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One of Mexico’s popular areas for tourism, Cancun is known for having dreamy all-inclusive hotels, white-sand beaches, and being a rather inexpensive travel destination for the most part. And that isn’t just by chance. Cancun was created by the Mexican government to be just that—a perfect escape for visitors of all ages to enjoy all that the Mexican Caribbean has to offer.
The Cancun Project was a plan to turn the otherwise deserted island on the Yucatán Peninsula into an exciting, vibrant location made up of the Tourism Zone, Residential Zone, and the addition of an international airport just south of the island. The project took off in January of 1970, and it’s very hard to believe that just over five decades ago, the collection of sand dunes, lagoons, and jungle had been a forgotten place, once used by the Mayan civilization.
Visions of pristine, white sands stretching as far as the eye can see, met with crystal clear, turquoise waters might come to mind when thinking of Cancun or the Mexican Caribbean in general. Add in beautiful lagoons, coral reefs just offshore, some of the best all-inclusive resorts and dining in the world, and endless ways to spend your days, Cancun is the perfect vacation destination for many.
Let’s start with the beaches since they are one of the main reasons people make the trip in the first place. There are 11 beautiful public beaches in the hotel zone that are easy to reach and are worth the trip. Closest to the downtown area, Playa Langosta has been known to be great for kids, as the waves seem to be calmer and there’s a playground, restrooms, and restaurants nearby. Playa Delfines features umbrellas, restaurants, dolphin-spotting, and the iconic, colorful Cancun sign that many visitors like to take pictures with. Some resorts claim that they have their own private beach, and as secluded and private as they seem, all beaches in Cancun are technically public. This isn’t meant to discourage you from booking accommodations that have a “private beach,” since they’ll most likely have beautiful and peaceful beachfront property.
Cancun’s hotel zone, or zona hotelera, is a pretty long stretch of resorts and restaurants that often gets confused with being the city’s downtown. It’s a safe place for travelers to explore, and the bus system is an easy way to get around. You can spend your entire vacation in this area if you wanted to since there is so much to see and do!
After the beaches, Cancun is also known for its nightlife. The most well-known spot is Coco Bongo, the place to be for live performances and a party atmosphere. There are other clubs that become popular, especially during spring break. After the sun goes down, families will love hopping aboard a Spanish galleon replica to embark on a pirate cruise adventure that includes a riveting show and delicious meal. Cancun truly has something for all ages.
Getting out on the water is a must during your vacation. Take it easy and explore the region’s beauty on a kayak or SUP tour, or get your adrenaline pumping by trying out an aqua-rider—a jetpack experience that lets you fly out of the water! Jet skis and parasailing are classic watersports adventures that visitors love, and taking a lesson at the surf school is a fun way to try something new.
Cancun has some of the best conditions for snorkeling and scuba diving. Snorkeling is one of the most common activities, but you’ll be able to find tours and guides for both. AquaWorld has an extensive collection of tours or rentals that include watersports, fishing, boating, diving, and more. With various snorkel tours that allow you to see the Underwater Museum at Punta Nizuc, excursions and catamarans that take you to Isla Mujeres, and even their famous Jungle Tour, which allows you to captain your own speedboat through the mangrove jungle to Punta Nizuc for some snorkeling. AquaWorld also offers submarine tours, the Aquatwister, a theme ride on the water, and ferries to nearby day-trip destinations.
Day trips and tours that take you out of Cancun are very popular, and you’ll want to book a few during your stay. Visitors love traveling to nearby cenotes, or naturally occurring sinkholes filled with water that make for a refreshing swim and are really something to behold. As previously mentioned, the island of Isla Mujeres is a popular day trip and can be reached by ferry or catamaran. Other locations like Chichen Itza, Tulum, or even Xcaret are easily accessed by many bus tours often offering other amenities like lunch.
Archeological sites like Chichen Itza attract visitors from around the world. One of the most visited sites in Mexico, and one of the 7 Wonders of the World, you can find 26 Mayan Ruins on site, with the most famous being the Chichen Itza Pyramid. Although you can no longer climb the pyramid, tours will take you through the old and new sections of the ancient city, transporting you back in time and allowing you to take a glimpse into the ancient Mayan civilization.
Once an ancient Mayan port city, Tulum is a shorter bus ride away from Cancun. A coastal town filled with cenotes and jungles; Tulum also holds more Mayan Ruins sitting atop cliffs overlooking the Caribbean. A walled city, Tulum was once known as Zama, meaning City of Dawn, and thrived from the 13th to 15th centuries.
Aside from archeological sites, your day trip might include an amusement park. Xcaret is unlike any amusement park you’ve ever seen and is about an hour away from Cancun. With more than 50 attractions, this eco-archeological park skips the roller-coasters but still manages to offer thrills and a mystifying atmosphere. The purpose of this park is for visitors to fully immerse themselves in the natural and cultural world, with opportunities to interact with birds, animals, and sea creatures, as well as watching a Pre-Hispanic ball game or cultural show. One of the most popular experiences is swimming with dolphins.
Examples of discounted activities found on Quest Travel Club–Rates subject to change.
The Mexican Caribbean’s peak season starts in December and lasts through April. This is for a couple of reasons, most of which center around the weather. Although average highs never drop below 80 degrees, most people would agree that the milder and lower-80-degree weather is the best. During the summer it gets hot–something that can totally be balanced out by water activities and a day at the beach in general, but the threat of hurricanes also contributes to more favorable conditions starting in December. It’s also a season when most of the United States doesn’t have beautiful, 80-something-degree weather, and visitors would rather trade their snow for some sunshine over the holidays.
Something extremely important to consider is how popular Cancun gets for spring break. College students descend on the city from mid-March to early April, so you may want to avoid the area if you’re looking for fewer crowds and aren’t into the party scene. If you wait for late spring, you’ll find the beginning of deals that last until fall.
It’s helpful to stay either in the hotel zone or as close as you can to it since it’ll be easier to access beaches, shopping, restaurants, and other activities if you do. Renting a car is definitely not needed when visiting Cancun, but you should book a shuttle from the airport to your accommodations ahead of time to save time and money. Many day trips include transportation, and many resorts have many different activities and amenities on the property that’ll keep you entertained.
If you’re looking to stay for a week in Cancun, see what the RCI Exchange has available. With many resorts available, you can choose how luxurious you want your accommodations to be. Most resorts will be all-inclusive, so you won’t have to worry about a thing while you’re there, just make sure to look at the fee information before booking!
