TEN THINGS TO DO IN CANCÚN, MÉXICO

visiting cancún is all about making incredible new experiences. not only because of the amazing natural setting of the mexican caribbean, but also because of the variety of things to do and see. so if your travels ever happen to take you to méxico’s glistening city, here are my top 10 things to do in and around cancún:

---

1. SET YOUR CLOCK TO BEACH TIME

ok – that’s an obvious one. cancún is surrounded by the caribbean sea and according to a well traveled old lady we met it offers the most stunning beaches on earth. so pick one of cancún’s beautiful beaches (most of which are named after sea animals) and just relaxxx!

pro tip: if possible go on weekdays because the beaches are packed during the weekends.

---

2. ADMIRE THE MAYA RUINS IN TULUM

about 2hrs south of cancún you can find the city of tulum, where mayan culture shines on every corner. its mayan ruins, located on a cliff facing the caribbean sea, are a unesco world heritage site and a total must see! our day trip to tulum was probably my favorite part of our méxico trip.

pro tip: just look on google for day trips to tulum departing in cancún – there are so many great ones for very little money.

---

3. DINE LIKE THE LOCALS

besides the clear blue seas and the exotic culture, méxico also has to offer a lot of natural, healthy and flavorful food. all of it is super tasty and rich in color and taste, which is why the méxican cuisine is my favorite everrrrr. so if you want to discover more than the usual burritos, guacamole, and salsa look at my culinary guide for cancún.

pro tip: if you are looking for recepies for some real, authentic, méxican food to make at home go ahead and visit my step-sister’s (german) food blog hereee.

---

4. SHOP ‘TILL YOU DROP

while in cancún you definitely have to visit la isla shopping village consisting of 162 stores of well known brands, countless restaurants and an interactive aquarium located right in the hotel zone along nichupté lagoon (also with its overlapping canals and bridges it kind of reminded me of venice, italy).

© http://www.laislacancun.mx

© http://www.laislacancun.mx

pro tip: after a long shopping day you should definitely sit down by the lagoon and watch the beautiful mexican sunset.

---

5. LEARN ABOUT THE MAYAN CULTURE

when traveling one of the most important things is to always keep an open mind and be curious about the culture and history of the country / region you’re visiting. to learn more about the mayan culture you can visit one of the many museums in cancún or drive down to the xcaret park which offers underground rivers, a mayan jugle, chapels, a mexican cemetery as well as a maya village for you to explore.

pro tip: book your tickets online in advance since it’s going to be a lot cheaper than buying them at the box cffice.

---

6. TAKE THE FERRY TO ISLA MUJERES

located north-east of cancún right in the middle of the caribbean sea, only a 20 minute ferry ride away lies the tiny coral island isla mujeres which is only 7km / 4.3mi long and 650m / 2,130ft wide. definitely head to playa norte and enjoy the crystal clear, blue water and the warm, white sand!

pro tip: go rent a golf cart (the main mode of transport on the island) and explore everything this beautiful caribbean getaway has to offer.

---

7. SWIM IN A CENOTE

together with visiting tulum this was by far my favorite part of our trip. cenotes are underwater sinkholes formed by the collapse of caves. the clear, fresh water is perfect for snorkeling and diving. choose one of the 6.000 cenotes located on the yucatán peninsula and escape into a secret world of turquoise pools and magical caves.

pro tip: taking your underwater camera with you to capture the beautiful underwater world with its many tiny fishes and rocks is a total must!

---

8. STROLL THROUG ONE OF THE LOCAL MARKETS

i always love visiting the local markets wherever i travel. they are always vibrant, busy places and packed with atmosphere that show the real, everyday culture of the place you’re visiting. also they are one of your best chances to chat with locals and lean about their culture. the culture trip wrote a great list of the top 10 markets in cancún for you.

pro tip: be sure to visit markets which are mainly for locals, not tourists in order to get the full experience.

---

9. TAKE A PICTURE AT THE FAMOUS CANCÚN SIGN

let’s be honest – we all love taking pictures with signs to show off on social media or once we come home. so go head to playa delfines where the colorful cancún sign is located and take your mandatory picuture.

pro tip: make sure to come back once the sun has set since the sign lights up at night.

---

10. SWIM WITH SEA ANIMALS

no matter if you pick to swim with dolphins, sharks, stingrays, you name it – this will be an awesome experience that will stay with you forever!

pro tip: always make sure the animals are kept species-appropriate and under natural conditions before purchasing tickets because animal abuse is an absolute no-no.

---

of course you can never see and do everything while visiting a certain place so here are my top 3 things i need to come back to cancún for: chichen itza, cozumel, las coloradas

(klick here to watch our cancún travel diary video)