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A beach in Cancún's Hotel Zone

No. 79 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Cancún

Mexico

Turquoise Caribbean beaches, island day trips, cenotes and Maya ruins on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

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Photo: Luka Peternel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Cancún is No. 79 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Built as a planned resort from the 1970s, it lies on the north-east tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo.

Most visitors stay in the Hotel Zone, a narrow strip of sand shaped like a 7 between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté Lagoon. Downtown Cancún has local markets and restaurants, and the city is a base for the islands, cenotes and Maya sites of the Riviera Maya.

El Castillo at Chichén Itzá
El Castillo at Chichén Itzá. Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Best time to go

December to April is dry and sunny, but also the busiest and most expensive time.

The hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking in September and October. Seaweed (sargassum) can reach the beaches in the warmer months; local beach reports show the current conditions.

Top sights

  • 1

    Hotel Zone beaches

    Public beaches such as Playa Delfines, with its CANCÚN sign, and the calmer waters of Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas.

  • 2

    Isla Mujeres

    A relaxed island about 20 minutes by ferry, with Playa Norte and golf-cart tours.

  • 3

    MUSA underwater museum

    Hundreds of sculptures on the seabed, seen on snorkelling, diving or glass-bottom boat tours.

  • 4

    Maya Museum of Cancún

    A museum of Maya archaeology with the small San Miguelito site in its grounds.

  • 5

    Cenotes

    Freshwater sinkholes for swimming, many along the Ruta de los Cenotes near Puerto Morelos.

  • 6

    Chichén Itzá

    The great Maya city and its El Castillo pyramid, about 2.5 to 3 hours away by road; a popular day trip.

Getting there

Cancún International Airport (CUN) is about 20 km south of downtown and 10 to 25 km from the Hotel Zone hotels; ADO buses, shuttles and taxis serve it.

The Tren Maya stops at Cancún Airport station, with trains to destinations around the Yucatán Peninsula.

Getting around

R1 and R2 buses run along the Hotel Zone and into downtown day and night. ADO coaches serve Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and ferries to Isla Mujeres leave from Puerto Juárez and the Hotel Zone.

Practical tips

Currency
Mexican peso (MXN). US dollars are often accepted in the Hotel Zone, but paying in pesos is usually cheaper. Cards are widely accepted.
Language
Spanish. English is widely spoken in the hotels and tourist areas.
Safety
The Hotel Zone is generally safe. Use official taxis, swim only on beaches with lifeguards and check the beach flag colours. The emergency number is 911.
Visa & entry
Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, EU countries, Japan and many others do not need a visa for a tourist visit. Check the current rules for your nationality before you travel.
Power
127 V, 60 Hz; plug types A and B.

Official information: Caribe Mexicano (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

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