Everything Cancun Tourists Should Know About Visiting During The Busiest Time Of The Year 

Last Updated 12 months ago

Some people picture themselves on a tropical beach with balmy weather and temperatures in the high 90s with a fruity drink in hand.   

Others see themselves escaping the winter cold to enjoy mild tropical weather, sunny beach days, and a cold cerveza to sip on.   

Whichever team you’re on, Cancun is the perfect destination, but during the winter months expect the destination to be busy and packed with tourists.   

It doesn’t make it a bad time to visit Cancun, but you’ll want to plan accordingly, so here’s everything Cancun tourists should know about visiting during the busiest time of year.   

Hotel Occupancy  

If you’re going to be visiting Cancun during one of the busiest times of the year, then you can expect hotels to be pretty full.   

The good news is that many of the large all-inclusives in Cancun are situated on sprawling properties that don’t feel packed.   

You may want to consider one of these larger resorts where everyone is spread out a little bit more.   

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Cancun’s Different Areas 

Another option if you’re looking for a quieter Cancun vacation during one of the year’s busiest seasons is choosing an area outside of the Hotel Zone.   

The downtown area has been trending among travelers lately due to the authenticity of the area, and downtown hotels might not be quite as busy.   

Additionally, the Costa Mujeres area, just outside of the main tourist area of Cancun, offers a quieter option than the bustling Hotel Zone.   

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Booking Excursions 

In some vacation destinations, hotel guests spend the majority of the time in their posh all-inclusive resorts, but while Cancun has plenty of those, there is a lot more to see and do.   

Most visitors book excursions to explore the vast options in and around Cancun, like taking tours of Mayan archeological sites, visiting cenotes, and snorkeling in the crystal clear Caribbean Sea.   

That being said, if you have something in mind, it’s best to book as soon as you can so you don’t miss out.   

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Restaurant Reservations 

Many of the all-inclusives in Cancun have multiple dining options, and depending on where you’re staying you’ll likely be near numerous off-resort restaurants too.   

Don’t let the number of options fool you though, because the best restaurants will be busy most of the time.   

It’s wise to make reservations, even for some of the restaurants at your all-inclusive resort, and for some, you may even have to.   

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Arriving At Cancun Airport 

Cancun Airport averages over 500 flight arrivals a day, and during the winter, that number jumps considerably.   

Just last Wednesday, more than 600 flights arrived at the busy airport, which means thousands of travelers are trying to get through the airport and to their destination as quickly as possible.   

Be prepared to deal with a little chaos and some long lines for things like baggage claim and immigration, and have everything you need at hand to speed up the process.   

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Airport Transportation 

With all of the travelers arriving at Cancun Airport on these busy days, you do not want to fight for transportation.   

There are plenty of options once you arrive, but you might be waiting for some time when what you really want to be doing is enjoying your vacation.   

Booking your transportation in advance means it will be waiting when you arrive and you can beeline it to your destination.   

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Escaping The Crowds On Your Cancun Vacation 

To be sure, when you visit Cancun in the winter, there will be a lot of tourists visiting at the same time.   

There are ways to escape the crowds for some peace and quiet, though.   

From more secluded beaches to little-known cenotes, there are plenty of places where you can still find a little quiet time.

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