Cancun may conjure up images of wild Spring Break parties, but there are plenty of things to do if you prefer a more laid-back vacation. With around 10 million visitors per year, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Cancun attracts a wide range of people. Yes, spring breakers, but also couples, singles, families, older adults, beach lovers, surfers, scuba divers, snorkelers, adventurers, and luxury seekers. The beautiful beaches, fantastic weather, and amazingly clear waters exude relaxation. And that’s not all Cancun has to offer.
You can learn about Mayan history, visit quaint colonial towns, explore the marine habitats, feast on mouth-watering culinary creations, party hard and enjoy some retail therapy. Plus, the hotels and resorts are all about high living. Everywhere you go it looks like something out of a luxury travel magazine.
But if all the glossy magazine ads and social media posts still haven’t convinced you to add Cancun to your travel bucket list, here are just three of the reasons people love going there.
Great Flight Connections
Cancun International Airport is the second busiest airport in Mexico, after Mexico City International Airport. Since Cancun is one of the most popular destinations for American tourists, it’s accessible from almost everywhere in the United States.
Flights are also pretty affordable. In comparison to other destinations, even first-class is usually quite reasonable. For Americans who want a tropical vacation, Cancun is usually the most affordable and convenient option.
But there’s one thing we should mention. As soon as you go through the exit doors of Cancun Airport, you’ll come across a huge crowd of taxi drivers shouting different prices at you. We suggest you take the shuttle online at cancuniairport.com instead and avoid an upsettingly hefty taxi fare.
Beautiful Beaches
White sand that caresses your feet as you walk and clear turquoise water at the perfect temperature year-round – doesn’t that sound like a dream? And it can become a reality in Cancun! The Caribbean beaches are renowned for their beauty, and the ones in Cancun are among the best in the region. It’s the kind of stuff you see in postcards with white sand, palm trees and everything.
The most note-worthy are Playa Chac Mool, Playa Delfines, Tulum, Norte Isla Mujeres, Playacar Beach, and Akumal.
Playa Chac Mool
Playa Chac Mool is the ideal beach spot if all you want to do is relax on the soft sand while reading a book and basking in the sun. It’s not very crowded, far away from the crowds and the waters are ideal for safe swimming.
Playa Delfines
As the name suggests, Playa Delfines is popular because it offers dolphin sightings. Unlike other beaches in the Hotel Zone, Playa Delfines does not have hotels, restaurants and shacks, so you have a vast expanse of warm sand to wander on while admiring the scenery.
You do get access to clean restrooms, free parking, bus service, and a small playground. If you go there with your kids, keep in mind that the water can get choppy, so make sure they or you don’t go in without lifeguards around.
Tulum
Tulum is a short distance from Cancun’s Hotel Zone and is easily accessible by various forms of transportation. You can relax on one of the several quiet beaches it offers or explore the ancient Mayan ruins in the area.
The Hotel Zone in Tulum doesn’t have big resorts and hotels like the one in Cancun, but there are plenty of cozy cabanas and open-air restaurants or cafes.
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) is located just off the coast of Cancun, and it’s a true paradise on earth.
Playa Norte (North Beach) is a lovely, calm beach where you can rent chairs and umbrellas to spend your day basking in the sun or taking a swim in the crystal clear water. The is a beach where you can swim safely, so it’s ideal if you want to bring your kids along.
You might also want to take a tour of the island since the scenery is breathtaking. There are golf carts you can rent for tours, but we suggest you arrive a bit early for this.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, also referred to simply as Playa, is a lively seaside town near Cancun. It’s a fun, vibrant beach that attracts people from all walks of life.
There are many ways you could spend your days since it offers lots of beach clubs and boutique hotels. Many visitors buy a day pass at one of the resorts so they can relax all day under an umbrella, sipping on cool margaritas and talking to new people.
Akumal
Akumal is a charming beach town in the south of Cancun. It’s most famous for its turtles. The female turtles lay their eggs on the beach from April to October, so they hatch between June and November.
If you go snorkeling or scuba diving, you’ll be able to swim with sea turtles!
The Historical Cancun
The Maya civilization thrived for hundreds of years and built incredible cities and pyramids out of stone. They were best known for their advanced writing system, calendar, and astronomical system, mathematics, architecture, and art. They benefitted from a robust mechanism for inter-settlement economic exchange with merchants and trade routes.
Mayans were fascinated with astrology and had priests trained to interpret omens so they could predict eclipses, the weather, and famines.
If you’ve never been to Cancun before, so you’ve only seen them in pictures or videos, you’ll definitely want to visit the heritage sites. The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are among Mexico’s biggest and best-preserved archaeological sites.
The El Rey ruins is an important historical location and a beautiful botanical garden. They were part of an important trade route and were named after a mask found there that experts believe was dedicated to the Sun God. And of course, you should also visit the Maya Museum located in Cancun’s Hotel zone to get a deeper understanding of Mayan Culture.
