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There are a ton of things to do in the Riviera Maya region that are easily accessible to Cancun tourists, but there is also a lot to do without even having to leave the main tourist area. We’ll share five family-friendly Cancun attractions that visitors can explore this winter that are right within the Hotel Zone. While transportation from the hotel to these attractions may still be necessary, the trip will be inexpensive and won’t take as much time to get to as some of the attractions outside of the Hotel Zone.
Many of the luxury all-inclusive resorts in Los Cabos offer enough amenities to give visitors the option of never even leaving the hotel. They typically have beautiful pools, offer resort activities, and some even provide entertainment on a daily or nightly basis. But there is plenty to miss out on by not exploring everything that the Cancun Hotel Zone has to offer, and these five attractions fall into that category.
Yamil Lu’um Ruins
The Yamil Lu’um Ruins sit right out in the open on Kukulcán Blvd. in the Hotel Zone. They are the ruins of a 13th-century Mayan temple that sits at the highest point of Cancun and looks down over the beach. The ruins are located near the Westin Lagunamar, and visitors can simply stop and get some pictures of some ancient ruins without leaving Cancun.
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Scenic Tower
The Scenic Tower is located in the Hotel Zone near the Playa Linda dock and is open every day from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. It stands 250 feet tall and offers spectacular 360-degree views of Cancun for miles as it slowly rotates so visitors can have a chance to see everything. Passes to climb to the top are $20.00 or free for those who book passes to any one of Xcaret’s parks in the region.
Cancun Aquarium
The Cancun Aquarium is full of interactive fun for the whole family, with numerous exhibits and learning opportunities. The Fish Tank area alone has 140 different ocean, and freshwater species and the contact area has even more, including species, like starfish, that visitors can actually touch. Admission to the aquarium itself is about $16 USD, and there are other experiences that can be added on for an additional cost.
Mayan Museum of Cancun
While many of the best Mayan ruins are far outside of the Cancun Hotel Zone, there is still an opportunity to learn about Mayan history in the area without having to go too far. Tickets for the museum are around $5 USD, and there is so much to be learned in this small museum that sits right in the heart of the Hotel Zone. In addition to the museum, there are also some ruins that visitors can walk through behind the building for no extra cost.
El Sol De Cancun
El Sol De Cancun translates to the Cancun Ferris Wheel, and a massive Ferris wheel it is, standing over 200 feet tall, it towers over the Cancun Hotel Zone and offers some of the best views of Cancun and the Caribbean Sea. It features 35 climate-controlled six-person cabins, one of which is a VIP cabin complete with music, leather upholstered seating, and a transparent floor. The cost to ride the Ferris wheel is around $15 USD, and the ride lasts about 15 – 20 minutes.
There is plenty of reason to explore outside of the Cancun Hotel Zone, but there is much to explore without going far as well. These attractions, along with the beaches, are enough to keep any family busy for the day and will result in learning a little bit more about this much-loved Mexican Caribbean vacation destination.
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