Cancún sits on the northeast tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo. Most visitors stay in the Hotel Zone, a thin strip of sand between the Caribbean and the Nichupté Lagoon, and use it as a base for Isla Mujeres, Chichén Itzá, Tulum and the cenotes. This Cancún travel guide brings everything together to help you plan.
Plan your Cancún trip: Cancún itinerary · Things to do · Where to stay · Airport to Hotel Zone · Best time to visit · Is Cancún safe? · Tourist tax (Visitax) · Chichén Itzá day trip
Top things to do in Cancún
- The Hotel Zone beaches — calm water at Playa Tortugas and Playa Langosta, big waves at Playa Delfines.
- Isla Mujeres — a 15–20 minute ferry for Playa Norte, one of the clearest beaches in the region.
- Chichén Itzá — the most famous Mayan city, about 200 km away. Day-trip guide.
- Cenotes — swim in natural sinkholes on the Ruta de los Cenotes near Puerto Morelos.
- Tulum ruins — a Mayan site on a cliff above the sea, 2 hours south.
- Snorkelling and eco-parks — the underwater museum (MUSA), Xcaret and Xel-Há.
See all 20 best things to do in Cancún, or compare Cancún tours and excursions.
Where to stay in Cancún
- Hotel Zone, north (km 0–9) — calm bay water, best for families.
- Hotel Zone, east (km 9–23) — classic Caribbean views, bigger waves, near the nightlife at Punta Cancún.
- Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres — newer all-inclusive resorts north of the city.
- Downtown (El Centro) — cheaper hotels and local food, 20 minutes from the beach.
Read our full guide to where to stay in Cancún or compare hotels in Cancún.
Getting around
From the airport, the ADO bus goes to downtown for about 140 pesos; an official taxi to the Hotel Zone costs about US$30–46 and a shared shuttle about US$18 per person. In the Hotel Zone, the R-1 bus runs 24 hours along Boulevard Kukulcán for about 12 pesos. See Cancún airport to Hotel Zone for every option.
When to visit
December to April is dry and sunny, and the coast has the least sargassum seaweed. May to November is hotter and wetter, with hurricane season from 1 June to 30 November and the heaviest seaweed in June–August. Hotels are cheapest in May, August and September. See the best time to visit Cancún.
Before you go
- Visitax: pay the Quintana Roo visitor fee online at the official portal before your flight home — how it works.
- Safety: the US State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2, “exercise increased caution” — what that means.
- Flights: compare flights to Cancún.
- Internet: get a Mexico eSIM.
- Insurance: useful in hurricane season — compare travel insurance for Mexico.
Practical tips
- Currency: Mexican peso (MXN). US dollars are accepted in the Hotel Zone, but you’ll get a worse rate — pay in pesos when you can.
- Carry small peso bills for buses, tips and markets.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen; some parks and cenotes don’t allow regular sunscreen.
- Drink bottled or filtered water.
- Ignore timeshare sellers in the airport arrivals hall and walk straight outside to your transport.
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