Cancun Layover Guide (CUN)

Mayan Temazcal Purification Ceremony Tour

Hotel pickup will signal the start of the journey. Then, you will reach a small Mayan community that still practises its customs in a forest-based ecological reserve. Here, you’ll get to see a traditional Mayan cabin and learn about their ancient traditions. Meet the Shaman in the centre of the ceremonial circle, where you will participate in a magnificent ancient rite of cleansing and have the rare opportunity to enter the Temazcal. » book this tour

Full-Day Archeological Tour

Spend the day exploring historic Mayan archaeological sites in Tulum and Coba with a tour guide. Enjoy your free time by swimming in a sinkhole and snapping pictures. Start your trip and learn about Mayan culture along the way once a qualified guide picks you up in the lobby of your hotel. Swim in the soothing water of natural cenotes and unwind. Visit the spectacular Mayan coastal city of Tulum Archaeological Zone to round up the day. » book this tour

ATV and Jet Ski Adventure Tour

Explore the jungle and mangroves of the Yucatán Peninsula with ATV tours of the Yucatán Peninsula’s mangroves. Enjoy the thrilling WaveRunner jet ski rides across the Caribbean Sea’s waves. Get your thrills off Maroma Beach, which Travel Discovery Channel selected as one of the most stunning beaches in the world. Feel the ocean wind on your face as you ride a WaveRunner through the Caribbean’s crystal-clear waters in Mexico. As you ride an ATV through the dense jungle and mangrove forest, you can finish your journey and enjoy the rush of speed. » book this tour

Ei Rey Ruins

The El Rey Ruins may lack Chichén Itzá’s sense of awe, but they do have accessibility on their side. These ruins are easy for people to get to because they are situated right in the middle of the Hotel Zone, and because they are so small, they can be seen quickly. El Rey was formerly a hub for the marine trade and was founded about 1200. The ruins themselves were not the main draw for many previous visitors; instead, they believe that the iguanas made for some very memorable photo opportunities. Hundreds of iguanas have taken over the abandoned Mayan town of El Rey.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 14 minutes via Private transport.

Avenida Tulum

While Cancun’s Hotel Zone is primarily served by Avenida Kukulkan, the main highway through the city’s peninsula is Avenida Tulum. The boulevard passes directly through Cancun’s downtown, making it a great place to observe people and explore. Visitors can locate a variety of landmarks along the route in between eateries, lodging options, and other retail establishments, including the Monumento a la Historia de México and the Fuente del Ceviche, two well-known and frequently photographed statues. Additionally, Palacio Local, the seat of the municipal government, is situated between a public park and a sculpture garden along with Avenida Tulum in the heart of Cancun.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 19 minutes via Private transport.

Isla Mujeres (The Island of Women)

Go to Isla Mujeres to escape the hectic pace of Cancun’s nightlife and beaches (or the Island of Women). On this tiny, 4-mile-long island, only a 30-minute ferry journey from Cancun, there isn’t much to do, but tourists enjoy it that way. Despite its image as a peaceful island, it has a few attractions worth visiting. Recent visitors advised hiring a golf cart and traveling to Punta Sur, situated at the southernmost point of the island. The area is home to a historic temple dedicated to the Mayan moon goddess, and it boasts a breathtaking bay vista and sheer cliffs on all sides.

Time required: Half day to Full day.

Airport to here: 1 hour 5 minutes via Private transport.

La Isla Shopping Village

The variety of businesses at La Isla Shopping Village will appeal to those looking for a little shopping therapy. True to its name, a small canal divides the open-air shopping district from the remainder of Cancun’s Hotel Zone. (The commercial village is a residential protrusion called La Isla.) The shopping village’s range of retail alternatives also includes clothes and souvenir shops in addition to various restaurants.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 19 minutes via Private transport.

Palya Deflines

Consider visiting Playa Delfines, a stretch of sand close to El Rey, if you’re sick of the typical beaches along the Hotel Zone. The beach frequently doesn’t have the dense crowds that may be found around the Hotel Zone. There won’t be any opportunity to purchase drinks or snacks here, so be sure to bring your own. The vibrant “Cancun” sign that can be seen on many of the city’s postcards and brochures can also be found here.

Time required: 2 hours to Half day.

Airport to here: 21 minutes via Private transport.

Chichén Itzá

One of the most well-known and recognisable monuments in the Yucatán is the sizable Mayan archaeological site of Chichén Itzá. The location, which once served as the center of Mayan civilization, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. El Castillo, a structure resembling a pyramid that served as the Mayans’ temple to the god Kukulkan, is the main attraction at the ruin site. Chichén Itzá is swarming with tourists seeking to take pictures of one of the new Seven Wonders of the World because of its reputation.

Time required: Half day to Full day.

Airport to here: 23 minutes via Private transport.

Coco Bongo Cancun

Coco Bongo, regarded as the centre of Cancun’s nightlife, isn’t your typical, DJ-run nightclub. As an alternative, thousands of tourists jam the venue to watch nonstop shows by acrobats, conga lines, live bands, and musician impersonators. At Coco Bongo, projected movies, balloons, soap bubbles, and confetti are common nighttime decorations. The club lacks a regular dance floor but is an endless combination of dancers and beverages. Many tourists anticipating an ordinary nightclub experience are shocked by this reality, and some are even upset.

Time required: 2 hours to Half day.

Airport to here: 21 minutes via Private transport.

Museo Maya de Cancun

Archaeological artefacts from important historic sites throughout Mexico are displayed in the Museo Maya de Cancun. The museum exhibits about 400 archaeological objects in its three halls, many of which were discovered at Chichen Itza. In addition to its iconic treasures, the Museo Maya de Cancun exhibits remarkable architecture. Following the shutdown of the former anthropology museum in 2004 due to storm damage, it includes floor-to-ceiling hurricane-resistant glass windows.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 16 minutes via Private transport.