I spent 10 full days in Cancun on an epic adventure alone. This is a comprehensive list of every place that I went to on my trip to Cancun. After much research I made my itinerary to include those places that had high recommendations and looked interesting. All the places I went to were extremely beautiful and if you have the time I recommend you do all! Go ahead and read the itinerary I had for my 10 day trip which includes the top things to do in Cancun, Mexico.
Top 14 Things to do in Cancun, Mexico
- Chichen Itza
- Cenote Dos Ojos
- Cenote Ik Kil
- Cenote Caracol
- Blue Gecko Restaurant
- Mercado 28
- Mandala Beach Club & Senor Frog’s
- Playa Delfines Beach
- El Rey Ruins and Iguanas
- Punta Nizuc Snorkeling
- Catamaran trip
- Isla Mujeres Staycation
- Croco Cun Zoo
- Tulum Day Trip
Things to do in Cancun
1. Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is one of the 7 new wonders of the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the most ancient pyramids in the world. The oldest pyramid dates back to the 5th century.
The Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo) is the most important structure. It is a 98 foot tall pyramid that was designed according to the astronomical calendars.
If you stand outside the pyramid and clap your hands you can hear the cooing of a native bird from inside the pyramid.
The Mesoamerican ball court is another amazing structure where warriors used to compete and the winning team’s captain would be sacrificed to the gods.
Other ancient attractions include the Sacred Cenote, El Caracol, the observatory and the tzompantli, where skulls of defeated armies were displayed.
The best way to see Chichen Itza is to spend a day in Valladolid, the closest city to Chichen Itza. This way you can see all the cenotes around and visit Chichen Itza at your own pace. If you prefer to do a tour then there are tours from Cancun and Tulum both.
2. Cenote Dos Ojos
Dos Ojos meaning two eyes is a set of two larger pools connected by an underwater tunnel. If seen from above they look like two blue eyes. Dos Ojos is perhaps the most famous cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula.
The stunning blue waters, hanging stalactites, opportunities for diving and the good commercialization of the cenote gives easy access to all those that want to visit.
The cenote has bathrooms, changing rooms, outdoor massages, lifeguards and picnic area with hammocks. Definitely a good idea to bring a packed picnic or you can purchase food from the restaurant.
3. Cenote Ik Kil
This cenote which is situated near Chichen Itza is one of the most beautiful hanging cenotes of the Yucatan peninsula. It has vines hanging from the top which make it look magical and otherworldly.
The cenote has been commercialized and there are showers, lockers and even a lifeguard on duty at the pool. The pool is accessible by a very slippery stairwell that leads down to the bottom.
One of the things I enjoyed here were the men dresses in traditional Mayan costumes that you can click pictures with. Do not be fooled when these men say the price is 100 pesos. You can give whatever you wish to them but it is absolutely not 100 pesos.
The ticket for the cenote is 85 pesos and is checked at the entrance so be sure to buy it.
4. Cenote Caracol
This is one of the quietest and adventurous cenotes in the area due to there being no way to get to it if you haven’t booked a trip from either Tulum or one of the bigger cities nearby. I was lucky enough that one of the adventure companies nearby has ATVs and I got a ride for the 3 mile trek both ways.
The cenote has colorful lights inside the water which makes it look really pretty. The water is deep and you have to descend 10 meters inside a tiny hole in the ground. It was incredibly thrilling to swim in the cenote because I had it all to myself. The whole cenote is supposed to take around 20 mins to explore.
The cool part about this place is that there is a cave next to the cenote which has partially collapsed. It has stalagmites hanging from the roof and beautiful water formations. You can descend into the cave and explore it by yourself. Exploring this cave was one of the favorite things I did in Mexico.
5. Blue Gecko Restaurant
This is a tiny little café with great food at the end of the hotel strip in Cancun. I stumbled upon it one night while looking for a place to get a quick dinner from. It was quiet when I got there but got a little crowded half an hour in.
Since there is a liquor shop right next door and all the party people living right across in the hotels it gets crowded at dinnertime. If you are staying in one of the hotels or coming back from El Rey this is a great place to get some good hot food for dinner.
6. Mercado 28
The famous market in Cancun. This is a Mexican square that has multiple tiny alleyways and galleys where you will most definitely get lost. The shops sell goods from local artisan and have some of the most interesting artifacts I saw in Mexico.
Even for a short trip to Cancun this is one place you definitely should not miss. The reason I really loved this place was because I got a beautiful traditional Mexican necklace and a white carved skeleton statue which are famous in the region here.
The skeleton statues are so beautiful and you will love shopping for them. Make sure you don’t buy the first one you see and get a feel of what the price should be lest you get ripped off.
Cancun has a great selection of these Mexican handmade necklaces and I managed to snag a gorgeous turquoise piece which just made my day!
7. Mandala Beach Club & Senor Frog’s
My favorite day beach club ever. But then again this is the only one I have ever been to. Regardless this was an epic spring break party that I will absolutely tell my kids about one day.
The four loco parties here during spring break are filled with loud music, lots of people and lots of booze. The parties go on all day so get here around 11 am and party until the sun sets.
After the party head over to Senor Frog’s which is the craziest restaurants in the Hotel Zone. With flaming dishes and meter tall drinks you will love the place!
8. Playa Delfines Beach
This is the place where the beautiful multicolored Cancun sign is. It’s the local beach so you won’t find any tourists. Just a lot of families having a day out.
I especially liked the beach because there isn’t a looming hotel behind you at all times like in the Cancun Hotel Zone which is where the closest beach to Cancun city is. If you are going for a 10 day trip to Cancun then spending a morning here is definitely recommended.
The beach is lively and there are vendors selling fruit and Pina Coladas that walk about shouting their fares. I loved the vibe here a lot more than the main beaches and the color of the water is to die for!
9. El Rey Ruins & Iguanas
El Rey is located near Boulevard Kukulkan Kilometer 19 (near the Playa Delfines and the Sheraton Cancun Resort). You can ask the bus driver to drop you off here.
This is one of the lesser known Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. It was part of the ancient trading routes on the coast. Today there are a million iguanas sunning themselves.
I do not joke about the iguanas. Believe me when I say these babies gave me a heart attacks at least a few times by moving like ninjas in the damn grass.
If you want a quiet and peaceful morning just looking at some ancient ruins and taking pictures with these magical beasts, then this is the place to be.
The entry fee is $50 MXN.
10. Punta Nizuc Snorkeling
During my 10 day trip to Cancun I decided to spend one morning at Punta Nizuc. It is one of the best places in Mexico for snorkeling. I went here as part of a snorkeling tour where you get to drive your own water boat. God knows how I managed to come back alive without driving into another boat, but I did so let’s get on with it.
The tours are a good idea because they take you to where the fish are and are plenty knowledgable about the eco system.
MUSA, The Underwater Museum of Art has sculptures in this area that you can see while snorkeling. My favorite part though was the flourishing and diverse sea life.
From tiny pointy colorful shiny fish to a school of orange fish that just headfirst came towards me that many of them bumped into me while swimming felt magical.
I also saw a huge colorful fish that silently swam past without anyone even noticing. If you ever wonder what pure joy and peace feels like, then you need to put your snorkel gear on and dive deep into these waters.
11. Catamaran Trip
Once I knew I wanted to go to Isla Mujeres I decided I might as well take a catamaran. For those of you unaware, this is a boat with two huge nets at the front that you can lounge on.
My initial experience wasn’t very good because the boat contained a 150 people even though I had been promised a smaller group by the person who sold me the ticket so be careful where you book your tours from.
In the end this turned out to be a blessing because I met an amazing group of people and we ended up dancing and partying all the way back from the island and in general had a great conversation.
Catamaran trips have always been my favorite part of any trip near the sea-shore and I make sure to go on one every time.
12. Isla Mujeres
The gorgeous island of Isla Mujeres off the coast of Cancun is one of the most beautiful Mexican towns I have seen. While most tourists in Cancun do not venture out into the ocean, this is a folly because they miss out on this absolute gem of an island.
While this trip is enough to leave you stunned at the beauty of Isla Mujeres, to have a truly amazing stay you should stay a night. Since the island is so small, the only vehicles here are bright colored golf carts. Once you have secured one of these cute buggies you are ready to begin your trip down Isla Mujeres.
You can do a day trip on a catamaran but I really recommend staying the night and experiencing the true beauty of the town once all the tourists have left in the afternoon. You have to rent a golf cart (the only vehicles allowed on the islands) and explore it for yourself. Start at the top of the island and make your way to the bottom.
At the northern end of the island is Playa Norte Beach with seaside massages and lots of pristine beaches. Adjacent to it is Pueblo Magico or the Magic City, which bustles with activity as the catamaran ships arrive everyday. Next make your way down to La Tortuga Granja, the hatching ground for the sea turtles on Isla Mujeres. You can see the turtle eggs being incubated or watch as they are released into the ocean.
At the southern tip, you will find Punta Sur where you can visit the Pre-Colombian Mayan Ruins of Ixchel. This calm and beautiful island is the perfect way to pamper yourself and enjoy a few days of luxury and culture away from the crowds.
13. Croco Cun Zoo
Croco Cun Zoo is a rehabilitation place for rescued animals and birds from the region. The keepers there have rescued crocodiles, turtles, snakes, macaws, deer and hairless Mexican dogs called Xoloitzcuintle from poachers and owners in the region.
The zoo is located 20 miles south of Cancun and you can easily get there on a collectivo going to Tulum.
You are only allowed to visit the zoo through tours offered every half an hour. You start by feeding the macaws, and learning about the different species. The macaws even kiss you!
Next you will move onto holding the snakes and smaller crocs if you aren’t scared. They are gentle creatures that won’t harm you. You get to see the group of 3 Xoloitzcuintle chilling in their encounter. Then the tour makes it way to the deer enclosure where you can feed them by hand.
Lastly you get to the adult crocodile enclosure. In a single file you walk through hundreds of large crocodile all chilling in the forest. It is incredibly thrilling!
Since the animals have been brought up in captivity they cannot be released into the wild and this is the only way they can survive. This is one of the most ethical zoos I have been to and a lot of fun.
14. Day Trip to Tulum
Tulum is a smaller city situated 1.5 hours from Cancun. If a chilled out vibe is more your style you should go one a day trip here.
Tulum has ancient Mayan ruins, beautiful beaches and a boho vibe that travelers like me enjoy. It has cute shops, vegan restaurants and great hotels along the coastline to relax.
The town still holds the charm of a small Mexican town that wasn’t apparent at Cancun. I took day trips to Tulum 3 times during my 10 day trip because of how much I enjoyed the city.
This article is a good itinerary if you are planning to visit the area of at least a week. Most of the places are worth visiting and lets you experience a different facet of Mexican culture.
I recommend you print out this list and makes notes in the column. You can have all the information in paper and enjoy the trip without figuring out where to go each time.
