White-sand beaches? Check. All-night party vibes? You bet. Actual Mayan Ruins? Oh yes. Explore it all on a Cancun holiday.

Yes you Mexi-can

Get ready to give a big Mexican wave to Cancun. This patch of the map started out as nothing more than a forested plot with some ace beaches, washed by the toasty Caribbean Sea. These days, it’s come out of its shell, blossoming into a do-everything city, with a Hotel Zone dedicated to swanky stays, international eats and proper party vibes, too. You’ll find tropical-feeling stays in traditional-feeling resorts, or super-swanky spots with the ultimate in Instagrammable backdrops.

Beaches and beyond

With around 19 kilometres of dust-like sand to brag about, you’ll find plenty to do along the shores of the Caribbean Sea. But it’s not just about chilling out and topping up your tan – explore like a local and dive down to an underwater sculpture museum, swim in natural cenote pools, or take a daytrip to Chichen Itza or Coba to see the incredible Mayan ruins.

Night owls

The Cancun life turns it up a notch when the sun goes down, with all-night party vibes all over town. Most of the clubs are handily placed right on the Hotel Zone’s strip, so you can go from beach to bar, easy peasy. You can party however you like, too, with a choice of big-name DJs, foam parties and glitzy shows, as well as comedy nights and chill-out lounges. Elsewhere, salsa, merengue and bachata tunes pump out of the bars in Cancun’s downtown area.

At a Glance

  • Spot dolphins while relaxing on Playa Delfines
  • Party all night with famous DJs in the Hotel Zone
  • Clamber up Coba’s Ixmoja pyramid

TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CANCUN

BEACHES

SHOPPING

NIGHTLIFE

FOOD & DRINK