Cancún

Cenote Ik Kil is a collapsed limestone sinkhole near Chichén Itzá, with a swimming area 26 metres below ground level surrounded by hanging vines and small waterfalls dripping from the circular opening above. It is one of the most photographed cenotes in Mexico.

Gran Cenote is a semi-open limestone swimming hole located 4 km from Tulum, renowned for its crystal-clear, turquoise water, resident freshwater turtles, and impressive stalactite formations. Snorkeling here feels like floating through an underground aquarium.

Cozumel, the largest inhabited island in the Mexican Caribbean, sits atop the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the second-largest coral reef system on Earth. Its western shore offers world-class snorkeling in protected marine parks with 30+ metre visibility.

The Torre Escénica is a 110-metre rotating observation tower in the Embarcadero area of the Hotel Zone, offering 360-degree aerial views of the Caribbean Sea, Laguna Nichupté, and the hotel strip from a slowly revolving cabin.

Isla Mujeres is a slender, 7-km-long island a 20-minute ferry ride from Cancún, offering a laid-back contrast to the mainland's resort bustle. Its colorful downtown, calm western beaches, and golf-cart culture make it a quintessential Caribbean day trip.

Playa del Carmen, 68 km south of Cancún, has grown from a quiet fishing village into the Riviera Maya's most cosmopolitan beach town. Its broad, palm-lined beach faces Cozumel island, and the pedestrian Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) runs parallel one block inland.

A compact municipal museum in downtown Cancún dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the Maya people. Rotating exhibitions cover topics from ancient cosmology and writing systems to contemporary Maya art and identity.

Sian Ka'an ("origin of the sky" in Maya) is a vast UNESCO Biosphere Reserve south of Tulum, spanning 528,000 hectares of tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, and a barrier reef. Guided tours float visitors down ancient Maya canals surrounded by undisturbed wetland.

Puerto Morelos is a quiet fishing village 36 km south of Cancún, known for its leaning lighthouse, excellent seafood restaurants, and protected reef snorkeling. It offers a slower-paced alternative to the bustle of Cancún and Playa del Carmen.

Named after the Maya archaeological site in the Puuc hills, Kabah Park is a 40-hectare urban ecological reserve in the heart of residential Cancún. Elevated wooden walkways wind through native vegetation, and wild coatimundis frequently appear along the trails.

Directly adjacent to the Museo Maya de Cancún, San Miguelito preserves the largest residential Maya complex in the Cancún area, with over 40 structures spanning roughly 8 hectares of restored jungle paths. Museum admission includes entry to the site.

Xcaret is a massive eco-archaeological park 75 km south of Cancún that blends Maya ruins, underground rivers, wildlife sanctuaries, and nightly cultural shows into a full-day experience. It anchors the Riviera Maya's experiential tourism.

Selvática is an adventure park in the jungle canopy 30 minutes from Cancún, offering a 12-line zipline circuit, cenote swimming, military-style off-road vehicles, and bungee swing experiences. It caters to adrenaline seekers looking beyond the beach.

Mercado 23 is Cancún's most authentic local market, a chaotic and colorful labyrinth primarily serving the city's residents rather than tourists. It's the place to find fresh produce, herbal remedies, piñatas, and some of the best tacos in town.

El Centro is Cancún's workaday downtown, where the city's 900,000 residents live, work, shop, and eat. The grid of streets around Parque de las Palapas and Avenida Tulum offers authentic Mexican street food, local markets, and a refreshingly non-touristy atmosphere.

El Rey is a compact Maya postclassic site on the southern tip of Cancún's Hotel Zone, named after a carved king's head found during excavations. The site contains 47 structures dating from the 13th–15th centuries, including two ceremonial platforms. Free-roaming iguanas outnumber visitors on quiet mornings.

The Museo Maya de Cancún is the Yucatán Peninsula's most important museum of Maya civilization, housing over 3,500 artifacts in a striking modern building designed by architect Alberto García Lara. Admission includes access to the adjacent San Miguelito archaeological site.

Tulum is the only major Maya city built directly on the Caribbean coast, its cliffside temples offering postcard-perfect views of turquoise water. The walled compound served as a major port for jade and obsidian trade during the 13th–15th centuries.

Xel-Há is an all-inclusive natural aquatic park built around a massive ocean inlet on the Riviera Maya coast. Its calm, reef-protected waters make it ideal for snorkeling, and the single admission price covers unlimited food, drinks, and equipment.

The City is one of Latin America's largest nightclubs, an industrial-scale venue in the Hotel Zone with a 5,000-person capacity, international DJ bookings, and a rooftop terrace overlooking Laguna Nichupté.