Places to Visit & Things to Do in Cancun
Featuring 14 miles of beach-front resorts and high-end restaurants, Cancun is the gateway to the Yucatan Peninsula. The region is dotted with mystical cenotes and ancient Mayan ruins giving this place an otherworldly air.
Sights and Attractions in Cancun
The jewels in Cancun’s crown are undoubtedly the beaches, with each grain of sand and every drop of seawater converging to be as close to perfection as possible. Those to the north are graced with calmer waters and draw smaller crowds; while the more southerly beaches with their bigger waves and stronger currents offer a great selection of water sports. There’s nothing like seeing this tropical paradise from above, ascend the Cancun Scenic Tower to take impressive aerial shots of the expansive beaches. At 80 metres high and with a revolving deck you can observe 360-degree views of the ocean and the Nichupte lagoon. Though not technically in Cancun, the nearby archaeological site Chichen-Itza is on the bucket list of many visitors to Mexico. As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it is well worth the two-and-a-half-hour drive to see the ruins of the Mayan ancient city. The centrepiece and most recognisable structure is the four-sided El Castillo pyramid with formidable snake heads carved as the cornerstone of each side.
Art and Culture in Cancun
Though you might want to, you don’t have to venture inland to understand more about the intriguing rise and fall of the Mayan civilisation. The El Rey ruins and Mayan Museum are both situated in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, making a trip a breeze. At El Rey, you can climb the Mayan temple to see the remains of the ancient port, now home to an immense iguana population. The sleek and contemporary Mayan Museum of Cancún, connected to the San Miguelito ruins, allows visitors to delve into the fascinating elements of Mayan culture by viewing ancient artefacts. The museum’s collection comprises over 3,500 objects recovered from various archaeological digs across the Yucatan peninsula including jewellery and ceramics. If you like your art submerged beneath the surface of the sea check out the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA). The 440 sculptures at Machones between the Hotel Zone and Isla Mujeres are 8-10 metres deep so you’ll need to scuba dive to see them. While the 33 pieces at Punta Nizuc to the south are at a much more beginner-friendly 2-4 metres deep and can be viewed by snorkelling.
Shopping in Cancun
Marina Puerto is the place to head for chic and classy shopping in Cancun and as a bonus it has restaurants, bars and IMAX theatre. The bright and airy al-fresco La Isla shopping centre in the Hotel Zone has a somewhat Venetian feel thanks to the canal running through it. Items from luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany and Coach can be purchased here, but with its Ferris wheel and lagoon-side location, La Isla is also a relaxing hang-out spot. In downtown Cancun, you’ll find the largest shopping mall in the area. Plaza Las Americas has expected staples like Nine West, Pandora and Zara, Mexican department store Liverpool as well as a cinema and plentiful food court. For souvenirs head to Mercado 28, a huge flea market with 600 vendors selling everything from leather goods and ponchos to lucha libre masks and hammocks.
Food and Drink in Cancun
The town has a wealth of high-end restaurants serving up a global menu both in the Hotel Zone and downtown area. Award-winning La Habichuela in downtown is both a culinary and cultural experience with beautiful and significant Mayan touches adorning the indoor dining area and lush garden. Cooking up Mexican cuisine, steaks and seafood, diners are also wowed by Mayan drumming and dancing. Porfirio’s, adjacent to Nichupte lagoon, offers traditional Mexican food with a modern twist in a loud and lively setting. Make sure you dress up for Cenacolo (either the Hotel Zone or downtown location). This eatery gives diners a sumptuous taste of Italy with pasta made daily from scratch and also has an impressive wine list of Italian and Mexican tipples. Cambalache and Harry’s Steakhouse are top picks for meat lovers serving up Argentinian and 35-day dry-aged steaks respectively. Head to RosaNegra for a taste of Latin America with delectable tacos, ceviche, seafood and steak.
Unique to Cancun
Nichupte Lagoon’s ever-shifting tones make for a breathtaking body of water with seven mangrove-fringed lakes. A haven for visitors who want to canoe, kayak, fish, birdwatch, paddleboard, take a boat ride or even fly with a water jet pack known as a Flyboard. A 15-minute ferry from Gran Puerto near downtown Cancun runs every 30 minutes to the more laid-back Isla Mujeres, graced with turquoise waters and sparkling sands. Rent a bike or golf cart and head to Punta Sur for the views of the Mayan ruins, cliffs and ocean. Isla Holbox is another enchanting island - though a little further away via a road journey and two-hour ferry - with a similarly dreamy coastline. There are a staggering 6,000 cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula, offering mesmerising sights to view and swim in. These open-air or cavernous natural pools are popular with visitors and locals with the clear attraction being the azure hues of the water and the verdant vegetation. Cenote Azul, Cenote Cristalino and Gran Cenote will sear themselves into your mind as places of fun and beauty. Several tours will take you to one or two but if you hire a car, you can follow the ruta de la cenotes, a 20-mile route of natural lidos.
Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR): Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program benefits are available for new bookings made through American Express Travel with participating properties and are valid only for eligible Platinum Charge Card Members and Centurion® Members. Platinum Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Platinum Charge Card Members or Centurion® Members, are not eligible for FHR program benefits. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked. Noon check-in and room upgrade are subject to availability and are provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property. The US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the credit. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day. To receive the breakfast credit, the breakfast bill must be charged to your hotel room. The breakfast credit will be applied at check-out. If the cost of Wi-Fi is included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit of that amount will be applied at check-out. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members travelling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for FHR program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, please call the number on the back of your Card.
The Hotel Collection Terms and Conditions
The Hotel Collection (THC): The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more, with participating properties, made through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service or American Express Travel Online (americanexpress.com.au/travel or americanexpress.com.au/thc; Online bookings currently only available to Primary Card Members. Bookings are valid only for eligible Card Members of the following American Express Cards: American Express® Rewards Advantage Card, American Express® Explorer Credit Card, American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card, American Express® Gold Business Card, American Express® Business Gold Plus Card, American Express® Platinum Card, American Express® Platinum Business Card and American Express® Centurion Card. Excludes Gold Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Rewards Advantage, Gold or Platinum Charge Card Members. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in, late check-out and the room upgrade are subject to availability; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to US$100. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional THC benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke the THC benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your THC benefits. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in US Dollars or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for THC program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
Travel Resources
Travel Payment Options
Travel Support
Featuring reviews from
Travel services provided by American Express International, Inc. ABN 15 000 618 208. Incorporated with limited liability in Delaware, USA.