There’s no denying the popularity of Cancun.
The millions of visitors the destination gets every year are evidence of how popular it is.
But Cancun isn’t just popular, it’s one of the top destinations in the world in 2025, according to TripAdvisor.
It made the Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best list along with 24 other well-known dreamy destinations, and it’s the only destination in Mexico to make the list.
Read on to find out why Cancun is so special and why it’s one of the most visited destinations in the world, but first, let’s look at how TripAdvisor selects the destinations that make it to this prestigious list.
TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards
Each year TripAdvisor awards the best hotels, restaurants, activities, beaches, and destinations in the world with the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award.
The top 25 in each category are chosen out of a total of approximately 8 million listings that are featured on TripAdvisor.
According to TripAdvisor, less than 1 percent of those listings make the list.
How The Best Of The Best Are Chosen
The listings that are awarded with the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award are those that have gotten a large number of “above-and-beyond” reviews.
The 2025 list is based on reviews and opinions received during the period between November 2023 through December 2024.
Cancun ranked #24 in the list of the world’s top 25 destinations.
What Travelers Love About Cancun
Different travelers have different reasons for loving Cancun because there’s just so much to love about it.
There’s literally something to do for everyone.
The beaches are the destination’s biggest claim to fame, but Cancun also has a vibrant nightlife, fascinating Mayan ruins, luxurious all-inclusive resorts, adventurous activities, and a great food scene too.
Cancun’s Unbelievable Location
Another thing that makes Cancun the amazing destination that it is is its location.
It’s surrounded by other beautiful destinations along the coast that can be explored too, like Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
Not only that, but there are several charming towns located further inland that are worth visiting as well.
Places like Merida and Valladolid offer a completely different experience and are easily accessible from Cancun by Maya Train.
Other Travelers’ Choice Awards Received By Cancun
The award for being one of the top 25 destinations in the world is not the only award that Cancun received in the Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Cancun’s Playa Delfines came in 16th place among the top 25 beaches in the world, with nearby Playa Norte on the island of Isla Mujeres that sits off Cancun’s coast following close behind at #19.
Additionally, Cancun’s Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid tour was ranked #5 on the world’s top things to do list.
Best Time To Visit Cancun
A lot of factors contribute to having an unforgettable vacation, including the timing.
Cancun receives millions of visitors throughout the year, but it’s busiest during two specific seasons: spring and winter.
If you love meeting other travelers or don’t mind the crowds, visiting during these months is fine, but if you want a more relaxing Cancun vacation, you’re better off visiting during the late summer or early fall.
Cancun’s Extensive Connectivity
One of the other reasons Cancun is so popular is its extensive connectivity with the rest of the world.
Cancun’s airport is directly connected to 129 airports in a total of 123 cities around the world.
Its most extensive connectivity is with the United States, with direct flights available from 44 U.S. airports.
So, if Cancun’s new ranking as the 24th top destination in the world has you ready to pack your bags, you have plenty of options for getting there.
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