A FIRST-TIMER’S GUIDE
Cancun is arguably one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. This city on the Yucatan Peninsula has a reputation as the party capital of the country, and it certainly delivers, with an incredible offering of clubs and beach bars along the coast. Besides the nightlife, there are still plenty of things to do, beautiful places to see and exciting tours to take, all of which make Cancun the tourist heaven that it is.
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THE BEACH
The beaches in Cancun are stunning. With soft, white sand and the warm turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea, it is very easy to spend a day just relaxing in the sun or under the shade of a palm tree. There are many beaches to enjoy, all with different offerings depending on your ideal beach day.
In the hotel zone, you're spoiled for choice, but we personally enjoyed Playa Chacmool. Outside the hotel zone, we loved Playa Del Nino; a beach lined with palm trees and smaller local restaurants.
SNORKELLING
A lot of tourist activities in Cancun involve the ocean and what you can see and experience beneath the surface. From swimming with whale sharks to snorkelling coral reefs and scuba diving at the Underwater Museum off Isla Mujeres, the options seem endless.
We went snorkelling with a tour booked on Viator. It included snorkelling at the Punta Nizuc coral reef, which is also one of the galleries of the Underwater Museum and driving speedboats around the Nichupte Lagoon.
DAY TRIPS
While there are many things to do along the coast, there is equally a lot to see further inland on the Yucatan Peninsula. For this, you will either need to rent a car or book a tour.
We didn’t explore any sites inland while in Cancun but instead waited until we were in Tulum. Check out our guide for Things To Do in Tulum.
DOWNTOWN CANCUN
Even though most of the tourist scene is out in the Hotel Zone, it’s worth dragging yourself away from the beach for a day to explore Downtown Cancun.
There are many great restaurants and taquerias on offer, with delicious food at a much more affordable price than in the touristy areas. There are also many popular yet laid-back cafes just off the Main Street.
Our favourite coffee shops were Café Por Favor and Onesto Café.
If you are on the hunt for souvenirs and keen to haggle for the price, check out one of the many local markets. The biggest market in Downtown is Mercado 28. Within the colourful maze of stalls, you will find clothes, bags, jewellery, ceramics, toys, and so much more.
If you would prefer to avoid the busy streets, head over to the waterfront neighbourhood of Malecon Tajamar. Here you will find a walkway along the Nichupte Lagoon, perfect for an afternoon stroll or cycle, with great views of the Hotel Zone.
OUR GOOGLE MAPS
When planning our travel destinations, we pin our bucket list of sites to see and recommended places to eat and drink on Google Maps. We are then never lost for ideas when travelling, and can easily share these lists for our friends and family to use too.
Click here to see our Google Maps for Things To Do in Cancun.
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