Cancun in Winter

Things to do in Cancun in Winter

Become a snowbird and soak up the Mexican sunshine this winter
By Nicole Muto

Instead of playing in the snow, you'll be playing in the sand. Cancun experiences some of the best weather in the winter months, particularly from December to February.

Cancun in winter typically has less rain, gorgeous, balmy weather, and sunny skies. You'll be able to stay toasty and tan all while mixing in a few holiday events here and there. We've put together a list of the best winter attractions and events for your trip to Cancun, including...

  • Xcaret Park
  • Romantic Dinner Cruises
  • Royal Garrafon Natural Reef Park
  • Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour
  • Shopping Tours
  • Chichén Itzá Tours
  • Interactive Aquarium Cancun
  • Parasailing Adventure
  • Tulum Express Tour

Posadas at Xcaret Park

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Celebrate Posadas, a traditional Mexican holiday celebration, while exploring gorgeous Xcaret Park Posadas takes place on the nine days leading up to Christmas, honoring the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. It is celebrated with holiday carols, a parade through the park, and the breaking of piñatas as a grand finale of sorts.

This eco-archaeological park is just south of Cancun and is truly an oasis of relaxation. Explore over 40 different attractions like Children's World, the Old Mayan Temple, and the Village, and take a look at the Xcaret México Espectacular night showThis stunning performance by 300 talented artists displays the folklore of ancient Mexico represented in La Charrería, Papantla Flying Men, and Pre-Hispanic Dances.

Romantic dinner cruise

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If you're spending some quality time with a loved one on this Cancun trip, definitely hop aboard a Columbus Dinner Cruise to commemorate the holiday season. Sail around Cancun's lagoon as the sun sets, soaking in the picturesque views of the Caribbean for 2.5 blissful hours. Dine on an exquisitely-prepared steak or vegetarian meal and enjoy an open bar as you cruise through the water.

Royal Garrafon Natural Reef Park

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Take a trip to Royal Garrafon Natural Reef Park, an island 30 minutes off the coast of Cancun. Fill up on the continental breakfast provided on the ferry, because you're in for a long day of fun and exploration. Kayak, snorkel, and splash around in the crystal clear waters off the coast.

Kick back and relax at the Beach Club lounge or take a trip into downtown Isla Mujeres to explore the shops and local restaurants. No matter what you do, you'll be surrounded by gorgeous views.

Moonlight Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour

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Swim along the shallow waters of the Great Mayan Reef and discover the unique and colorful sea life of Cancun’s waters on this awe-inspiring Moonlight Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour.

Bioluminescence is the biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep-sea fishes. In other words, it’s what makes certain fishes and jellies appear to be neon! On this snorkeling tour, you'll explore three different areas over the span of an hour and a half.

Your guides will direct you to all the best spots where you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for sea turtle, jellyfish, and tropical fish sightings.

Shopping Tours

Get into the holiday spirit with a shopping spree through Cancun or a trip to Playa del Carmen where you can find all your Christmas gifts at the craft shops. In Cancun, you'll visit Mercado 28 and Plaza Las Americas. Mercado 28 is a flea-market-style shopping area with booths and restaurants owned and operated by locals. It's the perfect place to find unique souvenirs.

Plaza Las Americas, on the other hand, has all your favorite brands - from Victoria's Secret to Adidas to Sears. In Playa del Carmen, you'll shop famous Fifth Avenue, often called Quinta by residents, a 22-block stretch filled with all types of shops. You can find souvenir shops full of trinkets and jewelry, or you can shop from your favorite brand names. Fifth Avenue has it all, including incredible views of the water and beach as you walk.

Chichén Itzá

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While visiting Mexico, make sure to carve out some time to see its famous archaeological sites like Chichén Itzá. Chichén Itzá, a pre-Colombian city built by the Mayan people, was the largest city of its time and is believed to be one of the mythical Great Cities referred to in Mesoamerican folklore. Explore the temples and structures at your own pace and take a chance to admire some of the oldest buildings in Mayan history.

Interactive Aquarium Cancun

The Interactive Aquarium Cancun is the perfect place to go with the whole family, especially if you're tired of the beach or pool (although, how could you be?). Located in La Isla Shopping Mall, this aquarium is home to over 140 different species of fish, sharks, jellies, and more.

The expert animal trainers host shows throughout the day, where you can watch them feed and interact with dolphins. In addition to live animal shows, you can also catch screenings of ocean-related films in the auditorium.

Parasailing Adventure

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Fly right over the beach on a Parasailing Adventure in the sky. Soar into the clouds on a 10-12 minute journey over the coast and bright blue waters of Cancun. You'll be safely strapped in to your parachute and harness, so enjoy the ride and really soak in the view. As you begin your descent, you'll have the option to land directly on board or be dunked quickly in the water. On a hot day, we recommend the latter.

Tulum Express Tour

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Tulum is another great historical site you can visit while in Cancun. Once thought of as a fortress, the ruins of Tulum once were a busy site of commerce. This was a walled city of laborers, astrologers, farmers and nobility. There are three walls to protect the city from outsiders, the remains of several house type structures, burial sites for the kings. On this Tulum Express Tour you'll cover the entire grounds and hear about the intricate history of the structures.

Save on Cancun attractions this winter

So that's our brief list of the top things to do in Cancun during the winter. 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.  

Please note: some of these special Christmas & holiday events may be separately ticketed and not included on the pass.

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

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Parasailing Adventure
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Cancun Itinerary - 3 Days in Cancun for First-Time Visitors

Heading to the tropical paradise of Cancun but aren’t sure how to make the most of your amazing vacation? To help you maximize the fun on your Mexican vacay, we’ve put together a list of our top things to do when you’ve got three days in Cancun. From swimming and sailing to arts and culture to relaxing beachside with a cool drink, this itinerary has it all. Plus, this suggested itinerary also helps you save money on admission to Cancun’s top attractions and activities. This 3-Day Itinerary Includes: Swimming with Dolphins at Isla Mujeres 90-minute Surf Lesson Cancun Wax Museum Interactive Aquarium Cancun Isla Mujeres Discovery Catamaran Sail And more! Are you spending less time in Cancun? Check out our 1-day in Cancun itinerary and our weekend in Cancun itinerary for more fun ideas. Day 1Stop #1: VIP Swimming with Dolphins at Isla Mujeres (All Day) Day 2Stop #1: 90-minute Surf Lesson Stop #2: Cancun Wax Museum   Next, you’ll want to take some time to enjoy a little bit of Mexican culture with the visit to the Cancun Wax Museum. With more than 1,000 life-like wax creations, this fascinating institution is a great place to see the people who most inspire Mexico. These inspirational people hail from around the world, too, including everyone from Barack Obama to Queen Elizabeth to Amy Winehouse. We recommend reserving between 1 and 2 hours for this attraction. Stop #3: FlowRider at Aquaworld Day 3Stop #1: Luxury Catamaran Sailing Tour Stop #2: Drinks at Fred’s   But wait, one last thing! If you’ve got any energy left after your day-long excursion to Isla Mujeres, head to Fred’s House! This modern American seafood restaurant and oyster bar offers plenty of delicious cocktails, cold beers, chilled wines, and more. With a pass from Go City, you can enjoy drinks at Fred’s with $20 towards drinks, and head home happy! Save on Attraction Admission So these are a few suggestions for how to most fully enjoy your three days in Cancun. Experience the best of swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and sailing that this tropical wonderland has to offer, and combine that with a little bit of culture, and you’ve got one fantastic vacation. If you want to pay less for your fun in the sun, pick up a pass for Cancun with Go City and save on combined admission vs. paying at the gate. This itinerary calls for a 3-Day pass, which can help you make huge savings on admission fees for these and other exciting attractions in Cancun.
Katie Sagal
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Famous Cancun Landmarks & the Most Instagrammable Places to Take Pictures in Cancun

If you didn't Instagram it, did it even happen? Whether you want to show off your vacation photos or not, you most definitely will want to take pictures to remember all of the incredible things you did in Cancun. Cancun is a popular vacation destination because of its bright blue oceans, gorgeous beaches and warm weather. From days of relaxation pool or beach side to adventures at Chichén Itzá, there's something for everyone to enjoy (and photograph!). This is why we’ve had our team of city insider’s put together a list of some popular places to take pictures in Cancun. Best Ways to See Famous Cancun Landmarks There’s plenty of great places to snap the perfect Instagram photo of famous Cancun landmarks during your trip. Getting around Cancun is easy, especially when tons of attractions on the Go Cancun Card offer free round trip transportation. See all included attractions here. Many of the photo opps we listed below are located near some of the top attractions in the city – so you can combine the best sights with the best things to do. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more. Best Places to Take Photos in Cancun 1. Dolphin Discovery Cancun 2. Chichén Itzá 3. Xplor Park 4. Cruise the waters of Cancun A post shared by Dancer Cruise Cancun (@dancercancun) on Mar 10, 2018 at 7:27am PST One of the reasons Cancun is such a popular destination is because of the beauty of its oceans and beaches. The turquoise waters are something you have to see for yourself, and the best way to do so is aboard a cruise. Whether you hop on a sail boat or a catamaran, we guarantee you'll come across some of the most picturesque views you've ever seen. Keep your camera out! You can choose for a relaxed night on a dinner cruise or try the lively and upbeat Dancer Cruise, complete with a diving board and water slide on deck. Getting in: Columbus Sunset Dinner Cruise tickets, Isla Mujeres Discovery Cruise tickets and Dancer Cruise Cancun tickets are included on Go Cancun Card. 5. Garrafon Park 6. Parasail above Cancun 7. Explore a cenote 8. Snorkel Puerto Morelos 9. La Isla Shopping Village in Cancun A post shared by Elaine Resende (@elaineresende_) on Jun 5, 2018 at 8:05am PDT It may be called a shopping village, but La Isla Shopping Village is way more than that. The indoor-outdoor shopping mall is also home to attractions and rides. No matter what you're looking for, you're sure to find it here. You can peruse the racks at your favorite stores, like H&M and Victoria's Secret, or explore the souvenir shops owned by the locals. If shopping isn't your ideal vacation activity, not to worry - you can visit the aquarium, dine on authentic cuisine or catch a movie here too. Getting in: Shopping in Cancun tickets and Interactive Aquarium Cancun tickets are included on Go Cancun Card. Address: Blvd. Kukulcan km 12.5, La Isla, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico Let’s Recap While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does contain a bunch of our favorite places to take pictures in Cancun. From the most popular attractions to natural caves to snorkeling, there’s something to suit every taste when it comes to Cancun photo opportunities. Remember, a number of these famous Cancun sights and attractions are available with the Go Cancun Card, where you can save on combined admission prices vs. paying at the gate. If you have recommendations for other places to get the best photos in Cancun, feel free to comment below!
Nicole Muto

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