If you are looking for things to do in Cancun, you’ve arrived at the right place because Cancun is a beautiful place with lots of outdoor activities and excursions to partake in. Chances are you are looking for the best things to do in Cancun without breaking the budget or maybe you are trying to maximize your vacation with fun-filled activities. Whether nature and the outdoors is your scenery, or you prefer the party nightlife atmosphere or maybe a relaxing day at one of Cancun’s beautiful elegant beaches, there is something in Cancun Mexico that will captivate your heart.  

All Inclusive Resorts Is my Top Favorite Thing to Do in Cancun

If you’re wondering what to do in The Caribbean is known for their beautiful beaches, tropical paradise and of course all inclusive resorts. 

There are a plethora of different all inclusive resorts depending on your budget and your desired activities. Whether you prefer a nice couple’s retreat or you prefer the party scene, there is a resort for you. 

I first got introduced to all inclusive resorts on my first trip to the Dominican Republic, but Cancun had my heart as soon as I landed. The best part about all inclusive resorts is that all the food and drinks will be included during your stay. If you are a foodie, you will be in paradise here. If you fancy a pina Colada or a finely mixed drink or even a Mojito, your wishes come true here. I am a huge fan of Xcaret Hotels and Resorts, namely Xcaret Mexico (the family side) and Xcaret Arte (adults only) which provide a luxury experience plus excursions included with your stay.

For the most luxurious experience, I enjoy Playa De La Casa or recommend Atelier Resorts in Playa Mujeres near Cancun. If you strictly want a generic, but good All Inclusive Experience you can choose Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive, or Hilton Cancun. Partiers can often select RIU in Cancun as well. There are so many resorts to choose from 

Things to Include Along Cancun’s Playa Del Carmen Beach 

The Beach in Playa Del Carmen is beautiful, with pristine waters and beaming sun in the Caribbean. 

You can take a stroll to Mamitas Beach which is an upscale area in North Playa with a vibrant bar and restaurant scene. There is also Playa Punta Esmeralda and Playacar Beach nearby as well. And depending on which resort you stay at, Occasionally, you may experience some Sargassum on the beaches, especially if traveling in the summer months around June & July, however finding an area of beautiful beach might just be a matter of walking a few miles away. 

My all time favorite thing to do in Cancun is visit Xcaret Parks  

By far one of my favorite things to do in the Cancun and Riviera Maya area is the Xcaret parks. For those of you that don’t know, Xcaret is synonymous with eco-friendly water parks which take place near archaeological locations in Tulum near the beautiful Riviera Maya coastline. The location is set in the mystique Mayan jungle and many of the parks make you feel like you are in the perfect blend between a tropical paradise and a far away jungle like in the movies.

These parks are truly nature’s gems. The brand is known not only for their love of nature and the environment, but they also want to share the story and history of the Mayan culture with its visitors through their unique attractions. They’ve been extremely careful and diligent in maintaining the authenticity of the Mayan culture and jungle while also being respectful of the animals and nature and whilst creating a tropical jungle paradise full of natural slides, cenotes, walking paths, animal encounters and much more. 

The history behind Xcaret is captivating on its own, often set near historical landmarks, ancient Mayan temples or inside Cenotes. You can learn about the Xcaret Parks history here. The Xcaret brand is known not only for their parks, but their hotels the Xcaret Mexico, Xcaret Arte (adults-only) and La Playa de la Casa.

In fact, as far as water parks go, this is as close to a Mexican “Disney World” as you can get, but the natural one. Xcaret has several themed parks from the original Xcaret Park, to Xplor, Xplor Fuego (the night version), Xel-Ha, and my favorite – Xenses. Each park is known for their own theme and you never get bored by visiting a different park each day. I like to plan for at least a week in Cancun in order to be able to fit in all the things to do in Cancun 

Wondering What Else to Do in Cancun? Visit the Cenotes in Cancun and Riviera Maya!

Zip-lining on the Cenotes in the “Xenotes” tour by Xcaret

Among the best things to do in Cancun are the Cenotes. I prefer a guided tour of the Cenotes by a seasoned Cenotes veteran in the Cancun and Xcaret area. When I traveled, I went to the Xenotes Tour which is essentially a group tour where the guide took a group of about 10 of us in a guided bus to the different cenotes near Tulum and the Riviera Maya. It was called the “Xenotes Tour” and was one of the highlights of our trip.

I am a person that feared heights, but by the end of the tour I was jumping off 40ft cliffs along with the group like nothing at all. On top of that I was zip-lining off of cliffs and tall ledges as well!

It can be a refreshing excursion in the hot Mexican heat during the summer to cool off in the water, since you will spend most of the day in the water. 

Cenotes in the area are often known for their mystique and historical significance to Mayan culture. They were once thought to be the gateways to the underworld. 

Today, they are often known for their popular tourist attraction, and a great place to cool off as cenotes are often much cooler than traditional swimming pools at the hotels and resorts. 

Chichen-Itza – Another Fantastic Excursion and Thing to Do in Cancun  

Chichen-Itza is set among a series of famous archaeological ancient ruins that is often done as an excursion activity for hotel and resort guests in Cancun. It is located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and this ancient city was known as Temple of Kukulcan which dates back to 600 A.D. 

If you are staying in the Cancun area, this may be considered quite a bus ride from the resort area, especially if staying in the Riviera Maya area or near Playa Mujeres or Playa Del Carmen. However, it is very much worth it if you enjoy history and sightseeing and being able to take memorable photographs that can last a lifetime.

You should definitely plan on this being an all-day event as the bus ride can total several hours alone from and to Chichen-Itza, and it is a popular tourist excursion in Cancun. Typically, you will go in a charter bus along with a group tour with a guide and be served lunch along the way. Some excursion tours, like the Xcaret Chichen-Itza tour will take you to several nearby towns and also give you a historical tour as well as stop at some gift shop and artisan stores along the route which can make the long trip more palatable. 

If you plan on this being an all-day tour, you should allocate sufficient time in your week for this.  

Nightlife and Party Atmosphere at Coco Bongo’s is Among Other Top Things to Do in Cancun

Right in the heart of Cancun is the popular nightlife attraction and establishment known as Coco Bongo in Cancun. If you are a party person, or just want a nice night out on the town in a foreign country, then Coco Bongo in the nightlife hotel district of Cancun is for you.

Coco Bongo is a high energy nightclub atmosphere with heavy dance music, lights and spectacles just like you would imagine an energetic nightclub to be. The type of music played here is primarily dance and EDM music if you are into this type of scenery. There is also a renowned show that takes place at night, that can vary from an acrobatics show, live bands as well as different costume shows and general admission to the club can be around $90 USD. 

There are also plenty of high energy bars and restaurants with fresh tacos in the Hotelera Zona section of Cancun, which is the livelier area of Cancun. 

Great Things to Do in Cancun : A Half Day Visit to the Ancient Ruins of Tulum

 If you have about a half-day to spend and don’t want to fully commit a full day to traveling to the ancient Pyramids of Chichzen Itza and visiting the historical site, then the ancient archaeological site of Tulum may be for you. 

There is a half-day excursion often combined with Xcaret’s Xel-Ha waterpark where the tour guide takes you through the ancient city of Tulum, followed by a half-day excursion at the nearby Xel-Ha waterpark close to Tulum. Here, the guide will take you through the town of ancient Tulum which is known for its ancient ruins and places of worship. Depending on the tour guide, they will tell you the history of Tulum which translates to “walled city.” 

The guides will often teach you about the ancient Mayan history, where these ancient landmarks were once used for places of worship and sacrifice. The history is quite captivating. On the outskirts of town, you will often find local vendors selling cool souvenirs, and other artistic pieces either hand-crafted or specially made that embody the Mayan culture. 

To cool off, you’ll then be led to the Xcaret Xel-Ha waterpark by bus which is a half-day event of fun floating in the river and natural cenotes around Tulum. This is often only about a 15-minute ride away from the archaeological site of Tulum. 

Xel-Ha park alone is an immersive park with several restaurants on site, so this is a perfect way to end the day whether you prefer floating in the massive river or engaging in an adrenaline fueled boat adventure, there’s something for everyone here. 

What Else to Do in Cancun? – A Day Visit to Isla de Mujeres by Ferry or Catamaran

If you’re not sure what to do in Cancun, there is always the option to hop into a ferry or catamaran to the famous La Isla De Mujeres which is a small island right off of Cancun. Xcaret ferry runs a service that includes either a ferry ride or a Catamaran boat to the island of Isla De Mujeres, and if you stay on their resort then it’s all included or you can purchase tickets separately on sites like Viator or by going to the docks themselves. 

Isla de Mujeres holds a special place in my heart. The culture, environment and of course the ambiance of the bustling tiny island city is truly special. 

The moment you debark from your catamaran or ferry, you know you’ve set foot in a different world. A tiny island paradise, but busy and bustling with mopeds and buggies as you leave the docks into the streets where there are street vendors and gift shops galore. In case you have a moment, don’t forget to try out the local cuisine, if even for just a quick bite for lunch as you peruse the different local shops and boutiques full of authentic local artifacts and artisans that tell the story behind the Mayan culture. 

An Alternative of Things to Do In Cancun – Ferry to Cozumel Mexico

If you want a more lively atmosphere that is similar to La Isla De Mujeres, but catered to a more touristy live atmosphere with maybe a few more bars, restaurants and even a club, then you could also try the option to go on the Ferry to Cozumel 

Cozumel has a more lively atmosphere, but also beware it is a lot more touristy as well. All the big cruise ships dock in Cozumel, so prices at shops and restaurants will be a lot higher than Isla De Mujeres which has a more relaxed vibe. Here, it is catered to the American populace, so often the shops here will accept Dollars (USD) here as opposed to pesos in La Isla de Mujeres

In Cozumel, you will find a plethora of unique shops and “tiendas” of local artisans and shopkeepers selling everything from your generic keychains, t-shirts and other souvenirs to the more artistic crafts and pottery, masks and art that is native to the Mayan culture. There is truly something for everyone here. We enjoyed a great meal in Cozumel here, after taking the short 40ish minute ferry ride from Cancun using the Xcaret ferry service. There was a pizza shop right next to the taco restaurant which we enjoyed quite a bit. 

You can find my in-depth Cozumel, Mexico and Isla Mujeres day trip guide here

Other Things to Do in Cancun Include Snorkeling and Diving Excursions

Lastly, there is underwater snorkeling or if you are feeling super adventurous there is underwater cave diving. Snorkeling is fun in Cancun because you can see all the different tropical fish native to the Cancun and Riviera Maya area that you often don’t find back home. Typically, a catamaran boat will take you out on the water, and this may be paired with a beach day near Isla Mujeres or Cozumel. 

You can find good excursions for snorkeling on Viator.com with a good tour guide, or often times there will be vendors along the port of Isla Mujeres and especially Cozumel selling you short same-day excursions for snorkeling, ATV buggy rides and much more. It truly is a paradise. With cave diving, you must get certified by a certified instructor – and some areas can be highly dangerous for beginners or recreational divers, so if this is your type of excursion you definitely need to pay close attention to the instructions. 

Clearly, there is a lot of wonderful things to do in Cancun Mexico and this list is just the beginning of your adventure. Stay tuned for more tips and travel advice as I take you on the journey into the marvelous and mystique of Cancun Mexico!