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 Cancún's white sandy beaches and warm, crystal waters make it a paradise for all beach and water sports enthusiasts. Add a vibrant nightlife and the closeness to the breathtaking Mayan ruins, and you have Mexico's most popular tourist hotspot. Caring for four million tourists every year, it's hard to understand how this beautiful resort was a sleepy fishing village just a few decades ago. Its colorful buzz and ancient traditions co-existing with ultra-modern developments enchant everyone, from backpackers to luxury travelers.

currency

Mexican Peso 1 $ = 100 Centavos.
USD are widely accepted in tourist areas.
Prices may be in USD or MX pesos.

phone

911

newspaper

Cancun Herald: cancunherald.com
Riviera Maya News: riviera-maya-news.com

hours

Downtown 9am–9pm. Hotel Zone 10am–10pm. Shops & malls are usually open 7 days a week. Small shops may close for siesta between 2pm and 4pm.

population

1,023,000 (2023)

info

Cancún Convention & Visitors Bureau
Boulevard Kukulcan Km. 9, Punta Cancun, Zona Hotelera, Cancún
+52 998 881 0400
Open daily 9am–6pm

The City

Today, Cancún is known worldwide for its turquoise-blue water beaches, luxurious resorts, and bustling nightlife. But before this Mexican city became a major tourist destination, the region, which was once home to the Mayan civilization, was mostly wetlands, mangroves, jungles, and untouched beaches.

After it was left abandoned for centuries, the Mexican government finally realized in 1968 its true potential as a holiday hotspot.

Currently, Cancún is divided into two distinctive districts, the famous Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera), a beachfront strip of hotels, resorts, eateries, shops, bars, and nightclubs, and the actual city of Cancún, known as El Centro.

The Hotel Zone, which is surrounded by 25 kilometers of pure white sandy beach, is linked to the city via the four-lane Boulevard Kukulcán.

Caribbean landscape near Cancun, Mexico Lev Levin/Shutterstock.com

Do & See

Apart from its dreamy beaches and energetic nightlife, Cancún offers a myriad of activities to fill your day. From historical sites where you can learn more about Mexico’s rich history and culture to breathtaking and unique natural spots to thrilling water sports and even the chance to swim with dolphins — or sharks for the courageous ones.

Andrea Izzotti/Shutterstock.com

Dolphinaris Cancún

holbox/Shutterstock.com

Isla Mujeres

Shinya Suzuki/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

Parque de las Palapas

Zyanya BMO/Unsplash

Las Coloradas & Río Lagartos

dronepicr/CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia

Rotating Scenic Tower

Curtis & Renee/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr

Cancún Theatre & Mexican Folk Art Museum

Tim B Motivv/Unsplash

Interactive Aquarium

wildestanimal/Shutterstock.com

Swim with Whale Sharks

Dining

Mexican cuisine is very versatile and best known for its intense and varied flavors, colorful decoration, and variety of spices. Tacos, nachos, and guacamole are only a small part of Cancún’s culinary repertoire. Whether you fancy a quick snack on the trot or a gourmet meal in stylish settings, Cancún has a fantastic selection of restaurants featuring dishes from all over the world.

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La Pizzarra

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Casa Tequila

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La Parrilla

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La Palapa Belga

Barbara Neveu/Shutterstock.com

La Troje

photosmatic/Shutterstock.com

La Dolce Vita

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Peter's Restaurante

ngoc tran/Shutterstock.com

Bovinos

Bao Menglong/Unsplash

Puerto Madero

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Elefanthai

Valentina_G/Shutterstock.com

Señor Frog's

Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com

Hard Rock Cafe Cancún

Cafés

From quaint local coffee shops to international chains, Cancún's coffee culture offers a diverse range of brews, from traditional Mexican coffee with hints of cinnamon and chocolate to specialty espresso-based creations.

JpegPhotographer/Shutterstock.com

Cafe Antoinette

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Café Nader

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Café con Gracia

Bars & Nightlife

Whatever you're in the mood for, you'll find it in Cancún. Shake your hips to Latin music, break it down to hip hop, pump it up to club music, or enjoy an extraordinary cabaret show — Cancún has developed around tourism and won't fail to fulfill your expectations.

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

Cuncrawl

Natasha Bhogal/Unsplash

Señor Frog's

Colin Lloyd/Unsplash

The City Nightclub Cancun

dronepicr/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

Forum By The Sea

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

D'Cave

Maxim Blinkov/Shutterstock.com

Mandala

Colorful Mexican souvenirs KKulikov/Shutterstock.com

Shopping

Amidst the beaches, jungle, and culture, Cancún also provides its visitors with every shopping experience imaginable. From traditional market stalls selling local handicrafts to modern indoor and outdoor shopping malls, Cancún's shops are as versatile and creative as its people, and the privileged tax status of Cancún (10%) makes it a popular destination for buying luxury items.

Mexico is the world's number-one exporter of cowboy boots and is also famous for its silverware, tequila, hot chili sauces, and handcrafted pottery. Other popular souvenirs are vanilla essence, Aloe Vera products, blankets, and, of course, the famous Mexican sombreros.

Artificial Photography/Unsplash

La Isla Paradise Experience

michaeljung/Shutterstock.com

Kukulcan Plaza

Sara Kurfeß/Unsplash

Plaza Las Americas

Brooks Leibee/Unsplash

Luxury Avenue Mall

svatiska/Shutterstock.com

Las Plazas Outlet

dronepicr/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

Forum By The Sea

Tropical lake Nichupte lagoon, Cancun, Mexico photopixel/Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Best Time To Visit

If you want to avoid holiday crowds and high prices, the best time to visit Cancún is from May to November, particularly in September and October. However, these two are also the rainiest months. If you prefer escaping the cold winter to relax in the sun, book your trip in December or January, the high season in Cancún.

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Passport/Visa

Visa exemption applies to citizens of all EU countries, most countries in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and more. Both tourists and business visitors from these countries may stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. For Russian, Turkish, and Ukrainian passport holders, electronic authorization (SAE) is required, which then grants travelers from these countries the right of a single entry followed by a stay of up to 30 days. Please consult an official source/consulate in your home country for the latest information on visa requirements.

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Website: www.mexicotouristcard.com

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Cancún Airport International (CUN)

Cancún Airport International (CUN) offers travelers two distinct transfer options to reach the Hotel Zone. Opting for an airport taxi shuttle is the quickest and most convenient choice, ensuring a swift 30-minute journey directly to your hotel. For budget-conscious travelers, the ADO bus to Cancún's city center provides a more economical option. However, from the city center, you'll still need to take a taxi to the Hotel Zone or switch to the local R-1 or R-2 public bus, which runs to the Hotel Zone every few minutes. The total journey time will be around 1 hour and 20 minutes depending on traffic.

Address: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún, Cancún

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Website: www.airportcancun.com

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Public Transport

Cancún's central bus station is located at the corner of Avenidas Tulum and Uxmal, offering excellent and regular connections to most touristic destinations. A regular shuttle transfer to Playa del Carmen leaves every 15-30 minutes. The frequent local bus service between the Hotel Zone and downtown Cancún (R-1 or R-2 buses) is quite efficient, although old, and runs 24 hours.

Buses stop on hand signal and will often leave before everyone is seated; bus stops are marked with a blue and black sign with a picture of a bus. You can buy tickets on board but don't forget to check your change before taking your seat.

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Taxi

Taxis are a common mode of transport in Cancún. Despite warnings to agree on a price before getting in, one should know that all taxi drivers belong to a syndicate, and there is an official fixed price list split into various zones that all taxi drivers must carry (also available in all hotels). Taxis in the Hotel Zone are more expensive than downtown, and a standing taxi always costs slightly more than one flagged down from the curb. A couple of alternatives are the Taxi Cancun taxi service that serves all over Cancún and runs 24 hours and reserving a ride with Uber.

Taxi Cancun
+52 998 148 9592

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Website: taxiscancun.com

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Post

The postal service in Mexico is very slow and often not very reliable. Sending anything of importance or value is usually safer by courier service. Cancún’s main post office is located in the city center where stamps or postcards can be found; mailboxes are red and easy to recognize.

Address: Avenida Sunyaxchen and Avenida Xel-Ha, Cancún

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Phone: +52 800 701 7000

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More Information: At Mercado 28, on the corner of the Avenue

Pharmacy

There are two types of pharmacies in Mexico, the regular Farmacia and the Farmacia Similares. The former sells well-known brand medications whilst the latter sells cheaper non-branded medicines. You can find a Farmacia on almost every corner within Cancún's downtown, with several located in the Hotel Zone. Many Farmacias are open 24 hours and offer a delivery service for a small surcharge.

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Telephone

Country code: +52
Area code for Cancún: 998

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Electricity

110 Volt. Hotels usually offer voltage converters for 220 Volt devices.

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Timezone

The time zone in Cancún and Quintana Roo is Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is UTC-5. Since 2022, Mexico does not observe daylight saving time.

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