Cancun is a beautiful Mexican city, you’ve probably heard about it before. It is very famous for its white sand beaches and roaring nightlife, but it has a lot more to offer.
As a local, I’ve had over two decades to explore this gorgeous destination from head to toe and I have made this compilation of things to do in Cancun so you can live your stay here to the fullest.
The Beaches in Cancun
First things first – Cancun has beaches like no other place in Mexico. The sand is super thin, white and cool! There are three public beaches worth knowing even if there’s one right in front of the hotel you’re staying at.
Playa Delfines
Also known as “El Mirador“, this iconic beach is known for being the last bus spot and the one with the huge Cancun letters. If you came to this gorgeous destination and didn’t take a photo there, did you even come at all?
This spot is perfect for receiving the first sun rays of the day and begin your morning feeling energized and inspired. In fact, the locals love going there in new years’ eve for watching the first dawn of the year.
Playa Forum
Unlike Playa Delfines, this beach is perfect for swimming all day. The key to finding the best spot is to walk a little to the left where the waters are more serene because of a man-made seawall. This is a very popular beach among locals and tourists so if you want to avoid crowds the best hours to go are from 8 to 11 am.
The beach is located right in front of Coco Bongo, the city’s most popular nightclub, so it is very easy to hop on a bus and know when to go down. Tip: don’t be shy and always tell the bus driver where you’re going – they will let you know when to go down.
Playa Tortugas
This gorgeous beach has everything! A pier for going to Isla Mujeres, restaurants and even a bungee! Walking a little more to the right you’ll find a more serene side of the beach with is a perfect spot for swimming and taking great photos! The best thing is that the more to the right you walk – the fewer people you’ll see!
The Food in Cancun
Mexican food is a gift from the gods; it is so full of flavor and love! In Cancun, you’ll find all kinds of viands from the world-famous tacos to tortas, tamales, esquites (es-kee-tehs) and more. Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if they don’t look that pretty, I can assure you you’ll enjoy them!
Parque de las Palapas
Right in the middle of the city, there is a park where the most amazing snacks can be found. Each afternoon (after 5 pm) the locals go to enjoy all sorts of them. I recommend you to try esquites, they are boiled corn kernels with cheese and mayo. Yes, it sounds weird but it tastes great! Remember to put lots of lime and a little bit of sauce.
Another must are marquesitas (mar-kay-cee-tas), they are traditional Yucatecan desserts. They are rolled wafers stuffed with Edam cheese and you can top them with Nutella, caramel sauce, and other flavors.
Fish Tacos
You’ve probably tried a fish taco before, they’ve gotten very popular since the early 2000’s. But the ones you find in Cancun are way better – they’re fresh and have top-notch sauces to accompany them, along with a selection of vegetables like onions, lettuce, cabbage, etc.
You can find them in the hotel zone at a restaurant called Fish Fritanga in Los De Pescado, they have many locations both in the Hotel Zone and Downtown Cancun.
Tacos
Have you tried authentic Mexican tacos yet? It is a life-changing experience! There are plenty of places in the Hotel Zone where you can have them but I recommend you to go downtown for a taste of the real Mexican experience.
For example, there is a restaurant downtown called Tacos Rigo where you can find all sorts of tacos. The top three flavors are Al Pastor, De Bistec, and De Suadero. When they ask if you want them “con todo” (with everything), say yes! It means coriander and onions.
The tours in Cancun
Cancun has very impressive places that can only be seen in tours so I recommend you to take at least one during your stay. For example, Punta Nizuc, the Nichupté Lagoon or the Underwater Museum MUSA are beautiful places I’ve only seen with the help of a tour guide.
Jungle Tour
his is a very popular tour, you’ll see it advertised everywhere in Cancun! I recommend you to go to Aquaworld for this one as they are the ones with the most experience. This tour consists of driving a speedboat through the mangroves in the lagoon all the way to the ocean where you can snorkel in a very colorful reef called Nizuc.
In the Nizuc reef, there are turtles, all kinds of fish and corals. Along with a few sculptures from the Underwater Museum of art Musa like “Understanding”, a sculpture of six life-sized statues sitting down, surrounding a half-sphere.
MUSA
I’m a big fan of this project because it started as a way to relieve stress from the coral reefs but it also acts as an artificial reef. So each year more coral, algae and sponges grow around the sculptures and more fish, turtles, and crustaceans start to frequent it. There are three galleries; the biggest one is in the stretch of water between Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
I’ve gone snorkeling there with Aquaworld too, the tour departs from Cancun in the morning and allows you to see the Silent Evolution. This piece is a collection of hundreds of statues inspired by people from all around the world, including the locals. It is very impressive and unique!
Parasailing
I am in love with Cancun, and the prettiest view I’ve seen was from a parachute called the SkyRider, they are almost in every beach but make sure to pick the ones with chairs instead of the ones with harnesses.
There is another one in the lagoon side you can board from Aquaworld Water Sports center’s dock which is calmer because the water is serene and has no waves. They give you like 10 minutes up there and the view is simply fantastic. Tip: Ask for them to give you a “splash” at the end of the ride to make things more fun.
There are plenty of other activities to do in Cancun, I advise you to explore as much as you can and avoid staying inside your resort all day. Try to use the bus to save time and money, and visit downtown for a more authentic experience. But most importantly, do what makes you happy!
