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Cancun, Mexico • North America

Cancun

The Caribbean gateway to the Yucatan - powder-white beaches, turquoise water, ancient Maya ruins and cenotes in the jungle.

#Beaches#Maya Ruins#Cenotes#Snorkelling#NightlifeCouplesFamilyFriendsBeachAdventure
7 Attractions
5 Restaurants
5 Hotels
1 Itineraries

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Quick facts

Best time to visit

December to April is the prime season - dry, sunny, warm days with calm, clear seas (and the highest prices). May to August is hotter and more humid. The hurricane and rainy season runs June to November, peaking September and October, with cheaper rates but a chance of storms and seaweed (sargassum) on the beaches.

Daily budget
$210
Time zone
GMT-5 (EST)
Language
Spanish (English in resort areas)
Currency
MXN (Mexican Peso (MXN))
Emergency
911
Power
Type A & B · 127V

About Cancun

Cancun sits where the Yucatan jungle meets the Caribbean, and its appeal is gloriously simple: some of the most beautiful beaches in the Americas, where fine white sand meets impossibly turquoise, bath-warm water. The Hotel Zone is a long sandbar of resorts, beach clubs and nightlife, while downtown Cancun keeps the everyday Mexico of taquerias and markets just a short bus ride away. What makes Cancun more than a beach break is everything within reach. This is the heart of the Maya world: the great pyramid of Chichen Itza, the cliff-top ruins of Tulum above the sea, and dozens of cenotes - sacred freshwater sinkholes in the jungle, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Offshore lies the world's second-largest reef, the laid-back island of Isla Mujeres, and the eco-parks of the Riviera Maya. Come between December and April for dry, sunny days and calm seas, slather on reef-safe sunscreen, and balance the beach with a day among the ruins and cenotes. It is paradise with a deep history just behind it.

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Things to Do in Cancun

7
Chichen ItzaHistorical

Chichen Itza

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this vast Maya city is crowned by the iconic El Castillo pyramid. A long but unforgettable day trip.

Half to full day From MXN entry (approx USD 30)4.7(200,000)
Tulum RuinsHistorical

Tulum Ruins

A walled Maya city perched on a cliff above a turquoise Caribbean beach - the only major ruins set right on the sea.

2-3 hours From MXN entry (approx USD 5)4.6(150,000)
Cenote Ik KilNature

Cenote Ik Kil

A breathtaking circular sinkhole of cool jade water ringed by hanging vines and waterfalls, perfect for a swim near Chichen Itza.

1-2 hours From USD 104.6(90,000)
Isla MujeresBeach

Isla Mujeres

A laid-back Caribbean island a short ferry from Cancun, with calm Playa Norte beach, golf-cart roads and snorkelling reefs.

Full day Ferry from USD 204.7(120,000)
Hotel Zone BeachesBeach

Hotel Zone Beaches

Miles of powder-white sand and turquoise water along the Hotel Zone, with public access points, beach clubs and watersports.

Half day Free public access4.6(140,000)
Xcaret Eco ParkEntertainment

Xcaret Eco Park

A sprawling eco-archaeological park with underground rivers, wildlife, a Maya village and a spectacular evening cultural show.

Full day From USD 1204.6(80,000)
MUSA Underwater MuseumCulture

MUSA Underwater Museum

An extraordinary underwater museum of more than 500 submerged sculptures off Cancun and Isla Mujeres, explored by snorkel or dive.

2-3 hours Tours from USD 504.5(40,000)

Where to Eat in Cancun

5
La Habichuela

La Habichuela

Mexican / Mayan $$$4.6(28,000)

A romantic, long-running downtown restaurant in a garden setting, famous for cochinita pibil and its signature Mayan coffee.

Tacos Rigo

Tacos Rigo

Mexican / Tacos $4.6(30,000)

A bustling local taqueria for cheap, authentic tacos al pastor, cochinita and aguas frescas, far from the resort prices.

Peter's Restaurante

Peter's Restaurante

International / Fusion $$4.6(12,000)

A cosy, chef-run downtown bistro mixing Mexican and international flavours, a favourite for a relaxed, well-priced dinner.

Lorenzillo's

Lorenzillo's

Seafood $$$4.5(22,000)

An over-the-water lagoon-side classic where you choose your own live lobster - touristy but a fun Cancun rite of passage.

Parque de las Palapas

Parque de las Palapas

Mexican / Street Food $4.5(18,000)

A lively downtown square of food stalls and palapas serving marquesitas, esquites, tamales and grilled antojitos after dark.

Where to Stay in Cancun

5
Nizuc Resort & Spa

Nizuc Resort & Spa

Luxury $$$$4.7(6,000)

A serene, design-led luxury resort on a private peninsula with multiple pools, a world-class spa and two beaches.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Resort $$$$4.7(9,000)

An all-inclusive eco-resort with rivers running through it and free access to the Xcaret group of parks - great for families.

NYX Cancun

NYX Cancun

Mid-Range $$$4.4(7,000)

A bright, good-value all-inclusive on a lovely stretch of Hotel Zone beach, popular with couples and families.

Hostel Ka'beh

Hostel Ka'beh

Hostel $4.4(5,000)

A friendly, well-run budget hostel downtown with free breakfast, a social vibe and easy bus access to the beaches.

Selina Cancun Downtown

Selina Cancun Downtown

Boutique $$4.2(4,000)

A hip, sociable flashpacker spot downtown with a pool, co-working space and a mix of private rooms and dorms.

Cancun Itineraries

1
4-day trip

Classic 4 Days in Cancun

easy USD 600 - 1,000

A balance of beach and adventure: Hotel Zone sand, the great Maya ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum, jungle cenotes and a day on Isla Mujeres.

View day-by-day plan

Cancun Budget Guide

CategoryBudgetMid-RangeLuxury
Flights$200 - $700$200 - $700$200 - $700
Accommodation$35/night$160/night$450/night
Food$20/day$45/day-
Activities$50/day$50/day$50/day
Local Transport$12/day$12/day$12/day
Daily Average$80$210$520

Local currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)

Cancun Travel FAQ

Everything you need to know before you go: best time to visit, visas, getting around, safety and more.

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