While Cancun is a booming tourist destination for many Americans, the downtown area in Cancun feels very much like it primarily caters to young party-seekers on spring break. Although fun can still be had at family-friendly all-inclusive resorts in Cancun, there are a lot of beautiful locations in the surrounding area that can provide more options for a family trip! Here are our recommendations for places to visit near Cancun (starting with the closest one):
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is a beautiful island located off the coast of Cancun, and presents a fantastic day trip opportunity if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel zone. To get there, you can take a taxi for 15-20 minutes to Puerto Juarez, where you then hop on the Ultramar Ferry for 15 minutes. You’ll be dropped off on the north end of the island, just a few minutes walk from the beaches and main tourist area. There, you can choose to enjoy the day at one of the many beach clubs on the island. Or, you can rent a golf cart to explore the island at your own pace. Playa Norte on the north end of the island is beautiful, and there are is great snorkeling there for the whole family. You could also visit the Museum of Underwater Art (MUSA) and take a variety of tours to see a lot of beautiful underwater sculptures. Ultimately, there are a lot of activities in Isla Mujeres that you might want to stay longer to experience!
Playa del Carmen
Over the past 20 years, Playa del Carmen (or “Playa” for short) has transformed from a small fishing village to a leading tourist destination and one of the fastest-growing cities in Latin America. Located about an hour south of Cancun, Playa is easy to get to, and its main street, Quinta Avenida, is a pedestrian-only street lined with shops, restaurants and bars. You can easily spend hours strolling along Quinta Avenida, and when you’re ready to eat, make sure to pick a restaurant with outdoor seating facing the street. In the evenings, groups of performers from folkloric dancing and Mariachi to breakdancing will walk down the street and put on short shows for the the crowd. Feel free to tip them a few dollars and pesos as well to show appreciation for their talent!
Another great public area in Playa del Carmen is Parque los Fundadores. This park is towards the south end of Quinta Avenida, and you’ll see many craft vendors. In the evenings there are also cultural performances. One that you don’t want to miss is the Voladores de Papantla. They are a group of five men that climb up a tall pole, tie themselves to a long rope and slowly fall backwards while one of them remains on top playing music. It’s a mesmerizing performance that the whole family will love!
Akumal
Akumal has a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere, which is ideal for travelers who want to unwind and escape the crowds. The town has a more local feel, with fewer tourists. It is a small town even compared to Tulum, but is located right in between Playa del Carmen and Tulum making it easy to access both places. Akumal is renowned for its sea turtles, and visitors can snorkel or dive with them in the bay. You can also visit the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary that is home to rescued animals, including monkeys, deer, and parrots. Another option is the Yal-Ku Lagoon, this beautiful lagoon is located just north of Akumal and is a great spot for snorkeling and swimming. The crystal-clear water is home to many species of fish and is surrounded by lush vegetation. While I think Tulum and Playa del Carmen are great destinations for families, especially teens who want to enjoy the nightlife, Akumal is perfect for families with younger kids!
Tulum
Tulum is known for its laid-back and bohemian vibe, which attracts a diverse crowd of travelers seeking a more relaxed and authentic vacation experience. The town’s aesthetic is characterized by rustic and eco-friendly architecture, with many hotels, restaurants, and shops blending into the surrounding jungle landscape. Something to note is that the main town is separate from the beach area, so choose where you want to stay depending on your preference. The atmosphere is generally peaceful and tranquil, with a focus on wellness, but there are also some large beach parties at night. Visitors can expect to find yoga classes, wellness retreats, and healthy eating options throughout the town. Tulum has a rich history and culture, with several ancient Mayan ruins that offer educational opportunities for families to learn about the region’s history. Lastly the nearby cenotes provide a unique and exciting experience for families to explore the natural beauty of the region. Our kids loved being able to visit different cenotes especially during times of the year where seaweed is an issue. Overall, Tulum is a well-rounded and enjoyable family destination, offering relaxation, adventure, cultural experiences, and natural wonders.
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, east of Playa del Carmen. It is more renowned to be a busy cruise port, but is also a worthwhile place to visit for the day. To get there, you take a ferry from the pier next to Parque los Fundadores and it costs 500 pesos (~$25 USD) for a round trip ticket (as of March 2023). Once there, you can partake in a variety of activities. You can start by walking around the downtown area checking out different vendors and restaurants. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can rent a Jeep and explore the island at your own pace. You can drive around the whole island in about an hour, but you’ll want to stop at different view points and snorkeling areas. If you just want to relax, you can also take a taxi to one of the many beach clubs on the island that offer all-inclusive meals and drinks for the day. One thing to be aware of, however, is that the crowds in Cozumel will depend entirely on how many cruise ships dock there for the day. During peak season, as many as 8 cruise ships could dock at 3 different Cozumel piers, which would make the tourist attractions feel more crowded.
Visit an Ecological Amusement Park or Cenote
The Yucatan peninsula in Mexico is home to many natural attractions like jungles, mangrove forests, rivers, and cenotes (underground fresh water ponds). One of the best places to experience them is in one of the many ecological amusement parks offered by the Xcaret group. We’ve been to three of the parks in the past few years: Xcaret, Xel-Ha, and Xenses and recommend each of them. Xcaret is a few minutes south of Playa del Carmen and is the largest of the parks. We loved the variety of activities offered, from floating down an underground river to splashing at the lagoon and seeing culturally rich performances. For more info on Xcaret, check out our in-depth guide HERE.
Xenses, which is right next to Xcaret, is a bit more unique in that it’s focused activating each of your senses through experiences. These range from walking through a town street that gives you the illusion that you’re walking uphill (even though the street is level), to a walkabout in a 100% dark space where you can hear, feel and smell different climates.
Xel-Ha is about 25 minutes further south and in addition to cenotes, cliff jumping, a lazy river and beautiful snorkeling, it’s also all-inclusive. We really enjoyed the fact that towels, lockers, life vests and snorkel equipment were readily available. There were also plenty of food and drink options to keep us fueled up so we could keep exploring the beautiful park. If you want to know more about Xel-Ha, HERE is our detailed blog post about it!
Isla Holbox
Isla Holbox took our breath away with its beautiful beaches, friendly people and simple living. A day trip here would be a bit rushed, so this one might be better for an overnight stay if you can plan it that way. To get to Isla Holbox, you first need to get to the small port town of Chiquila, which is about 2 hours driving from Cancun. We took a bus from the Playa Del Carmen bus station and was super simple to get to. Once there, you take the ferry to Isla Holbox where you’red dropped off a few blocks from the main plaza. In Isla Holbox there’s no cars, so the only way to get around is either by walking or golf cart. We rented a golf cart which let us explore at our own pace (and the kids totally loved). The main draw to Isla Holbox is really how laid back everything feels. It didn’t feel too crowded while we were there, and there were plenty of restaurants and public areas like the main plaza to hang out in.
And we can’t forget to mention the beaches here! The water is a spectacular blue color, and it was warm and calm as well. The closest beach is Playa Holbox, which has a pretty long stretch of sand with a few beachfront restaurants and bars nearby. If you want a more remote beach, you can drive to the west end of the island to Playa Punta Cocos, where the sunset is beautiful! Isla Holbox is also known for its bioluminescence tours, where you can see the water lit by micro-organisms under the right conditions (no moonlight).
Bacalar
Bacalar is further than the rest of the locations and doesn’t have a main town hub. However, we felt like we needed to mention this because it is absolutely breathtaking and is one of the places we recommend most. Bacalar is a massive fresh water lagoon close to the Belize border about 4.5 hours from Cancun. It has some of the clearest water we have ever seen, and the multiple shades of blue make for some of the most beautiful colors on water. It’s often called “the Maldives of Mexico” for this reason! When we visited, it was for a cruise port stop and we took an organized boat trip. We sailed through the water and stopped at a few places for snorkeling, where we got to see a bird sanctuary island and snorkeled near a boat wreck. One of the main attractions is also the “Cenote Negro,” which is a cenote that goes down more than 300 feet.
After our boat ride, we were taken to a restaurant where we got to enjoy a scenic buffet lunch with delicious Mexican food while admiring the view of the Bacalar lagoon. Ultimately, this would have to be an overnight trip but it is one that is near the top of our favorite travel experiences!
Conclusion
The Yucatan and Quintana Roo peninsula of Mexico is absolutely packed with activities for the family! If the party scene in Cancun is not your jam, then these destinations will surely scratch your family travel itch. To learn more about other destinations we love across Mexico, check out our podcast episodes here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).
