20 Things to do in Cancun, Mexico
Cancun has a lot of amazing things to see and do. In this post, we’re sharing our 20 favorite activities around the Riviera Maya. We’ve spent a lot of time here over the years. We love the vibe, beaches, food, and all the fun activities you can only find here. I’ll share our dreamy hotel details at the end of this post.
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1: Swim with Whale Sharks
Are you up for a snorkeling and swimming adventure with whale sharks? These gentle giants are very docile and extremely agreeable to swimming alongside humans. The Whale Shark swimming season is from June to September with July and August having the greatest population of whale sharks in the water. They come up to this area to feed during these months. Book your Whale Shark Adventure here.
2: Rio Secreto
The Caverns were discovered in 2007 when a man was chasing an iguana on his property. The underground river system is made up of miles of caves and caverns. There are 15 different entrances so you won’t see other groups in the cave. We walked & swam in the underground river and saw bats, stalactites, stalagmites, and spiders (oh my)!🤩 It is such a unique opportunity to explore the underground world. The Rio Secreto tour includes a guided trek through the caves, as well as optional activities such as biking and rappelling. Rio Secreto is 15 minutes South of Playa del Carmen.
3: Visit adventure parks
XPLOR ADVENTURE PARK-
Xplor Park offers a unique experience from zip-lining high above the jungle to exploring underground rivers in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula. This is the perfect excursion for adventure seekers. This is one of our favorite activities just outside of Playa del Carmen. They have 14 different zip lines with two water landings. We went swimming in the underground cave river and saw stalactites and stalagmites. Next, we went on a jeep ride through the jungle, splashing through caverns. Admission includes all park activities, a buffet meal, and unlimited snacks, it’s a must-do excursion in Mexico.
Tickets to Xplor Adventure Park
Aktun Chen-
This is a nature park on the Riviera Maya just north of Tulum. They have 3 different activities. The excursions include ziplining in the jungle canopy, swimming in an underground river, and walking through the longest dry cave in Quintano Roo. There are also zoo areas with native wildlife. Your children will love the spider monkeys playing in the trees. The guided stroll through the Mayan underground world ends at a colorful cenote draped with impressive cave stalactites. The underground river swimming tour is excellent for families. You will see sunken cave formations and beautiful fish while snorkeling through the crystal-clear water.
Xel-Ha Park-
This is an all-inclusive waterpark that includes breakfast, snacks, and lunch. You can snorkel, tube down a lazy river, bike through the jungle, explore caves, slide down a waterslide, jump off a cliff, and zipline over the water. Xel-Ha offers additional experiences like swimming with manatees, dolphins, or stingrays. This is located close to Tulum.
4: Scuba Dive in Cancun or Cozumel
Cozumel:
Take the 45-minute ferry from Playa del Carmen to the Island of Cozumel. We set up a drift diving trip on the Santa Rosa Wall and it was amazing! It’s one of the best places to dive and Cozumel is known for some of the best drift diving in the world. After scuba diving, we rented a scooter and drove around the entire island of Cozumel!
Cancun:
Greg went on a night drift dive off Playa del Carmen and saw eel, shark, lobster, and lot’s of fish. His favorite part was seeing the bioluminescence, a light emitted by living organisms. You’ll experience a different underwater environment at night… some underwater creatures retreat to bed for the evening, while others begin their day when the sun goes down.
5: Visit a Mayan Ruin
Tulum-
We love all of the ruins in the area but Tulum is one of our favorites. The ruins are on a cliff overlooking crystal-clear Caribbean beaches… It’s absolutely stunning. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian walled Mayan City. The ruins are open daily from 8-5 p.m. We hired a guide to show us around and we learned so much and gained a greater appreciation for the history and the Mayan people. You can find a guide just outside the entrance. Don’t forget to take the staircase down to Tulum beach for a swim after exploring the ruins.
Coba Ruins-
Not too far from Tulum. At its peak, it had more than 50,000 inhabitants. Today it’s a small village. We rented bikes to see all of the different sites. We were able to climb the Nohoch Mul pyramid but the stairs are steep, uneven and narrow so be careful. The views of the jungle from the top were spectacular.
Chichen Itza-
The Ancient city of Chichen Itza is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico and in the world. This city existed over 1000 years ago and was built by the Mayans. It is classified as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and in 1988 was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s open from 8-5. Tip: Go early or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. If you arrive at 8 you’ll have the site practically to yourself. If you drive, there is a toll so be sure to bring some extra pesos. The drive time is about 2:15 from Playa del Carmen & 2:25 from Cancun.
6: Go ZipLining
Cancun is home to some of the most adrenaline-pumping zip-line tours in the world. The best way to see the jungle is to fly over it.
7: Kaan Luum Lagoon
This lagoon is located 15 minutes south of Tulum. This is a massive natural circular-shaped pool with a cenote in the middle that is 262 feet deep. You can go kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, or scuba diving in the cenote. Locals believe the water here has healing properties so many come and take advantage of mud baths. This is a less well-known attraction, so you won’t encounter large crowds.
Ven a la Luz (Come into light)- Made from wood. Visit it at Hotel Ahau
8: Explore Tulum’s artsy-Side
After visiting the Tulum Ruins, we went to the Tulum Beach Zone via the Boca Paila Highway. Tulum has become a Bohemian, beachside paradise famous for its wellness-centered, hippy vibe. My favorite part was checking out the architecture… It’s out of this world! Many of the buildings use weathered wood, stone, and thatch.
If you come consider staying in a boutique treehouse:
•Kan Tulum Treehouse Boutique Eco-Hotel
•Nomade Tulum Treehouses
•Azulik
Tulum has become a paradise for foodies. So make sure you stop and enjoy it!
Hartwood is a popular restaurant. This open-air restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients, so the menu changes daily. Tulum would be a great place to take a food tour.
9: Shopping
Cancun:
Mercado 28 in Cancun is the spot to purchase local Mexican handicrafts and souvenirs. Don’t forget to haggle. They expect it and it will only add to your shopping adventure in Mexico.
Playa del Carmen:
In Playa del Carmen check out 5th Avenue. I love coming at night it’s very festive. Over the years they’ve built malls here so it’s lost a little of its charm.
10: Enjoy a unique Restaurant
Eat in a hut on a lagoon:
Thai, is Cancun's best Thai food and one of the most gorgeous restaurants in Cancun. Watch out for the resident crocodile. Go at sunset and make a reservation.
Dine in a Cave:
We enjoyed this unique experience. Alux is a restaurant in a real cave with bats,😳 a cenote, and cool mood lighting. It’s an unforgettable fine dining experience in Playa del Carmen.
11: México Espectacular night show
A beautiful and moving musical journey through Mexico that celebrates the Mexican culture. The show features music, dance, singing, and acrobatics with more than 300 artists in the open-air Grand Tlachco Theater in Xcaret Park. The performance starts at 7:00 p.m. and lasts about 2.5 hours. The cost for the night show is $44, plus $39 if you want to add dinner.
12: Swim with turtles
Akumal is located between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Akumal means place of the turtle in Mayan. You can swim with the turtles and see the turtles feeding in the seagrass off Akumal beach. If you want to go on your own there are a couple of local companies right on the beachfront that rent snorkeling equipment.
13: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Sian Ka'an is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. The freshwater marshes extend through a series of lagoons all the way to a barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea. You’ll find miles and miles of untouched beaches. The Yucatán jungle has spider monkeys, howler monkeys, crocodiles, jaguars, puma, four sea turtle species, manatees, and dolphins. It was declared a UNESCO site in 1987 because of its unique biodiversity and Mayan heritage. The entire reserve is about 1.3 million acres and is the largest protected area on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast. It’s a unique experience located near Tulum.
Tours to Sian Ka’an from Tulum are the most common way to reach the biosphere reserve and are the most convenient.
Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve Tour
14: Drive a speed boat
We rented a speed boat in Cancun and had a blast! Driving speed boats with our friends around a lagoon and then snorkelling in crystal clear waters makes for a perfect day of adventure.
15: Swim in Cenotes
The Yucatan Peninsula is known for its unique cenotes, natural sinkholes filled with water formed in limestone caves. The entire Riviera Mava is covered with thousands of cenotes. You can swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in Cenotes.
Best Cenotes in Tulum:
•Gran Cenote: The most popular in Tulum
•Cenote Calavera: Great for cliff jumping
•Dos Ojos Cenote: Great snorkeling & scuba diving
•Cenote Yax-Kin: Uncrowded Cenote & great for kids
16: Isla Mujeres Day Trip
Isla De Mujeres is just a 20-minute ferry ride from Cancun. You’ll find crystal clear turquoise blue waters and fine white sand. You can rent a golf cart and drive around the island on your own. Don’t miss these beautiful beaches: North Beach, Playa Centro, and Playa Albatro. The scenery at Punta Sur is breathtaking... A must-see when on Isla Mujeres. You can also Zipline over the Caribbean Sea at Garrafon Park and enjoy magnificent views.
17: Scuba Dive or Snorkel in an Underwater Museum
A popular underwater attraction in Cancun is the Underwater Museum or MUSA. 500 sculptures were created from materials which encourage coral reef development. You’ll see statues of locals, Huge hands, and VW Beetles, the exhibits are surrounded by ocean wildlife giving you a really unique experience.
18: Swim with dolphins
Swimming with dolphins is magical and the highlight of our vacation. It’s all my girls talked about for weeks after we returned from Mexico. There are several swims with dolphin encounters in Isla Mujeres, Cancun and Playa del Carmen. We loved interacting with the dolphins and enjoyed the Belly Ride, Hug, Kiss, and Dorsal Tow.
19: Las Coloradas
It’s the inst-famous pink lake created by the salt in the area. Also, see the nearby Pink Flamingoes in Rio Lagartos. The flamingo’s feathers get the same shades of pink since they feed with the same bacteria contained in the water. There are different ways to visit Las Coloradas. You can go on your own by renting a car or with an organized tour. It will take about 3.5 hours to drive from Cancun & Playa Del Carmen.
20: Sail on a Catamaran
Traveling by catamaran is an excellent option for exploring the Riviera Maya. You can arrange a shared day trip or a Private charter on a Catamaran. A popular option is to Sail out to Isla Mujeres. Trips include snorkeling, an open bar, and a buffet lunch.
TRS Yucatan Hotel- Romance Bungalow
Where to stay:
Our favorite area to stay is South of Cancun between Playa Del Carmen & Tulum. We like to get away from the hotel zone in Cancun where it’s a little more quiet. On this trip to Cancun, we stayed at the TRS Yucatan Hotel, located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, 30 minutes South of Playa del Carmen.
El Gaucho
This is an all-inclusive adults-only resort. The food was very good and the overall service was great. They assigned us a butler/concierge that we could text whenever we had a question or needed anything. It has 7 restaurants on site and we had access to the other15 that are at the Paladium which is also part of this property. One of the top reasons we picked TRS is because of the excellent food reviews. Our favorite restaurant was El Gaucho, serving Argentinian specialities.
Top left picture: I’m wearing my latest souvenir… A traditional Mexican dress from Tulum. 👊🏻
We stayed in a DREAMY Romance Bungalow at The TRS Yucatan Hotel. Our room was fantastic! It had a hammock and we had our own canoe on our back lanai to explore canals throughout the resort. Our favorite was the outdoor shower. Feeling the ocean breeze, and hearing the palm trees swaying while taking a shower was amazing. When I got home I started red-lining our house plans and added an outdoor shower. Pricing was fair in our opinion, especially for those that drink, as it is an all-inclusive resort. Since we don’t drink it was a lot of Diet Pepsi and Virgin Pina Coladas! Only bad part is we weren’t here long enough to sample everything they have to offer. You need at least a week or more to do it right.
It takes about an hour and a half to drive from the Cancun airport. You can take a shuttle to the resort or rent a car.
Rental Car
We usually rent a car in Cancun. We like the flexibility it gives us to explore some of the more remote areas in the Rivera Maya. Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices and finding a deal. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is a great option when traveling to Mexico.
