Cancun Things to Do

Think that you’ve seen it all in Cancun? Think again. Though this glittering jewel of a resort town does seem to have everything a tourist could want – white sand beaches, palm trees, night clubs, and underwater activities, there’s a whole lot more going on just outside Cancun’s borders. If you’ve never been beyond the reaches of Cancun, now’s a good time to start.

While not technically in Cancun, Puerto Moroles is a quaint little seaside fishing village with enough character, charm, and white-sand beaches to get people coming here year after year – and directly from Cancun. If you find the hustle and bustle of Cancun too much, or just think you’d enjoy a nice little getaway to see something a bit quieter, a bit different, a bit more of the ordinary, consider heading to the fishing town of Puerto Moroles.

Running in a single windswept ribbon of glittering white sand and clear sapphire water, the beaches of Cancun can seem endless. As you head north from the resort-studded stretch along Boulevard Kukulcan, past the lagoons, jungles, and city proper, you’ll notice the Caribbean becoming ever calmer and more welcoming.

Among the most impressive of the ancient Mayan cities, Chichen Itza is well known for the sophisticated detail of its architecture. Embedded in the spectacular stonework are myriad references to Mayan cosmology, from the 365 steps climbing the main Pyramid of Kukulkan, tracing the annual path of the sun, to the 13 ball courts believed to represent the lunar calendar.

Splendid Chichén Itzá (600AD–1000AD), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is quite rightly the most famous of Mexico’s pre-Columbian cities. Just two hours from Cancún, the awe-inspiring Classical Mayan masterpiece is a must on any Yucatán itinerary. Many travelers have also heard of stunning Tulúm (1200–1450AD), a Mayan resort town right on the white Caribbean beaches, famed for the lovely freshwater cenotes nearby.