Cancun Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Hotel Zone featuring tropical scenes, general coastal views 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

4.5/5(67 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 which includes a pool and a luxury hotel or resort as well as a small group of people

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

3.5/5(9 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

Avenida Tulum

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Avenida Tulum. A stop by Ceviche Square or Mercado Ki Huic might round out your trip.

Avenida Tulum
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

Alfredo V. Bonfil

While Alfredo V. Bonfil may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Dubai Palace Casino and Ventura Park Cancun.

Alfredo V. Bonfil
Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive
Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive
4 out of 5
Blvd. Kukulkan km 16.5, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, QROO
The price is AU$544 per night from 6 May to 7 May
AU$544
per night
6 May - 7 May
Stay at this beach property in Cancun. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and 10 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,114 reviews)
"Everything was perfect! The staff was amazing! Can't wait to come back!"

Reviewed on 16 Apr. 2024

Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive
Riu Palace Kukulkan - Adults Only - All Inclusive
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 WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,652 reviews)
"The hotel is new and beautiful. The food was good. The are plenty of restaurants on the property. And it is conveniently located next to the city center"

Reviewed on 16 Apr. 2024

Riu Palace Kukulkan - Adults Only - All Inclusive
Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun - All Inclusive
Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun - All Inclusive
4.5 out of 5
Blvd. Kukulcan km. 9.5, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, QROO
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$823 per night from 1 May to 2 May
AU$823
per night
1 May - 2 May
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury property in Cancun. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free valet parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,867 reviews)
"Awesome. Friendly staff, delicious food, clean property!"

Reviewed on 15 Apr. 2024

Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun - 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.
Extended Suites Cancún Cumbres
Extended Suites Cancún Cumbres
3 out of 5
Súper Manzana 311, MZ-26 LT. 18, Cancun, QROO
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Cancun. Enjoy free parking, a health club, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (541 reviews)
"Hotel close to the airport"

Reviewed on 3 Apr. 2024

Extended Suites Cancún Cumbres
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 beach aparthotel in Cancun. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
6.6/10 (1,236 reviews)
"We had great vocation with my kids at All Ritmo resort and water park . Nice beach, awesome view! Relax and quiet environment! Great hard worker, helpful staffs! Nice pool and water park that for kids and adults to enjoy! Different activities for kids and adults to enjoy during all day and every ..."

Reviewed on 4 Apr. 2024

All Ritmo Cancun Resort & Water Park - All Inclusive
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 WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,323 reviews)
Lovely landscaping and staff.
"The property is lovely, the beach and pool and especially the landscaping very well maintained. The staff is so kind and very accommodating. The actual rooms themselves are quite dated and some of the furnishings are extremely dated and not real clean- it was a double edged sword. We are sure we ..."

Reviewed on 15 Apr. 2024

Beachscape Kin ha Villas & Suites
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

Cities near Cancun