1. Take a ferry to Isla Mujeres, Isla Mujeres was our favorite thing about Cancun. It is an island located only 13 kilometers from the city. Its paradisiacal beaches are the best known of this Caribbean island: crystalline and shallow, ideal to enjoy with the little ones. In Isla Mujeres there are many hotels, although the most common is to go on a day trip from Cancun. The beaches are very nice but there is very little space on the sand because they are occupied by hotels.
2. Swimming at Caracol Beach This is one of the best beaches in Cancun. Although as we said, we didn't find them to be anything special. Playa Caracol is one of the beaches with the most beautiful water color, although there is very little space on the sand and it is surrounded by hotels. Still, if you have your hotel nearby, you can go for a dip.
3. Take a picture with the sign of Cancun at Playa Delfines You can't leave Cancun without taking a picture of the colorful sign with the Cancun letters. It is located at Playa Delfines, although there is also another one at Playa Langosta.
4. Explore Cancun's Hotel Zone, something curious to do in Cancun. Cancun reminded us a lot of Las Vegas: a very artificial city where hotels are its main attraction. The city is divided into two areas: Downtown, where most of the locals live and the main business area, and the Hotel Zone, purely touristy. One of the most curious things to do is to get lost in the Hotel Zone and be amazed by the mega hotels you will find.
5. Buy some souvenirs at Mercado 28 Cancun has a lot of spectacular shopping malls. However, they are in stark contrast to Mercado 28, a handicrafts market where you can find all kinds of souvenirs. Just don't get the first price, bargain! We think it is one of the most interesting things to see in Cancun.
6. Fill up on tacos at Taqueria Coapeñitos, one of the best things to do in Cancun. Mexican food is one of the most popular in the world. And tacos are perhaps its star dish. If you want to eat one of the best tacos in Cancun, we recommend you to go to Taqueria Coapeñitos. It is located in Downtown Cancun, near the Palapas Park. It is also very good value for money, highly recommended!
7. Coco Bongo is by far the most famous nightclub in Cancun and is definitely a must on your vacation. Amazing acrobatic shows, celebrity impersonators, unlimited drinks and music for all tastes makes Coco Bongo the best disco in Cancun.
8. Spend a few days in Isla Holbox, one of the best excursions to do in Cancun. This island is one of the most beautiful in Mexico. It has a very interesting alternative vibe that reminded us of the Gili Islands in Indonesia. If you like nature, you will never want to leave Isla Holbox. It has many kilometers of secluded beaches where you will be away from the hotels and surrounded by vegetation and wildlife.
You can book a day trip to Holbox
9. Enjoy a lot of bird watching at Isla Contoy Near Cancun you can visit Isla Contoy, a real paradise for birdwatchers. In fact, it is known as the Island of Birds. There live more than 100 species of birds, sea turtles and a lot of biodiversity. Specifically, the island is home to the second largest reef in the world, known as Ixlaché, so it is also an ideal place for diving!
It is a Protected Natural Park, so only 200 tourists a day are allowed to enter and must follow strict rules to help conservation
A good way to visit it is is to combine an excursion with Isla Mujeres, as they are close to each other. Undoubtedly, one of the best excursions to do in Cancun.
10. Downtown Cancun Cancun is artificial, but especially the hotel zone. It is like a theme park on the fringes of the real Mexican city where only tourists sleep. If you want to know more about the local culture and see the day to day life of the locals, we advise you to go to downtown Cancun.
Tulum Avenue is the main artery of this part of town. There you will find parks, local stores, small markets and lots of taco stands. We think it is an interesting visit to make in Cancun to get to know the real side of the city.