Cancun is located in Quintana Roo on the easternmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. If Acapulco was considered to be the jet-setters’ seaside playground in Mexico in the 1950s, today this playground is now Cancun, Mexico’s coastal jewel on the side of the Caribbean Sea.
Every year, Cancun plays host to around five million visitors, most of them coming from Mexico’s interior regions. Nonetheless, Cancun receives millions of tourists from North America and Europe, mostly snowbirds trying to escape the winter cold.
This is hardly surprising, given Cancun’s tropical climate, which makes it warm and pleasant for most of the year outside the hurricane season.
Cancun is a great place to spend a laidback holiday under the sun or for any overland backpacking trip to Mexico. View my tips for visiting Cancun for the first time, including where to go, what to do and how to save money.
Top Things to See and Do in Cancun
Many tourists going on a tour or a cruise of the Caribbean Islands often make Cancun their starting point. Cancun is also considered to be one of the starting point for what is known as the Mayan Riviera, the line of beaches on the Caribbean side of Mexico.
Cancun is famous throughout the world for its beautiful, crystal-clear indigo waters and its blindingly bright white sand. Cancun is divided into two: Cancun City on the mainland and Cancun Island. These two entities are divided by the Nichupte Lagoon, though the island is connected through bridges and causeways to the mainland.
Cancun Island is the city’s tourist zone, known locally as the Zona Hotelera or the Hotel Zone. It is shaped like the number 7; the beaches on the long side of this island are reputed to be much rougher than the beaches on the shorter side.
Popular activities on the beachside of Cancun Island are water sports, naturally, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, jet skiing, and windsurfing. Fishing is also a favorite activity in Cancun, and fishermen often go for the sailfin, bluefin tuna, and marlin. Topless sunbathing is tolerated on the beaches of Cancun.
Cancun has the world’s second longest coral reef. A popular tourist visit in Cancun is The Hotel Zone of Cancun. It shaped like a 7, with bridges on each end that connect to the mainland. This zone has beautiful beaches on the short end where locals go to surf and relax.
A stay in Cancun does not have to be spent exclusively on sunning and swimming at sea and partying the night away at night.
In Cancun you can explore the Mayan past and go on an excursion to the Ruins of El Rey just within the Zona Hotelera. The Ruins of El Rey are remnants of a Mayan settlement in the area occupied now by Cancun. Another popular excursion site is El Meco, and just nearby is Chichen Itza.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Cancun has two distinct flavors. In Cancun Island, where the tourists are most concentrated, the nightlife caters to the tastes of the visitors.
The bars and dance clubs are mostly Americanized, where popular dance music from the United States are mostly played. Many branded establishments like the Hard Rock Cafe also have a presence in Cancun Island.
In Cancun City, however, visitors would be able to experience more of the local culture of the city. The clubs and dance halls here are more focused on promoting local music and entertainment, including the Latino ballroom dances.
Cancun Travel Tips
Escape the Tourist Resorts
Although Cancun does have a party reputation, and its like visiting Mexico without actually seeing Mexico, there are lots of ways to have a local experience. Avoid the main strip of international hotels and stay in Cancun Old Town at a local hotel or guest house will help you to get an authentic experience.
Money Saving Tips
Cancun is expensive by Mexico standards, some hotels cost thousands per night. But it can be done cheaply. Book flights and accommodation early, avoid the huge all-inclusive resorts will help you to visit Cancun on a budget.
Places to Visit Cancun
Playa del Carmen and Tulum are two of the most popular destinations nearby, whilst Cancun can also be a good starting point for an overland 2 week trip from Mexico to Belize.