout the running world, as "the most beautiful half-marathon in the world," the race has become a highly anticipated event in Cancun, visited by locals and tourists alike. The race starts up the Caribbean side of Kukulcan Boulevard, offering views of the luxurious Hotel Zone and the sparkling blue Caribbean Sea. On the return route, the course passes within short distance of the peninsula's famous Mayan ruins, while hugging the picturesque Nichupte Lagoon and the Mexican mainland. Though the Ironman event brings this incredibly scenic route into sharper focus for some visitors, these sights can be enjoyed every day of the year by tourists staying in Cancun's Hotel Zone.
Though only in its fourth season, the Cancun Ironman 70.3 has already become one of the city's most popular events. While spectators will be granted an exciting opportunity to witness a world-class sporting event amongst incredible scenery, travelers visiting Cancun later in the tourism season can also retrace some of the triathlon's scenic route by taking a dip off Nizuc Beach or walking Kukulcan Boulevard – site of the half-marathon and portions of the bike race – through the heart of the Hotel Zone.
Justin Burch writes about travel in Cancun for the Marriott Resorts
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