Cancun beyond the beach

Things to Do in Cancun Besides The Beach or All-Inclusive Resort

Cancun is a top destination for people who want to have fun, relax, and experience Mayan culture.
By Casey Makovich

With beautiful waters and beaches, Cancun has been a destination for vacationers for decades, and it's easy to see why. But what's a person to do if they can only enjoy so much time by the sand and the water? What is there to do that lets them stretch some muscles and even their brains?

Cancun has beautiful beaches, but it's also great for a change of pace and plenty of culture. There are so many things to do besides the beach or all-inclusive resort activities! Find a balance between relaxing and adventuring and make your Cancun vacation all the more enjoyable.

Read on for our guide to things to do in Cancun besides the coast!

Xcaret Park

xcaret-park-near-cancun-mexico

Xcaret Park is bursting with 40 different attractions. There's the Mayan Village, Mayan Temples, the Paradise River, and the Vino De Mexico Wine Cellar. Visit them all in a day, or come back again, it’s up to you. Xcaret Park also has a Children’s World where kids can play in their own pool and several water rides, so you won't have to worry about keeping the whole family entertained.

The Paradise River is true to its name — you will take a beautiful float down the river in almost surreal beauty as parrots fly overhead. You can also tour the Underground Rivers, or take the Scenic Tour that gives you 360-degree views of the Caribbean. If you visit Xcaret Park on your first day in Cancun, you may never want to go back to the beach!

Getting in: Xcaret Park tickets are included as a Premium Attraction option on the Go City® All-Inclusive Cancun pass.

Extreme Adventure Park

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At Extreme Adventure Park, you can snorkel at two different reefs — each considered one of the most beautiful sites in all of Mexico. The Great Mayan Reef, for example, will give you the chance to see sea turtles, many different colors of reef, and more species of fish than you can imagine.

An ATV ride through the jungle may also be on the itinerary. Imagine yourself as an explorer, but on a prepared path, as you drive through the jungle looking at flora and fauna. When your ATV ride is over, you can also choose from six different zip lines and interactive bridges to climb from tree to tree. 

Getting in: Extreme Adventure Park tickets are included as a Premium Attraction option with the Go City® Cancun All-Inclusive Pass.

Tulum-Tankah Cenotes Eco Adventure Tour

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An adventure to remember, and also a chance to learn more about the Mayan culture. The trip involves visiting an archaeological dig site, where you’ll learn more about the great Mayan civilization, and the archaeologists who discovered important knowledge about their ancient culture.

You’ll also get to visit and swim in beautiful cenotes, which are naturally occurring swimming holes formed by rivers. You’ll also have a chance to kayak through the river and learn even more about the Mayans who lived here centuries ago. 

Getting in: Tulum-Tankah Cenotes Tour is separately ticketed.

Columbus Romantic Dinner Cruise

This adventure is an opportunity to sail around Cancun’s lagoon as the sun sets while indulging in a perfectly prepared steak or vegetarian meal with appetizers and desserts. You and your special someone will find it tastes even better while surrounded by all of this natural beauty. Have a photo taken while you’re onboard and be serenaded by a live saxophone band too. This will be an evening to remember for the rest of your life. 

Getting in: Columbus Lobster Dinner Cruise tickets are included on all Go City® Cancun passes.

Tulum Express Tour

Many describe the Mayan ruins of Tulum as the most interesting archaeological sites of all. These ruins are surrounded by crystal-clear water, picturesque cliffs, and white sand beaches. To make the tour of the ruins especially great, there will be a presentation by a bilingual guide to help you learn all about this important site.

Tulum was once a place with vigorous commerce and it still has three walls intended to protect the residents of the city from invaders. Several houses here were intended as burial sites for royalty and still stand today.

Getting in: Tulum Express Tour tickets are included on all Go City® Cancun passes.

Isla Mujeres Discovery Sail

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The Isla Mujeres is a small island near Cancun. In just a 20-30 minute ferry ride, visitors will have a chance to explore an important island that has both remnants of the Mayan civilization and modern amenities. While on the ferry, you can eat a delicious breakfast while enjoying the beautiful blue waters Cancun is noted for.

Once you’re there, you can explore ancient ruins, or you can visit the downtown area which has many different shops to explore. There is also a pool at Isla Mujeres if you’ve had enough of the beach for a while. There's also a domestic open bar during your day-long stay. 

Getting in: Isla Mujeres Discover Sail tickets are included on all Go City® Cancun passes.

Moonlight Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour

Moonlight Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour

See ocean wildlife in a way you never thought you would have an opportunity to witness. Snorkeling at moonlight makes the sea life sparkle, thanks to the illumination. On this tour, you will spend an hour and a half visiting three different reefs.

Even new snorkelers have the skills needed to enjoy this tour. Area 1 on the tour is known for octopus, moray eels, squid, and more, while Area 2 is where you are most likely to swim with a sea turtle. Area 3 is where the bioluminescence will amaze you, as you are surrounded by tiny particles that light up the water all around you. 

Getting in: Moonlight Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour is separately ticketed.

Playa del Carmen shopping tour

Whether you decide you need a new bathing suit, souvenirs to remember your trip, or you just want to spend some time wandering around in air-conditioned shops, Playa del Carmen is for you. There are unique, locally-owned stores and also name-brand stores that Americans are used to back home. There is also street entertainment, excellent restaurants, and bars. 

Getting in: Playa del Carmen Shopping Tour tickets are included on all Go City® Cancun passes

Mercado shopping tour in Cancun

The resort city of Cancun also boasts the Mercado 28, a flea-market shopping area that has endless booths and restaurants. These are owned and operated by locals, so you know their goods — such as handcrafted purses, jewelry, and more — are authentic. Another great chance to find a great souvenir for yourself or gifts for friends and family.

Shopping in Cancun

You will also be able to eat real, authentic Mexican food here. The next stop is the Plaza Las Americas mall, which has stores including Sears, Victoria’s Secret, Adidas, and more. There are also drugstores, restaurants, and movie theaters. You should be able to find just about anything you want or need. 

Getting in: Shopping Tour in Cancun tickets are included on all Go City® Cancun passes

Chichen Itza

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Chichen Itza is a city built by the Mayans and is considered to be one of the most famous archaeological sites in all of Mexico, with some of the oldest buildings on the entire continent of North America. You could spend a full day at this site wandering around this ancient site. There is also a resort pool, botanical garden, private hospitality suite, and lounge area. 

Getting in: You can visit Chichen Itza at your own pace separately. Or, if you want to visit using your Go City® Cancun pass, Chichen Itza is included as part of a day trip, where you'll also visit the ancient site of Valladolid.

Cancun Wax Museum

Never met Queen Elizabeth II? What about Elvis? Amy Winehouse? How is it possible, you might ask? At the Cancun Wax Museum of course. There are more than 100 different figures that have national importance, and global influences too. The wax museum is at La Isla Mall, so you can combine the time spent in the museum meeting up with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and others, and then go shopping. Just don’t expect them to join you! 

Getting in: Cancun Wax Museum tickets are included on all Go City® Cancun passes.

Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City® 

With an All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, you can visit both attractions for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you could save up to 50% on all your Cancun must-sees. Or pick an Explorer Pass, if you've chosen your fave and have a specific bucket list you're dreaming of ticking off.  

☀️ Compare San Diego passes ☀️– 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 –  ✈️ Buy a pass ✈

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Colors of Mexico food tour Cancun
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Christmas in Cancun

Swap your snow boots for your flip-flops and your scarfs for your bikini bottoms by spending Christmas in Cancun. With sands so white you could easily mistake them for snow, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. However, this gives the resorts of the hotel zone a phenomenal atmosphere, whilst the glorious high season weather means nothing is off the menu when it comes to attractions. Add to this a platter of feast days and special events and you’ve got a festive season like no other! Here’s our guide to everything going on at Christmas in Cancun and the surrounding area. Early December In this devoutly Catholic country, the Christmas period doesn’t begin with December 1, but the first day of advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. Traditionally seen as a time of preparation, churches such as Iglesia de San Servacio in the old quarter of Valladolid sparkle with nativity scenes and candles, echoing the lights which add another layer to the buzz of Cancun’s hotel zone. Just 45 minutes away from Valladolid stands Chichen Itza, one of the most important Mayan sites in the entire Yucatan. Immortalized on a hundred T-shirts and as thousands of souvenir models of all sizes, it contains the impressive El Castillo pyramid, a structure perhaps even more impressive today than when it was built 1600 years ago. Las posadas The next big marker is Las posadas, beginning on December 16. It is a nine day event typified by candlelit evening processions through the streets of Cancun. Residents dress up as the Holy Family, and seek a place to stay for the birth of Jesus. After being rejected from entering two homes, as in the Bible accounts of the birth, they are welcomed into the third, where a party with food, drink and pinatas are often evident. Homes are decorated with red-leaved poinsettias – native to Mexico – and other evergreen plants. In addition, children cut the sides of paper bags into a variety of shapes that are then illuminated by candles – a little like a festive version of a jack o’lantern. They’re called farolitos and are placed on windowsills and doorsteps. Christmas shopping In between the nightly processions there’s plenty of opportunity to explore the independent and big name stores that make up Cancun’s retail spaces. For souvenirs and other handmade items we’d suggest downtown’s Mercado 28, followed by a trip to the boutiques of US-style mall Plaza Las Americas. Decked out in all its Christmas finery, it has a friendly rivalry with Kukulkan Plaza a short distance further south, whose elegant flat-domed ceilings provides the perfect spot for the free nightly performances from December 20 – 31. Head to Punta Cancun (the Party Zone) for the best of the city’s nightlife. Around 25 major clubs do their best to attract you, offering open bars, giant dancefloors and DJ sets that extend towards daybreak. Nochebuena Rather than December 25, it’s Christmas Eve – or Noche Buena – the last day of Los Posedos which is the big day for family gatherings in Mexico. Children lead processions into their local churches, at which point the baby Jesus is placed in the manger of the nativity scenes. Most people attend midnight mass with church bells ringing out and fireworks exploding to mark the Holy birth. The feasting continues long into the early hours of Christmas morning, so don’t be surprised if some places are slower to open up than usual. It’s also Christmas Eve when children receive some of their gifts, especially those from Papa Noel (Santa Claus). When it comes to closures, you’ll see nothing like the complete shut down that takes place on Christmas Day in the US or Europe. Generally speaking, resorts and attractions remain fully open, although it’s well worth checking out individual places if you plan a Christmas Day visit. Christmas Day For a sense of the dishes enjoyed at this time of year in Cancun don’t miss your chance to explore the city’s puestos (market stalls) in search of the best seasonal street food. Christmas dinners usually begin with an oxtail soup containing beans and chilies. Bacalao (dried cod) and revoltijo de romerito (stewed greens with potato and dried shrimp) are also common. These are followed historically by a suckling pig, although the US influence has made turkey and glazed hams much more common. Adults then set about consuming large quantities of ponche con piquete, a hot alcoholic drink flavored with seasonal fruits and cinnamon that’s a little like mulled wine. Children get to play with luces de Belén, or Bethlehem lights, a type of sparkler. Holy Innocents Just a couple of days later, on December 28, comes one of Mexico’s more unusual celebrations. Although it commemorates the massacre of the Holy Innocents by King Herod after the birth of Christ, it has become the Mexican version of April Fool’s Day, with pranks played on those deemed ‘innocent’. Everyone seems to save their best tricks for the day, with newspapers and television programs also getting in on the action. Past stories have included reports that Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was leaving Britain’s Prince William for a Mexican soccer star. New Year’s Eve Christmas in Cancun continues into January with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. This is when many children receive the bulk of their gifts, just as Jesus was gifted the gold, frankincense and myrrh from the Three Wise Men. But for most, the season ends on New Year’s Eve. Celebrations take a number of forms, with dining out a particularly popular choice for the evening hours. As the clock turns towards midnight, many holidaymakers head to the bars and clubs, whilst still more await the fireworks which erupt over Cancun on the stroke of twelve. Save at Christmas in Cancun Packed full of special events and traditional insights, there’s even more reason to visit Cancun at Christmas than at other times of year. For the most part your favorite attractions will remain open, so don’t forget to do the sensible thing and travel with Go City. Do this and you’ll make huge savings on admission costs to top attractions – it’s really as simple as that!
Ian Packham
A couple enjoy the sea views in Cancun
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Things to do in Cancun in July

Take a quick turn around the web and you’ll soon discover that July falls within Cancun’s wet season. But although it’s low season, don’t give up your dreams of visiting Cancun in July just yet. The month’s wet season designation tricks many into believing July isn’t a good time to visit Cancun. However, the reality on the beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula is very different to what you might be imagining. Five days of rain is all you’ll experience on average, and even then, this generally consists of a nothing more than heavy afternoon downpour of as little as 15 minutes. They rarely last longer than two or three hours. And whilst there’s an outside chance of a hurricane making landfall at this time of year, the last time this happened was way back in 2005. Wet season? We hear you ask. What wet season? Here’s some of what you can get up to in Cancun in July. Seek out the sea breeze With temperatures on land maxing out at 34°C and humidity levels which can top 80%, sticking close to Cancun’s Caribbean shores is a good way to minimize the heat. Getting out onto the water is incredibly easy in Cancun, with catamaran cruises to Isla Mujeres, shipwreck snorkeling tours and even the galleries of an underwater museum to consider. Between them they offer an incredible array of ways to enjoy the region’s turquoise waters and teeming coral reefs. The Caribbean’s only seafront amusement and water park, Ventura Park provides a heady mix of high-octane rides and calmer ways to appreciate the water, such as its Lazy River and Wave Pool, making it a great shout for families. All ages are also welcome at the majority of Cancun’s cenotes. Natural sinkholes formed from collapsed limestone caves and flooded by a mix of underwater rivers and rain water, they are a stunning addition to the region’s geography. Ranging from simple holes in the ground to magnificent forms with diving platforms up to ten meters high, their cool waters will soon see you adopt the right frame of mine. Take a road trip With the Riviera Maya on your doorstep, Cancun is the perfect starting point for a coastal road trip in search of Mayan ruins and tiny coves. So why not rent a car for the day and head down Federal Highway 307? Whether you ramp up the air-con or wind down the windows is entirely up to you, as you head south from Puerto Morelos to the beaches, bars and boutique stores of Playa del Carmen and the archeology site of Tulum – where temples stand guard over the coast. Along the way, consider stopping for a couple of hours at the ecoparks of Xel-Ha or Xcaret. Xel-Ha counts jungle and river trails amongst its highlights, whilst Xcaret is best thought of as part water park, part cabaret show and part wildlife reserve. Meet Cancun’s most-loved creatures Animal lovers certainly won’t be short of things to do in Cancun in July. Since May at least three species of turtle have been dragging themselves up onto the beaches after dark in order to dig holes in which to lay their eggs. This continues through July, with the added bonus of the very first eggs to be laid starting to hatch, carpeting the sands of Isla Mujeres with newborns eager to reach the relative safety of the open ocean. Though the giants of the deep, the turtles don’t face any threat from the whale sharks which linger in Cancun’s warm tropical waters at this time of year, since they eat nothing larger than microscopic plankton. Swimming and snorkeling beside these magnificent creatures are unforgettable experiences, celebrated on the island at the annual Whale Shark Festival at the end of July. Discover the nightlife Another end of July celebration to mark in your diary is July 25’s El Día Fuera del Tiempo. Translating as ‘the day out of time’, it marks the Mayan year end, and is a traditional time to reflect on the past twelve months. There are festivities right along the Riviera Maya. Originally focusing on Tulum, they now include events in Cancun itself. But whatever day you turn up in July you can be sure of a good time. With a reputation as one of the best places to party south of the Rio Grande, Cancun’s hotel zone is awash with neon signs and dance floors just waiting to be filled. One of the top spots for many years has been Congo Bar, whose DJs spin the decks until close to sunrise. Take in some culture If the thought of those occasional afternoon downpours is still leaving you unsure of what to do in Cancun in July, remember that the city isn’t all about outdoor adventures. There’s also plenty to discover under cover, with a pick of great museums and galleries thanks to a thriving cultural scene. Museo Maya displays a wealth of important artefacts linked to the region’s historic inhabitants, including items discovered at Chichen Itza and Comalcalco. They reveal many of the secrets to the Mayans’ success and ultimate demise at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors. Forming part of Xcaret ecopark, the Mexican Folk Art Museum details the nation’s modern culture, including items such as ghoulish Day of the Dead dolls in a dazzling series of colorful galleries depicting everyday life. The 3D Museum of Wonders in Playa del Carmen lives up to its name and is a museum that will keep the kids entertained until the clouds clear. Filled with three-dimensional optical illusions, it is the work of artist Kurt Wenner, whose 60 creations literally leap from the walls in all manner of sizes and shapes. Save on Cancun July attraction admission Comparatively crowd-free by Cancun standards and budget-friendly to boot, July is a great month to visit despite being placed within the region’s wet season. Take it easy in the building humidity by sticking to the shoreline or heading to the range of water-based attractions and activities on offer. Take Go City with you and you’ll save big on admission costs at the same time!
Ian Packham

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