Part of Cancun's hotel zone

The complete guide to where to stay in Cancun

Check out the following guide for all you need to know about the best places to stay in Cancun.
By Ian Packham

With over 20 kilometers of white sand beaches on the Caribbean Sea lined by hotels, plus the downtown area to consider, first time visitors can struggle with knowing where to stay in Cancun.

There are literally thousands of hotel rooms and other forms of accommodation available in the city. They range from self-catering aparthotels to luxury all-inclusive resorts, with rooms existing for all budgets and tastes.

Introducing Cancun

Cancun can be divided into two main areas. Downtown Cancun, also known as El Centro, is where most locals live and work and where there’s a great pick of shopping options, including Mercado 28 and Plaza las Americas shopping mall.

The downtown area has some of the most authentic Mexican dining around and it’s here you’ll also find budget hotels and hostels tucked away on side streets often without any internet presence to speak of.

Downtown is linked to the hotel zone by a couple of dedicated bus routes (R1 and R2) as well as a fleet of taxis meaning you’ll never feel isolated from the goings on elsewhere.

Should you stay in Cancun’s hotel zone?

 

The majority of stays aimed at international visitors to Cancun are located in the zona hotelera (hotel zone), which was specifically created in the 1970s to draw more travelers to this area of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It is separated from downtown Cancun by the wild, crocodile-infested waters of Nichupté Lagoon.

Enclosing the lagoon in a thin ribbon of land roughly shaped like a figure 7, its seaward facing side is lined by a near-continuous thread of white sand running for 22 kilometers. Their shallows lead to some of North America’s best snorkeling and scuba diving sites.

Subdivisions in Cancun’s hotel zone

 

Because of its length, the hotel zone is often subdivided into north, Uptown, central and southern sections. The north corresponds with the west-east extent of land and is known for having some of the best beaches and calmer waves. It stretches inland to include the top section of Avenida Tulum (Highway 307) on the mainland.

The bend in the 7 is sometimes called Uptown, or Punta Cancun, and is the area containing most of the big names in nightlife such as Congo Bar, Coco Bongo and the Hard Rock Café. Their popularity with spring breakers and party animals of all ages knows no bounds. During the day, the area’s beaches are used by those recovering from the night before, alongside windsurfers and snorkelers.

The central hotel zone is dominated by family-friendly hotels, but still has plenty of bars and restaurants you’ll recognize from back home.

The south hotel zone is relatively limited when it comes to places to dine out and party till dawn, and as a result it has the quietest beaches and mellowest vibe, making it popular with honeymooning couples in particular.

Situated around Punta Nizuc, it’s within easy reach of Ventura Park theme park and the central and north hotel zone by taking a taxi along Boulevard Kukulkan – named after the main pyramid at the ruined Mayan-era city of Chichen Itza.

Deciding where to stay in Cancun’s hotel zone

 

Many of the big resorts are operated by international hotel chains and have everything you need for a fantastic vacation, from heated pools and kids’ clubs to a good range of food options. If you’re someone keen to mix with other travelers and discover the local area, any of the four subdivisions making up the hotel zone are good choices, since they each provide a little bit of everything.

Anyone eager to take in Cancun’s top attractions might decide the best part of Cancun to stay in is the central hotel zone. Having the best of both worlds, it’s not far to the north or the south, whilst it has the biggest number of attractions, including Interactive Aquarium Cancun and the ruins of El Rey.

Should you stay outside Cancun?

 

Outside of Cancun’s city limits, luxury developments have started to pop up on the coast further north. Known as Costa or Playa Mujeres, its beaches are protected from the strongest waves by Isla Mujeres. At present its handful of luxury resorts sit along the single road in and out, making it a great pick for those travelers looking to spend the majority of their time relaxing by the pool and not going anywhere very fast.

At the opposite end of Cancun lies the start of the Riviera Maya, a stretch of coastline running from Puerto Morelos in the north to Punta Allen and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in the south. It has some of the Yucatan’s largest resorts, as well as providing an excellent base for anyone looking to explore the wonders of the Maya or swap the beach for the cool fresh waters of the region’s cenotes (sinkholes) after a hike through the jungle.

Isla Mujeres stays

 

Roughly 30 minutes across the water from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is another spot you might like to consider. Although you’re a sailing away from the top nightclubs and many of Cancun’s most-loved attractions, there’s nowhere in Cancun with such a laid-back feel as Isla Mujeres. This is largely down to the small size of the island itself – just 4.5 square kilometers – together with the limited size of its permanent population.

The island has a more authentic Mexican feel than Cancun’s hotel zone, whilst the blend of quiet beaches (adopted by turtles for laying their eggs at night between May and November), zipline experiences and local foods ensures there’s still plenty to occupy you without you having to spend all your time on the boat.

Make your Cancun stay even better with Go City

With where to stay in Cancun sorted, you’ll be able to concentrate on the long list of attractions in Cancun. Travel with Go City and you won’t be limited to what you see and do by price. We give you incredible savings on admission costs to many of the region’s top attractions with all the benefits of a pre-pay system and flexibility built in.

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El Castillo Pyramid at Chichen Itza near Cancun
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Things to do in Cancun in November

November holds an unusual position in the Cancun calendar since it’s not quite the dry season but not quite the wet season either. Referred to as the shoulder season by some, Cancun in November offers visitors a combination of low tourist numbers, great deals on flights and accommodation and very decent weather as well. On average, rain is only seen on eight days in the month, with the start of November having the highest risk of rain and highest humidity levels too. However, showers don’t usually last more than two or three hours in any case. November is also technically at the end of Cancun’s hurricane season, although it’s highly unlikely you’ll be affected by a tropical storm. Instead, Cancun in November delivers air temperatures of around 25°C, seas that are even warmer, the chance to catch hatching turtles and one of the biggest days in the Mexican calendar. Keep reading and you’ll discover all there is to do in November in Cancun! Meet the locals Situated between Nichupté Lagoon, the jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean Sea, Cancun is able to boast an astonishing array of native species of flora and fauna. And you don’t have to travel far to catch sight of them. For one thing, November is the end of the turtle hatching period. Head to Isla Mujeres (perhaps by Get Up and Go catamaran cruise) and you can stick to the fine beaches of its south by day and by night – when hatchlings appear from beneath the sands and charge towards the waves for the very first time in their lives. Fully-grown turtles are frequently encountered on the reefs that together form the largest coral system in the western hemisphere, with snorkelers also able to swim amongst sharks, rays and hundreds of types of brightly colored tropical fish at Native Park and other biodiversity hotspots. But if a mask and snorkel aren’t for you, Interactive Aquarium Cancun is the perfect alternative. Its tanks host around 140 different species of fish alone, including angelfish, parrotfish and surgeonfish, whilst a touch tank allows you to get close to rays and starfish before enjoying the nightly dolphin show. However, your best chance of spotting Cancun’s resident crocs is by taking the wheel of your very own speedboat and roaring across the waters of the lagoon. Grab your sports gear Cancun’s subtropical climate makes it a great destination for all manner of sports on and off the water, and November is no different. You won’t find it hard to hire a jet ski for a couple of hours or find all you need to surf or kitesurf. There’s also the opportunity to take in the hotel zone’s extraordinary run of beaches from the air – suspended beneath a parachute on a parasailing adventure. Keep your heart in your mouth by then taking on the Extreme Canopy Tour at Selvatica Park. No previous experience is necessary to soar through the trees on any one of its ten zip-line circuits, although a good head for heights is recommended! A steady hand rather than a love of altitude is all you’ll need at Pok Ta Pok Golf Club, whose 18-hole course has been challenging golfers of all handicaps since it was first drawn up in 1976. To learn how it should be done, look no further than the Mayakoba Golf Classic a short distance along the coast at Playa del Carmen. Part of the PGA tour, it takes place each November, and attracts professionals from right around the world. Experience Cancun culture Although primarily considered a beach resort, there’s plenty of culture that awaits in Cancun, particularly in November. The month begins with the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations on November 2. A joyful commemoration of lost loved ones, ofrendas (altars) decorated with marigold flowers, sugar skulls, candles and alcohol appear across the city. In Cancun and the wider Yucatan it is also known as Hanal Pixan. Pronounced ‘Janal Pishan’ and translating as ‘Food of the Spirits’, its origins go back to the Maya. During this time of year markets are filled with flowers and seasonal foods such as mucbipollo, a tamale-like food filled with pork or chicken. Cancun’s Parque de las Palapas in the downtown area is one of the best places to head to experience an authentic Day of the Dead. Bask in 1000 years of history Hanal Pixan isn’t the only survivor from the period when the Yucatan was dominated by the Maya. The region around Cancun is also rich in important archeological remains from their period of rule, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chichen Itza. Its impressive ruins help uncover the way the Maya lived, from their dedication to the gods at Kukulcan pyramid to their love of sport at the great ballcourt. Covering around five square kilometers, many of its structures are connected by paved causeways called sacbeob. Nearby Tulum is another important Maya site with a location as dramatic as they come, nestled on cliffs rising up to 12 meters above the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Existing beyond the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico, the city flourished from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries. The visitor center provides a detailed overview of the site, which includes landward defensive walls and several palaces. Although it isn’t the best preserved of cities, Coba is also well worth the trip since it hosts a pyramid rising an extraordinary 42 meters high, as well as the chance to climb to its summit for views across the unbroken tree canopy towards the seashore. Its sites are split between several groups of structures separated by cenotes and lakes with no other signs of human life. Save on Cancun November attraction admission Make the most of the reduced visitor numbers by enjoying the attractions of Cancun in November without the crowds. Then make your budget go even further by taking advantage of the significant discounts possible on attraction admission with Go City!
Ian Packham
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

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