The beaches on the Cancun coast are free, so pack your own blanket and umbrella if renting a lounge chair has a big impact on your finances. Playa Delfines, at the southern end of the main area, is a great option if you're looking for somewhere quieter. Below we show you a list of activities that you can do during your visit:
Turtle Beach
Tortugas Beach is a relatively small strip of sand located at km 6 of the Cancun Hotel Zone. You can visit the beach for free all year round, and the water is shallow, so children can swim safely. Visit the pier, where you can bungee jump from the top of a 25-meter-high tower. There are several ferries that leave from Isla Mujeres to Playa Tortugas every day.
Location: Official Turtle Beach, Kukulcan Boulevard, Hotel Zone, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Dolphin Beach
Delfines Beach is a quiet beach located at the southern end of the Cancun Hotel Zone. Although it does not have tourist services, such as public showers or restaurants, you can find many straw umbrellas along the coast. While lifeguards patrol the beach during the day, it's best to stay close to shore if you want to swim.
Delfines Beach is very popular with surfers, as the waves are more intense here than on most beaches in Cancun.
Location: Punta Nizuc - Cancún 335, Zona Hotelera, 77500, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
Las Palapas Park
Cancun has a lively performing arts community, and is a popular destination for touring national and international musicians. Las Palapas Park is a large park located in the center of Cancun, which has a large central stage and a plaza where cultural fairs, concerts and plays are organized.
On weekend nights, you can often find plays and street shows. When there are no shows, the park is filled with runners, cyclists, and people enjoying outdoor games and picnics during the day.
Location: 77509, Ciruela 27, 25, 77500, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
Lobster Beach
Playa Langosta is located at km 6 of the Cancun Hotel Zone. Here you can find outdoor showers, kayaks and paddleboards for rent, as well as street vendors during the day. When you're here, take a photo in front of the 'Cancun' sign written in brightly colored letters.
Families can have fun at Playa Langosta's soccer field and outdoor playground. Couples can explore the Garden of Art, which is a beautiful garden decorated with sculptures by local artists.
Location: Hotel Zone, 77500, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Kabah Urban Park
Kabah Urban Park attracts runners because of its location in the city center and because it has a running trail that runs through a 410,000-square-meter forest reserve. This park has many species of wildlife, such as birds, spider monkeys, iguanas, and coatis, that you can see during your visit.
There are also many children's play areas and recreational areas for picnics. Entry to Kabah Urban Park is free year-round, and its lush jungles are popular with tourists who want to escape Cancun's busy beaches.
Location: Av. Nichupté 13, Benito Juárez, 77534, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Market 28
Mercado 28 is a craft market that has more than 100 stalls and is located on Sunyaxchen Avenue, in the center of Cancun. See beautiful crafts made of leather, silver and glass, as well as sunglasses and kitschy tourist T-shirts. You can also get a henna tattoo or hair braids for an affordable price.
In the center of the market, there are several restaurants serving typical Mexican dishes. The most notable dishes are cochinita pibil, Yucatecan panuchos and papadzules (Mayan-style enchiladas).
Location: Xel-ha M 2 13, SMZ 28, 28, 77501, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
El Rey archaeological zone
Visiting El Rey, an ancient Mayan site in Cancun's Hotel Zone, is one of the cheapest things to do in the city. The Mayan ruins show part of the history of a civilization dedicated to fishing and maritime trade.
Head to the entrance and pay the $55 MXN admission fee to explore more than 45 stone structures, including a temple and the tomb of an important figure. If you want to learn more about the history of this ancient civilization, visit the Mayan Museum of Cancun, which is just a few minutes walk away.
Location: El Rey archaeological zone, Hotel Zone, 77500, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Hours: Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Telephone: +52 (983) 837 2411
El Meco archaeological zone
The El Meco archaeological zone is a complex of Mayan ruins located about 8 km northeast of Cancún. This area, which used to be a port for Isla Mujeres, has many stone structures built between the 13th and 16th centuries.
The most prominent structure is El Castillo, which is one of the tallest Mayan pyramids in Cancun. Admission to the El Meco archaeological zone costs $55 MXN, which is a bargain compared to most of the Mayan archaeological zones in Cancun.
Location: Carretera Puerto Juárez, López Portillo, 77520, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.
Hours: Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Akumal Beach
Although Akumal is 110 km from Cancun, it is very popular with people looking for an extraordinary experience and cheap activities in the area. While it's worth the two-hour trip just to see the pristine beaches, you also have to snorkel and dive in the sheltered cove to get the full experience.
The main town has several restaurants and dive shops where you can rent equipment. Akumal Beach is a popular nesting site for sea turtles between May and November. If you're lucky, you'll be able to swim among these endangered creatures. Just make sure you don't touch them.
Location: Highway to Tulum, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico.