Unique Things to Do in Cancun Off the Beaten Path
Updated: 6 days ago
Cancun very well might be one of the internet’s most controversial cities to visit in Mexico on Reddit. People are always asking whether they should go to Cancun or Tulum, if Cancun is worth it, and what the realities of visiting are. The internet meets these inquiries with backlash, claiming Cancun is a pit to be avoided.
While in many circumstances I’d prioritize other places in the Yucatan over Cancun, I’ve grown fond of exploring the general area over my many visits over the years.
With enough know-how, you can see past the hotel zones and peek behind the curtain to the hidden gems in Cancun - the ones most people don’t typically visit or talk about. The ones that make Cancun worth visiting.
So for this article, I hope to share with you some of the absolute must-see attractions and unique things to do in Cancun for your next family or couple’s getaway.
Let’s dive into it!
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Plan Your Trip to CancunFrom whale shark encounters to snorkeling with sea turtles, ancient ruins, cenotes and party boats, there's no shortage of fun to be had in Cancun. Where to Stay: Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, or namely, somewhere along the quieter road between Cancun and Tulum Rent a Car: Always choose a reputable company! Browse car rentals here. Know What to Pack for Mexico: consult my list for what to pack for Mexico with kids and be sure to bring a reef-safe sunblock Must-Do Cancun Experiences to Book in Advance: My Pick: Do not miss the evening boat ride at Xochimilco!! |
Is Cancun Worth Visiting?
While many visitors like to spend their time at the all-inclusive resorts, I've always recommended folks get out past the cruise port, past the comfort of all you can eat buffets, and really try to find authentic, off the beaten path Mexico in Cancun.
Sure, being pampered and not having to leave a hotel are great perks if you like to be a homebody on vacation, but I like to explore. I like to see what makes a destination tick - I want to find the food, the local shops, and meet the people who live there. I may as well be on a trip to Disneyland if I don’t leave my hotel.
So, if you don’t leave your hotel - why bother? But if you want to explore, I 100% think Cancun is worth visiting.
Rent a car in Cancun for 4-6 nights and buckle up for a really great time. Be sure to brush up on the typical sales tactics you might encounter renting a car abroad, like up sells, scary high hold fees for insurance, and more before you ever leave the rental lot at the airport!
Should I Stay in Cancun or Tulum?
Here’s the thing - Cancun, Tulum, even Playa del Carmen further south are all generally going to offer you the same thing - high prices, inauthentic experiences, and crowds of people. It doesn’t make a huge difference where you hang your hat if that’s what you’re doing.
Instead, I recommend that visitors split the difference and stay in between Cancun and Tulum. My family did this, and we stayed at the Conrad Tulum in their early months of just opening.
With several pools and some amazing restaurants, this was a great stay for my family.
We were situated perfectly between the two busy towns, and just across the street from one of the best hidden gems on this list!
I’ve Heard About the Sargassum, Is it a Problem?
I’ll be honest - our Conrad stay was amazing, but walks on the beach were out of the question. The sargassum - the annual seaweed invasion - left hotel workers shoveling it into massive piles on the beach every morning. It didn’t smell or anything, but it was very much a deterrent from getting in the water.
But, don’t let it ruin your vacation! The pools and cenotes are open game for water fun!
The List: Things to Do in Cancun That You Probably Haven’t Heard About Yet
Meanwhile, the Cancun visitors who have heeded my advice, rented a car, and are ready for adventure are going to love getting out and around to see these sites.
Here are some of my favorite things to do in Cancun, off the beaten path!!
Whale Shark Tours
If you are a diver, enjoy snorkeling, or have a genuine curiosity for the underwater world, this tour is an absolute must. You’ll take a small boat about five miles out to sea in search of the giant whale sharks, and when spotted you simply jump over the side and hope not to get railroaded by the bus-sized creatures.
It’s exhilarating, exhausting, and absolutely incredible.
Need to know: You need to be a strong swimmer for this activity. This is for snorkeling only, not diving, since they swim towards the tops of the water. Check the right time of year to see them. I went for the 4th of July!
Perk: After your swim, the boat takes you over to Isla Mujeres where they whip up fresh ceviche served on a boogie board table in crystal clear waters. Wash it down with a beer and you're on top of the world!
Snorkeling with Turtles at Akumal
Akumal isn't well advertised to tourists, but somehow in my searches I stumbled across this gem of a day trip, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. You can rent a car, take a shared shuttle, a taxi, or arrange for a private driver to get there.
Visit with a tour for lunch and the nearby Tulum ruins, or visit on your own, like I did. We took a shared taxi from our hotel in Playa del Carmen ( a girl's trip many moons ago), and pieced it together on arrival.
Once at Akumal, you'll be greeted by the typical overcrowded beach scene, so get there early. There is a little dive shop on site where you can arrange to rent snorkel gear, if you haven't opted into a formal tour. From there, all you do is wade into the clear turquoise waters and bend over.
!! Note: They do not allow sunblock in the water! If you must wear some, be sure to purchase and bring reef safe mineral sunscreen.
About waist deep you can stick your face in and see the sea turtles swim happily by while tourists with GoPros and underwater disposable cameras can snap a pic or two. It's great fun and something a little off the beaten path.
Insider Secret:
When you are done swimming, take a 20 minute walk down the road to La Buena Vida Restaurant. It's a restaurant on the sand overlooking the water. Very casual, you can dine barside on a swing, feet in sand around regular tables and chairs, or for a bit of extra fun you can dine in one of their tree houses!
When you need more beer, they use a pulley system to rope a bucket of beer up to you!
Take an Evening Dinner Boat Ride at Xochimilco
Imagine a tranquil, lazy river boat ride, and then inject it with the insanity of a lucha libre match. It's hard to describe, but the boat tour at Xochimilco is both a cultural experience, and a Señor Frog's on steroids adventure all at once.
I could try to explain Xochimilco (zoh-chee-milk-oh) as a more elegant, fantastical, Coco-esque journey through a river into the dark wilds of the Yucatan, but let's be honest, it's a fiesta on a boat.
Based on the traditional boat ride (trajinera) through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco in Mexico City, this is by far one of the coolest very touristy things you could do in the Yucatan, but you can't bring your kids.
Once you arrive, you are escorted to your boat - each has different names. From there, throw your inhibitions to the wind. You'll be served nachos and salsas, beer, tequila and mixers, and eventually a mixed platter of make your own tacos.
The boat ride takes you on a leisurely float down a man-made path, stopping from time to time for entertainment breaks. You'll see mariachi bands, dancers and many other fun surprises. Drink, eat, and get sloppy.
I went as a twenty-something with my parents, and we all had a great time.
See if you can arrange a bus or taxi for the ride back to your hotel, or it is advisable just to pre-book a transportation tour and ticket combo.
Visit Aktun Chen
Aktun Chen is a National Park in Mexico offering a myriad of options for those who seek it out. For my family, we really enjoy 'dry caves'. In the Yucatan you have cenotes for swimming (like the famous Hacienda cenotes in Merida) and then cenotes that are dry.
The dry caves are more like what you would expect of a cavern tour like Mammoth Caves with stalactites, stalagmites, the waterfalls, the Jesus face illuminated on the cave wall, the bacon shaped formations, the bats, and all the other classic things tour guides point out on cave tours.
Besides being a vast underground dry cave system, Aktun Chen also offers a small zoo full of animals from the area including monkeys and even a giant anaconda.
This Cancun cave tour is led in Spanish, but limited English is spoken as well. The tour takes you through muggy, buggy woods so wear bug spray and sneakers.
Once underground you'll see some standard cavern sites and some not-so-standard, like tree roots growing out of the ceiling. A unique thing to do in Cancun, it was very enjoyable and one of the highlights of our trip.
They'll point out different herbs used for medicine in the woods, and even the ayahuasca plant, which is very controversially approached. A Brazilian couple with us told us they drink ayahuasca tea for religious ceremonies and that it is quite safe and reputable, however my knowledge of it is wildly different after having heard the story of a friend from travels who's boyfriend died from drinking it in Peru. In any case, interesting to see in the wild.
Once the tour is done, you are set loose to walk back along a long path with some surprise guests - wild boar, deer and monkeys! It's basically a free range zoo and they walk all around you. Some fencing keeps them corralled, but it was a fun sight to see!
For those wanting extra thrills and more adventurous things to do in Cancun, Aktun Chen also offers swimming and ziplining.
More info: https://aktun-chen.com/
Day Trips from Cancun
Playa del Carmen
Absolutely consider visiting Playa del Carmen for shopping and dining, but don’t linger long. The area is a great pit stop for a night, or a good launching point to take the ferry over to Cozumel.
Cozumel
Cozumel is a typical cruise port stop for many Caribbean itineraries, and it offers plenty to do from kitschy adventure parks to tequila tastings and cooking classes. Taking the ferry from Playa del Carmen makes for an easy day trip or overnighter.
Puerto Morelos
A quiet fishing town, Puerto Morelos offers a handful of nice open air restaurants for a good lunch after a day of flying. An easy ride from the Cancun airport, this one is a great stop for a meal to start or end your vacation.
Tulum
Unpopular opinion alert: Unless you want to party like Ke$ha don’t stay here. It’s kind of like the Bali of Mexico - very crunchy, vegan, lots of young good looking people and eco-friendly enthusiasts.
That’s all well and good, but in my experience you’ll find in your search for “Tulum” you’ll end up driving through a very typical Mexican neighborhood with restaurants and stores, then pop out the other side to the beachfront area where hotels, beach clubs and foliage block the view from the pleebs (us) just trying to get a peak at the ocean.
Tulum does have a few cool spots to park and walk around for shopping and a waterfront lunch, and the Tulum ruins do draw a crowd for it’s oceanfront location.
Tours to the Tulum ruins are probably the biggest draw of the area, so book in advance!
Coba
Optionally, if you have a car, I really recommend hitting the road towards the Coba ruins for a pedi-bike traipse through the Mayan forest to various temples and even to see a real Pok-a-Tok court.
The area around the ruins offers a huge parking lot, souvenir shops (very pushy ones at that), and a small lakefront area to grab some authentic eats.
Valladolid
A longer day out, Valladolid is a nice colonial city offering a different style of cultural wandering.
Visit the mercado central and definitely enjoy some traditional Mayan cuisine at Ix Cat Ik before leaving.
Looking for more? I have a whole driving itinerary from Cancun to Merida - check it out!
If You Go
Renting a car is the wisest option for variety of sightseeing and ease of access to attractions.
Stay at a centralized hotel, like the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, and plan for day trips!
To me, the perfect trip to Cancun is either a short one 4-6 nights, or part of a larger Cancun to Merida vacation. This affords a night or two in each of the top spots in the Yucatan including romantic hacienda stays, exploring ancient Mayan ruins, and discovering the charm of the colonial cities.
Enjoy your vacation!
You have a great knack of finding fun places!