In Brief - Cancun, Mexico

TIME ZONE: Central
AREA CODE: 998
FOUNDED: 1970
POPULATION: 628,306
AIRPORT: Cancun Int'l Airport (CUN)
WEBSITE: www.cancun.travel/en

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BY THE NUMBERS

90+ hotels in the Hotel Zone, a narrow strip of land connected to the mainland by bridges

350 average days of sunshine on nearby Cozumel

1/3 the portion of Mexico's tourism revenue that is generated by Cancun alone

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NEWS FLASH

Rockin' Out /// It'll be easier to be a rock star for a day when Hard Rock International opens its first Mexican property, Hard Rock Cancun, in spring of 2012. The 601-room hotel will feature five restaurants, five bars, a 16,408-square-foot convention center and, of course, signature Rock Star Suites, which include one-of-a-kind rock memorabilia. www.hardrockhotels.com

Under The Sea /// Sebastian the crab did say everything was better (and wetter) under the sea, and perhaps he was right. Cancun's Underwater Museum celebrated its first anniversary in November, only months after adding its newest exhibit, Anthropocene. The 8-ton cement Volkswagen Beetle is filled with nooks and crannies to help it become an artificial reef. www.musacancun.com

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CULTURE CALENDAR

Jan. 25-26 BARRACUDA BASH, ISLA MUJERES
Calling all fishing enthusiasts: Try your hand in the annual barracuda fishing tournament — literally — as you hold onto the line and reel the fish in with your bare hands, sans pole, from a boat. Catch the biggest fish (beware, they put up a good fight) at this two-day event for a cash prize and a year's worth of bragging rights. www.wax-n-wane.com

Jan. 26-28 PUERTOS MORELOS MUSIC FESTIVAL 
Move over, mariachi. This seventh annual festival in the small seaport town of Puerto Morelos (20 miles from Cancun) features a completely local lineup of musicians playing everything from blues to reggae, proving that the best Mexican bands don't necessarily wear sombreros. Grab a blanket and make your way down to Central Park for free concerts while local sculptors, painters and craftsmen feature their work. www.puertomorelosfest.com