Cancun Holidays

Top attractions

Reclining on Cancun's powdery white sandy beaches can provide a fulfilling getaway, and many hotels in the city's Hotel Zone offer privacy. Haggle for jewellery in the city's markets, explore marine life in the Interactive Aquarium, or view the spectacular remains of the mighty Mayan Empire in nearby sites including Chichen Itza and Tulum.

It's hard not to feel relaxed in Cancun as you spend your days lounging by the hotel swimming pool or gazing at the crystal-clear waters from the beaches. Yet Cancun is also a premier spa destination, with dozens of Spa Resorts to choose from. Many spas offer treatments that combine modern beauty therapy with ancient Mayan healing traditions. Enjoy a steam bath or body wrap crafted from local botanical ingredients. There are a number of yoga studios in Cancun as well, offering styles including Ashtanga and Bikram. Start your day with a yoga practice overlooking the turquoise waters surrounding Cancun and end with a candlelit massage.

Take a boat trip to Isla Mujeres, known as the 'Island of Women' in Spanish, and delight in the true beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula. Isla Mujeres is a sun kissed island just a few kilometres off the coast of Cancun. The island has much to offer including beautiful beaches, organised nature tours, the chance to swim with dolphins, come face to face with whale sharks or even meet endangered sea turtles at the state-sponsored Turtle Farm.

Great things to do in Cancun include:

• Cancun Underwater Museum
• Xcaret Park
• Isla Contoy
• El Rey Archaeological Zone
• Interactive Aquarium
• Parque Garrafon
• Ventura Park Cancun
• Playa Delfines

Top Cancun beaches

With sun-kissed beaches, warm turquoise waters, and a pulsing nightlife, Cancun is an exciting holiday destination along Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Many of the top things to do in Cancun are based around its natural splendours, including the barrier reef with its exotic fish and brilliantly coloured corals.

Cancun holidays offer many interesting visitor attractions to help fill your days with ease. A visit to the Great Mayan Barrier Reef is a must for divers and sea lovers alike. As one of Cancun's most-loved visitor attractions, it's the second largest coral reef in the world. Here you can gaze at dozens of beautiful corals and tropical fish, offering up a kaleidoscope of exotic colours. Cancun is a paradise for water-sport enthusiasts with swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling and diving just some of the activities on offer in the lagoon area of this stunning location. For a truly unforgettable experience, a visit to Cancun Underwater Museum is a must. It is one of the largest man-made underwater attractions in the world and was created to both protect and promote the growth of the coral reef. Gaze at over 400 life-size human sculptures including the 'The Dream Collector' and the 'The Silent Evolution'.

Eating out

You don't have to leave the Hotel Zone to experience authentic Mexican cuisine in Cancun. Typical Yucatan cuisine sizzles with fiery habanero chillies and freshly caught seafood, with lobster being a popular local delicacy. Away from the visitor-oriented Hotel Zone, you can find a wealth of restaurants frequented by sightseers and locals alike in downtown Cancun. Be serenaded by a Mariachi band as you dine in one of the family-owned cafes and restaurants located on the Calle Yaxchilan or Avenida Tulum. In addition to Mexican food, you'll find steak houses, Chinese restaurants, and Italian fare to make your mouth water.

Nightlife

Cancun's nightlife is a major draw for young partiers on Spring Break as well as those in search of spectacular Vegas-style entertainment. The Hotel Zone is one of the prime spots for nightlife, drawing world-famous DJs and pop music acts. Coco Bongo is a famously decadent club where you'll find circus acts and celebrity impersonators. Within the Hotel Zone, you can choose from chic lounges like O'Ultra or nightclubs overlooking the lagoon like Basic Discotheque and Dady'O. Another hip and happening area for nightlife is Yaxchilan Avenue, in downtown Cancun. Here you'll find a blend of sports bars, live music clubs, and colourful cantinas popular with the locals. If you're looking for a more relaxing evening in Cancun, take in the latest Hollywood blockbuster at Cinemark or El Cine. Romantics can choose to watch the sunset over a platter of ceviche at a charming beachside bar like Raices Beach Club and Marina.

Popular nightlife hotspots in Cancun include:

• Senor Frogs
• El Rincon del Vino
• Coco Bongo
• Grand Mambo Cafe
• Dady'O
• Beer Box

Family holidays

There are many day trips and activities that will entertain the whole family in Cancun, take a ferry to Isla Mujeres and visit North Beach with calm water for swimming and places for picnics. Crococun Zoo is nearby and a definite for young children as is Dolphin Discovery.

Sea Adventure and Ventura Park are water parks with rides, zip lines and roller coasters and are worth incorporating into your trip. Parque las Palapas, the town square, regularly has performances for children in the summer months and sometimes activities at the weekends.

A fun experience for children who are boat lovers is a trip on an 18th-Century Spanish Galleon where you will experience pirate battles and pirate themed fun until evening.

Couples holidays

Cancun is a popular wedding destination, and with the wealth of romantic things to do in Cancun to choose from it's easy to see why. Sail away from it all on a boat trip to Isla Mujeres, a breath-taking island just a few kilometres off Cancun's coast. You'll find secluded beaches, sea turtles, and the opportunity to swim with dolphins and whale sharks in this island paradise. To get even more off the beaten path, pack a gourmet picnic and plan a day trip to Isla Contoy or Isla Blanca. Isla Contoy places a limit to the number of daily visitors, ensuring that you'll find a quiet corner to enjoy the views. Adventurous couples can also explore Cancun's subterranean caves and mysterious caverns together, before indulging in a traditional steam bath in one of the city's abundant spas. Enjoy a luxurious Lobster Dinner Cruise around the lagoon at sunset, or dance the night away with your partner in one of Cancun's sizzling discotheques.

Action & Adventure

There are a number of things to do in Cancun that will make your holiday a true adventure, whether it's taking a speedboat tour across the Nichupte Lagoon or tackling the largest zip line circuit in North America. Explore the ancient capital of the Mayan Empire on a day tour to Chichen Itza, which is one of Mexico's most important archaeological sites and an area of intrigue for visitors. Snorkelling and diving beneath the crystalline waters are another action-packed activity for Cancun visitors. Visit the Museo Subacuatico de Arte for a truly unique undersea tour of over 400 life-size sculptures lurking below the waves.

Culture

If you want to travel further afield, take a tour of some of the amazing Mayan ruins, ancient pyramids and ceremonial sites that surround Cancun or enjoy what the wider Yucatan Peninsula has to offer. There are many day trips available to visit the main archaeological sites of Coba Maya, Tulum and Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been voted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The site was at the heart of the Mayan empire and is home to the breathtaking El Castillo pyramid.