Our Offbeat Life contains affiliate links & participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program & other affiliate programs. If you buy something using an Amazon or other link, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure for more details.
The Most Versatile Itinerary for Cancun with Kids
Trying to create the perfect itinerary for Cancun? I’ve got one that hits all the necessary spots.
I’ve been to the Cancun area of Mexico multiple times since 2008, and lived in Riviera Maya for almost a year. Some trips have been without kids. Others have been as a family.
Regardless of where you stay any itinerary for Cancun, Mexico will be incomplete without a few day trips elsewhere in Quintana Roo or the Yucatan Peninsula!
And we can’t keep all that helpful information to ourselves. Sharing is caring after all! Here’s our top travel tips to make your trip amazing, regardless of how many days are in your Cancun itinerary.
Cancun Itinerary Summary
Day 1: Beach Day
Day 2: Explore Mayan Culture
Day 3: Experience Nature
Day 4: Shopping & City Exploration
Day 5: Visit a Nearby Island
Bonus Days 6&7: Enjoy time at your resort when you aren’t traveling to or from your home airport
What are the Best Places to Visit near Cancun?
There are so many! You’ll never see them all in a week or even two. Our sweet spot for a first or second trip is five days of activities on your Cancun itinerary.
This allows for travel days as well as time actually enjoying the fancy resort you’re paying for. So although I’m sharing five days of activities, it’s still basically a standard 1-week itinerary in Cancun.
However, if you are staying longer or are a returning visitor, this five-day Cancun itinerary is versatile. It can be repeated over multiple weeks or visits with different activities substituted on each theme day.
In addition, I’ve written this article for families. However, it would be just as enjoyable for a couples’ or girls’ trip Cancun itinerary. Just add in a nightclub or two in the evenings, if that’s your thing.
Struggling to plan your travel adventures?
As a former HR Director and full-time worldschooling mom since 2019, I’ve got answers. You don’t need to do this alone.
Itinerary for Cancun Day 1: Relax on the Beach
After traveling to Cancun, the first day on your Riviera Maya itinerary should include relaxing on white-sand beaches. As far as beaches in Mexico, Cancun has some of the best.
Many hotels in Cancun don’t have amazing beaches, though. Some people prioritize resort beach access.
👉 Sunset Royal Resort has a huge beach. In my opinion, it is by far the best in Cancun.
If you don’t stay somewhere with magnificent beach access, don’t fret. There are also several public beaches in Cancun that anyone can enjoy.
While all the beaches have white sand and turquoise waters, some tend to have rougher waves or stronger currents. Playa Ballenas, next to the Hard Rock Hotel, is one such beach. I don’t recommend it for families.
So what are the good beaches for people seeking more swimmable shores? These five spots are excellent options for relaxing on the beach in Cancun.
Playa Chac Mool
This beach is walkable from the Plaza Forum at KM 10. There is an Oxxo convenience store there and a couple of affordable restaurants nearby. It also has showers and bathrooms as well as beach chairs for rent.
Sunset Royal and a few other resorts are located just south of Chac Mool. They are all on the same stretch of sand, but Chac Mool is the more accessible section for the general public.
Playa Delfines
Located at KM 17, this beach is further away than most others. It also tends to get bigger waves.
While we enjoyed it for body surfing and goofing around, not all families will enjoy this beach. There are bathrooms here but no showers or snacks.
The big draw here is the colorful Cancun sign. Before you start your beach day, you may want to head here for a photo and then head to a quieter beach to actually swim and relax for a while.
Playa Las Perlas
Known for being quiet and having small waves, this beach is very popular with families. There are bathrooms, showers, and lounge chairs available. However, the huge draw is the playground!
There are also a few restaurants nearby, so it’s easy to spend the day here.
Playa Langosta
Because this beach is on the northern side of the Cancun peninsula, there aren’t direct waves coming in from the Caribbean Sea. This means there are almost no waves, so it’s great for kids and others who don’t like rough surf.
There are bathrooms and showers here as well as free parking if you have a vehicle. But arrive in the morning before all the spots are taken. There are also a few chairs and tables in addition to a small snack shack and paid lockers.
Playa Tortugas
Also located on the northern side of Cancun, this beach has very calm waters. In addition to bathrooms, there are also a few restaurants and open-air cafes. These amenities make it a little busier than nearby Langosta.
So it really depends on the vibe you’re seeking to enjoy for the day. There is a ferry to Isla Mujeres here, so there tend to be vendors selling both trinkets and tours.
Itinerary for Cancun Day 2: Explore Mayan Culture
There are over 200 Mayan ruins sites in Mexico. Many of the best are located in the Yucatan Peninsula, including the Unesco World Heritage site Chichen Itza.
Thus, there are some amazing Cancun Mexico day trips within a couple of hours of the hotel zone.
👉 Our favorite Mayan ruin sites in the Yucatan are Coba and Chichen Itza.
We’ve visited Chichen Itza twice, once before having Little Man and once after. It’s an investment in time and expense away from the resorts but seeing them through a kid’s eyes is truly worthwhile.
If you don’t want to splurge on a big day trip or don’t want to spend an hour or more one way in a tour van, you won’t miss out. There are some local options for people who want to see Mayan ruins on their itinerary for Cancun.
Yamil Lu’um
Located next to the Westin Laguna Mar, Yamil Lu’um is a popular Cancun tourist attraction.
It has ruins of two small temples that were constructed between 1200 and 1550 CE. One of the temples has a scorpion sculpture on its wall and is called Templo Del Alacran.
The other temple has a handprint in the stucco walls so it’s called Templo de la Huella. The scorpion and the handprint are not visible to tourists any longer but the buildings are interesting to see.
The Yamil Lu’um ruins are located above the beach at the highest point of the city. These temples were built at such high altitudes because they were used for navigational assistance as watchtowers and lighthouses.
El Rey
El Rey is located right in the middle of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, near Playa Delfines. It isn’t the most famous or largest Mayan ruins. However, it is certainly one of the easiest to visit. This site is one of the earliest found, dating to around 250-600 CE.
It was a watchtower and dedicated navigational assistance, much like Yamil Lu’un. The Mayans abandoned it shortly after the Spanish arrived in the 1400s. The entry fee is 55 pesos and is cash only.
San Miguelito
Located just 2.5 km north of the El Rey ruins, this site is thought to be an extension of El Rey. This section of the larger complex was dedicated to trade. The site offers free parking for those not arriving by taxi or public transit.
These ruins are part of the Mayan Cultural Museum. There are four rooms with unique exhibits inside, in addition to the ruins complex outside. The entry fee of 80 pesos covers both the museum and the ruins.
Pro Tip: Download a translate app to your smartphone before you go. We like Google Translate, which is free. All the museum’s signs are only written in Spanish.
It’s closed on Mondays. Because the museum is indoors, it is an excellent place to visit on hot afternoons. It’s also a great thing to do in Cancun when it rains.
Itinerary for Cancun Day 3: Experience Nature
Visit an Eco Park
The most popular eco-park adventure company is Xcaret. In addition to owning the park by that same name, they also own seven other parks throughout Riviera Maya.
👉 Xel-Ha is by far our favorite eco park near Cancun.
However, there are things families will enjoy at other parks owned by the same company, like Xplor and Xenses. The former offers ziplining and is better for older kids while Xenses is a half-day park offering water-based optical illusion experiences.
Xel-Ha is so much more than just snorkeling, although that is the most popular activity.
You can also float down a lazy river in a mangrove forest, jumped off a cliff, play on the kids playground, zipline into the water, and ride a giant water slide from the top of the lighthouse!
If kids are brave enough to want to zipline or ride the water slide, Xel-Ha lets them do it. Little Man did both things as young as five years old!
The major draw of Xel-Ha that appeals to traveling families is that there are activities enjoyable for all ages, from toddler up to adult. In addition, the entry fee is all-inclusive so you don’t have to worry about food or drinks.
There are a variety of kid-friendly food choices throughout the multiple park restaurants. In addition, drinks include water and juice as well as adult beverages if that appeals to the adults in your group.
Swim in a Cenote
If a day at a nature park isn’t your thing, Cenotes are an amazing and unique experience in the Yucatan. There are over 6,000 of them on the peninsula. Many of the most popular are easily accessible from Cancun.
Unfortunately, there are no cenotes located in Cancun. But part of the idea of having an itinerary for Cancun is exploring beyond the resorts!
The closest cenotes to Cancun are near Puerto Morelos, a town that is approximately 40 minutes south of Cancun. There is a Ruta de los Cenotes (Route of the Cenotes) that has several amazing experiences within a few minutes’ drive of each other.
All cenotes in Mexico require swimmers to wear life jackets. They all provide them on site. However, some charge a few dollars extra while others include them in the entry fee.
No sunscreen is permitted in the cenotes and showering is required before entering, so wear sun protective clothing if you visit any cenotes.
The easiest way to get to all of these Cenotes is by driving. It’s fairly easy to rent a car in Cancun. However, if you don’t want to deal with a car rental, then you can always book a cenote tour.
There are a number of excellent cenote tours from Cancun. Some of them will even take you further away to cenotes in Playa del Carmen or Tulum, like Cenote Azul or El Gran Cenote.
Cenote La Noria
Located completely underground, this cenote is only accessible by climbing down a wooden staircase.
They also offer traditional ziplining (not into the water) and ATVs at extra cost. The cenote has a wooden platform to rest on since the cenote is pretty deep.
There is also a wooden swing that is popular with the big and little kids alike. Even adults have fun on it! With a restaurant on site selling tacos and kid-friendly foods, like pizza, it’s a nice place to spend the day.
Cenote Sol y Luna
The most unique feature of this cenote is it is actually two! Cenote Sol is an open style while Cenote Luna is a closed, or cave, style.
In addition, there is a swimming pool with a couple of small water slides, a replica Mayan temple, and an interactive farm where the kiddos can feed chickens. There’s even a full-service restaurant that caters to families with a variety of food choices.
Cenote Verde Lucero
Popular with tours, this cenote offers palapas, dressing rooms, and bathrooms. It’s an open cenote, which makes it easier to access. This is a bonus point for families with small children.
Plus, kids can enjoy the kayak and safety rope once they tire of swimming. As with any cenote in Riviera Maya, it’s better to get there early in order to avoid crowds.
Then once the kiddos are done swimming, you can have lunch before either returning to your hotel to enjoy its amenities or going elsewhere for a new adventure.
Cenote Kin Ha
This is another package of two cenotes in one location. You can choose to visit just the open cenote, just the underground cenote, or both. The open cenote has a jumping platform, too. If you’re lucky, you may even see monkeys!
There’s usually a troop of them living nearby. While they also offer ATV and jungle zip lining, these activities don’t get well reviewed on trip advisor.
Cenote Zapote
This cenote is a bit more commercialized than the others on this list. It’s actually a few cenotes together within the same complex. The Cenote Zapote owners offer food on site as well as showers, changing rooms, lockers, and bathrooms.
You can even zipline into the water, similar to Xel-Ha. These zip lines aren’t very high, and start just a few meters above the water. This makes them perfect for even kiddos to enjoy.
Itinerary for Cancun Day 4: Shopping & City Exploration
If you visit any Xcaret-owned properties and are staying in the Cancun hotel zone, don’t remove your bracelet when you leave. The next day before heading out shopping, stop by the Scenic Tower.
You get to ride it FREE with your admission bracelet from any Xcaret-owned park.
The scenic tower offers a beautiful 360-degree view of Cancun from 80 ft in the air! Because we visited with a small child, we arrived right when it opened at 9 am. At that time, there was no wait to ride it.
We were told by the workers that it gets busier in the afternoons. The tower is open until 9 pm. I imagine the view is quite impressive around sunset.
Pro Tip: The admissions bracelets from Xel-Ha, Xcaret, Xplor, Xenses, etc must be intact on your wrist in order to ride the Scenic Tower.
This is why it’s important to ride the day after you visit one of their eco-parks. The wristbands are only made of paper, so they may fall off if you wait any longer.
Shopping
The most interesting places to shop in Cancun are Isla Shopping Village and Mercado 28. Mercado 28 is a fun, local flea market with food stalls. It has a variety of small shops from clothing to souvenirs available.
Make sure you have pesos on hand when you go because most of them don’t take credit cards. If a shop actually takes US dollars, the exchange rate will not be in your favor.
Isla Shopping Village is a higher-end shopping plaza that’s popular because it has a lovely man-made canal running through it. There is also a Ferris wheel and some fun restaurants for dining.
However, there are cute shops and plazas everywhere in the hotel zone. Often you can just wander out of your hotel, look both ways, and find a fun place to browse for trinkets. We enjoy the shopping complex across from Coco Bongo.
Our 2017 family trip was my first time returning to Cancun since spring break in college. So it was certainly a different experience than when I was 20. However, we did wander into the same store that I discovered way back in the day.
The storefront felt familiar at first but I became certain it was the same exact one when I saw it still offered free tequila shots like it did over 15 years ago!
I took a shot, for old-time’s sake. Little Man sniffed it first and said, “yuck, mama!”
If you really want to shop till you drop, consider hiring a driver for the day to take you to all the best shopping spots.
👉 This tour includes a visit to both Mercado 28 and Isla Shopping Center as well as a tequila tasting and round-trip transportation from your hotel.
The tequila on this tour is definitely better than the cheap freebies I tried on my own.
Itinerary for Cancun Day 5: Visit a Nearby Island
While day trips on the mainland are a lot of fun, there are some unique adventures in the islands as well. We visited Isla Mujeres and found a lot of really fun things to do there!
Pro Tip: It’s really easy to take the ferry to Isla Mujeres from the Cancun Hotel Zone, too.
If you’re more into nature, then Isla Contoy may be more your thing. It is actually our favorite day trip from Cancun. You can even get round-trip transportation to the island from Cancun, since there aren’t any ferries that go there.
But we wouldn’t have gone to Isla Mujeres twice if it wasn’t a ton of fun. Make sure to rent a golf cart during your visit. We have a whole different post about our favorite Isla Mujeres itinerary.
Where to Stay in Cancun
There are hotels of all sizes and price points in Cancun. This makes it great for planning a family vacation because you can always find something in your budget to round out your itinerary in Cancun.
We really love the Sunset World resorts there because you can stay at one but dine and play at all four. They even have a free shuttle bus to drive you between the hotels. It runs every hour.
👉 Ocean Spa Resort has a swim-up bar, playground, and separate kiddie pool.
The other hotels didn’t have a swim-up bar and only two of them had a playground.
👉 Sunset Marina Resort & Yacht Club is the only one with a waterslide, and their buffet breakfast is absolutely outstanding.
Sunset Royal has a huge stage for nightly performances and it just renovated its kids’ club in January 2022. The owners have made each location unique and enjoyable in its own way.
Laguna Suites had a beautiful golf course that we saw from the hotel shuttle. However, we didn’t actually spend time there so I can’t speak to how good a course it is to play.
There didn’t seem to be many family-oriented amenities there. It was definitely a spot for golf fans and I heard the spa is pretty great.
Best Days to Travel to Cancun
The most popular time to visit Cancun is between December and April. The weather is generally sunny and warm, but not too hot. Temperatures generally range between 75 and 90 degrees with very little rain.
Occasionally, cold fronts can blow in chillier weather for a few days. So pack an umbrella and a light jacket just in case.
Most people travel to Cancun on the weekends. There are more flights available on weekends. In addition, it’s the easiest way to maximize travel days for people working a standard Monday to Friday workweek.
However, if you have travel flexibility, the cheapest days to fly to Cancun tend to be on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. It’s still possible to build an itinerary for Cancun when arriving midweek.
Getting Around Cancun
Kukulcan Boulevard is the main street that runs the length of the Cancun hotel zone. There are taxis that will drive you around. Most hotel concierges will call them for you, or you can hail one on the street.
If you choose the latter option, always make sure you know the price in advance. Although there are supposed to be set prices depending on the distance, the taxis aren’t metered. So you may get overcharged if you don’t haggle a bit before getting in.
Some hotels have shuttle buses that will take you between their properties. If you aren’t staying at a hotel that offers this, or if you want to go somewhere between the shuttle stops, there is a public bus service throughout the hotel zone.
The buses run 24 hours a day and charge 12 pesos per ride (~$.60 USD). However, they don’t give change so if you give them more the driver keeps it.
While there are bus stops along the R1 and R2 routes that run along Kukulcan Boulevard, you can simply flag down a bus that’s going in the direction you want. When you’re ready to get off, just pull the cord that runs the length of the bus. It will pull over to let you off.
These buses are safe and convenient. They are geared toward tourists. We’ve ridden them without any issues. So don’t be afraid to try one while you’re checking off your itinerary for Cancun!
👉 While we have global health insurance for our day-to-day lives, we also elect travel insurance with SafetyWing for our spurts of fast travel adventure!
Conclusion: Itinerary for Cancun
Despite its party reputation, Cancun is also a very family-friendly town.
Both in the Hotel Zone and further away, there are many activities to keep a family busy for a one-week vacation or even longer.
There are also a ton of great hotels to enjoy at a variety of price points. Whether you want a luxury all-inclusive or a budget hotel stay, there is something for you!
If you’re interested in staying at any of the Sunset World resorts during your itinerary for Cancun, contact us. We have access to discounted rates and upgraded rooms not offered by other travel agents or on travel booking websites.
