Beyond Cancun’s idyllic beachfront is a playground for outdoor adventurers, culture vultures, and history buffs. From recently discovered underground nature reserves and Mayan ruins to the hippest bars and nightclubs in downtown Cancun, here are our top things to do in Cancun.
Explore an underground river
Walk and swim in waist-deep water through the Rio Secreto, an underground cave system and nature preserve with 12 km of rivers to explore. Take a guided tour and make your way through tunnels of stalactites, stalagmites, and crystal formations. Located about 45 minutes outside of Cancun in Playa del Carmen, the Rio Secreto is one of Mexico’s most recently discovered sunken caves and one of the longest.
Nightlife in El Centro
In Cancun’s lively downtown, El Centro, excitement is never too far behind. Along Yaxchilan Avenue, you’ll find nightclubs open late for you to salsa and cumbia into the early morning hours, restaurants serving authentic Mexican cuisine, karaoke, and bars with local acts playing live music. In El Centro, venture out with the locals on the avenue that never sleeps.
Visit Cancun’s eco-parks
Surrounded by natural beauty, Cancun’s family-friendly eco-parks are a hidden gem. Do a day tour of Xcaret or Xel Ha, two of Cancun’s biggest eco-parks and discover caves, swim in hidden beaches and snorkel cenotes. Let your adventurous spirit take hold and let loose.
Tour the ruins
Cancun is surrounded by ancient Mayan history and culture. Discover this lost civilization and the architectural ruins in Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba, where you’ll find pyramids and historic Mayan structures that date back to 750 A.D. when the Mayans started building these fallen cities. Located just outside of Cancun, this is a day tour not to be missed.
While Cancun may be famed for its beaches and Zona Hotelera, be sure to venture off the beaten and discover Cancun’s natural beauty and experience Mexico’s authentic local culture.