Cancun Points of Interest and Places to Visit

The most important archaeological zone of the Yucatan and ancient capital of the Mayan Empire, Chichen Itza can be reached from several cities in Mexico. The ruins are best explored on a full day guided tour where you can learn why the site has been designated one of the modern wonders of the world. Even visit the Sacred Cenote, where human sacrifices took place to please the gods. Chichen Itza's extraordinary architectural beauty and fascinating history are sure to leave you in awe!

Just off the coast of tourist-laden Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a small island, only 5 miles long (8 kilometers), with fantastic beaches, shopping, and restaurants. Named after the Mayan goddess of childbirth and medicine, the "Island of Women" is now known for the stellar snorkeling and scuba diving in the Manchones Reef and the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks, as well as the sea turtle sanctuary. Dining and entertainment can be found on Hildago Street, a cobble stone pedestrian walkway with boutiques and restaurants reminiscent of Playa del Carmen's Fifth Avenue. A plus to shopping and dining on Isla Mujeres over Cancun? It's a whole lot cheaper and has a great atmosphere.

A theme park that can be equaled to Mexico's "ecopark" version of Disneyland, Xcaret has natural and cultural attractions for visitors to the Riviera Maya region. The river that flows through the Mayan ruins and the subterranean river in Xcaret park offer swimming and snorkeling, coral reef diving, and dolphin encounters. See the turtle nesting site, manatees, butterfly pavilion, bat cave, island of jaguars, and the orchid greenhouse among many sites that make up the diverse ecopark.

One of the best preserved Mayan sites, Tulum is a must-see attraction on the coast of the Yucatan. Tulum, the Walled City, is mounted high on the edge of a cliff, towering above the Caribbean Sea and a beautiful white sandy beach. It was only inhabited by the nobles, high priests and esteemed citizens, whereas the lower classes lived in simple wood and thatch huts beyond. The ruins here are truly spectacular, especially Tulum's main temple, dedicated to the Diving God.

Xel-Há Park is a large aquatic theme park south of Cancún with 22 acres (8.9 hectares) of lagoons and underwater caves for swimming and snorkeling. Named after the Mayan archeological site of Xelha, the theme park offers a variety of land and water activities and ecological attractions. Keep busy by swimming with dolphins, kayaking, crossing the Floating Bridge or diving off the Cliffs of Courage. More daring visitors will want to try Trepachanga, where crossing the rope-joined platforms is a feat of balance and strength to avoid plunging into the water below. The park uses admission fees to fund conservation efforts. Getting around Xel-Há is easy with the jungle train, and bikes are also popular to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Close your eyes and think of Cancun; now what exactly do you see? More than likely it’s white sand beaches in front of large resorts, where cobalt waters lap the shore and palm trees sway in the breeze. For as enticing as beaches and water might be, there’s an entirely different side of Cancun that offers just as much excitement; a place where you swim in turquoise waters set miles inside of the jungle, and literally race through the jungle canopy to feel the breeze in your hair. At the famous Selvatica Eco-Park, an hour south of Cancun, visitors can infuse their beach vacation with a shot of jungle adrenaline. Clip into a harness and race through the trees on the 12-line zipline adventure, or test your nerves on a bungee swing while staring out over the forest. If you’d prefer that a motor generate the speed—rather than regular old gravity—crank the throttle of an ATV while splashing through dirt and mud.

The Coba Ruins, built long ago—sometime between the years 500 and 900—lie deep in the heart of the Yucatan jungle. Visitors can rent bikes or hire rickshaws to travel among the knobby paths and thick forest that link the groupings of ancient pyramids and historic sites to one another. A climb to the top of the Nohuch Mul pyramid, the tallest in the Yucatan, affords visitors a spectacular (if nerve-wracking) view of the jungle, as well as the astronomical observatory and game courts that surround it. From this vantage point, travelers can also check out the Mayan’s version of an interstate highway: elevated roads called sacbeob, that lead from the ruins to other Mayan cities.

There are dozens of ways to see Cancun but one of the most entertaining is aboard the Captain Hook Pirate Ship. Spend an evening enjoying dinner served by salty sea men followed by dancing on the deck and an all-night open bar. The cannon’s fire signals the departure of this famous ship. As the night progresses visitors can enjoy tales from the high sea, as well as a live enemy attack complete with swords and pistols. A ride aboard the Captain Hook Pirate Ship is the perfect way to experience life on the sea without the fear of being forced to walk the plank.

Intrepid travelers can test their limits—and their nerves—while navigating the channels of Sac Actun Cenote System—the longest underground river network in the world. Located in the jungles of Tulum, visitors descend into the river via an ominous looking rock well, complete with a well-worn wooden ladder. Because it’s rather remote and difficult to access, Sac Actun proves an ideal destination for travelers looking to explore the beauty and mystique of Mexico far away from the crowds. Known by locals as the Pet Cemetery because of the large number of animal fossils, Sac Actun Cenote holds a spiritual place in Mayan tradition and offers travelers spectacular views of hidden waterfalls, dark caverns dripping with stalactites as they swim through fresh water streams. Snorkeling options are also available for those looking to check out the scene even further below the surface.

Mayan for "Giant Bird Cage", Nohoch Nah Chich is an accessible cenote, a series of underwater caves, popular for diving day trips from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The Nohoch Nah Chich streches 5 miles (8 kilometers) inland, making it the world's second largest underwater cave system. Diving among the delicate white geological formations is for experienced divers only, and is assured to be the experience of a lifetime for diving enthusiasts.

Cancun is full of places to party, but the young and energetic late-night set knows the exclusive Mandala Night Club is the best place to sip strong drinks, dance to loud beats and mingle with a truly cosmopolitan crowd. Guests love the wide-open dance floor, glittery lights and impressive entryway. Fifty dollars gets partygoers through the door and keeps drinks in their hands, too, with access to an all-night open bar.

Cancun’s best, most festive and most authentic fiesta tradition, Xoximilco, is an eponymous throwback and homage to the floating gardens and canals of Mexico City’s famous neighbor-hood Xochimilco. Xochimilco means “field of flowers,”and this Cancun attraction brings all the beauty and splendor of the floating gardens of Mexico City to the tropical paradise of Cancun. Today, a visit to Xoximilco entices guests with Central American traditions like floating flower-strung boats, live music serenades and some of the best food in Cancun.

The El Rey Ruins (or Las Ruinas del Rey) are a spectacular archeological site in Cancun's Hotel Zone, with 47 structures estimated to have been inhabited by the Mayans as early as 900 AD. There are two primary platforms and temples believed to be the remains of religious ceremonial buildings and market areas. El Rey was named for the ceremonial mask and skull found on the site to honor the Mayan Sun God and over the years further excavations have incited speculation over the ruins history. Although, the El Rey Ruins are not as large in size when compared to Chichen Itza, many visitors enjoy taking pictures of the hundreds of Iguanas that call the ruins home. The Iguanas are unafraid of humans as the park guides keep them well-fed with tortillas.

Love it or hate it, Avenida Kukulkan is a Cancun strip where nearly all visitors will end up. If you’re staying at one of the oceanfront resorts across from Nichupte Lagoon, Avenida Kukulkan is the pulsing thoroughfare that leads to all of the resorts. Lined with shops, restaurants, cafés, and thumping late nightclubs, it’s also home to what many visitors consider as Cancun’s best shopping. And, while brand name stores and high end labels aren’t very difficult to find, there are still pockets of local boutiques selling traditional, handmade Yuacatan crafts for those who take the time to explore. The stores and restaurants and shopping malls aside, one of the best activities on Avenida Kukulkan is simply going for walk. Along the length of this long, flat strip, visitors can marvel at the manicured resorts and their ornately designed entranceways, or get views looking out at Nichupte Lagoon and people watch by the shops.

Helping to define Cancun as more than just a tourism spot for dedicated beach lovers, the Cancun Underwater Museum is an attraction unlike any other in the world. While almost all of us have, invariably, at one point or another, been to a museum, few if any of us have been to an underwater museum. Until now, that is. Essentially a bountiful series of sunken sculptures, the Cancun Underwater Museum is an ongoing project aimed at inspiring a love of art as well as Cancun’s magnificent coral reefs. Soon over 400 original sculptures will lie between depths of 9 to 20 feet, and so make for excellent viewing when either snorkeling or diving. How does something this wonderful and unique come about? By simple artistic inspiration. Jason deCaires Taylor was the artistic brains behind the operation, and people have responded well to the idea.

Offering family entertainment that both adults and children can enjoy, the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship sets sail from the Riviera Maya and sails the Caribbean seas while dazzling passengers with swashbuckling pirate shows and hearty food. The ship is a modern replica of the Santa Maria, which Columbus is said to have journeyed on when he discovered the Americas. The Jolly Roger features four decks and can accommodate up to 240 passengers, with plenty of space for entertainment and dining. Filet mignon, lobster, a vegetarian option, plus a special pirate kids menu are on offer, not to mention the open bar with free domestic drinks. The pirate show is a blend of comedy and adventure, interspersed by dinner, fireworks, and dancing. Expect dramatic sword fighting, exploding cannons, and amazing acrobatics, all designed to entertain, delight, and draw you in to this unique pirate adventure.

The Cancun International Airport is the second-largest in the country and handles a majority of international flights coming in and out of Mexico. The VIP Lounges — located in both terminals 2 and 3 — give travelers a quiet, comfortable place to relax away from the bustle of the main terminal while waiting for a flight. Admission to the lounge includes an open bar, snacks, coffee, tea, soft drinks and juices. Lounge guests enjoy free WiFi, TVs showing news and sports channels, a variety of newspapers and magazines and a kids area.

Party the night away in a disco ambiance with song and dance shows performing into the early hours of the morning at CoCo Bongo. The performances highlight music from big-name artists like Rihanna and Elvis, and you’ll also see impressive acrobatics as performers fly through the air dangling from a long rope of fabric, flip through large hoops and more. CoCo Bongo has an energetic vibe that will get you dancing along to every performance.

Garrafon Natural Reef Park is a nature amusement park near Cancun, Mexico, that offers a variety of activities which take full advantage of the gorgeous landscape it’s on. Located on the island of Isla Mujeres, Garrafon Natural Reef Park is surrounded by tropical hills and rugged cliffs on land and colorful reefs in the sea. Visitors can partake in over twenty activities both in and out of the water. On land, strap yourself into a harness and glide through the air via Garrafon Natural Reef Park’s exhilarating zipline, explore the island on a fun bike ride or hike through an ancient Mayan temple. You can also simply relax while at Garrafon Natural Reef Park on one of its beachside chairs or hammocks. While relaxing, you can also go for a swim in the clear water off the coast of Isla Mujeres, although Garrafon Natural Reef Park offers many other ways to experience the sea, including kayaking, snorkeling and even swimming with dolphins.

Whether it’s riding the wave pool’s serious 3-feet swells, soaring down the crazy Twister waterslide or floating down the Lazy River, Wet’n Wild water park offers visitors a chance to escape the heat, enjoy the sun and really splash around. The speed slide Kamikaze thrusts riders over a seriously steep drop, while the Bubble Space Bowl launches guests down a 49-feet pass at 31 miles per hour. Those less inclined to a white water adrenaline rush can navigate bumper boats or even schedule a swim with friendly dolphins.