The Ultimate Cancun Mexico Travel Guide
For travelers dreaming of a tropical Caribbean escape, Cancun is the place to be. This vibrant, colorful city is home to must-see museums, street art, and burgeoning culture.
The best time to visit Cancun depends on your budget, weather expectations, and your schedule. However, if you’re planning on going during the busy summer season or holiday months, expect to pay more than usual.
What to Expect
When planning a vacation to Cancun, Mexico, it is important to take into consideration several factors that will make your trip more enjoyable and safer. Cancun is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico and has been a top travel destination for years.
Cancun is known for its gorgeous beaches, jaw-dropping turquoise waters, and endless sunshine. It is also home to Mayan ruins, cenotes, and other natural attractions that attract tourists from all over the world.
Despite its popularity, Cancun is not immune from petty crime and scams. Luckily, there are some simple tips and tricks that can help travelers stay safe during their vacation in Cancun.
Don’t go in for tourist traps
Cancun has a lot of popular chain restaurants and bars, but you don’t have to go all the way. There are plenty of local restaurants that you can visit instead. You might want to try a restaurant like Senor Frogs with a high-spirited atmosphere, live entertainment, and a water slide.
Don’t go in for excursions that are too good to be true
There have been a number of scams in Cancun over the years. Typically, these involve a local posing as an excursion representative and asking you to join them on a tour. They can often charge you a lot of money up front, but then when you meet up with them, they are nowhere to be found.
Best Time to Visit
Cancun has a long list of reasons to visit, including its pristine white-sand beaches, sparkling ocean waters, and excellent restaurant and bar scenes. But the best time to go can depend on your personal preference.
If you prefer a quieter trip, visit Cancun during the off-peak season (December through April). This is the perfect time to enjoy a sunny beach, fewer crowds, less seaweed, and a low price tag.
The weather in Cancun is usually warm and comfortable year-round, although some areas can experience hurricanes from June to November, especially in September and October. These are also the wettest months.
In January, the weather is very pleasant and the water temperatures are great for swimming and snorkeling. This is a great time to see dolphins, whale sharks, and turtles in the Caribbean Sea.
If you’re a fan of diving, the best time to go is between May and September. These are the best times to see whale sharks, bulldog sharks, manta rays, and turtles.
While the beach in Cancun is always beautiful, the summer is the most popular time of year to go. This is the peak tourist season, and rates for hotels and flights tend to be at their highest, so it’s important to plan ahead.
If you’re traveling with kids, the summer is also a good time to visit Cancun. The weather is generally pleasant, and the resorts are a lot more family-friendly than during the winter or spring.
Bucket List of Activities
A vacation in Cancun is all about fun and adventure. It’s the perfect destination to try a variety of water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing and parasailing. You can also choose to explore ancient ruins, swim in cenotes or visit tropical islands and sail the turquoise sea.
Cancun’s beaches are among the best in the world. They are secluded, clean, and offer great views of the Caribbean Sea. The warm waters are home to a wide range of marine life, from loggerhead turtles to giant leatherback turtles.
Snorkeling is a must-try experience, as it offers a chance to witness a diverse range of marine species. It is also a great way to relax and reflect on your surroundings without focusing on the task at hand.
Another unique experience in Cancun is seeing the Boulevard Kukulcan, a sculpture park in the waters off the coast of Playa del Carmen. This incredible collection of sculptures has been instrumental in helping to grow the coral reefs around the area.
You can view them either from the beach or through a glass-bottomed boat. You can also learn more about this fascinating place by visiting the Boulevard Kukulcan Visitor Center.
Another great option is Xoximilco, which is a traditional Mexico fiesta that involves riding in a small boat along the canals near Cancun. During the event, you’ll hear Mexican music and dance as the party goes on.
Safety
As one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations, Cancun is generally a safe place to travel. However, it’s important to keep in mind that petty crime like pickpocketing and scams can still occur, especially in areas crowded with tourists.
The most important safety measure to take when traveling to Cancun is to be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas that aren’t well-lit or populated. If possible, stay in the Hotel Zone – a 13-mile circuit of white-sand beaches that’s surrounded by hotels and resorts.
Despite recent news reports of gang and drug-related violence in Mexico, these crimes are rare and rarely affect tourists. You can significantly lower your risk by avoiding drugs and gang-related activities.
In addition to taking precautions when staying at a resort or hotel, there are several other safety measures you can follow to ensure your trip is as safe and enjoyable as possible.
For example, taxis are a great way to get around in Cancun. They’re regulated and reliable, and they are often cheaper than Uber.
If you’re visiting other places in Mexico, buses and minibuses are a safe option. They’re cheap, regular, and can bring you to many of the top sites in Mexico without you needing to worry about driving.
It’s also a good idea to know your local emergency number in case of an emergency. Mexico’s national number is 911, and it’s a good idea to have some numbers on hand.
Currency
Many tourists come to Cancun for a variety of reasons, from soaking up the sun at a beachside resort to visiting one of the archaeological sites in Teotihuacan or even taking part in the annual Day of the Dead festival. Whatever your reason for visiting, it is important to understand the currency and payment options available to you before your trip.
US dollars are accepted in almost all establishments and there is an official MXN-USD conversion rate which is around 20 pesos per dollar. However, it is recommended that you exchange your cash to Mexican pesos before you arrive in Cancun, as this will save you a fair amount of money on currency conversion fees.
Credit cards are also widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and stores in Cancun, but some small shops may charge a higher fee for transactions made with plastic. You will probably want to carry some cash on hand as well if you’re planning to make any payments outside of the tourist areas.
You can also exchange your currency at the airport, but beware of high transaction charges. It is often more convenient to exchange at local bureau de change offices, which can be found in malls and small plazas. These will generally offer a good exchange rate and also offer a selection of foreign currencies to take back home without using Mexican pesos. The best ones to visit are CitiBanamex, HSBC, BBVA Bancomer, Scotia Bank, Banorte, and Banco Santander.
Languages Spoken and Culture
Mexico is one of the world’s most diverse countries in terms of culture and language. Spanish is the official language, but many people still speak other languages in their daily lives. Those who travel to Cancun are likely to encounter other languages throughout their stay.
The country is home to a variety of indigenous languages, some of which have been around for centuries. These include Aztec, Mayan, Zapotec, and more.
These native tongues were used for writing systems, such as Maya script, which is a logogram-based system with characters that function similar to Japanese and Chinese writing. Some linguistic groups have historical settlements, including the Zoque family and Tojolabal, which is spoken by about 66,000 people.
In contrast, Spanish was a European language that became the standard in Mexico only after its arrival in the 16th century. While it is still the official language, 68 different Mexican indigenous languages are recognized by the government.
Cancun is a popular tourist destination, but it’s also a great place to immerse yourself in Mexican culture. The city has a variety of museums and galleries, and there are several historical ruins to visit in the area.
A few of these can be easily reached on day trips from Cancun, such as Chichen Itza. The site is the largest Mayan ruins in the region and offers a glimpse into the past of this beautiful country. It is easy to get there by public transportation or private vans called Colectivos.
