Cancun – complete travel guide to Mexico's Caribbean paradise

Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations – and it's not hard to see why. Here, powder-white beaches and turquoise Caribbean waters meet a huge selection of hotels, restaurants and activities. At the same time, Cancun is a perfect starting point for experiencing some of the Yucatán Peninsula's greatest attractions. But Cancun is more than large All Inclusive hotels. If you travel a little outside the Hotel Zone, you'll find local restaurants, markets and a completely different side of the city. Within a couple of hours' travel you can visit Maya ruins, swim in cenotes, snorkel with sea turtles or visit islands with some of Mexico's most beautiful beaches. In this guide you get an overview of the most important things you should know before traveling to Cancun.

Cancun in short

Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula's Caribbean coast. For tourists, Cancun can roughly be divided into two areas: Zona Hotelera – The Hotel Zone is the long hotel strip between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté lagoon. Here you'll find most of the large beach hotels, many of Cancun's best beaches, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Downtown Cancun – El Centro is the city itself where many of the locals live. Here hotels and restaurants are generally cheaper, but you don't stay directly on the famous Caribbean beaches. For most people visiting Cancun for the first time and wanting a classic beach holiday, the Hotel Zone is the natural choice. Why travel to Cancun? The biggest attraction is of course the beaches. The sandy beaches along the Hotel Zone can have almost white coral sand and a sea that shifts between light blue, turquoise and deeper blue. But Cancun also has a location that makes it easy to combine a beach holiday with experiences. Among the most popular are:

• Isla Mujeres
• Chichén Itzá
• cenotes
• Tulum
• Playa del Carmen
• Valladolid
• Akumal
• Cozumel
• Puerto Morelos
• snorkeling and diving

You can therefore easily spend two weeks in the area without the holiday being only about lying by the pool.

The best beaches in Cancun

Cancun has a long range of public beaches. Which is best depends, among other things, on whether you are traveling with children, want big waves or want restaurants and activities nearby. One of the most well-known is Playa Delfines, in the southern part of the Hotel Zone. Here you get a long, wide beach and a fantastic view of the Caribbean Sea. Other popular beaches include Playa Tortugas, Playa Langosta, Playa Marlin and Playa Forum. Be aware that waves and current conditions can be stronger on the east-facing side of the Hotel Zone. Families with small children may therefore prefer the more sheltered beaches in the northern part.

Things to do in Cancun

You don't have to leave Cancun to find things to do. You can, among other things, visit the Maya ruins El Rey, the Museo Maya de Cancún, go shopping, take a boat trip on the Nichupté lagoon or try snorkeling, diving and other water sports. Cancun is at the same time an excellent base for day trips. One of the easiest is Isla Mujeres, which lies just off the coast. Here you will find, among other things, the famous Playa Norte. If you have a full day available, Chichén Itzá is one of the area's greatest historical experiences.

Where should you stay? This is one of the most important choices before the trip. If you want the beach right outside the door, the Hotel Zone is usually the best choice. If you'd rather experience more of local Cancun and spend less on hotels and restaurants, Downtown can be interesting. A third option is the areas north of Cancun, such as Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres. Here you find several large and modern resorts, and the area is especially suitable for travelers who plan to spend a lot of time at the hotel.

Hotels and All Inclusive

Cancun has an enormous hotel selection. You will find everything from simple city hotels to some of Mexico's most exclusive beachfront resorts. All Inclusive is particularly widespread. At many resorts, food, drinks and a number of activities are included in the price. But All Inclusive is not necessarily right for everyone. If you want to explore the city, eat at different restaurants and go on many excursions, it can be a waste to pay for all meals at the hotel. If the goal, on the other hand, is a relaxing week on the beach with the family, All Inclusive can make the holiday very easy.

Cancun with children

Cancun can be a very good destination for families. Many hotels have kids' clubs, family-friendly pool areas, water slides and entertainment. Several also offer family rooms or suites with more space. The most important thing is to choose the right hotel and beach. Families with small children should be extra aware of the wave conditions at the hotel's beach.

Food and restaurants

Don't make the mistake of thinking that Cancun only consists of resort buffets. Mexico has one of the world's great food cultures, and the Yucatán Peninsula has its own specialties. Look out for, among others:

• cochinita pibil
• ceviche
• aguachile
• tacos al pastor
• pescado tikin xic
• sopa de lima
• marquesitas

Restaurant prices vary significantly. The most tourist-oriented restaurants in the Hotel Zone can be relatively expensive, while in Downtown Cancun you can eat very well for much less. When is it best to travel to Cancun? Cancun is a year-round destination, but the seasons differ. The period from roughly December to April is popular because the weather is usually drier and temperatures comfortable. That also means high season and often higher hotel prices. Summer is warmer and more humid. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, although that of course does not mean that Cancun is hit by hurricanes every year. Sargassum – seaweed washed in from the ocean – also varies throughout the year and from beach to beach.

Spring Break

In parts of February, March and April many American students come to Cancun in connection with Spring Break. This is especially noticeable around the nightlife at Punta Cancún and at certain hotels. That does not mean that the whole of Cancun becomes one big party. Families and couples can still have a great holiday during Spring Break, but hotel choice and location become more important.

How long should you stay in Cancun? For a pure beach holiday, 7 days can be sufficient. If you want both beach life and several excursions, 10–14 days in our view is a better starting point, especially when you travel all the way from Norway. With two weeks you can combine relaxed days on the beach with, for example, Isla Mujeres, Chichén Itzá, cenotes and Playa del Carmen without the schedule becoming too hectic. Cancun or Playa del Carmen? Cancun is especially suitable if you prioritize large resorts, beautiful beaches and easy access from the airport. Playa del Carmen, on the other hand, has a more compact center where restaurants, shops and bars are within walking distance. There is therefore no single correct choice. We have made a separate comparison:

Cancun.no – made for Norwegian travelers

Cancun.no is intended to be a complete Norwegian guide to Cancun and the surrounding areas. We continuously build the guide with information about beaches, hotels, restaurants, prices, transport and experiences – and supplement with our own photos, experiences and reviews. The goal is simple: To make it easier to plan a fantastic holiday in Cancun.