Top 5 Things You Can’t Miss Visiting Cancun This Winter (And How Long They’ll Take)

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We completely understand the ultimate vacation mindset. Some of us have decided that we are not moving any further than the exact distance between our comfortable hotel bed and our poolside lounge chair. When you pay top dollar for a premium all inclusive Cancun vacation, doing absolutely nothing for a week is a highly respectable strategy.

However, if you want to get off the resort property for a day or two and actually experience the absolute best things the Mexican Caribbean has to offer, you need a solid game plan. You do not want to accidentally book an excursion that sounds like a quick trip but ends up keeping you on a bus for fourteen hours.

To help you plan the perfect itinerary, we are breaking down the top five must do activities for your Cancun trip this winter. More importantly, we are giving you the exact time breakdowns so you know precisely how long you will be away from the swim up bar and exactly how long transportation will take.

1. Isla Mujeres

If you are staying in the Cancun Hotel Zone, you will constantly see a beautiful island sitting right across the bright blue bay. That is Isla Mujeres, and it is the absolute perfect day trip for travelers who hate long bus rides. The island is incredibly small, heavily populated with friendly locals, and the absolute best way to explore it is by renting a golf cart for the day. You can slowly cruise down the scenic coastal roads, grab an ice cold margarita overlooking the ocean cliffs at Punta Sur, and spend the afternoon swimming at Playa Norte. This specific beach consistently ranks as one of the best in the entire world thanks to its powder soft white sand and incredibly calm turquoise water.

• Transportation Time: A highly scenic 15 to 20 minute ferry ride from the Hotel Zone or Puerto Juarez.
• Time Off The Resort: Highly flexible. You can easily do a quick 4 hour half day trip or stay for a full 8 hour day to catch the spectacular sunset.

2. Chichen Itza

You simply cannot visit this region of Mexico without seeing the most famous archaeological site in North America. Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city and officially one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Standing at the absolute base of the massive El Castillo pyramid is a completely humbling experience that photos simply cannot capture. You will learn incredibly fascinating details about ancient Mayan astronomy, culture, and architecture from expert local guides. The only catch is that this massive ancient city is located deep in the neighboring state of Yucatan, meaning it requires a serious travel commitment.

• Transportation Time: 2.5 to 3 hours each way driving on the smooth federal toll highway.
• Time Off The Resort: 10 to 12 hours. This is a massive full day commitment, so plan to be away from your hotel from early morning until dinner time.

3. The Jungle Cenotes

If you want to experience something entirely unique to this specific part of the world, you have to swim in a cenote. These are massive natural sinkholes completely filled with crystal clear, heavily filtered groundwater. The Yucatan Peninsula has thousands of them hidden deep in the lush jungle. Some are completely open like gorgeous natural swimming pools, while others are entirely enclosed inside dark limestone caves packed with stalactites. Swimming in the freezing cold, pristine water is the absolute best way to cool off after a hot morning in the tropical sun.

• Transportation Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the famous “Ruta de los Cenotes” near Puerto Morelos.
• Time Off The Resort: 4 to 6 hours. It is the perfect half day excursion that still gets you back to your resort in time for a late lunch.

4. Xcaret Park

Xcaret is essentially the Disney World of the Mexican Caribbean, but with a massive focus on raw nature and authentic Mexican culture. This massive eco archaeological park is built directly into the jungle coastline. You can spend your entire day floating down spectacular underground rivers, snorkeling in ocean inlets, and walking through massive butterfly pavilions. You absolutely must stay for the evening spectacular, which is a massive live production featuring hundreds of performers showcasing the entire history of Mexico through incredible music and traditional dance.

• Transportation Time: Roughly 1 hour to 1.5 hours driving south down the main highway toward Playa del Carmen.
• Time Off The Resort: 10 to 12 hours. You will want to maximize your expensive entrance ticket, so plan to leave right after breakfast and return late at night after the final show.

5. Playa Delfines Viewpoint And The Cancun Letters

If you want the ultimate souvenir photo to prove you actually left your hotel room, you need to head straight to Playa Delfines. Located toward the southern end of the Hotel Zone, this is widely considered the absolute best public beach in all of Cancun. Because there are no massive hotels blocking the immediate view, you get a completely unobstructed, panoramic look at the crashing turquoise waves. This is exactly where you will find the iconic, brightly colored CANCUN letters. There is almost always a line of tourists waiting to snap a picture, but the incredible ocean backdrop makes it entirely worth the quick wait.

• Transportation Time: 10 to 20 minutes depending on exactly where your specific resort is located in the Hotel Zone.
• Time Off The Resort: 1 to 2 hours. It is a highly incredibly fast, totally free excursion that you can knock out right after breakfast.