CANCUN TRAVEL GUIDE
50 Things to Do
Cancun, a city in Mexico, is known for its beautiful beaches and resorts along the coast of the Caribbean Sea. There is more to Cancun than sunbathing on the beach! Things to do in Cancun include visiting the Yucatan traditional attractions, visiting the downtown area, exploring the hotel zone area and sunbathing on beautiful beaches.
Places to See in Cancun
Where to go around the hotel zone, downtown Cancun, and surrounding areas.
1| Boulevard Kukulkan
Kukulkan or Kukulcan Boulevard is the main road along the hotel zone in Cancun. This long street has most of the major hotels in Cancun, as well as cafes, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shops. The street is also the main route for public buses.
Address: Boulevard Kukulkan KM. 11.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
2| Dancing Man Wall Art
One of the beautiful walls in Cancun is located on Calle 3 road just off Avenue Yaxchilán. The art of a man dancing is painted on the side wall of a karaoke bar.
Address: 26 Calle 3 Cancún, Quintana Roo.
3| Dolphin Discovery
Located in Isla Mujeres, an island just twenty minutes away from Cancun, Dolphin Discovery is the place that will present you with the opportunity to swim with dolphins, as well as giving them hugs and kisses.
4| SleepWalk Wall Art
This colorful wall located at Avenue Yaxchilan and Punta Nicchehabi is one of my favorite, especially the drawing of the man reading a book. It’s awesome. As soon as you exit Avenue Yaxchilan, the art wall is right there where Punta Nicchehabi starts.
Address: 60 Punta Nicchehabi Cancún, Quintana Roo.
5| Parroquia de Cristo Resucitado
This catholic church in Cancun attracts tourists because of its architecture, however, some Christians simply go there to pray in this beautiful church in Cancun. Address: Kilómetro 3.5, Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
6| Hotel & Spa Xbalamque Cancún Centro
This hotel is one of the interesting and artistically designed buildings I have ever seen. The ambiance it brings to this area is beautiful and screams ‘Mexico traditions’. The theme of the art is that of the Mayan. This is a fully functional hotel with a Mexican restaurant, a bar that plays live music, an outdoor pool, a spa, and a theater. For more information click here.
Address: Av. Yaxchilan No. 31 Mza. 18 Lt. 18 SM. 22, Zona Centro, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Also see: Day Trip to Chichen Itza: What to See | Visiting Cenote Ik Kil from Chichen Itza
7| Maya Cancun Museum
Museo Maya de Cancun is a beautiful museum in Cancun exhibiting artifacts. There are ruins and a pyramid in the back of the museum. Address: Blvd. Kukulcan km 16.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
8| La Parrilla Cancun
This is one colorful and traditional looking restaurant that will remind you that you are in Mexico. The restaurant is on Calle Rosas Road and line together with some of the most colorful places in Cancun. The big cow statue outside will make you smile.
9| Cancun Underwater Museum
The Underwater Museum in Cancun has sculptures deep in the ocean at Cancún National Marine Park. This museum is a treasure and tourists can see the exhibits by snorkeling, scuba diving and taking boats with glass bottoms.
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
10| Coco Bongo Nightclub
Coco Bongo is the most famous nightclub in Cancun. People go there for all sorts of entertainment and live shows. If you want VIP treatment in the club then you pay more money for your entrance ticket.
11| El Poblano
Address: 22 77500, Calle Rosas 31, 24, 77509 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Other Places to See
12| Dolphinaris Cancun: Enjoy a swim with dolphins at Dolphinaris Cancun.
13| Shop and enjoy the restaurants and cafes on Tulum Avenue.
14| Go to Interactive Aquarium to see beautiful and interesting water creatures.
15| Enjoy a day out with kids at this 326-acre eco-park, Hacienda Tres Rios Park.
16| Spend a quiet time admiring beautiful vegetation and wildlife at Urbano Kabah Park. Address: Av Nichupte, Benito Juárez, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
17| Visit Casa Maya Museum, a replica of a traditional Mayan house showcasing how the Mayan people lived.
18| Take on water jetting or wind-surfing and experience the adrenaline rush.
19| Go fishing; talk to your hotel concierge for fishing tours and charters in your area.
20| Play golf at one of these best golf courses in Cancun.
21| Go parasailing in the beautiful waters of Cancun.
22| Take a cruise, snorkeling tour, and submarine tours. More on these tours here.
23| Go kayaking and canoeing; ask your hotel concierge for recommended tours or places.
Top Beaches in Cancun
There are so many beaches in Cancun, but the ones below are the best and most popular beaches in Cancun.
24| Playa Delfines
25| Playa Tortugas
26| Playa Caracol
27| Playa Langosta
28| Playa Linda
29| Playa Chac Mool
Hotel in Cancun
Beautiful hotel near the beach?
30| Aloft Cancun
This 4-star hotel is nice and clean. The rooftop swimming pool is amazing and the sitting area is colorful and playful. When you are sitting there you can see the beautiful view of Cancun and the beach. For more information, here is their website.
Where to Shop in Cancun
Cancun Hotel Zone
31| La Isla Shopping Village
La Isla is a big shopping complex in the heart of Cancun and the Hotel Zone area. La Isla has well-known shops such as Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, and Nine West. You will also find local boutiques and shops selling souvenirs. The shopping center is full of very nice restaurants and cafes.
Address: km 12.5, Blvd. Kukulcan 262, La Isla, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
32| Kukulcan Plaza
This shopping center in the hotel zone area in Cancun has well-known shops and brands from around the world. Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier are a few well-known designer brands with shops here. You will also find shops with cheaper clothing items, as well as a few cozy restaurants.
33| Forum by the Sea
If you are looking for a shopping experience near the sea, this is the place. There is a wide selection of restaurants, perfect for a day out with family.
34| Coral Negro Flea Market
For Mexican clothes, goods and souvenirs, visit this flea market. It also does have foreign goods.
Downtown Shopping Area
35| Plaza Las Americas
Here you will find all sorts of shops and restaurants, among other things. You will find well-known shops such as Zara, as well as local boutiques, department stores, and other various goods shops.
36| Mercado 28
Mercado 28 (Market 28) is a very popular flea market in Cancun that offers food stalls and small shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and other local goods. Just like a flea market, Mercado 28 has a lot of Mexican goods sold at reasonable prices. The place also has local food sold and street performers.
Address: Xel-ha m 2 13 sm 28, 28, 77501 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
37| Market 23
This is another market with a Mexican theme; if you want to experience true Mexican culture, this is the place to go.
38| Plaza Galerias
This small shopping center is found in Cancun as you go towards Mercado 28. It has goods that are sold at reasonable prices. Those looking for a bargain will find something here.
Address: Plaza Galerías, Av. Tulum, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México.
Restaurants Serving Traditional Food
39| Los Arcos
Address: Los Arcos de la Yaxchilan, Calle Rosas, 22, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 14.2, No.1, Hotel Zone, Cancun, Q. Roo., CP77500
Address: Carr. Puerto Juarez – Punto Sam Km. 3.5, Juárez, 77520 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
Traditional Food to Eat in Cancun
Downtown Cancun restaurants are more traditional than those located in the hotel zone area. However, there are food trucks in the hotel zone area that sell tasty Mexican food.
Pescadillas: Fried fish tacos.
Papadzules: Tortillas made of corn and filled with boiled eggs, pumpkin seeds sauce and red chili sauce.
Caldo de Camaron: Shrimp spicy dish with chili.
Day Trips from Cancun
You can hire a car and drive to popular sites and attractions outside Cancun, or you can take a day tour via Viator or your hotel.
42| Chichen Itza Day Trip from Cancun
Chichen Itza is one of the most visited sites in the whole of Mexico and is one of the 7 wonders of the world. After seeing the Mayan ruins, you can proceed to Cenote Ik Kil for a nice dip in the clean waterhole. You can rent a car and drive there yourself or board a tour bus.
43| Tulum Ruins Day Trip from Cancun
Visit this Mayan walled city and see archaeological sites that will show you how the Mayan people lived and what they believed in. Temple of the Frescoes is the must-see attraction there. Tours and tickets for Tulum are here.
44| Xcaret Day Trip
At Xcaret Park, visitors can snorkel, ride river rafts, go walking through the jungle in the well-paved walking trails, and see Maya archaeological sites. While there you are there you can go up the Scenic Tower of Xcaret (Torre Escenica) and enjoy a panoramic view of Xcaret Park and the beautiful sea in the background. You can find tours on Viator or you can drive there yourself.
45| Isla Contoy Day Trip from Cancun: If you love snorkeling you will love this place.
46| Isla Mujeres Day Trip from Cancun: Isla Mujeres is a small island located just a short distance from Cancun. You will find beautiful beaches here, as well as restaurants and shops.
47| Yucatan Coast Day Trip: Another great day tour for those who want to snorkel and swim with whale sharks.
48| Day trip to Xplor Park
49| Day trip to Xenotes Oasis Maya
50| Day trip to El Rey Maya Ruins.
Other Important Information
Transportation | Weather | Language | Religion | Money
Transportation: There are public buses that can take you between places in Cancun, for example from the hotel zone to downtown Cancun. R-1 and R-2 buses serve the Cancun area. Search for specific routes on rutadirecta.com.
For places further away from Cancun and the airport, ADO buses are very reliable. We took the ADO bus from downtown Cancun to Chetumal, Mexico, and the journey was smooth and safe. Tickets are reasonably priced as well. However, if you want to freely travel and see as many places as possible, hiring a car might be your best option.
Language: Spanish and English.
Religion: Cancun is predominantly Catholic.
Money / forex: Pesos
Weather:
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