THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Cancun
Things to Do in Cancun
Outside of the beaches and all-inclusive resorts, Cancun is packed with adventure and history. Snorkelling, swimming in a cenote, day trips to Chichen Itza—there’s so much to discover. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Day Tripsfromper adult (price varies by group size)C$87
Day Tripsfromper adultC$86- fromper adultC$96
Archaeology Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)C$190- fromper adultC$102
- fromper adultC$245
On the Waterfromper adultC$96
Theatre Showsfromper adultC$123- fromper group (up to 15)C$390
- fromper adultC$220
Beaches
Sun-kissed beach featuring crystal blue waters and white sands, dotted with sun shelters. Popular for photography, with nearby historical ruins and waves favored by enthusiasts.
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Shopping Malls
Open-air shopping center with high-end to moderate retail and dining, complemented by a scenic boardwalk and sunset views. Features a Ferris wheel and aquarium for family entertainment.
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Amusement & Theme Parks
Vibrant cultural boat tours feature live traditional Mexican music, dance, and unlimited drinks, complemented by authentic local cuisine in a festive atmosphere. Perfect for evening entertainment.
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Amusement & Theme Parks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Water Parks
Water park with a mix of dry and aquatic activities, including go-karts and virtual reality. Highlights include a rollercoaster and dolphin encounters, amid a backdrop of slides and pools.
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Speciality Museums
Admission tickets from C$17
Museum with pre-Hispanic Mexican culture and Mayan artifacts, displaying a blend of bilingual and Spanish-only descriptions. Nearby ruins add to the historical exploration.
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Ferries
Quick and scenic ferry transit with live music and panoramic views from the top deck. Offers indoor air-conditioned seating and the convenience of on-board activity ticket purchases.
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Aquariums
Aquarium with intimate sea life encounters, including interactive dolphin swims and unique underwater treks. Showcases a variety of marine species with hands-on activities.
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Historic Sites
Mayan ruins set in the Hotel Zone, highlighted by ancient structures, a self-guided or informative guided tour, and abundant iguanas. Nearby Museo Maya enriches the historical exploration.
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Beaches
Beach destination with clear waters and activities like snorkeling and swimming. Chairs and umbrellas cater to comfort while the locale tends to be lively.
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Other Top Attractions around Cancun
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travellers are saying
- Mare524Windsor, Canada345 contributionsWe stayed in Playa Morelos, but managed to visit Cancún beach early one more before handing back in our rental car. We drove the whole strip and ended up stopping at Playa Delfines. At 7am there was LOTS of free parking and barely anyone on the beach. It was absolutely gorgeous. With the soft sand, blue water and the beautiful sunrise. It was a little windy when we went so the waves were quite large and we didn’t end up swimming as planned, since we had kids with us. We walked a bit of the beach looking at the shells that had washed ashore. And fully plan to return with life jackets for our kids so we can swim and enjoy the waves/beach. It was absolutely stunning.Written November 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- David DDevon, UK28,161 contributionsWednesday 30th October and we took the local bus from our Hotel Riu Palace Los Americas to the extensive shopping village, La Isla Cancún. The bus fare was 12 Pesos (roughly fifty pence).
It's located in the Hotel Zone, along Nichupte and Bojórquez Lagoon.
Would not say we visited here, it was more of an expedition and not just a quick in and out.
We started off in La Botique Palacio, this was definitely high end shopping with stores like Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Giorgio Armani, Gucci and many others. There were armed guards on duty in this sector, in fact when we were here, there were more guards than shoppers.
There were other well know brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Prada, Lacoste and many more.
Not all of the stores are high end and branded, there are numerous souvenir shops and other outlets to be visited.
There are a wide variety restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other eateries. Senor Frogs bar and restaurant, McDonald's and Starbucks are some of the many food and drink outlets. There are both indoor and outdoor dining courtyards.
There were a series of bridges that spanned waterways that linked various sections of the complex. Along one of the canals was a blue and white stripped lighthouse, it is actually a restaurant.
We walked along the Coloured Walk (reviewed separately) which links two areas of the complex.
Throughout the complex there are a number of features and fountains including Ballerina Fountain and La Isla Circle
There a number of other attractions to be visited here including the Aquarium, with it's interactive touch tanks and over a thousand species on display.
It is also home to the Cancún Wax Museum with it's exhibits of the rich and famous.
Ripley's Believe it or not is also here with hundreds of unbelievable but true artifacts, interactive games and stories. There is also a Casino
The Skywheel with it's thirty-five gondolas is a standout feature and at seventy metres high it dominates the skyline and is visible from some distance. The fare is in the region of $15 (US).Written January 16, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mayra P5 contributionsAmazing, Cielieto lindo did it for us. We had such a great time , specially meeting new people and having fun. Food and drinks were excellent.Written January 21, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sam S2 contributionsBoating at puerto maya was a blast and Flash did an excellent job! I was very impressed with how long the boat ride was and the snorkeling was fun. The food looked pretty average but everything else was great. Good for kidsWritten January 11, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dany TAtlanta, GA482 contributionsConvenient location. Main road, easy access to local bus routes, tourist places, shopping centers, restaurants, activities and hotels.Written May 16, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- richardMainland, UK2 contributionsAbsolutely brilliant day out, all the rides were good fun. Our kids of 12,9 and 6 had plenty things to do, lazy river is a lovely place to chill after the slides. We enjoyed the zip lines and all staff were fantastic and well trained. I’d really recommend it all, we went VIP which included meals and drinks so was good value, food was clearly catering for locals but had burgers etc for tourists. Both were really tasty, toilets and park were very clean although not too busy so unsure how that would be in peak season. I would have given a 5 star rating but for two things, paying an adult price for a 12 year old and then saying he had to be 13 to use the Lazer experience was ridiculous. With our VIP package we had the dolphin experience and this was fantastic, sadly the day was a little tainted by the extortionate cost of the pics of dolphins. $275 for pictures and even after haggling the best we could get was $200 for 6 photos!
We would go again but just note that even VIP guests have to pay extra for lockers and lazy rings.Written October 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Birol BaliIstanbul, Türkiye1,086 contributionsThe **Mayan Museum of Cancún** (Museo Maya de Cancún) is a modern cultural institution dedicated to showcasing the rich history and legacy of the ancient Maya civilization. Located in Cancún’s hotel zone, the museum features a vast collection of artifacts, including ceramics, sculptures, jewelry, and tools, many of which were unearthed from nearby archaeological sites. Designed with contemporary architecture, the museum offers both indoor and outdoor exhibits, including a lush garden and the nearby **San Miguelito archaeological site**, which visitors can explore. Through its engaging displays and educational content, the Mayan Museum provides an immersive journey into the culture, science, and artistry of the Maya, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and curious travelers alike.Written January 4, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JenniferDenham Springs, LA19 contributionsIt’s a ferry from Playa to Cozumel and it runs every other hour like clockwork. I prefer the Winjet ferry even though this one is supposed to be faster. Why? The AC inside area for Ultramarar seems to only be for first class passengers (boo). On Winjet that I rode this morning, we were inside and in air conditioning. Amazing. For Ultramar? Upstairs has AC but it’s open air AC which is not as cool if it’s summer in Mexico. That said, Ultramar had two live musicians on the boat which made the time pass very quickly. Avoid the daiquiri. I am not much on drinking alcohol but wanted something ice cold because it was 4pm and the hot part of the day. It was cold but even I couldn’t taste the rum. Don’t fall for the trap of buying a round trip ticket. They will try to sell it to you. Just say one way ticket and it’s best because the two ferry companies do not accept each other’s tickets.Written May 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- hayleyandoniouBristol, UK9 contributionsLovely aquarium in the shopping mall. Can walk round in an hour or so but has a good touching zone to touch the sting rays and star fish good viewing area for watching the dolphins with the opportunity it’s to swim with dolphins at an extra cost. Food is good in the restaurant.Written November 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Debbie B2 contributionsWas an enjoyable place to spend some time. The rafting was the best part of this adventure. Our guide was Yari (I hope I'm remembering how to spell his name), but he was great, truly amazing. He wanted to make sure we had a great time, and we did. My only complaint is as hot and humid as it is this adventure is only open for 3 hours, from 12-3, and that is a bummer given how hot and humid it was. The kayak adventure was closed. We weren't given a reason why, but it still costs just the same. Still, I would go here again, as it was not that busy, and the lines weren't terribly long.Written August 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Noah EDublin, Ireland7 contributionsAn unconventional place to visit in Mexico. Free of all the crowd you get in famous places. Peaceful and quiet ruin of what once stood here.Written March 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sandra C38 contributionsVery pretty beach. It’s small but clean and has cafes and bathrooms there. There are chairs available with umbrellas for an extra cost.Written August 19, 2024This review is the subjectiv
