These Are 5 Places In Cancun You Should NOT Visit On Your Next Trip

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We usually spend our time telling you where to go—the best beaches, the coolest cenotes, and the tastiest tacos. But sometimes, a good vacation isn’t just about what you do; it’s about what you avoid.

Cancun is a world-class destination, but like any major tourist hotspot, it has its traps. There are specific locations that drain your wallet, waste your precious vacation hours, or put your safety at unnecessary risk.

Here at The Cancun Sun, we want you to have the perfect trip. To do that, you need to cross these 5 places off your itinerary immediately.

1. Street ATMs in the Hotel Zone

You need cash for tacos and tips. You see a generic gray ATM on the sidewalk near the nightclubs or outside a convenience store. It looks convenient. Do not touch it.

Standalone ATMs in high-traffic tourist areas are the number one target for “skimmers”—devices attached to the card slot that steal your data. Because these machines are often unmonitored at night, criminals have easy access to tamper with them.

• The Risk: Your card gets cloned, and your account gets drained before you even finish your margarita.
• The Alternative: Only use ATMs located inside a bank or a major supermarket (like Chedraui or Soriana). These are monitored, secure, and usually offer better exchange rates. For more on keeping your money safe, check our comprehensive safety guide for 2025.

2. Market 28 (After DARK)

We love Downtown Cancun, but timing is everything. Market 28 is a sprawling maze of souvenir shops that is fun during the day (if you like haggling). But once the sun goes down, it transforms.

Most shops close by 7:00 PM. The shutters come down, the lights go out, and the maze of narrow alleyways becomes desolate. Furthermore, the residential streets surrounding it (the Supermanzanas) can be confusing for tourists to navigate in the dark.

• The Risk: It is easy to get lost in a dark, unpatrolled area.
• The Alternative: If you want downtown vibes at night, go to Parque Las Palapas. It is well-lit, full of families, and safe. As we noted in our guide to downtown nightlife safety, sticking to the renovated hubs is the smart move.

3. The “Welcome Center” Breakfast

You arrive at your resort, and a friendly concierge offers you a “Welcome VIP Breakfast” to explain the amenities. They might even offer you free tickets to Xcaret or a discount on tours.

Do not go. This is not a breakfast; it is a high-pressure timeshare sales presentation that will hold you hostage for 4 hours of your precious vacation.

• The Risk: Wasting half a day listening to a sales pitch you can’t escape.
• The Alternative: Eat breakfast at the buffet you already paid for and head straight to the beach. Nothing is free in Cancun. For more tips on dodging these scams upon arrival, read our airport survival guide.

4. Chichen Itza (At Noon)

Visiting a Wonder of the World is amazing. Visiting it at 12:00 PM is miserable. By noon, the tour buses from Cancun have arrived, dumping thousands of people into the site. The sun is directly overhead with zero shade, baking the stones (and you).

• The Risk: Heat exhaustion and photos full of umbrellas.
• The Alternative: Go early (arrive at 8:00 AM) or pick a closer, shadier ruin. As we analyzed in our honest review of the Chichen Itza day trip, sometimes the long drive and the midday crowds just aren’t worth it.

5. Roadside “Tourist” Pharmacies

You will see them everywhere in the Tourist Zone—small pharmacies with bright signs advertising Viagra, Tramadol, and antibiotics without a prescription.

Stay away. The U.S. State Department has issued multiple warnings about these vendors. Pills sold here are often unregulated and, in some terrifying cases, have been found to contain fentanyl or methamphetamine.

• The Risk: Taking counterfeit medication that could be lethal.
• The Alternative: Only shop at recognized chain pharmacies like Farmacia Guadalajara, Farmacias del Ahorro, or Farmacias YZA. These are legitimate businesses with supply chain controls. Read our full warning on pharmacy safety before you buy anything.

The Verdict

Cancun is safe and fun, provided you stay “street smart.” Avoid the lonely ATMs, skip the timeshare breakfast, and buy your sunscreen at a real store. Your vacation (and your bank account) will thank you.

Safe travels!