Cancun is located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo. Cancun draws tourists to the Yucatan Peninsula with its beautiful beaches, Mayan ruins, archaeological sites, and all-inclusive resorts.
Cancun is a great travel destination for families, couples, and solo travelers. It’s known for having some of the best beaches in the world and its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters are some of the reasons that Cancun is one of the best places to travel in Mexico. Sitting on the Caribbean Sea, the ocean is also much warmer than what you’d experience in Los Cabos or Puerto Vallarta.
Cancun is also one of the most popular Mexico beaches. You will find top rated restaurants, shops and a vibrant nightlife that attracts crowds of all ages. Due to Cancun being such a popular hot spot, you will also find that is more expensive than other Mexican beaches, which is why you’ll want to stay away from visiting during peak seasons to save some money.
The best time to travel
The peak season in Cancun runs from December through April. During this time of year, you will find that hotel prices will be inflated by about 30%. The extra cost will not only be seen in hotels but you will also find that boat trips, beach clubs and activities will be more expensive. The peak season is especially attractive as the weather remains in the 80’s consistently and there will be limited seaweed on the beach.
Things to know: Seaweed can cover the white-sand beaches
Seaweed arrives at Cancun beaches in very large amounts. This is most common from June to August but over the past several years seaweed season has extended for much longer periods. Isla Mujeres and the Riviera Maya tend to not get as affected by this but the Cancun hotel zone tends to get hit especially hard. We traveled to Cancun in November of 2021 and still saw the remains of a ton of seaweed washed up on the white-sand beaches even though the peak season was supposed to be over.
Things to know: Hurricane season
You’ll also want to be cautious of hurricane season, which occurs at the start of June through November. The times you’ll want to be especially cautious of are June-August, this tends to be the time of year where the Yucatan Peninsula and Isla Mujeres gets most of their hurricane activity. However, like any other natural disaster, we all know that these can also be completely unpredictable and fall during times that are unexpected too.
With all of this unpredictability it seems that between weather and a peak travel season during the winter months, the best time to travel to Cancun can be rather small. However, if you find a great deal during some these seasons, you may want to consider if it worth it to save some money.
I suggest that the best months to visit Cancun or Isla Mujeres is during October or November.
This time of year is great because it’s at the tail end of hurricane season so the chances of a storm have reduced from the summer months. The weather remains between the high 70s and low 90s but as it’s a tropical region, you can expect spurts of showers for short periods throughout the day.
The price during this time of year is also a lot less than peak season. By planning your trip with notice, you’ll also find you will pay less for an all-inclusive resort and that activities such as the adventure park, boat trips, and other activities will also be less in price.
What to pack
When traveling to a new destination, we all want to be fully prepared. Of course, the reality is that forgetting a thing or two when packing for a family trip is common and it is always good to have a check list.
I like to print out a packing list prior to packing for a trip. It’s also helpful when you have kids who are learning to pack for themselves, so they know everything that wants to be included.
You can get my free packing lists here.
To protect the coral reefs and tropical fish, you’ll want to ensure you pack reef friendly sunscreen. Reef-friendly sunscreens do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two common UV-blocking chemicals, that studies have shown to cause coral bleaching, so this is especially important to take when visiting the coral reefs and beautiful beaches.
You’ll also want to pack water shoes. When spending time in the ocean, you want to ensure you protect your feet from jellyfish and other sea creatures. This also makes it easier to walk in and out of the water and take advantage of various activities. Trust me, your feet will thank you later.
The ultimate travel guide:
4-day Cancun itinerary
There is so much to do in Cancun and even during a 7-day trip, you still may find that you were not able to do everything on your list when visiting this popular destination.
When it comes to a short trip you’ll want to choose the best places to visit to maximize your time in the Yucatan peninsula. Packing everything in to a 4-day itinerary can seem like a challenge but here are some of the best things to do during your trip to Cancun that you will not want to miss.
Day 1
For the first day of your trip, you’ll want to get an early start to your day to take advantage and get the furthest trek out of the way. The earlier you get started, the more activities you will be able to pack for a full day.
Chichen Itza is one of the largest Maya cities and is an archeological site that is packed with history and culture of ancient civilizations. The ruins are well maintained and an impressive site to see for the entire family. It can feel like quite the drive from Cancun but well worth it.
After you wrap up your day visiting the archaeological site, it’s a great time to stop for a cenote tour.
What is a cenote?
A cenote is a natural swimming hole in the ground. These underground swimming holes allow you to immerse yourself with nature and and they are a must-see on your trip.
The closest cenote to chichen itza is Cenote Ik Kil.
The underground swimming hole is 200 feet wide and over 150 feet deep. It’s a gorgeous site to see and a great place to cool off after spending some time in the sun at chichen itza.
You can wrap up your day by enjoying dinner and a relaxing swim at your hotel, or opt in to a popular night time show like Cirque Du Soleil Joya.
Day 2
The second day of your trip should be dedicated to one of the adventure theme parks in Cancun. The adventure parks are a popular tourist destination and rely on nature to provide amazing land and sea experiences for the whole family. There are 8 adventure parks to visit in Cancun but I recommend visiting Xcaret or Xel-Ha. Both of these parks are a popular destination for adventure and cultural experiences.
Here’s some information to help you choose which park is best for you.
Xcaret
Xcaret is a popular tourist destination and is an adventure theme park known for its underground rivers and caves. You can float through a natural river where you can choose to snorkel or enjoy a peaceful river in a tube. It’s also a great spot to experience natural pools that overflow from the ocean with some of the most amazing views.
Xcaret is also catered to kids and has a new children’s area that’s complete with an obstacle courses and cenotes for kids.
You can upgrade your experience and swim with dolphins to complete your day at this popular destination. We experienced this on our first time to Xcaret and it was so much fun for the whole family.
Xel-Ha
Xel-Ha is another great option for the entire family. This all-inclusive water park is packed with things to do. The included food and drinks are definitely a perk that will save you money throughout the day. Note that the restaurants do get quite busy so eating during non peak times is helpful to make the most out of your time at the parks.
Some of the activities you can expect here are zip lining over the water and rope jumping into a river. You can also float down a river and there are kids obstacle courses that are great for little ones.
The highlight of Xel-Ha for us was snorkeling in one of the natural pools. We saw a ton of fish and it was a great experience for the kids. You don’t need to bring any gear with you as it is provided by the parks. However, the kids have been using these full-face snorkel masks which are great for a 360 view of the water! You can get them here.
Spending all day at the adventure parks is very exhausting and there will not be much time left in your day after you are done.
Day 3
After a day at the adventure parks, I recommend enjoying a bit of down time. Especially if you are staying an all inclusive hotel, you’ll want to take advantage of everything they offer at the property. Enjoy a slow morning of breakfast and relaxation before heading out to a local cenote or Playa Delfines.
Play Delfines is known for its white-sand beaches and panoramic views of the crystal clear waters. Make it a beach day and enjoy the beach for a few hours.
If you have time, you van also fit in another nearby cenote as a part of your day. You can easily identify a cenote that is near where you are staying to reduce travel time.
Day 4
For the last day of your trip, I recommend exploring a nearby island.
Isla Mujeres or Holbox
Isla Mujeres is a popular destination near Cancun and is a quick 15 minute ferry ride. As you ride into Isla Mujeres you will get a chance to experience the crystal blue waters on the way to your destination. It’s one of the best places to go snorkeling or scuba diving and if you are lucky, you might even spot some sea turtles.
Another popular destination to visit is the beautiful island of Holbox. However, the boat ride is much longer and take about 1 hour and 45 minutes. I do think if you have extra time in your day that it is worth it to see Holbox even though it’s a small island. Some of the top things to do when visiting Holbox is swimming with whale sharks and it’s also a great place for paddle boarding and kayaking. It’s a much smaller island and definitely worth the visit.
The best places to stay
Cancun is a large metropolitan city. The tourism zone where most of the hotels and entertainment are located can get very busy and drive times can seem very long depending on what your itinerary is.
The hotel zone of Cancun is one of the most popular places to stay and it’s where many of the popular hotels are located. The hotel zone of Cancun is also where you will find the white-sand beaches and turquoise waters outside of your hotel room. While I recommend visiting the area to get familiar with it, I prefer staying outside of this area to be more centrally located. The luxury hotels here also don’t have huge properties so there are not as many amenities an all inclusive hotel outside of this area.
Our favorite all inclusive hotel in the Grand Moon Palace. It’s a great place for families and it has everything you need at the resort. I highly recommend taking an entire day of your trip just to enjoy the resort because there is so much to do. There are high-end restaurants, a water park, kids club, night clubs and so much more, which is why we think it’s the perfect place for a family vacation.
Distances
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 15 minutes from Cancun International Airport
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 1 hour from Xcaret
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 1 and a half hours from Xel-Ha
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 30 minutes from the hotel zone
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes from Tulum
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 2 and a half hours from Chichen Itza
The Grand Moon Palace is approx. 30 minutes from Cenotes Casa Tortuga
Getting around
The best way to get around Cancun is by hiring a driver. Usually, the best way to find a reliable drive is through a personal referral and recommendation from family and friends. Alternatively, you can also find a referral through online forums or at the resort you are staying at.
I highly recommend hiring a driver to take you places for safety. A driver can also serve as security to ensure you remain safe throughout your journey and they know the best routes better than you will. This is the only options we choose when traveling to Cancun.
Another option is to rent a rental car. If you do decide to go this route, you will want to ensure you book this in advance of your travels. It can be very difficult to get a rental car when at the airport as it is often congested. If you decide to go this route, ensure you pay attention to the laws of the road and get Mexican insurance to ensure you are covered in the case of any issues.
If possible, I would avoid public transportation as it will take you a long time to get around the popular city.
Other Mexican beaches worth visiting
Mexico is filled with vibrant culture, the best beaches, and some of the best all-inclusive resorts.
Mexico is one of our top destinations for family travel. Not only do we feel like we get the most of our money, but we love that there is always something that everyone in the family can enjoy and there are so many different regions in the beautiful country that are worth visiting.
So how do you choose which Mexican beach you want to visit for your next vacation?
Here’s my guide to the best beaches in Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
Is 4 days enough to see Cancun?
Cancun is a huge metropolitan city and you will spend a great deal of time commuting if you try to pack all of the best things to do in one trip. If you pick and choose what you’d like to do during your 4 day trip, you will find it enjoyable. However, I do recommend staying for an entire week to make the most of all of the great things to do near the Caribbean sea.
When is the cheapest time to go to Cancun?
I suggest that the best months to visit Cancun or Isla Mujeres is during October or November. This time of year is great because it’s at the tail end of hurricane season so the chances of a storm have reduced from the summer months. The weather remains between the high 70s and low 90s but as it’s a tropical region, you can expect spurts of showers for short periods throughout the day. You will also avoid extra cost that comes with the peak season.
I break down everything that’s included and not included in this guide here.
What’s included in an all-inclusive hotel?
When staying at all-inclusive hotel in Mexico you should expect to receive all of your food and beverage as a part of your package. Most of these hotels will also include alcohol as a part of it with the exception of top shelf alcohol, as that is an extra cost. Entertainment is also include when staying at an all inclusive resort and some of the best entertainment I have seen has been at Mexico hotels. Note that while it may say that tips are included in your package, I highly recommend that you tip your servers that take care of you.
Is Cancun family friendly?
Yes- Cancun is a family friendly destination. There are many activities catered to families of all ages. Many of the resorts have water parks catered to kids, along with kids clubs, family friendly restaurants, activities and so much more.
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