Visit the underwater museum
Snorkel or dive at the Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA) and see some of the 470 underwater statues. The attraction is designed to give visitors somewhere else to visit to take some pressure off the overused reef.
Go to the ruins at Tulum
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.
Spot whale sharks
The biggest fish in the world are found in the waters off Cancun from May to September each year. Take a tour from Cancun or head to Isla Holbox or Cozumel.
Xel-Ha park
Sign up to a day trip to Xel-Ha water park, home to slides, snorkelling and boat trips. It’s great for kids, but it’s a lot of fun for adults too. Tickets can be fairly pricey, but it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
Great flight connections
Cancun airport is the second-busiest in Mexico, and it 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 Cancun at no great expense.
Snorkelling
Fans of snorkelling love Cancun because it sits on the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-longest coral reef in the world. You can spot seemingly endless varieties of marine life, and the water is warm.
Diving at Isla Mujeres
There are dive spots all along the coast of Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun is found. However some of the top spots are on Isla Mujeres. Spend a few days here to get diving and relax on the island.
Wide variety of cuisine
Cancun welcomes visitors from around the world, and many of them have left traces of their culture here. The most evident is in the restaurants, with eateries from different world cuisines catering to diverse tastes.
Top partying
Not for nothing is Cancun synonymous with the good times. There are bars and clubs everywhere, and you’ll be spoilt for choice for venues on a night out.
Thousands of places to stay
From opulent all-inclusive resorts to backpacker hostels, accommodation options in Cancun truly run the gamut. Stay in the Hotel Zone for easy access to the beach and other amenities, or find a hostel in the centre of town if you’re on more of a budget.
Beautiful beaches
Relax at the beach bars and restaurants in Cancun, or head further 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.