Cancún

The dry season, from December to April, brings sunshine, lower humidity and calmer seas, along with the highest prices and the biggest crowds, especially at Christmas, New Year, spring break and Easter. November is a good shoulder month. From May to October it's hot and humid, with short, heavy afternoon storms. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the greatest risk from August to October; storms are rare in any given week, but take out travel insurance and follow local alerts if one is forecast.

Sargassum, a floating brown seaweed, can pile up on Caribbean beaches, generally from about April to September, though the timing and amount vary a great deal from year to year. The open-sea beaches of the Hotel Zone's long eastern side tend to be hit harder than the bay beaches around Playa Tortugas and Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres. Check the state's sargassum reports shortly before you travel, and choose a hotel near calmer, more sheltered water if it's bad.

Cancún International Airport is about twenty minutes from the Hotel Zone and a little more from downtown, with ADO airport coaches, shuttles, taxis and car hire. Local buses run frequently and cheaply along Boulevard Kukulcán through the Hotel Zone and into downtown, day and night. Taxis don't use meters; agree the fare before you get in.

ADO's long-distance buses leave from the downtown terminal for Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá and Mérida, and are comfortable and reliable. The Tren Maya has two stations in Cancún, one at the airport and one west of the city, with services towards Valladolid, Chichén Itzá, Mérida and south along the coast to Playa del Carmen and Tulum; check timetables, as services are still being expanded. Ferries to Isla Mujeres run from Puerto Juárez, north of downtown, about twenty minutes, and less frequently from piers in the Hotel Zone.

• Quintana Roo charges foreign visitors a state tax, VISITAX, which can be paid online before you leave; check the current rules before travelling.
• Carry some cash in pesos for buses, markets, cenotes and tips; you'll usually get a better rate paying in pesos than in dollars.
• On the open-sea beaches, watch the flags and don't swim alone; rip currents are common.
• Use reef-safe, mineral sunscreen, or better, a rash vest, and shower before swimming in cenotes.
• Book whale shark, Isla Contoy and MUSA tours with licensed operators, and be wary of very cheap offers.
• For tours to Chichén Itzá, compare what's included; many leave early and return late, and some fill the day with shopping stops.

Look beyond the resorts for Yucatecan cooking: cochinita pibil, pork slow-cooked in achiote and bitter orange; sopa de lima, a chicken and lime soup; panuchos and salbutes, small fried tortillas with toppings; and poc chuc, grilled marinated pork. Downtown, the market eateries at Mercado 28 and Mercado 23 and the taquerías along the side streets are far cheaper than the Hotel Zone. On the coast, try ceviche and fish tikin xic, grilled with achiote in a banana leaf, and on Isla Mujeres and Holbox, fresh seafood by the water. Drink bottled or filtered water.

The Hotel Zone is where most visitors stay, with large resorts, many all-inclusive, directly on the sand. The northern arm, on the bay, has calmer water; the long eastern side has the classic open-sea views and bigger waves. Downtown is far cheaper, with small hotels and guesthouses, more local restaurants and easy bus links to the beach. For a quieter stay, consider Puerto Morelos to the south or a night or two on Isla Mujeres or Holbox.

Only a few kilometres off the coast, Isla Mujeres is a narrow island about seven kilometres long, with a small, walkable town of brightly painted streets at its northern end. Spanish explorers are said to have named it after the female figures, offerings to Ixchel, that they found there. The island makes an easy day trip, but staying overnight lets you enjoy it once the day visitors leave. Hire a golf cart or bicycle to explore the coast road to Punta Sur, stopping at quiet beaches along the way, and snorkel on the reef or visit MUSA's Manchones gallery by boat. The eastern, open-sea side is rocky and often rough; swim on the western side.

Every summer, whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, gather off the north coast of Quintana Roo to feed on plankton. The official season usually runs from mid-May to mid-September, with the most reliable sightings in July and August. Boats leave from Cancún, Isla Mujeres and Holbox, and visitors snorkel alongside the sharks in small groups with a guide.

The whale shark is a protected, endangered species, and the season is regulated by CONANP, which authorises boats and sets rules for how close they can get. Choose an operator that holds a permit, keeps group sizes small and gives a proper briefing. Don't touch the sharks or block their path, keep the required distance, don't use flash, and wear a life jacket if asked. Scuba diving with the sharks is not allowed.

Chichén Itzá was one of the most powerful cities of the Maya world, at its height from about the ninth to the twelfth century, and its blend of Maya and central Mexican styles has fascinated scholars for generations. It's about two and a half to three hours' drive from Cancún, so a day trip is long. You can reach it by ADO bus, the Tren Maya, a hire car or an organised tour; staying a night in Valladolid allows an early start, when the site is quieter and cooler.

Entry is in Yucatán state and is made up of two parts: a federal fee for INAH and a larger state fee. Since March 2026, both have been paid together at a single ticket window rather than in two queues. Foreign visitors pay more than Mexican residents, and fees change, so check current prices before you go, and bring a card and some cash. Licensed guides are available at the entrance.

Ek Balam, Valladolid and the many cenotes in between make it worth spending at least one night inland rather than seeing only Chichén Itzá. On a two-day trip, you can combine Ek Balam and a cenote on one day and Chichén Itzá on the other.

Most visits to Cancún pass without trouble, and the Hotel Zone, downtown during the day and the main tourist areas are busy and well policed. Violence linked to organised crime does occur in Quintana Roo, mostly away from visitors, but stay informed: read your government's current advice, for example from the US State Department or the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, before you go. Use registered taxis or ride from your hotel, avoid flashing valuables, keep an eye on drinks in bars and clubs, and don't buy drugs. Drive in daylight on the main highways if you hire a car.

Cancún's growth has come at a cost to mangroves, dunes, the reef and the underground water that feeds the cenotes. Choose operators that keep group sizes small and follow park rules, don't touch or stand on coral, and never feed or chase wildlife. Avoid single-use plastic and dolphin shows or swim-with-dolphin attractions. In the Hotel Zone, respect turtle nesting areas on the beach between May and October, keep lights low at night, and keep your distance from any nests or hatchlings. Spend some of your money in the local economy, in downtown markets, family-run restaurants and community-run cenotes.