10+ Things to Do in Cancun with Kids for a Fun Trip to Mexico

Planning a trip to Cancún? This southeastern Mexican city has both natural landscapes ideal for outdoor adventures and exciting and innovative indoor attractions, making it perfect for families who want to do it all while on vacation. While Cancun may be known for its nightlife and spring-breakers, there are tons of kid-friendly attractions that the whole family will enjoy. With so many things to do and see, your Cancún vacation is sure to be educational, entertaining and of course, fun. If you’re looking for things to do in Cancún with kids, check out this list of our favorite kid-friendly activities, including...

• ATV, Ziplines and Cenote Combo Tour at Extreme Adventure Park – All Day Experience
• Swim Adventure by Dolphin Discovery
• Xcaret Park with Transportation from Cancun
• Snorkeling Adventures
• Cancun Wax Museum
• Parasailing Adventure in Cancun
• and more...

Save on Admission to Kid-Friendly Attractions

Many of these great kid-friendly attractions are available on the Go Cancun® Card. Choose as you go from more than 20 top Cancun attractions and save up to 45% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. Or, build your own pass and save up to 20% off. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more.

ATV, Ziplines and Cenote Combo Tour at Extreme Adventure Park – All Day Experience

Explore Mexico by both land and sea with this all-day experience from Extreme Adventure Park. Your combo ticket includes four exciting activities in the port town of Puerto Morelos. The best part? You won’t need to rent a car or book travel for your family. This excursion includes roundtrip transportation between Cancún and Puerto Morales, so you can focus on the fun day ahead. You’ll start your day off by snorkeling in the Great Mayan Reef. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles, exotic fish and of course, the multicolor corals of the reef. After some downtime, you’ll ride an ATV through the jungle of Puerto Morales, either solo or with a partner. Stay in the jungle to experience one of six ziplines and three interactive bridges that let you climb from tree to tree. Finally, you’ll have the unique experience of diving into a cenote, an all-natural sinkhole with crystal-clear water. Cenotes are not found just anywhere, so this will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family! Bilingual guides will give you the equipment and know-how to safely participate in each activity, so people of all experience levels can take part in this day-long adventure. Fun fact: The Great Mayan Reef is the second largest reef in the world; the only larger one is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Getting In: ATV, Ziplines and Cenote Combo Tour at Extreme Adventure Park - All Day Experience is premium attraction available on the 3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-Day Go Cancun Cards.

Royal Swim VIP “Plus” at Royal Garrafon Park by Dolphin Discovery

Get up close and personal to your favorite marine life at Royal Garrafon Park. This VIP experience by Dolphin Discovery includes encounters with dolphins, sea lions, and manatees, as well as access to the VIP lounge. Throughout the day you’ll swim with dolphins, watch sea lions play, and feed a manatee their lunch. Specialists will teach you about these animals each step of the way, making this experience entertaining and educational. The VIP lounge is the perfect place to cool down and relax after this fun-filled day. Swim in the pool, chill in the air-conditioned facilities and have a bite at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Kids (and the kid in you) are sure to remember this experience for years to come. Getting In: Royal Swim VIP “Plus” at Royal Garrafon Park in Isla Mujeres by Dolphin Discovery is a premium attraction available on the 3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-Day Go Cancun Cards.

Xcaret Park with Transportation from Cancun

Can’t decide if you want to relax on the beach, take in Mexico’s rich history or go on a heart-pumping outdoor excursion? There’s no need to choose at Xcaret Park. With over 40 different attractions, this adventure park is sure to have something for everyone in the family. Take the whole family on the Scenic Tour that offers panoramic views of the Caribbean, or attend the Xcaret Mexico Espectacular to learn about the history of Mexico through music. There’s even a special area just for kids called Children’s World. Kids will enjoy the pool and water rides, and you’ll enjoy being able to watch over them while relaxing poolside. Kids and adults alike will love the countless experiences you can do at Xcaret Park. Getting In: Xcaret Park with Transportation from Cancun is a premium attraction available on the 3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-Day Go Cancun Cards.

Snorkeling Adventures

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancún has miles upon miles of shoreline along the Caribbean Sea, making it the ideal destination for snorkeling. There are tons of snorkeling tours to choose from, so you can pick the one that interests you and your family most.

Paradise Island Adventure: Snorkel in Musa Nizuc plus Subsee Experience

This snorkeling experience offers a unique element: the chance to visit an Underwater Museum. After a cruise to Punta Nizuc, where you’ll get stunning underwater views from the Subsee Explorer, you’ll get the chance to snorkel over 16 underwater statues, like “The Garden of Hope” and “Time Bomb”. You may even catch a glimpse of a sea turtle. Kids will love that this trip to the museum involves getting their feet wet. Getting In: Paradise Island Adventure: Snorkel in Musa Nizuc plus Subsee Experience tickets are included with the Go Cancun Card.

Reef, Musa, Turtle Encounter and Shipwreck Cancun Snorkeling Tour

Total Snorkel Cancun offers the only snorkeling experience over a shipwreck site in Cancún. In addition to this unique snorkeling site, they also include three other spots where you can see the coral reef, sea turtles, and underwater art. Don’t forget to pick up your free souvenir photo! Getting In: Reef, Musa, Turtle Encounter and Shipwreck Cancun Snorkeling Tour tickets are included with the Go Cancun Card.

Moonlight Snorkeling Bio Tour- Bioluminescence only

Even if you’ve tried snorkeling before, it’s unlikely you’ve experienced anything like snorkeling when the sun goes down. With Total Snorkel Cancun’s Moonlight Snorkeling Bio Tour, you’ll snorkel three distinct areas where you’ll see aquatic life at the coral reef, catch a glimpse of a sea turtle or two, and experience bioluminescence. If you shake your hands and feet while in the third snorkeling spot, you’ll experience tiny particles lighting up around you. It’s worth giving the kids a later bedtime! Fun fact: Bioluminescence is the emission of light by living organisms—it’s what makes certain fish appear neon. Getting In: Moonlight Snorkeling Bio Tour- Bioluminescence only tickets are included with the Go Cancun Card.

Dancer Cruise Cancun - snorkel and Isla Mujeres package

Dancer Cruise Cancun offers not only a snorkeling experience but a party on the Caribbean Sea. Climb aboard the double-decker catamaran for a day of dancing, games, and of course, snorkeling. You’ll make three stops on this excursion, with a host of activities in-between. The first top is Meco Reef, where you can snorkel or stay aboard to take a dancing lesson. Next, you’ll make a stop along calm waters so that people of all skill levels can enjoy swimming and splashing around. Kids will love jumping on the trampoline, or speeding down the two-story waterslide into the ocean. The last stop is at Isla Mujeres, which is considered to have one of the most kid-friendly beaches in Cancún. You’ll have free time to explore the shops, hike the cliffs or relax on the beach. This Dancer Cancun package is perfect for families who want to snorkel, but want other activities available as well. Getting In: Dancer Cruise Cancun - snorkel and Isla Mujeres package are included with the Go Cancun Card.

Cancun Wax Museum

Cancún’s warm climate makes it known for outdoor activities, but there some are great indoor sites to visit with kids while on vacation, like the Cancun Wax Museum. With 1000 square meters of entertainment and more than 25 scenes, Cancun Wax Museum is the premier wax museum in the region. Take pictures with football (soccer) stars like Cristian Ronaldo, historical figures like Mother Teresa, and pop icons like Madonna. Younger kids will love the chance to “meet” their favorite celebrities, while older ones will love showing off their faux celebrity-sighting pictures to their friends. With more than 100 figures from entertainment, politics and kid’s shows, Cancún’s first wax museum is sure to have something for everyone in the family. Getting In: Cancun Wax Museum tickets are included with the Go Cancun Card.

Parasailing Adventure in Cancun

Want to see Cancún from the sky but hesitant to try parasailing? Look no further than Parasail Cancun. The friendly guides will make sure that you have the most fun—and safe—experience possible. While in the sky, you’ll be given a walkie-talkie to let the onboard team know if you’d like to go higher or lower, so you’re in control. You’ll have up to 12 minutes of stress-free gliding through the sky, where you’ll see Isla Mujeres and Nichupté Lagoon. This experience is recommended for people of all ages, so kids can take this one-of-a-kind experience as well. Be prepared—they may ask the on board team to give you a little splash! Getting In: Parasailing Adventure in Cancun tickets are included with the Go Cancun Card.

Get Up and Go Catamaran Sail

With all there is to do in Cancún, you’ll want some time to relax and just take in the beauty of Mexico. Hop aboard a luxury catamaran or sailboat from Albatros Catamaran for a cruise from Cancún to Isla Mujeres. You’ll stop to snorkel El Farito, a famous reef in the area. After snorkeling, you’ll get back on board the boat to head to Isla Mujeres, so you can explore all the island has to offer. Older kids and adults can take advantage of a Spinnaker Ride if they want to take this relaxing experience to the next level. Either way, this luxury sailing tour will give your family the recharge it needs during an activity-packed vacation. Getting in: Get Up and Go Catamaran Sail tickets are included with the Go Cancun Card All-Inclusive Pass.

Free Kid-Friendly Activities in Cancun

Parque de las Palapas - Experience local culture in Cancún’s city square, or the Parque de las Palapas. Admission to the newly-renovated park is free, and there’s plenty of space to both play and relax. There’s space to play soccer and lots of seating in the open-air food court. Try Mexican snacks like marquesitas and fried plantains. There’s live music on the weekends and street performances most days. The Parque de las Palapas is the great spot to relax and enjoy Cancún as Mexicans do. Urbano Kabah Park - Located downtown, Kabah Park brings the jungle to the metropolitan area of Cancún. Kabah Park has running trails, a kid’s playground, ponds and a small museum. The grounds are well maintained and safe, so it’s great for families. Keep an eye out for local animals—coatis, or raccoon-like animals that roam the park, while alligators and turtles can be found in the ponds. This urban oasis is a great way to spend a couple of hours outside of the city, without having to travel far.

Let’s Recap

There you have it – some of our favorite things to do in Cancún with kids. Plan to add a few of these attractions to your vacation itinerary for a fun-filled trip to Cancún. Remember, you can save on combined admission vs. paying at the gate to many of these popular family-friendly attractions and more with the Go Cancun Card.