Cancun: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Cancún Travel Guide

Cancún is Mexico's best-known beach destination: a long strip of white sand and turquoise Caribbean water on the Yucatán Peninsula, backed by resorts on one side and a lagoon on the other. Many visitors never leave their hotel, but the real reward lies beyond it, in Mayan ruins, freshwater cenotes, island day trips and the laid-back towns of the Riviera Maya.

Planning Basics

Location: the north-eastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo. Currency: Mexican peso (MXN); US dollars are often accepted in the Hotel Zone, usually at a worse rate. Language: Spanish, with English widely spoken in tourist areas. Airport: Cancún International (CUN), one of Mexico's busiest.

Picking Your Season

The dry season, from about December to April, is the most popular time, with sunshine, low humidity and calmer seas. It is also when prices peak, especially at Christmas, New Year, Easter and spring break.

May to November is hotter and more humid. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk usually from August to October. Afternoon showers are common, but there are many sunny days, and rates tend to be lower.

Sargassum seaweed can wash up on Caribbean beaches, often in the warmer months, varying a lot from year to year. Local monitoring sites and recent traveller reports help, and the beaches on the Isla Mujeres side or facing the bay are sometimes less affected.

Things to Do

On the Coast

• Hotel Zone beaches: Playa Delfines is a favourite public beach with a famous Cancún sign and wide views.
• Snorkelling and diving: The Mesoamerican Reef, part of the second-largest barrier reef system in the world, runs along this coast. The Cancún Underwater Museum (MUSA) has sculptures on the seabed.
• Isla Mujeres: A short ferry ride away, with calm beaches such as Playa Norte and golf-cart exploring.

Inland

• Chichén Itzá: One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, with the great pyramid of El Castillo. It is a long day trip, so start early.
• Cenotes: Natural sinkholes filled with clear fresh water, perfect for swimming. The Ruta de los Cenotes near Puerto Morelos and the area around Valladolid have many.
• Valladolid: A colonial town with colourful streets, good as a stop on the way to Chichén Itzá.

Down the Riviera Maya

• Playa del Carmen: A lively town with the pedestrian Quinta Avenida and ferries to Cozumel.
• Tulum: Mayan ruins on a clifftop above the sea, plus a bohemian beach town.
• Akumal: Known for snorkelling, with turtles often seen in the bay.

Food and Drink

Yucatecan cuisine is distinct from the rest of Mexico. Try cochinita pibil (slow-cooked achiote pork), sopa de lima, panuchos and salbutes (topped fried tortillas), and fresh ceviche and fish tacos by the coast. Vegetarians will find bean-filled papadzules, guacamole and plenty of fruit. Downtown Cancún, around Parque de las Palapas, has cheaper, more local food than the Hotel Zone. Drink bottled or filtered water.

Getting There and Getting Around

Many airlines fly directly to Cancún International Airport from North America and Europe. From the airport, ADO buses run to downtown Cancún and Playa del Carmen, and there are pre-booked shuttles and official taxis. Avoid unofficial offers in the arrivals hall.

In Cancún, local R-1 and R-2 buses run the length of the Hotel Zone and into downtown. ADO coaches connect Cancún with Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid and Chichén Itzá. The Tren Maya rail line also serves the region. Renting a car gives freedom for cenotes and ruins, but check insurance carefully.

Where to Stay

• Hotel Zone: Resorts and all-inclusives on the beach. Convenient and generally pricey.
• Downtown Cancún: Much better value, local restaurants, a bus ride from the beaches.
• Isla Mujeres: Relaxed island stay with calm water.
• Playa del Carmen or Tulum: A good base for exploring the Riviera Maya.

Ways to Save

• Compare all-inclusive packages with a room-only stay; which is better depends on how much you eat and drink.
• Use ADO and local buses instead of tours where you can.
• Pay in pesos rather than dollars for a better rate.
• Visit Chichén Itzá or Tulum right at opening to avoid both crowds and the hottest hours.
• Travel in May, June or November for lower rates outside the main holiday peaks.

Practical Information

• Visa: Requirements depend on nationality; some travellers can enter without a visa, and some may qualify with a valid US or other recognised visa. Check the official Mexican government website.
• Tourist tax: Quintana Roo charges visitors an environmental fee; check the current rules before you travel.
• Reef-safe sunscreen: Required or strongly encouraged at many cenotes and marine parks.
• Safety: Tourist areas are generally safe; use official taxis and keep an eye on drinks at night.
• Plugs: Type A and B.

Book Your Beach Break

Flights and resorts in Cancún vary hugely by season and site. voyagiro.com compares 27+ booking sites for free, so you can compare flights and hotels in one search.