Cancun has emerged as a major tourist destination in Central America. It is usually known for its white-sand beaches, affordable all-inclusive vacation packages, and vibrant nightlife.
But recently, many people who are planning a vacation to Cancun have the same question ‘Is Cancun worth visiting?‘. If you read reviews about Cancun online, for some people, Cancun is the dream destination while for others it is a concrete jungle. Such contrasting opinions often confuse the people who are planning their first trip to Cancun.
In order to help you clear up any confusion, we’ve put together this guide on what to expect from your Cancun holiday. Cancun, like many other popular vacation spots, has both advantages and disadvantages. And in this post, we’ll cover both the positive and negative aspects of Cancun.
Is Cancun Worth Visiting?
Table of Contents
Why is Cancun Worth a Visit?
To begin, let’s explore some of the primary reasons why Cancun is worth visiting and has grown to be a world-famous vacation destination.
Canucn offers Affordable All-inclusive Hotels 🏘
Cancun’s all-inclusive hotels are one of the main reasons why the city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central America. Cancun is home to world-class hotels that offer all-inclusive vacation packages that are usually quite affordable. These all-inclusive packages include nearly everything (except outdoor excursions), including transportation (flight costs), lodging, meals, and beverages.
All-inclusive packages, in particular, are an excellent choice for families and honeymooners. Because, if you choose an all-inclusive package, you won’t have to worry about any additional costs, except for outdoor excursions. These all-inclusive vacation packages typically cost between $1000 and $3000 for a family of four. However, for around $2000, you can usually find a decent all-inclusive package that covers nearly all of your family’s needs.
Cancun has Beautiful White Sand Beaches 🏖
Cancun unquestionably boasts world-class shorelines. Because of Cancun’s beach and resort region, the majority of visitors base their whole vacations in the area. White sand beaches with fluffy dunes line the coast of Cancun, which is flanked by the aquamarine ocean. With its location on the Caribbean Sea, Cancun features some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
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Canun offers Year-round Pleasant Weather ☁
The good thing about Cancun is that the weather is pleasant all year. Cancun’s average temperature ranges from 22°C to 32°C. But especially, December through March is the best period to visit Cancun which is also the peak season of Cancun.
Lower humidity and a bright, sunny sky define this time of year, making it excellent for beach activities and outdoor excursions. If you’re on a budget or prefer fewer crowds, the best time to visit Cancun is from May to November. This is Cancun’s off-season, which means cheaper airfare and hotel rates, as well as fewer crowds.
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Diverse Range of Activities 🏄
Cancun offers a wide range of activities. It is well-known for its water sports activities, including snorkeling, surfing, flyboarding, jungle boat tours, scuba diving, and swimming with whales.
Snorkeling and swimming with whales in Cancun, in particular, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Swimming with whales in the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean is definitely unforgettable. Cancun is undoubtedly worth a visit if you love water sports.
If you are a history buff, then you can visit the mysterious ancient Mayan cities like Chichen Itza and Coba ruins which are some hours away from Cancun. Also, don’t forget to visit Cenotes which are the natural swimming pools of Mexico, quite famous for their healing properties.
Apart from water sport activities, Cancun’s Hotel zone area is brimming with numerous upscale shopping malls and Nightclubs. It doesn’t matter where you are staying in the hotel zone you will always find at least one shopping mall near your hotel.
These shopping malls offer everything from modern jewelry and perfumes to traditional Mexican arts and crafts. Especially, we recommend the La Isla shopping village which is our favorite shopping mall in Cancun. You will find many entertainment options there like movie theatres, ice cream parlors, restaurants, shops, and an aquarium. It is a great place for entertainment.
Cancun has Vibrant Nightlife 🎊🎊
Is Cancun worth visiting for Nightlife alone? Absolutely. Cancun is renowned for its vibrant nightlife. Cancun is all about the sea, sand, and water during the day, but when the sun sets over the Caribbean Sea, the city transforms into a hive of buzzing nightclubs.
Punta Cancun is Cancun’s nightlife epicenter. This area is densely packed with nightclubs and pubs where you can spend the entire night dancing and drinking.
The best thing about Cancun’s nightlife is that you can purchase a Cancun party pass. With this party pass, you will receive free drinks and will be able to enter many Cancun nightclubs without having to wait in line. If you’re looking to party all night, the Cancun’s party pass is a convenient and affordable option.
Cancun offers Super Affordable Food 🍕
If you’ve chosen an all-inclusive package, you won’t have to worry about meals or beverages because your package will cover them. However, if you want to venture outdoors to sample authentic Mexican cuisine, we recommend Cancun’s popular street food.
On the streets of Cancun, a complete supper can be grabbed for as little as $4 to $6. Downtown Cancun is a fantastic location to sample street cuisine; you’ll readily find authentic, delectable, and reasonably priced Mexican street food to satisfy your taste buds.
Flying to Cancun is relatively Easy and Cheap ✈
Lower flight prices and duration are just a few of the reasons why so many Americans prefer Cancun to Hawaii. Generally, the average flight ticket from the United States to Cancun is between $200 and $400 per person, which is significantly less than other popular holiday destinations such as Hawaii and the Caribbean.
The same is true for flight duration; the usual flight time from the United States to Cancun is between three and five hours, whereas the flight time from the United States to Hawaii can range between five and ten hours. Additionally, non-stop flights from a number of major US cities to Mexico are usually available throughout the year.
Natural and Refreshening Cenotes
Cenotes have grown in popularity among Cancun visitors in recent years. They are natural sinkholes that can be found all around Mexico. Cenotes are natural swimming pools with natural refreshing properties. That is why a large number of tourists visit cenotes to swim and snorkel in their refreshing light blue waters. Indeed, cenotes were critical to the Mayans. The Mayan people believed that cenotes were sacred and have healing abilities.
Cancun offers Excellent Snorkeling Experience
Cancun is a great place for snorkeling lovers. Cancun has many great snorkeling locations like Isla Mujeres and Akumal. Especially, snorkeling in the waters of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is an otherworldly experience.
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world and is home to more than 500 fish species and numerous coral types. The Mesoamerican reef is brimming with colorful marine life.
You will encounter sea turtles and fish of every size and every color while snorkeling in the Mesoamerican reef. If you are a fan of snorkeling, then Cancun is definitely worth a visit.
Incredible Underwater Museum of Cancun
Cancun’s underwater museum, also known by the name ‘MUSA‘ is the world’s largest underwater museum and is really a must-visit place. This underwater museum was the idea of the British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor to protect Cancun’s local coral reef. The Cancun underwater museum contains over 500 life-sized sculptures placed at a depth of 10 meters beneath the ocean. This museum can be explored by diving or snorkeling.
Mystical Mayan City Chichén itzá 🏛
I am a history geek and enjoy exploring historic locations. If you, like me, are a history enthusiast, I strongly advise you to explore the intriguing city of Chichén itzá. Chichén itzá was a major religious center for the Mayan people in ancient times. It was once home to more than 50,000 Mayans. It preserves several ancient Mayan monuments, including temples, pyramids, and cemeteries. As a result, history buffs are certain to enjoy this location.
Cons of visiting Cancun
Now, let’s explore a bad side of Cancun that disappoints many tourists when they arrive in Cancun.
Cancun lacks a Romantic Vibe
I’m not sure what others think. However, I think Cancun is a very commercialized place and has cosmopolitan vibes. Cancun is an excellent destination for family holidays and single visitors since it offers a variety of family-friendly attractions, including water sports and world-class shopping complexes.
However, when it comes to romance, it lacks the romantic atmosphere associated with Hawaii and Santorini. Thus, I believe that if you are honeymooning and seeking a relaxed and romantic atmosphere, Cancun is not the best choice.
Piles of Trash on the Beaches
It is true that Cancun’s beaches, like many others, are not as beautiful or clean as they appear in photographs. Cancun has become the most popular tourist destination in Central America. As a result, Cancun receives tens of millions of tourists each year, but its beaches have suffered as a result.
Trash has become a common sight on Cancun’s beaches. Fortunately, most hotels maintain clean beaches in their immediate vicinity, but other parts of the beach remained unclean. Also, it is common to be disturbed by local vendors on Cancun’s beaches who try to sell you souvenirs.
Cancun is Highly Commercialized
Cancun, for many, seems like a concrete jungle. I believe this is true. Cancun’s beaches are bordered by numerous hotels and shopping malls, creating the impression of being in a concrete jungle. Therefore, if you wish to spend your entire holiday on the beach or shopping, Cancun is an excellent choice. However, if you are an adventure junkie seeking a touch of nature or anticipating tropical sensations with palm trees, Cancun is not the best option.
Seaweed
Seaweed has developed into a major issue in Cancun. Sargassum, a type of seaweed, grows in the Atlantic Ocean. Between May and August, heaps of brown seaweed can be found on some Cancun beaches.
Seaweed is a significant issue because it forms a brown, sticky layer on the water, making Cancun’s beaches nearly unsuitable for swimming. That’s why, prior to planning your Cancun vacation, it is necessary to check the current status of seaweed in Cancun.
Safety
Mexico does not have a favorable safety reputation. However, Mexico’s major tourist destinations, such as Cancun, are relatively safe in comparison to the rest of the country. That is why Cancun’s tourism industry continues to expand at a fast pace year after year. If you are visiting Cancun, however, try to stay within the resort area and avoid venturing too far afield.
How many days in Cancun is enough?
If you want to only visit Cancun’s beaches, shopping malls, and nightlife, a four-day vacation is sufficient. However, if you want to explore everything Cancun has to offer, including beaches, shopping malls, nightlife, snorkeling, nearby historic sites, museums, and water sports activities, a minimum of 7 days is required.
When should you avoid Cancun?
Avoid visiting Cancun on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and during spring break as it is a very busy period in Cancun. Also, before booking your Cancun vacation, don’t forget to check the current status of seaweed on Cancun’s beaches.
So, Is Cancun Worth Visiting?
Even if there are some safety concerns and unclean beaches, Cancun is still a fantastic vacation location. It has world-class white sand beaches, a wide variety of water activities, a lively nightlife, and, most significantly, inexpensive all-inclusive packages. It is particularly suitable for a family vacation.
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