If you are longing for nice weather, sandy beaches, turquoise sea, and a good vibe, Cancun may be the perfect place for your vacation.
Cancun is located on the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. You can explore the unbelievably beautiful Riviera Maya south of Cancun, with all-inclusive resorts, theme parks and major Mayan archaeological sites.
This area offers numerous activities, including a sunset catamaran cruise, a parasailing adventure and swimming with whale sharks.
Exploring Garrafon Natural Reef Park at Isla Mujeres by kayaking and snorkeling is another activity you can embark on while absorbing the outstanding natural beauties of Riviera Maya.
If you want to learn more about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Mayan civilization, be sure to visit the San Miguelito ruins, Museo Maya and El Rey archaeological site, located near Cancun.
Ventura Park and Xel-Ha park, with their interesting mangrove tours, are just two of the dozen family-friendly adventure parks along the Mexican Caribbean coast. You can enjoy a zip-line ride, go rafting with friends, go sightseeing, or take your kids to the Children’s World.
After daily outdoor activities, relax in the evening at the Parque las Palapas, the central park in downtown Cancun. The nightlife scene of Cancun is also great. We recommend visiting a well-known Coco Bongo nightclub, featuring music shows and acrobatic performances.
Here are our picks for the top 10 things to do in Cancun that deserve to be in every travel guide about this Caribbean paradise.
1. Visit the Best Beaches in Cancun
Exploring tropical white-sand beaches is one of the top things to do when visiting Cancun, most of which are public.
Playa Delfines is the largest beach, located near Cancun’s Hotel Zone. It is also well-known for its colorful Cancún sign, a hotspot for Instagrammers.
You can also take a ferry to Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres, where you can rent a golf vehicle to explore the surroundings.
Playa Maroma is renowned for its turquoise waters, and Playa X’cacel is an ideal spot to spot sea turtles.
Playa del Carmen, located in Riviera Maya, just a one-hour ride south of Cancun, hides some of the most beautiful beaches. Here you can soak up the sun, as well as walk along the Quinta Avenida, their own version of New York’s Fifth Avenue.
We recommend purchasing a day pass to a beach club, allowing you to relax while overlooking the Caribbean Sea and letting all your senses take in the experience.
2. Explore Amazing Marine Life
Cancun’s impressive coral reefs are part of the Mesoamerican Reef Barrier System. That is the second-largest reef barrier globally, spanning from Isla Contoy to Honduras.
The best way to explore Cancun’s reefs is to book some of the snorkel-guided tours. Local English-speaking guides can take you to the best snorkeling spots in Cancun, like Punta Nizuc, Puerto Morelos and Cozumel.
Coral reefs in Cancun are a bit far from public beaches, but the amazing marine life is definitely worth a visit.
3. Dive to Astonishing Underwater Carvings
To protect the coral reefs, in 2010, artist Jason deCaires Taylor created an alternative diving site. At a depth of 3 to 10 meters, 500 sculptures were submerged into the ocean, arranged in three galleries.
In addition to human figurines, the MUSA Underwater Museum also features entire scenes from everyday life, as well as a Volkswagen Beetle car.
You can visit this incredible underwater museum by taking a submarine with glass windows or participating in scuba diving tours, which depart from Nichupte Lagoon and proceed into the ocean.
You can explore the museum by submarine or on a guided dive. For beginners, the Scuba Diving Underwater Museum and Reef Tour offers a pool intro with an instructor before visiting MUSA’s sculptures and the Manchones Reef.
4. Take Part in a Festive Mexican Party
For those who want to learn more about Mexican tradition and folklore, visiting Xoximilco and taking an unforgettable gondola ride is a must. That is one of the most fun things you can do in Cancun and a great nightlife option.
A local host will entertain you and your company with fun games and exciting stories. You can taste authentic Mexican dishes, including tacos, while drinking beer or tequila in an open bar.
Musicians will create a great atmosphere, so you can dance and sing with the rhythms of various genres of Mexican music during a 3-hour party.
5. Discover the Amazing Mayan Ruins
Chichen Itza is one of the most significant Maya cities, located in the Yucatan Peninsula, near Valladolid. A day trip from Cancun to Chichen Itza is a great way to learn more about the impressive Mayan civilization.
On that UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can see the Temple of the Warriors ruins, the Osario pyramid, stone sculptures and a well-preserved ball court from ancient times.
The Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo) is the central and most famous building of this archaeological site, attracting over 2 million visitors annually.
Thanks to its rich cultural and historical heritage, Chichen Itza was announced as one of the New Seven Wonders of the world in 2007.
For an easy way to visit without the crowds, a highly rated Chichen Itza Full Day Tour gets you there early with a guide, plus time to swim in a cenote and explore the colorful town of Izamal afterward.
6. Explore the Tulum Ruins
Tulum ruins are one of the most famous ancient places in Mexico, thanks to their fantastic location. That coastal fortress is situated on a high cliff above the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
At Tulum, you can see several ancient landmarks, like the Temple of the Descending God and the Temple of the Frescoes. Don’t be surprised if you also see giant iguanas around the ruins.
You can visit Tulum with organized day tours departing from Cancun or other popular destinations on the Riviera Maya, such as Playa del Carmen.
After visiting the Tulum ruins, descend the stairs to the beach under the cliff and take a swim in the Caribbean Sea.
7. Swim in the Clear Waters of Mexican Cenotes
The cenotes are deep natural pools. Underground rivers from the extensive cave system were the only reliable source of clear water for the ancient Mayans. Additionally, the Mayans utilized cenotes as sacred sites.
On the Yucatan Peninsula, there are 142 cenotes available to visit. You can find them in different sizes and shapes.
The most popular cenotes are Ik Kil and Suytun near Chichen Itza and Cenote Xkeken with unique cave decoration.
Other popular cenotes include Cenote Zaci in Valladolid and the underground cenote Samula, which features a hole in the ceiling that allows light to illuminate the turquoise water.
There are also underground cenotes with no natural light. You can find some of them near the Coba ruins, like Tamchach-Ha and Multum-Ha.
Read More: Inside Mexico’s Hidden Cenotes: Swimming in the Yucatan’s Sacred Underground Caves
8. Xplor is a Paradise for Adventure Travelers
Xplor is a phenomenal adventure park, just one hour from Cancun. It is known for its 14 zip lines, the highest in the Riviera Maya region, and is the most visited ziplining destination in Mexico.
You can also experience several exciting activities, such as underground rafts, hammock splash, and extraordinary road adventures with amphibious vehicles – a type of ATV – through the jungle and a flooded cavern.
The ticket price for the Xplor theme park also includes unlimited drinks, a buffet lunch and complete equipment for your chosen activities.
9. Fun and Culture at the Magnificent Xcaret Park
Xcaret theme park is one of the biggest attractions in Riviera Maya. It is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, just 70 km south of Cancun. With many natural and cultural attractions, Xcaret Park is an excellent choice for an all-day family escape.
In that fantastic eco and water park, you can explore underground rivers and cenotes, a Mayan village, multiple natural pools, caves, and beaches, as well as jungle trails and a coral reef aquarium.
Swimming with marine life, speedboat tours, snorkeling and wine tastings are also available for an extra charge.
Additionally, we recommend experiencing a live “Xcaret at Night” performance show to learn more about Mexican folkloric dances.
Read More: Swimming with Whale Sharks: Cancun’s Gentle Giants
10. Buy Interesting Local Goods at Mercado 28
More than 600 stands offering a diverse range of products await you at Mercado 28, a massive market situated in downtown Cancún.
Don’t rush with your purchase. Take enough time to look around as many stalls as possible. Local sellers will offer you clothes, handicrafts, jewelry, pottery and carved wooden items.
You can buy quality things at a very reasonable price if you know the art of bargaining and want to practice your Spanish.
There are also many restaurants with tasty classic dishes or local Mexican specialties.
Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.
Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:
- Baby Sea Turtle Release in Mexico: A Meaningful Experience
- Dancing With the Dead: A Taste of Oaxaca’s Electrifying Día de los Muertos
Author Bio: Based in Serbia in Europe, Marija Stojanovic Petkovski worked as a journalist but realized writing about the most beautiful places in the world is something that inspires her. She is sure that a pint of good craft beer perfectly accompanies a tasty homemade lasagne. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her children and spending time outdoors with her family.
Want to discover more hidden gems and helpful travel tips? Join our free newsletter for the latest travel secrets and travel articles.
We are reader-supported and may earn a commission on purchases made through links in this article.
- Miami’s Two Wild Sides: South Beach Nights and Biscayne National Park - January 14, 2026
- 5 American Destinations Where You Can Escape the Winter Cold - January 14, 2026
- My Quest to Find All of Costa Rica’s Wild Monkeys - January 14, 2026