Top 12 Things to Do in Cancun

But Cancun is the beach and so much more. Starting as a resort island with just 3 initial inhabitants, today it is a booming hub with tourists from all over the world. Apart from all the glitz, this place has also become a spot for the locals to spread their business. By hanging out with them, you can soak yourself in their culture which they have brought into the island with them.

This article will take you through 12 such amazing things to do in Cancun, apart from partying at the beach, to derive the most out of Cancun.

This is a place whose name you hear of when you are in school, and paying a visit here is among the best things to do in Cancun. A UNESCO World Heritage site today, it was one of the most important spots of the Mayan civilization (hence the importance of Cancun) right from the 5th century. The Temple of Kukulkan is a 98-foot tall stepped pyramid and served as the temple to the Maya God Kukulkan. The architecture in general show mixed styles, testimony to the longstanding glory of this place and the multicultural nature of the civilisation. Tourists visiting this place need to keep in mind that the ruins and now even the land is federal property.

While the fame of the place makes it crawl with tourists, you can get some peace if you reach there very early in the morning. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach the place by car, and slightly more by bus. As the Mayan way of life is very well preserved, you can easily get transported back to a different age and place.

The Tulum ruins are not as popular as the Chichen Itza, but they too attract a fair share of tourists, especially those wanting to take in the hustle and bustle of the bigger attraction at a slower pace. The place is located around 80 miles from Cancun and takes around an hour and 10 minutes to travel to.

In spite of its relative somnolence today, Tulum was an important site for the Mayan sea trade, and the place dates back to the 1200 A. D. It became especially important following the defeat of the rival city of Mayapan. Signs of inhabitation date back to as early as 564 A. D. and in spite of its importance, was never occupied at any one time by more than 1,600 people. Before the Spanish brought in diseases and destroyed them that is.

The Underwater Museum of Art is a non-profit organisation at Cancun which is devoted to art conservation. Most of the 500 sculptures are by the British sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor, and there are five other Mexican sculptors. These are placed in 3 galleries submerged 3-6 metres in the Cancun National Marine Park. Officially opening in November 2010, this museum was conceived to divert attention away from, and generate revenue for the conservation of the nearby coral reefs, especially the Manchones Reef. What makes this place unique is that while most of the artificial reefs are created by using sunken ships and other things already there under the water, this is an entirely new, and a very beautiful technique.

The art pieces are expected to gradually turn into a coral reef. They were placed on the ocean floor using specially designed lifts to ensure that they were not damaged. One of the most famous pieces is ‘The Silent Evolution', featuring over 400 human figures and showing how human beings both form a part of nature and also contribute to its damage. The underwater exhibits can be seen through glass-bottomed boats, and it also provides sustenance to the local communities. While all the art pieces will be destroyed eventually, there are plans to make this place self-sustaining and include more pieces.

The Museo Maya de Cancun also come with the San Miguelito Ruins and are located right in the Hotel Zone. Opening in November 2012, it was designed by Alberto Garcia Lascurain and took six years and $15 million to be built. It stretches out for around 80 hectares and boasts of artefacts and relics from both the Chichen Itza and the other Maya sites within the Yucatan Peninsula.

Apart from the ruins to take a stroll through, the Museo Maya de Cancun boasts of three galleries housing skeletons, artefacts and jade relics. The first two house exhibits from the Mayan state of Quintana Roo and the Mayan civilisation as a whole, respectively. Some of the artefacts date back to 2,600 BC. One of these galleries also exhibits temporary Maya themed installations.

This museum was built after the original anthropological museum at Cancun had to be shut down in 2004 following hurricane damage. This is why the new museum has hurricane resistant glass. With $5, you can also buy your way into the ruins of San Miguelito, where in addition to the temples and pyramids, there are also the family homes of the ancient Mayans within the jungle and which are quite well preserved.

This is one of the compulsory things to do in Cancun for those wishing to have some fun in the jungles and the underground rivers. There are multiple rides available to give you a first-hand experience of over 50 attractions in the jungle. The biggest attraction of Xcaret is centred around the Xoximilco, featuring Mexican parties on boats. This was inspired by Xochimilco in Mexican City, where the locals lend out and themselves party in traditional boats known as the trajinera to music played by live musicians. Xoximilco hosts Juan Gabriel, one of the most popular musicians of the country. Tuesdays and Thursdays are retro night, with music from the ‘90s setting the mood. Xoximilco, with the music, drinks and the amazing local food, is an awesome way to soak in the local culture, and there is also a lot of dancing and social games accompanying that. Because Xoximilco is a commercial theme park designed by Xcaret, there is representation from a large number of areas all over Mexico, making it a very colourful soiree. And you will be surprised to know that this place is family-friendly. Xomilco has a place for absolutely everyone.

Located 13 kilometres off the Cancun coast, visiting this place is among the things to do in Cancun for those who want their vacation nice and quiet. Apart from the white sand beaches and the brilliant turquoise water, this place easily has among the friendliest of locals in the entire Mexican Caribbean. Playa Norte, one of the best Mexican beaches, is located here, as is the MUSA Underwater Museum, more of which can be found in this list. A very exciting place to visit is the Hacienda Mundaca built by the pirate Fermin Mundaca and featuring a beautiful solar clock garden which had been dedicated to La Triguena.

The cenotes are natural pools found among limestone caves, and the Yucatan peninsula is especially famous for these beauties. The Maya river boasts of thousands of these and tourists enjoy swimming in them. There are over 6000 cenotes in Yucatan alone. Yucatan has a large underground river system, and the cenotes are formed with the collapse of the limestone surface, creating hubs for activities like snorkelling, swimming and scuba diving. In fact, the Cenote Route or the Ruta de Cenotes has been named so because the best cenotes can be found here near the Puerto Morelos city which can be accessed after a drive of around half an hour.

One needs to keep in mind that in spite of their beauty and popularity, many of the cenotes can be difficult to access, and the secluded ones might be risky. Tourists are not allowed to go in with ointments and creams on their skin to protect the fish and sea plants from adverse chemical reactions, and showering is mandatory before getting into the Gran Cenote.

While the words ‘whale shark’ can send shivers down the spine of the uninformed, these creatures are actually very gentle. And there is no better way to experience them than through whale shark snorkelling around the Isla Mujeres, Holbox and Isla Contoy. Watching them swim in the waters without a care in the world and feasting on the tiny, almost invisible planktons is a blissful thing to do in Cancun, especially if you are an animal lover. And once your time is up after two jumps, you can return to your boat and cruise to the Playa Norte beach to enjoy nor only a lipsmacking Mexican lunch, but also to soak into the beauty of the birds and the marine species found on the island.10 is the usual number of tourists allowed to go snorkelling at once.

There are a lot of service providers for the Cancun jungle tour, but what makes it among the best things to do in Cancun is that you get to drive your own speedboat, with just a little help from your guide as and when you need it. These tours let you explore the Nichupte Lagoon and the numerous water channels. What can be more fun than moving through the natural mangroves at breakneck speed? Or going snorkelling in the Mayan reef? There are even nocturnal expeditions available in the lagoons, where you are bound to see the crocodiles. The guide is always bilingual, and each speedboat has space for two people. However, the tour is not for pregnant women and minors, and people under the influence of drugs and alcohol are strictly forbidden.

Isla Contoy is a secluded National Park sanctuary located north of the Isla Mujeres, housing over 152 bird species and around 4 highly endangered sea turtle species. These species are Green Chelonia Mydas, loggerhead Caretta Caretta, Hawksbill Eretmochelys Imbricata, and Leatherback Dermochelys C. Another very cool feature of this place is the underwater marine life which is very easily visible from above. There is a coral reef just a few feet from the island housing species like snails, sardine, spiny lobsters, etc. And if you dock your boat at the Imaxpoit Bay, you will be treated to the view of manta rays merrily swimming along with the humans.

What adds to the wow factor of the place is the tropical breeze which contributes to the relaxed feel of this place. Even if you are not a fan of standing for ages to look at birds, you can simply chill, click a few photos of the wildlife, and then go diving and snorkelling in the waters. The chilling and the fun though have to be following strict rules. The turtles nest on the beaches from April to November, and one has to be extra cautious. In fact, Isla Contoy, thanks to the enormous efforts made towards conservation, is today the most important place for nesting birds in the Mexican Caribbean region.

There are a zillion things to do in Cancun for the adventure lover.

The name of the Tezmacal ceremony derives from the Nahuati word ‘temazcalli', which literally mean the ‘house of heat'. This takes place in this sweat lodge originating from pre-Hispanic times in the entire Mesoamerica region. While such ceremonies were not meant for commercial activities by far, today any tourist looking for some authentic Maya can take part in this adventure, which is an ancient Mayan purification ceremony. It is presided over by a shaman, chanting and pouring water and different herbs over hot rocks to summon spirits in complete darkness. After stripping down to your underwear, you enter this heated place and it soon turns into a sauna. The shamanic chanting often transports tourists into a state of deep meditation, cleaning the body, spirit and soul. The circular dome usually found in most of these lodges have often drawn comparison to the female uterus.

There is also the Coco Bongo, the most popular night club in Cancun. And while Cancun has its fair share of DJs, acrobats and performers, what sets Coco Bongo apart from the average night club is the nonstop performance from an incredible motley of artists. The place does not come with a traditional dance floor. A lot of tourists have complained about the seats not offering good views, expensive cover charges (the online ticket prices are anything for $80 to $195) and the long queues for drinks. But it has never failed to disappoint the tourists looking for something different and adventurous.

Las Coloradas, which translates to ‘the red ones', are beautiful pink lakes in the local fishing villages. The incredible shades of pink are due to the shrimp and the red plankton. These lakes, with a total area of over 150,000 acres, form a natural reserve known as the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, acting as the home of an enormous array of biodiversity. This reserve boasts of fauna like flamingos, sea turtles, jaguars, crocodiles and a host of sea bird species. These pink lakes are a part of the salt processing industries, which is among the most profitable after fishing, and also the oldest, dating back to thousands of years. The process is really cool- the salty ocean water enters into hard salt plains via the nearby mangroves which then evaporates, leaving behind miles of fresh salt dunes. One should keep in mind that new regulations have forbidden tourists to enter the water.

As it takes around 3 hours to reach the area by car from Cancun, people often decide to stay the night there for which reservation is easily available at Rio Lagartos, at a distance of around 30 minutes away. Among the things to do in Cancun is also booking a flamingo tour here, and is ideal for those especially willing to spend some time in peace away from the noise of the city with their near and dear ones.

One of the best takeaways from your entire Cancun tour, if you can do it right, is the understanding that Mexico has forever been a glorious place. All the places listed here have information easily accessible on their websites, and most of them come with a host of deals. What also adds to Cancun’s coolness is the fact that it is in a tropical country, meaning that it can be accessed all year round.

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