Check out our complete guide to what to do in Cancun, with all the 12 best attractions and tours for a perfect trip to this destination in Mexico.
1. Playa Delfines (and many other beaches)
If you’re dreaming of white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and a vibrant atmosphere, Cancun is the ideal destination. There are many incredible beaches there, and any one of them will enchant you. But we particularly recommend Playa Delfines, which has turquoise waters and incredible panoramic views. It’s free to access, it’s accessible to everyone and you can take beautiful photos.
The cool thing is that the beach is on a kind of peninsula, to the south of the Hotel Zone (15 minutes by car), so the view is really different.
- Important tip: Cancun is a city with many beautiful neighborhoods and tourist attractions, such as day trips and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
2. Isla Mujeres Occidental Coast National Park
This is a beautiful day trip and a must for anyone going to Cancun. The Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres National Park is a center of natural beauty, where you can enjoy coral reefs and marine life in their natural habitat – as well as sunbathing and diving in one of the most beautiful and desirable settings in the world.
The site can only be visited by boat/speedboat, and there is a symbolic entrance fee to enter. As it’s a very popular spot, we preferred to book the tour in advance through this Cancun tours website, which gives you all the information, itinerary and price. It was very worthwhile and we recommend it.
3. Xcaret water park
Don’t skip this item. Even if you’re traveling without children (and especially if you’re traveling as a couple), this park is a “must do” in Cancun. Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park that combines adventure and culture, with various water activities, a lazy river, water slides, zip lines, shows..
We guarantee that the ticket is worth every penny, it was one of the most fun and memorable trips we made there. The website we recommended above also sells this tour, so if you want to check prices on a reliable site, you can go straight to the Xcaret tour page.
4. Chichén Itzá
We’ve reached the most ICONIC point in Cancun, which brings together all the Mayan mystery and allows us to travel back in time to this civilization. You can’t go to Cancun and not visit Chichén Itzá, an area of rich constructions and ruins dating from between 600 AD and the 13th century.
Admission is required, but the experience of exploring this archaeological wonder is incomparable. Find out more about the tour, costs and tickets here. On the day of your visit, remember to bring cool clothes, a hat, sunscreen and LOTS of water. We got sunstroke because of the temperature, as the whole space is open and absorbs a lot of heat. Watch out for those with low blood pressure.
- On the day we did this tour, we combined it with Cenote Chichi Kan, which is relatively close by. It’s great for cooling off.
5. Cenotes
Cenotes are a unique attraction in Cancun, and Cenote Dos Ojos, Chichi Kan, Ik Kil (Yucatán) and Zací (Valladolid) are some of the most impressive, in our opinion. Dive into their crystal-clear waters, jump from the top of the Cenote and take beautiful photos in these places. You can spend at least 1.5 hours enjoying these truly magical spaces.
- Entrance to the cenotes is paid. See more information on where we bought ours here.
6. Coco Bongo (and other famous nightclubs in Cancun)
Don’t forget that nightclubs are also tourist attractions and one of the best things to do in Cancun. If you’re not a big fan of nightlife and can only choose one, we recommend Coco Bongo, which is the most famous and functions as a nightclub and concert hall.
As well as the music and the nightclub atmosphere (in a giant space), you’ll find plenty of dancing and spectacular performances, with lots of pyrotechnics. With tickets available online, guarantee your place at this unforgettable show.
- Wear appropriate attire: Cancun’s nightclubs may require more formal attire. Be prepared to gain entry without any problems. If in doubt, wear pants, a shirt and closed shoes (men) or dresses and high heels (women).
- Are you a fan of clubbing? Don’t miss The City, Mandala, Dady’O and Señor Frogs (more informal), which we consider to be the best in Cancun.
- Looking for something different from the clubs? Try the open area of Parque Las Palapas. With cultural and gastronomic events, full of outdoor bars, it’s the ideal place to experience the authenticity of Cancun at night.
7. Shopping at La Isla Shopping Village
For a premium shopping experience, visit La Isla Shopping Village, a shopping center with an incredible variety of designer stores and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon, as the space is open and beautiful, outlet-style. The prices are very good and you can find lots of souvenirs.
- Extra tip: it’s not unmissable, but if you have time and want to do some authentic shopping, visit Mercado 28. It’s a simple place where you’ll find local handicrafts, clothes and souvenirs.
8. Contoy Island
A natural refuge to enjoy on a day trip. Venture to Isla Contoy, an uninhabited island of extraordinary beauty, which you can reach by boat (available for a reasonable price). Enjoy the sea, deserted beaches and exuberant wildlife on a day out here.
- Extra tip: if you have time to spare in Cancun and like this kind of trip, you can also visit Isla Holbox, a lesser-known but equally charming island. It can be reached by ferry, making it a peaceful getaway.
9. Underwater Art Museum (MUSA)
A veritable gallery at the bottom of the sea, the Underwater Museum of Art has been promoting a unique experience since 2009, where you snorkel to see a gallery of submerged sculptures. Not everyone does this tour, but it’s worth it if you have more days. It’s very special and includes a catamaran ride.
There are more than 500 sculptures located between 3 and 6 meters deep – occupying an area of 420m². A curiosity is that the sculptures are made of a material that helps coral proliferation, so there is a sustainable awareness of the local fauna. See the tour page of the agency we visited here.
10. Xplor Park
Do you have more days in Cancun and have already been to Xcaret? Look for Xplor, in Playa Del Carmen, another park with even more adventure for you to enjoy. With zip lines, underground rivers and amphibious vehicles, this park is great for those with time to spare. It also requires an entrance ticket, so go ahead with a paid excursion to Xplor.
11. Kabah Urban Park
Tired of the hustle and bustle? Relax in the middle of the city at Parque Urbano Kabah, a green oasis in the heart of Cancun. Admission is free and it’s the perfect place for a quiet picnic. It’s worth it for those with more travel time to spare.
12. El Rey Ruins
Explore the El Rey Ruins, an archaeological site of Mayan ruins by the sea, to learn a lot about local history in the open air. Don’t miss the iguanas, which occupy this site in droves. With affordable tickets (free on Sundays), you can walk among the ruins and learn about the fascinating history of the region. There is parking and a bus stop on site.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to Cancun, staying in the best regions is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
Where to reliably buy tickets for tours in Cancun?
To save time and money, buying travel tickets online is always the best option, in our opinion. And we’ve traveled the world a lot and, after doing a lot of research, testing and getting to know people, we discovered the company that offers the best tours in Cancun, at very good prices.
We use this Cancun tours website in excursions to secure our tickets, as they always get very cheap discounts on various tours around the world, which helped us to visit more sights during our trip. It’s always worth taking a look at their tours when traveling.
Buying on their website helps you save time that would otherwise be wasted queuing at the ticket offices, not to mention the risk of running into sold-out tickets. They also allow each traveler to rate the tours they have already taken so that you can see their real opinions. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting quality and safe tours.
Save money on your trip to Cancun:
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
