Cancún is beach first, everything else second, and the beaches are the kind you see on screensavers: powder-white sand, a sea that runs from milky turquoise to deep blue, and a long Hotel Zone strip with the Caribbean on one side and a lagoon on the other.
But this is also the doorstep to the Yucatán Peninsula, and the extras are what make a trip. Maya pyramids, swimming holes in the jungle floor, tiny car-free islands and some of the best street food in Mexico are all within reach of your sunbed.
Don't miss
Beaches and islands
The Caribbean at its best, from a public beach on the Hotel Zone to an island you can only reach by boat.
Playa Delfines
Beach
Photo: jc_castaneda, CC BY-SA 3.0 At the southern end of the Hotel Zone, this long, wide public beach has soft white sand, big turquoise waves and a clear view along the coast. The colourful Cancún sign here is one of the most photographed spots in the city.
Tip: Check the beach flags before you swim. The surf here can be stronger than at the calmer, sheltered beaches.
Isla Mujeres
Beach
Photo: Kirt Edblom from Albany, Oregon, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 A short ferry ride from Cancún, this small island has a relaxed pace, golf-cart traffic and Playa Norte, a gentle, shallow beach with powdery sand and calm, clear water. Hire a golf cart to explore the rest of the island, and stop for fresh seafood.
Holbox
Beach
Photo: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0 A long, thin island off the northern tip of the Yucatán, with sandy streets, colourful murals, hammocks and no cars to speak of. It's slow, quiet and about as far from the Hotel Zone as it feels. Most people stay at least a night.
Isla Contoy
Nature
Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SA 2.0 An uninhabited national park island north of Isla Mujeres, protected as a bird sanctuary, with white-sand beaches and clear water. Visitor numbers are limited, so you go with a licensed boat tour.
Maya ruins
Chichén Itzá
Day trip
Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 The great Maya city in the heart of the Yucatán is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and El Castillo, the stepped pyramid of Kukulcán, is as impressive as every photograph suggests. Walk the ball court, the Temple of the Warriors and the observatory, and imagine the city at its height.
Tip: Go early, before the heat and the coach parties. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
Tulum
Day trip
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0 A walled Maya port perched on a cliff above the Caribbean. The ruins themselves are small, but the setting is spectacular: stone temples above turquoise water, with a little beach below. It pairs well with a swim at a nearby cenote.
El Rey
Landmark
Photo: In Vitrio, CC BY-SA 4.0 A small Maya site inside the Hotel Zone, with temples, platforms and iguanas sunning on the stones. It's a quick, easy way to see the Maya past without a long excursion, and it's peaceful in the early morning.
Cenotes and the reef
Cenote Ik Kil
Nature
Photo: Shinya Suzuki, CC BY 2.0 Close to Chichén Itzá, this open-air cenote is a round sinkhole ringed by hanging vines, with a flight of steps down to the cool water. A swim here is the perfect way to cool off after a morning of ruins.
Gran Cenote
Nature
Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 Near Tulum, Gran Cenote is a set of crystal-clear, shallow caverns with stalactites overhead, where you can snorkel through light shafts in the limestone. It's one of the most beautiful and best-known cenotes in the region.
MUSA underwater museum
Activity
Off the coast of Cancún and Isla Mujeres, hundreds of sculptures have been sunk on the seabed to form an underwater art gallery that's now gradually becoming part of the reef. Join a snorkelling or diving trip to see them.
Eat, drink and go out
Tacos al pastor
Food
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0 Thin slices of marinated pork shaved from a spit and tucked into small corn tortillas with pineapple, onion and coriander. They are the street-food star of Mexico, and the taquerías in downtown Cancún do them well.
Cochinita pibil
Food
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0 The Yucatán's signature dish: pork marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaf and slow-cooked until it falls apart, then served in tacos with tangy red onion. Order it with a lime and a splash of habanero salsa if you dare.
Mercado 28
Market
Photo: Kirt Edblom, CC BY-SA 2.0 A long-running market in downtown Cancún selling crafts, hammocks, souvenirs and local food. Haggling is part of the fun, and the small restaurants behind the stalls serve cheap, tasty Yucatecan dishes.
Parque de las Palapas
Neighbourhood
Downtown Cancún's main park is where locals gather in the evening, with food stalls, music and families out for a stroll. It shows you the everyday city away from the Hotel Zone, and it's a good spot for cheap street food.
Coco Bongo
Nightlife
The Hotel Zone's famous show-club mixes live music, acrobatics, costume changes and a full dance floor. It's loud, big and very Cancún, and it draws a lively crowd most nights of the week.
Tip: Book ahead, especially at busy times.
Where to stay in Cancun
Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Cancun →
★★★★
Hotel Las Nubes Holbox
Holbox Island
Spa · Pool · 27 rooms
See prices and rooms →
★★★★
Holbox Dream Beachfront Hotel
Isla De Holbox
Beach 40 m · All-inclusive option · Spa
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★★★★★
Sandos Cancun All Inclusive - Adults Only
Cancun
Beach 10 m · Adults only · All-inclusive option
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★★★★
All Ritmo Cancun Resort & Water Park
Cancun
All-inclusive option · Spa · Family-friendly
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★★★★
Aloft Cancun
Cancun
Beach 50 m · All-inclusive option · Pool
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★★★★★
Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort
Cancun
All-inclusive option · Spa · Rooftop pool
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★★★★
Ambiance Suites Cancun
Cancun
Pool · 48 rooms · Parking
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★★★★★
Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resorts
Isla Mujeres
All-inclusive option · Spa · Pool
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Getting around
Public buses run the length of the Hotel Zone and into downtown, and taxis are plentiful, so agree the fare before you set off. Ferries to Isla Mujeres leave from the north of the Hotel Zone and from Puerto Juárez. For Chichén Itzá, Tulum and the cenotes, hire a car or book a tour.
When to go
The drier months, roughly November to April, are the most popular, with sunshine and lower humidity. Summer is hotter and wetter, and hurricane season runs through the autumn. Seaweed can affect some beaches at certain times of year, so check before you travel.
Questions about visiting Cancun
- What is Cancún best known for?
- White-sand Caribbean beaches, the Hotel Zone, nightlife, and easy day trips to Maya ruins such as Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
- Is Cancún worth visiting?
- Yes. It combines reliable sunshine and great beaches with Maya ruins, cenotes and islands that are easy to reach.
- What is there to do in Cancún with kids?
- Calm beaches, snorkelling trips, cenote swims, the MUSA sculptures and a day on Isla Mujeres are all popular with families.
- How many days do you need in Cancún?
- A week gives you time for beach days, a day trip to Chichén Itzá or Tulum and a visit to Isla Mujeres or Holbox.
- Do you need a car in Cancún?
- Not for the Hotel Zone, where buses and taxis are easy. A hire car or an organised tour is useful for ruins and cenotes.
More guides
- Where to stay in Cancun
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