10+ Free and Affordable Things to Do in Cancun

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.

By Casey Makovich
Cancun

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)

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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)

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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)

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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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Top tips for Cancun in April

When it comes to attractions, Cancun has a lot to shout about. There are the long stretches of pure white sand lined on the one side with palms and on the other by the coral-rich waters of the Caribbean Sea. And there’s nightlife so good it’s a favorite with the spring break crowd. But there’s also a rapidly-evolving food scene, as well as an extraordinary array of sites left by the Maya – to the extent that this part of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is known as the Riviera Maya. There’s probably no better time to check them out than Cancun in April. Eager to know why? We explain all below! Tip 1 – Cancun weather in April is excellent Cancun’s climate can be split into just two seasons – wet and dry. April sits at the end of the dry season, when daytime temperatures range from 23 – 33°C. This means that even in the evenings you’ll need little more than a light sweater or shawl. Largely cloud free, visitors can expect ten hours of sunshine per day, so don’t forget your sunscreen! Rainfall is limited to around 20 mm for the entire month, falling over three days. It makes April the driest month in the Cancun year. Anyone looking to jump on a jet ski will be happy to hear that sea temperatures remain at 26°C throughout. Tip 2 – the beaches are sublime April is the perfect month to enjoy a beach getaway in Cancun. Even if you stick to the shores of the hotel zone (and as gorgeous expanses of soft white sand we can’t see why you wouldn’t) you’ve got 11 different beaches to choose between, half of which fly a Blue Flag – the international gold-standard for cleanliness. Amongst them, Playa Delfines is known for its laid-back vibes, since it’s largely undeveloped and all but free from beach hawkers and water sports. Worth the taxi fare for a selfie with the brightly-colored Cancun sign, the surf also regularly welcomes dolphins – hence the name. For the complete antithesis of Playa Delfines try the likes of Playa Chacmool. Lined with some of the chicest hotel options, there’s jet ski rentals and a surf school as well as the chance to observe it all from the viewpoint of a bird with a parasailing adventure. Tip 3 – don’t forget to head beneath the waves From above, you’ll see just how much of the Yucatan remains primary jungle alive with the hoots of howler monkeys, chattering of birds and scuttling of armadillos. This wall of vegetation can be explored in a number of ways, including by taking the controls of your very own speedboat on Nichupté Lagoon on the way to snorkeling on the reefs at Punta Nizuc. Elsewhere, snorkeling at Isla Mujeres should be high on the list of anyone keen on their own underwater adventures. Forming part of the largest reef system in the western hemisphere, it provides vital habitats for around 500 different species of tropical fish, alongside visiting sharks and sea turtles. For guaranteed child-friendly encounters, look no further than Interactive Aquarium Cancun. The interaction comes from both touchscreen displays and tanks where you’re free to submerge your hands to be tickled by starfish and rays. Tip 4 – April’s a great month for discovering Mayan history The fact it was almost lost to the surrounding jungle and has been known to the outside world for less than 200 years as a result takes nothing away from the breathtaking beauty and accomplishment of Chichen Itza, a city built by the Mayan people roughly a thousand years ago. One of the literal pinnacles of their empire is the city’s El Castillo pyramid, rising 30 meters over the surrounding plain and topped with a temple to the feathered serpent god Kukulcan. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of a cluster of major ruins that provide an alternative face to the beaches of Cancun in April. Immediately behind Playa Delfines, El Rey Archeological Site comprises 47 individual structures and is perhaps the easiest to visit for those with just a casual interest, whilst the remains of the pyramid at Coba is not only tops out a full 12 meters above that of Chichen Itza’s El Castillo, but can also be climbed. Tip 5 – Pick April in Cancun for a slice of festive life The start of April sees rooms up and down Cancun’s hotel zone busy with the end of spring break from US colleges, but the rest of the month is decidedly family orientated. If you need proof of this, look no further than Children’s Day on April 30. Although schools remain open, it can be thought of as a Christmas in miniature, with special classroom events, gifts from parents and hotels going all out to welcome their youngest guests. Most years April will also coincide with Easter celebrations, which means several weeks of festivities for the country’s Catholic faithful. In the week leading up to Easter Sunday, or Domingo de Gloria — the ‘Sunday of Glory’, churches such as Catedral de la Santisima Trinidad in downtown Cancun are richly decorated. Processions and passion plays reenact the religious events of the period, whilst Easter Sunday sees people enjoy street food, ice cream and fruit ices flavored with pineapple, chia seeds and melon after mass. Other special Easter treats include roscas enriched bread rings and muéganos – cubes of deep-fried dough doused in honey and other syrups. A salad made from the fleshy leaves of the nopal, or the prickly pear cactus, is also common at this time of year. For a broader view of Cancun’s mouthwatering cuisine, don’t miss the chance to explore the city’s markets and street food stalls in the presence of an expert guide. Your stomach will thank you for it! Save on attraction admission with Go City The biggest tip of all for traveling to Cancun in April has to be Go City! Your friendly go-to pre-pay pass will help you save big on admission to many of the top things to do in Cancun in April, whether they are attractions or activities. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest happy vacationers who’ve made use of our passes before adding your own snaps to our growing collection!
Ian Packham
A couple enjoy the sea on a pier in Cancun
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Discover Cancun in August

August is the last opportunity you have to experience Cancun’s big three animal encounters – nesting turtles, hatching turtles and whale sharks. A variety of cultural events bring even more color and frivolity to its streets than normal, and balmy evenings mean ‘pack light’ can become your new vacation mantra. So although August in Cancun is considered part of the destination’s low season, with some chance of rain and growing levels of humidity, you can still enjoy the long list of things to do in Cancun in August. Don’t miss any of them with our guide to the best of the summer. Cancun weather in August August is the school vacation period, and yet Cancun’s Caribbean shores, beachside lagoon and cooling jungle cenotes (sinkholes) are generally much less busy than at other times of year. US and Canadian citizens tend to enjoy the August weather back home. Others can be put off by August’s ‘wet season’ tag. Don’t be. Cancun in August is dominated by hot and humid weather, with average daily temperatures of 29°C. But nestled on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, this should hardly come as a surprise. The ‘wet’ is also quite misleading, with just six days seeing any rain at all, divided relatively evenly across the month’s 30 days, though heightening in the latter half of the month. Grab your swimwear... The rest of the time visits to Cancun in August will be a mix of sun and cloud. The long ribbons of white sand see enough of the sun to make renting a lounger and parasol a must. There’s even a festival of the beaches – Fiesta de la Playa en Cancún. At the same time, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to discover the secrets and solitude of the region’s cenotes. These naturally-occurring phenomena are found nowhere else in the world and provide a very different swimming and bathing spot to the Caribbean Sea. Several degrees below the Caribbean’s 30°C, many have intriguing histories dating back to Mayan times, such as Tankach Ha close to Coba pyramid. Even more have dramatic stalactite and stalagmite formations. And don’t forget your snorkel Whilst some cenotes are home to fish, the undisputed giants of the deep – whale sharks – couldn’t even fit in many at up to 18 meters long. They can however be admired from both above and below the water on dedicated swimming and snorkeling tours. They continue into August from Cancun as the whale sharks gather to feed for the summer in large numbers. Other species of shark, most notably bull sharks, can be found swimming amongst the corals and tropical fish of the region’s Grand Mayan Reef at any time of year. Its 14 species of hard coral provide innumerable habitats for around 500 different types of fish, including eagle rays and barracudas. Despite their fearful reputation, they’re generally very welcoming of both scuba divers and snorkelers keen to explore the reef. Greet turtles on the beaches The Grand Mayan Reef drifts for almost 1200 kilometers from Isla Contoy down to Honduras. Set sail for Contoy island in August and you’ll come ashore as mature turtles from several endangered species drag their heavy shells up the beaches to lay their soft-shelled eggs, an event which can be witnessed most nights. Eggs laid in the sands earlier in the season are also hatching, making August one of just a couple of months when it’s possible to encounter two generations in the same place. Turtles nest and hatch on Isla Mujeres too. It can be reached by both ferry, and more romantically, by private catamaran charter. Only seven kilometers long, the island celebrates its founding in 1850 with special celebrations around August 17, encompassing exhibitions, music and culinary demonstrations. Admire incredible views Another feast to look out for is August 15’s Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Although primarily a religious festival, mariachi bands and festive food and drink all make an appearance. The warm evenings – temperatures rarely drop below 24°C – make it a great time of year for dining out. Given Mexico’s culinary brilliance, there’s plenty of options whatever your budget, with a multi-course dinner on board ship as the sun sets surely high on the list. You could instead settle for the romance of a gondola rising above the main strip on the Gran Rueda Cancun Ferris wheel. Over 50 m high – equivalent to a 16 story building – air-conditioning ensures you’ll never feel the heat as you check out 360° views that stretch as far as Isla Mujeres. Stop by the museums August humidity levels means it’s not the best time to leave the coast for day trips to colonial Valladolid and the Mayan masterpiece of Chichen Itza. However, Cancun’s museums are another option. Occupying a modern state-of-the-art building, the Museo Maya takes visitors on a whistle-stop tour of Mayan art and culture through a dazzling array of sacred and everyday objects. Just a few steps away you’ll also find the remains of San Miguelito, complete with temples, pyramids and an inquisitive population of semi-wild iguanas. Sticking with the sea theme, Interactive Aquarium Cancun allows the whole family to explore the Yucatan’s underwater worlds without getting their feet wet. Its impressive tanks and displays contain somewhere in the region of 2000 individual species, of which around a quarter are reef favorites. You’ll also come face to face with reptiles including crocodiles, as well as sea lions and dolphins. How to budget for Cancun in August It might not be the usual month to head to the Yucatan Peninsula but Cancun in August has a lot to recommend it. The sea is as warm as a bath, the beaches less crowded than at other times of year, plus there’s the chance for turtle and whale shark encounters. Forget any worries about August being hurricane season – it’s highly unlikely you’ll be negatively affected – and explore with Go City. We give you incredible discounts on admission to a huge array of attractions in Cancun whilst giving you the flexibility to pick and choose what you want to do each day of your vacation.
Ian Packham
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The Best Time to Visit Cancun

In this guide to beautiful Cancun, we provide tips on what to see and when for each month of the year. So, you can pick the best month for your optimum visit and get set for an unforgettable vacation.
Go City Expert

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