Cancun Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Cancun showing a sandy beach, general coastal views and landscape views
Hotel Zone showing general coastal views, a sandy beach and landscape views
Cancun
Hotel Zone featuring a sunset, general coastal views and a pool
Cancun featuring night scenes, a pool and a luxury hotel or resort

Relax by the pool, dive through subaquatic caves and learn about the region’s fascinating past through museums and archeological sites.

Cancún is an intriguing city with three distinct faces. It is at once a world-renowned vacation resort, an adventure base for exploring lagoons and caves and an open-air museum showcasing the ruined temples of the Mayans. Draw up an action-packed itinerary for your vacation in this dynamic region.

Choose from the range of lodgings in the Hotel Zone. The area comprises a narrow strip between the Nichupté lagoon and the Caribbean Sea, made up of beaches and luxury hotels. Bring your kids to the Acuario Interactivo for interaction tanks and opportunities to swim with the fish.

Lay down a blanket for a picnic on Playa Delfines, a short taxi ride south from the aquarium. Snap photos of your family in front of the colorful Cancún sign and swim in the clear water. A little north is Playa Tortugas, which is fairly busy, with restaurants serving seafood and Mexican cuisine.

Remaining in the Hotel Zone, visit the Maya Cancun Museum for its captivating historic sights and exhibition spaces. Nearby is the El Rey Ruins, which consists of a small Maya village with a temple dating back to around A.D. 250. Take a trip to the El Meco Archaeological Site in the northern outskirts of the city.

The city is also an ideal base for excursions. Embark on a boat trip from the Gran Puerto Cancún to Isla Mujeres. The island contains the Garrafon Natural Reef Park, which has excellent water visibility for snorkeling. Go with tour operators to the cenote lagoons and underwater caves of Xcaret Park on the mainland.

Find the city on the Yucatán Peninsula in the southeastern part of Mexico. Fly to the Cancún International Airport and get a taxi or bus northeast for around 30 minutes to reach the heart of the Hotel Zone. The city is about 1 hour north of Playa del Carmen and about an hour and 45 minutes north of Tulum by car.

Cancún is the ultimate vacation destination, with a blend of serenity and entertainment.

Where to stay in Cancun

Escenica Tower featuring a luxury hotel or resort, a beach and general coastal views

Zona Hotelera

4/5(130 area reviews)

The stunning beaches and fantastic nightlife are just a few highlights of Zona Hotelera. Make a stop by La Isla Shopping Mall or Delfines Beach while you're exploring the area.

Zona Hotelera
Hotel Zone featuring a sunset, general coastal views and a pool

Punta Cancun

While visiting Punta Cancun, you might make a stop by sights like Forum Beach and Chac Mool Beach.

Punta Cancun
Default Image

Downtown Cancun

4/5(26 area reviews)

Downtown Cancun is beloved for its popular shops. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Plaza 28 and Cancun Mall.

Downtown Cancun
Default Image

La Isla

If you're spending some time in La Isla, La Isla Shopping Mall and Isla Dorada are top sights worth seeing.

La Isla
Default Image

Puerto Juarez

The pristine beaches and fun-filled water parks are top of the list for many visitors to Puerto Juarez. A stop by Ultramar Ferry Puerto Juárez or El Meco Archaeological Site might round out your trip.

Puerto Juarez
Default Image

Avenida Tulum

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Avenida Tulum. A stop by Royal Yak Casino and Sports Book or Ceviche Square might round out your trip.

Avenida Tulum
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Cancun Adults Only All-Inclusive
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Cancun Adults Only All-Inclusive
4.5 out of 5
Boulevard Kukulcan Km.16.5 Lotes 56-A-I, y 56-A-2 Segunda Etapa Turistica, Cancun, QROO
The price is £253 per night from 6 Jul to 7 Jul
£253
6 Jul - 7 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury resort in Cancun. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,212 reviews)
"Outstanding"

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Cancun Adults Only All-Inclusive
Hotel Riu Palace Kukulkan - Adults Only - All Inclusive
Hotel Riu Palace Kukulkan - Adults Only - All Inclusive
4.5 out of 5
Boulevard Kukulcan km 12, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, QROO
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Cancun. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,816 reviews)

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Hotel Riu Palace Kukulkan - Adults Only - All Inclusive
Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas - Adults Only- All Inclusive
Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas - Adults Only- All Inclusive
4 out of 5
Blvd. Kukulcan, Km 8.5, Manzana 50, Lote 4, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, QROO
The price is £288 per night from 1 Jul to 2 Jul
£288
1 Jul - 2 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach resort in Cancun. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,489 reviews)
"The staff was great and very friendly. We loved the staff in charge of the activities. They made each day a lot of fun. The guys working the bars were attentive and made great drinks. The tacos the lady made out by the pool was the best food we had all week. We were disappointed with all of the seaweed, ..."

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas - Adults Only- All Inclusive
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Beachscape Kin ha Villas & Suites
Beachscape Kin ha Villas & Suites
3.5 out of 5
Blvd. Kukulcan Km 8.5, Cancun, QROO
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Cancun. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,790 reviews)
"Room with kitchen was great...pool was warm ...nice beach"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Beachscape Kin ha Villas & Suites
All Ritmo Cancun Resort & Water Park - All Inclusive
All Ritmo Cancun Resort & Water Park - All Inclusive
3.5 out of 5
Km. 1.5 Carretera a Puerto Juarez, Punta Sam, Cancun, QROO
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Cancun. Enjoy free parking, 2 outdoor pools and 5 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
6.4/10 (1,095 reviews)
"This was a very clean and welcoming place. We stayed next to a ferry station. The building itself is beautiful, but it could use some updates. Our room was cleaned early mornings throughout our stay. The food was okay. The service was excellent. The beach had seaweed, but the hotel was very good ..."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

All Ritmo Cancun Resort & Water Park - All Inclusive
1st Luxury Warehouse
1st Luxury Warehouse
3.5 out of 5
1st Luxury Warehouse, Calle Monte Líbano, Mz. 79, Lt.79, Bodega 1, SM 301, Segunda, Cancun, QROO
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Cancun. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and Netflix. Popular attractions Moon Palace Golf Club and Delfines Beach are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (106 reviews)
"The room was very reasonable and nicely appointed. The room rate was good as well when compared to other properties in the area. It was a little off the beaten path and an unusual location in and industrial park. But those reason account for the reasonable rate."

Reviewed on 15 Jun 2025

1st Luxury Warehouse
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Cities near Cancun