“Nest of snakes” was the meaning given to the word Cancun. But, possibly the name of one of the most representative cities of Mexico has other meanings. In fact, recently “Place of the four lagoons” was spoken of as the true meaning. This, after a study, carried out by a civil organization with the help of Mayan linguistic specialists.
The deep meaning of the word Cancun goes beyond one. First, let’s mention the best known of all:
Nest of snakes
It is derived from the Maya “KAAN – K’ UU”. This meaning is the most accepted by visitors and locals. Related to this, a curious fact is that in Quintana Roo there are approximately fifty species of snakes and although these animals are not to the liking of everyone, only three of these species represent a risk to humans. Moreover, most of them are found in the Mayan zone. Raúl Pavón Abreu, the city’s first chronicler, stated that the Mayans considered this animal a deity, which could be the reason for its name, “Cancun”.
Place of the golden snake
It is derived from the word “KAANK’ UN” and is one of the most convincing proposals for many people. This contribution was made by Juan Ramón Bastarrachea, an anthropologist and specialist in the Mayan language. Gold can have many more explanations, and that is that the incredible sunrise and sunset that can be seen in the city is similar to the color and shine of gold.
Cancun hides many secrets and great stories that have to do with the mystical pre-Hispanic Mayan culture, which settled in the territory a few hundred years ago. Today, the heritage is manifested in every word of the Mayan language, in every tradition, and in every custom of each of the inhabitants.
We invite you to witness the marvels this glorious city hides and make them your own!
