Top 10 Things to Do in Cancun: Ultimate Guide for 2025 Adventure Seekers
Cancun’s famous white sand and turquoise waters attracted 9.5 million tourists in 2024, but there is much more to enjoy in Cancun. Enjoy our favorite Cancun experiences for the first time or over and over again like we locals do.
1. Exploring Cancun's Beaches
Cancun has some of the best beaches in the world, with soft white sand and clear turquoise water. Most hotel beaches are amazing, and it’s understandable if you decide to stay on the same beach during your entire stay, but if you want to explore, these are some of our favorite beaches.
Playa Delfines
Playa Delfines is a large beach well-loved by both locals and tourists. The sand is soft and white, making it inviting for long walks. It’s one of the best spots in Cancun to see the beautiful turquoise water.
Visitors can enjoy a great view from the popular “Cancun” sign located here. It can get quite crowded during peak season, and you’ll have to wait in line to take a picture in front of the sign. Lifeguards are present, but it’s important to be cautious because of the strong waves.
Playa Norte
Playa Norte is located on Isla Mujeres. You can reach Playa Norte by ferry from the hotel zone or the terminal in Puerto Juarez in about 30 minutes. If you want to splurge, rent a sailboat or yacht for 4 to 10 hours. The calm and shallow waters make it ideal for families with children. The sand is white, and the sea is a beautiful shade of turquoise.
Families can enjoy swimming or building sandcastles. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available for rent along the beach.
2. Discovering Mayan History
The Yucatan Peninsula has some of Mexico’s most impressive archaeological ruins: Chichen Itza, Tulum, Uxmal, Coba,
Calakmul, or Palenque. It all depends on how far you are willing to go.
Chichen Itza
Playa Delfines is a large beach well-loved by both locals and tourists. The sand is soft and white, making it inviting for long walks. It’s one of the best spots in Cancun to see the beautiful turquoise water.
Visitors can enjoy a great view from the popular “Cancun” sign located here. It can get quite crowded during peak season, and you’ll have to wait in line to take a picture in front of the sign. Lifeguards are present, but it’s important to be cautious because of the strong waves.
Playa Norte
Playa Norte is located on Isla Mujeres. You can reach Playa Norte by ferry from the hotel zone or the terminal in Puerto Juarez in about 30 minutes. If you want to splurge, rent a sailboat or yacht for 4 to 10 hours. The calm and shallow waters make it ideal for families with children. The sand is white, and the sea is a beautiful shade of turquoise.
Families can enjoy swimming or building sandcastles. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available for rent along the beach.
3. Cancun Food Scene
Over the past twenty years, Cancun’s traditional Mexican food scene has evolved to include some of the best chefs from around the country. Guests staying at all-inclusive hotels should venture into the city to try some of these fantastic restaurants.
Authentic Restaurants and Eateries
Sonora Grill opened in 2004 in Mexico City with only five tables; now, there are 18 restaurants in different cities. It serves Mexican dishes using high-quality ingredients, blending local flavors with modern techniques, and specializing in high-quality meat. There are several excellent steak houses in Cancun, but Sonora Grill is one of our favorites.
Marbella is a must-visit for seafood lovers. Out of the way, above a small convenience store, you think you are in the wrong place, but once you go up the stairs, you can smell the ocean and feel the sea breeze. It’s the best seafood restaurant in the area. Its Puerto Morelos subsidiary is more expensive and stylish, but the food is better in the original.
Hanaichi, a small hole in the wall at the beginning of the hotel zone across from the Chedrahui Supermarket, has excellent sushi. The rolls are as good as those at some of the best sushi restaurants in Mexico City.
The Flavors of Street Food
If you decide to go even more local, Cancun’s streets are filled with delicious and affordable food stalls. Visitors can enjoy traditional Yucatan dishes like panuchos, tortillas filled with refried beans and topped with pork, lettuce, and avocado. Street food provides a unique cultural experience, capturing the essence of Mexican cuisine. Its variety and taste make it a fun and flavorful way to explore Cancun’s food scene. Sipping fresh orange juice or trying a taco al pastor from a local vendor adds to the authentic food adventure.
4. Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Cancun is famous for its underwater attractions. Divers can explore the underwater museum MUSA, and snorkelers can enjoy the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is teeming with tropical fish.
Snorkeling at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
MUSA, short for Museo Subacuático de Arte, is a unique underwater museum. It features over 500 life-sized sculptures
designed to encourage coral growth. Diving at MUSA offers an unforgettable experience as art and marine life coexist.
Visitors can swim through large installations, some spread across the seabed, which provide a haven for fish and marine plants. It’s suitable for beginners and experienced divers.
5. Adrenaline Adventures
Cancun offers thrilling adventures that promise excitement and an adrenaline rush. Visitors can explore the jungle on ATVs, soar above the treetops on zip lines, and parasail along the beach in the hotel zone. These activities are perfect for the 15- to 25-year-old crowd or adventurous parents having fun with their children.
Ziplining Through the Yucatan
MUSA, short for Museo Subacuático de Arte, is a unique underwater museum. It features over 500 life-sized sculptures
designed to encourage coral growth. Diving at MUSA offers an unforgettable experience as art and marine life coexist.
Visitors can swim through large installations, some spread across the seabed, which provide a haven for fish and marine plants. It’s suitable for beginners and experienced divers.
ATV Rides in the Jungle
ATV rides offer a different kind of adventure in Cancun. On four-wheelers, riders can explore exciting jungle trails and rugged terrains. These all-terrain vehicles make navigating through the dense forest easy, and the journey often leads to hidden caves and cenotes.
Parasailing over the ocean
Whether you do it alone, as a couple, or in groups of three, parasailing allows you to fly over the ocean and enjoy fantastic views of the ocean, beach, and hotel zone.
6. Discovering Cancun's Cenotes
Cancun’s cenotes are so unique that choosing which to visit is difficult. Each offers visitors a unique chance to explore natural wonders, including crystal waters and ancient rock formations. These are two of our favorite ones.
Cenote Dos Ojos
Cenote Dos, located near Tulum, is famous for its stunning blue water and fascinating underwater form. It offers two main cenotes connected by a wide cave. Dos Ojos, meaning “Two Eyes,” refers to these distinct swimming areas.
Visitors can snorkel or try cave diving to see ancient stalactites and stalagmites. The site is popular among divers for its
extensive underwater systems. Cenote Dos Ojos is great for divers of all skill levels; equipment rentals are available at the site.
Cenote Ik Kil
Cenote Ik Kil is located near Chichen Itza. It is known for its open-air circular shape, surrounded by hanging vines and small waterfalls. The deep pool, over 40 meters deep, offers a refreshing place to swim.
Ik Kil is often visited by travelers exploring the nearby archaeological sites. It features lockers and showers for convenience.
7. Party the night away
Cancun has an exciting nightlife. You can enjoy thrilling live shows, beach clubs, lively bars, or unique parties with staged shows like the Pirate Boat.
Coco Bongo
Everybody who visits Cancun has heard of Coco Bongo. It’s famous for its incredible live shows with music, dance, and colorful lights. Performances feature acrobatics and live bands.
Beach Clubs and Bars
Cancun’s beach clubs and bars offer a mix of relaxation and excitement. Guests can sip cocktails while enjoying stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. Day or night, sun lounges and vibrant music create a fun and lively atmosphere.
For those who love to dance, numerous bars provide music ranging from electronic to Latin beats. Cancun’s nightlife offers something for everyone, whether you seek a laid-back evening or a full-on party experience.
Pirate Boat
Cancun’s beach clubs and bars offer a mix of relaxation and excitement. Guests can sip cocktails while enjoying stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. Day or night, sun lounges and vibrant music create a fun and lively atmosphere.
For those who love to dance, numerous bars provide music ranging from electronic to Latin beats. Cancun’s nightlife offers something for everyone, whether you seek a laid-back evening or a full-on party experience.
8. Golf in Cancun
With 12 courses designed by top golfers like Greg Norman, Nick Price, and Jack Nicklaus, Cancun provides an unforgettable experience for golf lovers. Most golf courses are in top resorts but are open to the public with equipment rental, driving range and restaurant.
Ibersostar Cancun Golf Club
Is a popular choice in the hotel zone. It features an 18-hole course designed by Isao Aoki. Golfers enjoy its wide fairways and stunning water hazards.
El Tinto Golf Course at Cancun Country Club
Designed by Nick Price, is south of the airport, 30 minutes from the hotel zone, and has free transportation from the hotel zone. Courses in Cancun are known for their unique layouts, excellent maintenance, and amenities.
9. Unique Animal Encounters
Turtle Hatching in Isla Contoy
Witnessing turtle hatching is a magical experience. From May to October, Isla Contoy, a protected area home to several turtle species, offers a unique chance to see baby turtles traveling to the ocean. Visitors can learn about the conservation efforts to protect these vulnerable creatures. This is a wonderful experience,
especially for families.
Whale Shark Experience
Whale sharks are the largest and most docile fish in the sea; swimming and snorkeling alongside them offers an unforgettable thrill. Excursions typically run from May to September, providing guests with a safe encounter with these incredible animals.
10. Xcaret Parks
In 1990, Xcaret Group was born to create a sustainable tourist experience focused on the natural beauty of the Yucatan area. Xcaret has grown to include different parks and experiences, all with the same objective: to provide a mix of culture, nature, and adventure with unique features that cater to different interests and age groups.
Xcaret Park
Each person has a favorite Xcaret Park. Find yours and discover everything it offers.
Xcaret Park is famous for showcasing Mexican culture. Visitors can explore over 50 attractions, including natural wonders and wildlife. They can also enjoy traditional shows featuring regional music and dance, such as the famous “Xcaret Mexico Espectacular,” a favorite of everyone who visits the park.
Xel-Há Park
Is an aquatic paradise perfect for snorkeling and swimming. It offers natural lagoons, coves, and cenotes. Adventure seekers can try thrilling activities like cliff diving and zip-lining.
Xenses Park
Challenges the senses with its unique attractions. It combines optical illusions and sensory experiences. Visitors can enjoy activities like the “Xensatorium” and the “Bird Flight.”
Xenses Park
Challenges the senses with its unique attractions. It combines optical illusions and sensory experiences. Visitors can enjoy activities like the “Xensatorium” and the “Bird Flight.”