Cancun Beaches and Attractions

Cancun is a beach paradise and as such you can be as active or relaxed as you want. You can lie on the beach all day long or you can practice kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling or many other water sports. You can also go shopping and find the best brands, dine in a different restaurant each day of your stay and of course, finish the night dancing at some of the most exciting nightclubs.

Besides that, Cancun has in its surroundings many beautiful places that will surely interest you. Discover Tulum’s archeological site, overlooking the sea; visit Playa del Carmen, formerly a fishermen port, now a city in its own right with a more laid-back atmosphere than Cancun; have fun at Xcaret y Xel-Ha, spectacular ecological parks; swim in a cenote (water filled sinkholes) or enjoy scuba diving or snorkeling among thousands of multicolor fish and many other marine creatures. There is much more to do and see in this Caribbean haven and you will never get bored here.

Cancun Beaches

Without a doubt, Cancun’s most important attraction is its breathtaking blue turquoise sea, and with it, the white powdery beaches, where you can do any activity you like. Play a beach volleyball or soccer game. Ride on a waverunner or on a banana boat. Or take in the sun as you admire the amazing views in front of you. There are so many beaches along Kukulkan Boulevard that you will find your favorite one. Some of them feature calm, shallow waters and others stronger surf, perfect for practicing water sports. Examples of calm beaches are Playa (Beach) Langosta, one of the most visited by the locals, Playa Tortugas, ideal for the family and with a platform for bungee jumping and Playa Linda, a very calm beach perfect for swimming. Well-known beaches with rougher waters are Playa Marlin, where couples can get away from crowds, Playa Ballenas, which has good conditions to do water sports and the great Playa Delfines, which has a lookout point that allows for amazing photo opportunities.

Cancun Diving and Snorkeling

Cancun offers the perfect conditions for snorkeling and diving, being one of the most important places in Mexico for practicing those sports. Its crystal-clear sea and abundance of underwater life makes it a very prized destination for professional divers of the entire world. Under the blue waters you will see a wide variety of fish, along with many assorted samples of marine life that will leave you completely in awe because of the beauty enclosed in the Caribbean Sea. There are many spots in Cancun and the Riviera Maya where you can enjoy the thrill and excitement of touring the underwater world. The best for diving are located at Contoy Island, Holbox Island, Nizuc Park and Tres Rios Ecopark; the most attractive for snorkeling are located at Xcaret, Xel-Ha and Garrafon Parks.

Cancun Golf

Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the variety of golf courses that Cancun offers. Those courses are ranked among the best of the world and were created by well-known designers such as Robert Trent Jr. and Jack Nicklaus, who took advantage of the spectacular landscape while caring for the natural surroundings. Try your shot at the 18-hole par 72 Golf Club at Pok-Ta-Pok, at Melia Golf Club, which features an 18-hole par 54 course, at the Grand Oasis hotel, with a 9-hole par 27 golf course or at the Signature Jack Nicklaus 18-hole par 72 golf course located at the Moon Palace hotel.

Cancun Amusement and Ecological Parks

Your Cancun vacations should include a visit to the extraordinary parks. There, you can swim in underground rivers, interact with dolphins, do Tyrolean rappelling, watch monkeys, iguanas, and deer, snorkel among beautiful tropical fish, ride a kayak, discover archeological sites, laze on gorgeous white sand beaches and even enjoy the reenactment of the ball game practiced by the Mayans centuries ago.

Xcaret

Xcaret Ecological Park displays all the richness of Mexico. The Mayan culture, the regional flora and fauna, the archeological sites, wonderful water and land activities and the opportunity of living unique experiences as the dolphin swimming are available all in one place for you to enjoy. Xcaret means “small cove” and is located 45 minutes from Cancun, Mexico in the Mayan Riviera.

Xel-ha

Xel-Ha is an incredible theme water park located in Mexico’s Mayan Riviera that hosts the best of the nature in the Mexican Caribbean. It features a group of coves, lagoons, cenotes, and caves where the salty water combines with the fresh waters from the underground rivers. This park offers an amazing variety of activities such as snorkeling in caves, rivers and natural wells, kayaking along the Black Lagoon, swimming with dolphins and bicycle tours.

Nizuc Park

Nizuc Park is the only water park in Cancun and is located in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. It covers 18 acres of land and features 9 wonderful attractions for visitors of all ages. It also offers 800 feet of stunning white sand beaches for relaxing, enjoying the views and soaking up the Caribbean sun. Nizuc Park is divided in two areas: the spectacular Wet n’ Wild water park, which features a lazy river, waterslides and a lot of fun for the whole family and Atlantida, where you can swim, play and interact with dolphins; without a doubt, a memorable experience.

Garrafon

This beautiful park is located in the south of Isla Mujeres, only 9 miles from the Cancun coast and is very popular with locals. You can enjoy sunbathing, swim in the pool, practice water sports or just relax under the trees on a hammock. The daring can try the thrilling Tyrolean rappelling: feel your adrenaline rise as you descend through cables that are connected to a platform(some of them can be more than 1,100 feet long) while being strapped into a harness, at more than 30 miles per hour.