Cancun

10+ Free and Affordable Things to Do in Cancun

A trip to Cancun doesn't need to break the bank
By Casey Makovich

What's the best way to see Cancun's dazzling nature and wildlife for free or on a minimal budget? Read on to find out our favorite spots for beachcombing, observing sea turtles and snorkeling.

Cancun is renowned for its incredible beaches, resorts, and buzzing nightlife. Located in the tropics, Cancun is a top-rated destination and you don't have to spend a fortune to experience it. The city's central district, Hotel Zone, and Isla Mujeres, just offshore, offer many free or low-cost activities under $15.

Cancun is the modern entry to the Mundo Maya (Mayan World) and is blessed with glorious white sand beaches with crystalline waters.

Some of the fabulous free or low-cost attractions in Cancun include:

  • Mayan Ruins and Mayan Museum
  • Plaza La Isla
  • Playa Delfines (Dolphin Beach)
  • Cancun Aquarium
  • Isla Mujeres

El Rey Archaeological Zone (El Rey Ruins)

archaeoligical-site-el-rey-near-mirador

Some Mayan cultural sites are located in the Hotel Zone, including the El Rey Ruins, the first ruins explored in Cancun. The El Rey Ruins cover about 700 meters and include two main streets and two squares. Most visitors immediately notice the numerous iguanas that live among the stone buildings, which were once temples and a marketplace.

Getting in: Entrance to the El Rey Ruins is 50 Pesos (about $2.70). You can buy water at the ruins but don't buy fruit for the iguanas, as you will see signs warning you not to feed them.

Playa Delfines (Dolphin Beach)

delfines-beach-lagoon

Located by the "Cancun Spot" sign, Playa Delfines (Dolphin Beach) is a public beach with stretches of white sand, blue water, and ample public parking. It is the last beach on Boulevard Kukulkan in the Hotel Zone, located at KM 19.5. Playa Delfines has a children's playground and is often less busy than other beaches in Cancun.

The waves can be strong at Playa Delfines because it isn't sheltered by Isla Mujeres. You will also find a lot of delicious fresh fruit, local delicacies, and water vendors nearby. You can feed the iguanas at this beach, but there is no shade, so bring umbrellas or plan to arrive early to stake out one of the free palapas (palm umbrellas).

Getting in: Playa Delfines is free and open to the public.

The "Cancun Spot"

Cancun Spot

One quick free must-do in Cancun is stopping to take pictures at the "Cancun Spot." Located at Playa Delfines, the "Spot" is a brightly painted metal sign which offers free Wi-Fi. Travelers report long lines at the "Spot" during peak hours, so like the nearby beach, it's often best to visit in the morning.

Getting in: The "Cancun Spot" is free and open to the public.

Mayan Museum of Cancun and San Miguelito Ruins

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Open to the public between 9am and 6pm, the Mayan Museum is the primary museum exhibiting Mayan relics in Cancun and the surrounding area. The Museum includes exhibits and the ancient Mayan site of San Miguelito. Located in the Hotel Zone, the museum has three galleries that include 350 Mayan artifacts and treasures, from weapons to necklaces and sculptures.

These precious artifacts are regarded as the most representative of Mayan culture, including the great Mayan cities of Chichen Itza and Palenque.

Getting in: The cost of entry is 57 Pesos (about $3.00), which includes the museum and the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone.

Plaza La Isla Cancun

This 162-store Plaza La Isla is the largest shopping center in Cancun. In addition to international stores like Zara and Benetton, Plaza La Isla has a number of local boutiques and shops. The Plaza includes an entertainment and game center, a theater, and a wax museum.

You can also visit its interactive aquarium or take a ride on the Venice-style canal that winds its way through the shopping village. Plaza La Isla Cancun also hosts regular free music events including mariachi, traditional Mexican ballads, and other musical genres.

Getting in: The Plaza is free and open to the public.

Ka'Yok Planetario de Cancun (Cancun Planetarium)

Located in central Cancun near Walmart on Avenida Coba, Cancun's planetarium is considered the most modern and up-to-date of its kind in southeastern Mexico. The planetarium has a hemispherical screen showing the known universe, and the observatory has two telescopes, allowing you to observe the afternoon or night sky.

Onsite, you'll also find a museum devoted to water use and another about the Mayan worldview and astronomical knowledge.

Getting in: Admission is available for purchase upon arrival and is approximately 40 Pesos (about $2.15).

Parque de Las Palapas (Palapas Park)

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Las Palapas Park is located in the SM 22 district, a short distance from the Municipal Palace. A "palapa" is a palm frond shelter found everywhere in Cancun. You will see a few of these in the park, along with white umbrellas and other outdoor shelters and seating.

The park is an outdoor square and mall in the heart of Cancun, featuring musical performances, many outdoor seating areas, and local vendors. You will find outdoor performers from mimes to street artists along with many cultural presentations, from dancers to singing.

Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women)

isla-mujeres-playa-norte-mexico

Off the shore of Cancun lies beautiful Isla Mujeres. The primary cost to visit the island is ferries that leave from Ultramar, Puerto Juarez, or Punta Sam. Each ferry costs between 40 and 72 Pesos (about $2.15 to $3.90), depending on your departure location and ferry speed. The slowest, cheapest ferry leaves from Punta Sam, which also accommodates cars.

Isla Mujeres is about 5km long, and many people choose to rent a bicycle or golf cart to get around and see the entire island. East-facing Playa Norte (North Beach) is considered one of Mexico's most beautiful beaches. You can relax on the pristine white sand and order fresh seafood or beverages. Isla Mujeres is a destination all of its own with spectacular snorkeling, zip-lines, and many other beautiful beaches in addition to Playa Norte.

A few additional no-cost sights on Isla Mujeres include the Punta Sur Sculpture Park, which ends at a Mayan site dedicated to the Mayan Goddess Ixchel. The 19th-century stone Hacienda del Pirata Mundaca built by Spanish pirate Fermin Mundaca documents his homesickness amid the romantic Spanish settings.

Tortugranja (Sea Turtle Sanctuary)

Tortugranja

Located on Isla Mujeres, the Sea Turtle Sanctuary costs approximately 30 Pesos (about $1.61). The sanctuary includes a turtle hatchery and a small aquarium. You can see examples of the three sea turtle species that visit Cancun's waters and beaches, learn about the turtle's life cycle, eggs, and if you're lucky, watch the young turtles hatch.

A trip to Cancun can be budget-friendly

With these options, you can get a great insight on what Cancun has to offer without spending a fortune. Want to make your sightseeing extravaganza even more budget-friendly? Check out the Cancun attractions you can visit with Go City®, where you can save on admission to top attractions vs paying separately at the gate.

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

Discover our full line-up of Boston attractions including Isla Mujeres, Xcaret Park, Chichen Itza, and more. 

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.   

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

So grab a Cancun pass and save while you sightsee!

Casey Makovich
Go City Travel Expert

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The expansive beaches of Cancun's hotel zone
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What to do in Cancun in March

You’re in for a treat if you head to Cancun in March! One of the best months to visit this top Mexican beach destination, it provides the dose of sun, sea and sand that anyone tired of the Northern hemisphere’s dull winter weather is probably crying out for. Kissing the Caribbean Sea, and ideally situated for exploring the region’s pre-Columbian relics, Cancun is not just for self-proclaimed beach bums. From cultural tours to jungle ziplines, here are our picks of the top things to do in Cancun in March. What to expect from Cancun in March March lies towards the end of Cancun’s high season – beginning in December with the Christmas vacation period. However, book your flights and accommodation in good time – the previous November or December should do it – and you’ll still be able to find reasonable rates. The main hotel zone remains busy through to April, with spring breakers from the US filling their rooms from mid-March. And for good reason. In March, Cancun’s climate is perfection. Occupying the dry season, it’s neither too hot nor too cold – daytime temperatures average 27°C. Sea temperatures are almost identical and visibility good. Humidity levels are low, meaning bright, sunny blue skies as alluring for those keen to uncover the region’s Mayan roots as those looking to lay a towel on the nearest stretch of sand. Life’s a beach Nor do you have to look far for a ribbon of pristine white sand – there’s over 22 kilometers of it. Playas Azul, San Miguelito and Delfines are all within easy reach of the lagoon-side hotel zone. Each offers something different, but edged by crystalline waters, they all share the same sense of there being no better patch of sand anywhere in the world. When you succumb to the call of their warm Caribbean waters, you won’t be disappointed either. That’s because the hotel zone is part of the world’s second-largest reef system – the Grand Mayan (Mesoamerican) Reef – running all the way to Honduras. There’s therefore plenty of opportunity to get amongst the fire and staghorn corals of Cancun National Marine Park by snorkeling or scuba diving. The most unusual way to do this has to be at Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA – Museo Subacuático de Arte). Containing 500 specially sunk sculptures, its three ‘galleries’ are between three and six meters down. They aim to provide new spaces for coral polyps to grow, and form an integral part of many reef and snorkeling tours. Staying above the waves, kayaking is an incredible way to check out the nooks and crannies of Nichupte Lagoon, which provides an important area of mangrove habitat for all manner of species. Mayan majesty The Mayan stepped pyramids of the city of Chichen Itza, parts of which were constructed 1400 years ago, are wonderful at any time of year, and so special they’ve been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the civilization’s largest cities, its most famous landmark is the Temple of Kukulcan. It’s better known simply as El Castillo – the Castle, and by archeologists as Structure 5B18. Extraordinary at any time of year, it was constructed so that the sun on March’s spring equinox creates the shape of the serpent Kukulcan on the pyramid’s flanks. Oceanside Tulum, roughly 1.5 hours south, is equally mesmerizing. Ancient city walls up to 5 meters high helped protect it for 250 years, making it one of the best-preserved of any Mexican historic site. Facing the breaking day, it has its very own pyramid called El Castillo, as well as the Temple of the Frescoes, used to track the movement of the sun. A great way to absorb Cancun’s modern persona is with a shopping tour to Mercado 28 and Plaza Las Americas. The first is a mix of swap meet, street food and handmade souvenir stalls full of bright hues and the sound of bartering. The second is a sunlit covered mall with an upscale vibe and the biggest names in brands. Natural treasures But there’s still more to Cancun in March. This area of the Yucatan Peninsula encompasses some magical areas of jungle. Enticing in and of themselves, they also hide spectacular natural sinkholes called cenotes (and pronounced ‘se-no-tay’). The perfect place to relax and cool off away from the crowds, there are around 30,000 cenotes ranging from tiny pools to grand cathedrals of rock. They include Tankach-Ha, which pairs perfectly with a trip to the ancient Maya citadel of Coba, where with the help of a rope you can scale the heights of its 42 m pyramid. Surrounded by the jungle, there’s also plenty of opportunity to explore a tree canopy that’s home to loose-limbed spider monkeys, cute coati and a staggering array of bird life – toucans and parrots amongst them. Beyond animal sightings, the adrenaline-junkie is well-served by the jungle around Cancun, with ziplining, rappelling and getting behind the controls of an ATV all popular activities. Sample the region’s cuisine All this action will have your stomach rumbling, and Cancun’s culinary scene should not be forgotten when planning a trip to the city. Beyond the usual tacos, burritos and tamales the Yucatan has some intriguing regional delights that will soon have your taste buds crying out for more. Look out for specialist chicarronería stalls, whose crispy pork belly castacán will have even reluctant carnivores reaching for more. Be sure to leave space for dessert though. Marquesitas should be high on your list to try. Consisting of thin crepes, they are filled with shredded cheese and sweet ingredients such as chocolate sauce or hazelnut spread before being rolled into a cigar shape. Although it might sound odd on paper, the mix somehow works! Thirsty? Then wash it all down with pozol, a thin porridge-like drink made from cocoa and corn famed for its revitalizing properties. Save on attractions in Cancun in March See more, pay less. It’s a crazy idea, but also the very reason Go City exists. Visit Cancun’s attractions with us and you can make incredible savings all from one digital pass and without having to forgo the freedom to do what you want when you want to do it!
Ian Packham
A view across a Cancun beach in the hotel zone
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Cancun in October – a good time to visit?

Escape the crowds with a trip to Cancun in October! It may fall within both the low season and be the peak of the hurricane season – but don’t let this worry you unnecessarily. The last storm to come anywhere near Cancun was back in 2005, and still didn’t approach close enough to affect the beach life people visit this part of the Yucatan Peninsula for. As well as its extraordinary white sand beaches, there’s an incredible array of cultural sights to look out for, from the temples of the Mayan civilization to the kitchens of downtown Cancun. And then there’s the preparations leading up to the Day of the Dead, one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar. Check out these incredible reasons to visit Cancun in October.   Save whilst on vacation in Cancun in October The low season still has an amazing number of things to do and see for anyone searching out vacation destinations. Plan with the changing weather in mind and Cancun in October won’t feel all that different from its high season months. What’s more, most of the attractions we’ve featured can be visited by making use of our All-Inclusive or Explorer passes. With Go City you get substantial savings on attraction admission without having to jump through endless hoops. For flexibility and discounted rates, you shouldn’t go to anyone else. So grab a Cancun pass and save while you sightsee!
Ian Packham
Cancun
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Things to Do in the Cancun Hotel Zone

Whether you're looking for total relaxation in paradise or aqua adventures, the beloved Cancun Hotel Zone has so much to offer.
Casey Makovich

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