Reasons Why You Should Visit Cancn At Least Once In A Lifetime

Cancún, the party capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, may bring to mind raucous spring-break parties, but there are plenty of things to do if you want a more relaxed trip. Here are the top reasons to make the trip to Mexico’s most famous beach destination.

Discover the Yucatán Peninsula and see Mexico’s incredible attractions for yourself by booking Culture Trip’s nine-day, exclusive small-group tour.

To visit the underwater museum

Snorkel or dive at the Cancún Underwater Museum of Art to see some of the 470 underwater statues. The attraction is designed to give people somewhere else to visit to take some pressure off the overused reef.

The Cancún Underwater Museum of Art is well worth the dive – and you can swim with turtles

Take a day trip down the coast to the town of Tulum, home to some amazing cliffside ruins from the old Mayan port. It’s a unique spot, and there are great photo opportunities.

Journey to Tulum to see the beachside ruins

To swim with whale sharks

The biggest fish in the world are found in the waters off Cancún from May to September each year. Take a tour from Cancún or head to Isla Holbox or Cozumel.

Swim with a whale shark while you’re in Cancún

To take the family to Xel-Há park

Sign up for a day trip to Xel-Há water park, home to slides, snorkeling and boat trips. It’s great for kids, but it’s a lot of fun for adults, too. Tickets can be pricy, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You can float in the waters at the Xel-Ha nature park

It’s easy to get there

The Cancún International Airport, the second busiest in Mexico, has great connections to cities across the Americas and Europe. As a result, there are cheap flights galore, and you can tack on a few days in Cancún at no great expense.

To snorkel a giant coral reef

Fans of snorkeling love Cancún because it sits on the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-longest coral reef in the world. You can spot endless varieties of marine life, and the water is warm.

Snorkelers are drawn to the clear, warm waters off Cancún

To dive at Isla Mujeres

There are dive spots all along the coast of Quintana Roo, the state where Cancún is found. However, some of the top spots are on Isla Mujeres. Spend a few days here to dive and relax on the island.

There are top diving spots all along the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula

To sample a wide variety of cuisine

Cancún welcomes visitors from around the world, and many have left traces of their food culture here. The most evident is in the restaurants, with eateries from different world cuisines catering to diverse tastes.

To party into the early hours

Cancún is synonymous with good times. There are bars and clubs everywhere, and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to venues for a night out.

Coco Bongo is one of the many hot nightspots in Cancún

To stay in some excellent hotels

From opulent all-inclusive resorts to backpacker hostels, accommodation options in Cancún truly run the gamut. Stay in the Hotel Zone for easy access to the beach and other amenities, or find a hostel in the center of town if you’re on more of a budget.

To kick back on beautiful beaches

Relax at the beach bars and restaurants in Cancún, or head farther south to find quieter stretches of sand at Puerto Morelos, Akumal and Tulum. It’s picture-postcard stuff, with white sand and palm trees everywhere.

Playa Akumal is a slice of Caribbean paradise

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.