Things to do in  Cancun

Cancún is beloved by spring breakers and familes alike for its white-sand beaches and Caribbean water. The city’s excellent resorts, many of them all-inclusive, typically offer direct access to the beach, making Cancún an excellent destination to wind down on the sand with a margarita in hand. And, after hours, the nightlife is always hopping.

The resorts of Cancún’s Hotel Zone offer water sports aplenty, from snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddleboarding to speed boating, jet skiing, and flyboarding. Xcaret adventure park, where you can go ziplining and river rafting, is a popular day trip, as is Isla Mujeres, which is best reached by catamaran. Swimming with whale sharks is another bucket list activity that's popular in Cancun.

The weather in Cancún is perfect almost all year round but at its very best between December and April—ideal for escaping the wintery weather of North America’s more northerly climes. While winter does bring many travelers, the crowds are not as heavy as those of mid-March to early April when spring breakers arrive en masse.

No, Cancun isn't expensive. How much money you spend in Cancún depends on how you choose to spend your vacation. While you can splash out on luxury hotels, fine dining, and late nights in the city’s clubs, you can just as easily keep costs low by booking all-inclusive packages and combination tours.

Yes, three days is long enough in Cancún to spend a lazy day on the beach, do some water-based activities, and explore some of the Riviera Maya’s cultural attractions such as Maya ruins and cenotes. It doesn’t leave a lot of time for relaxing however, so you may want to add on another day or two.

Cancún is a gateway to the ancient Maya ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza. You can also swim in the cool, clear waters of the Yucatán peninsula’s cenotes, including the crystal caves of Rio Secreto, and go scuba diving off Isla Mujeres: all can be easily reached on a day trip from Cancún.