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Where to Stay in Cancun? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay

Heading to Cancun and unsure where to stay? Here are the six best areas, from the Hotel Zone to Isla Mujeres, and my hotel picks in every price range.

Aerial photo of the Hotel Zone in Cancún, with the Nichupté Lagoon on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other

Cancun is Mexico’s biggest beach resort, with white sand, turquoise water and hotels of every size along the Caribbean Sea. It’s also the gateway to the Riviera Maya, with Mayan ruins, cenotes and small islands, which is why many travellers end up staying somewhere quite different from what they’d planned. Deciding where to stay in Cancun really matters.

Where you base yourself makes a big difference, because the distances are greater than they look on the map. Do you want all-inclusive, nightlife, low prices or a quiet island? Here are my six suggested areas and three hotels in each, from luxury to budget.

Planning your trip to Cancun at the last minute? 🇲🇽

Here are some of the best things to do, plus hotels and other tips for your trip to Cancun.

🎡 Top Activities & Tours:

1. See the Mayan ruins on a day trip to Chichén Itzá with a cenote and Valladolid
2. Enjoy a whole day of snorkelling and beach time on a catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres
3. Drive through the jungle and swim in a cenote on a buggy tour from Playa del Carmen

🛌 Best Hotels:

1. Hyatt Ziva Cancun All-Inclusive is an all-inclusive luxury resort right at the tip of Punta Cancún
2. Oleo Cancun Playa All Inclusive Resort gives you all-inclusive right on the beach at a mid-range price
3. Sina Suites Cancun is a quiet, affordable adults-only hotel by the lagoon

Where to Stay in Cancun: The Best Areas

Below, I go through the areas one by one with a map, transport, price level and three hotels in each. The prices come from a search for a weekend in February for two people, and February is high season, so they’re usually lower in September and October. Remember that the price of an all-inclusive hotel covers food and drink for both of you, so compare it with a standard hotel plus what you’d otherwise spend in restaurants. Hotels usually price in US dollars, and 1 dollar is roughly 75p.

1. Northern Hotel Zone - best area for first-time visitors and nightlife 🌴

  • 📍 Distance to the centre: Punta Cancún is at km 9 on Boulevard Kukulcán, about 9 km from Downtown. By bus it takes 20 to 30 minutes.
  • 🚌 Transport: Buses marked R-1 and Zona Hotelera run frequently along the whole boulevard to Downtown, and a ride costs about 13 pesos (around 50p).
  • ✈️ Time from Cancun Airport: About 25 minutes by car or taxi.
  • 💰 Price level: $ to $$$$. The three hotels below cost roughly 105 to 725 dollars (around £80 to £540) per night when I searched for a weekend in February, and the most expensive is all-inclusive.
  • 👮 Safety: The Hotel Zone is the most heavily policed area of Cancun, with police along the boulevard. Keep a close eye on your belongings in the crowds around the nightclubs late at night.

The Hotel Zone is the long, narrow sandbar between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté Lagoon, shaped like the number 7, with Boulevard Kukulcán running all the way through it. The northern stretch from Downtown out to Punta Cancún faces the Bahía de Mujeres, so beaches such as Playa Tortugas, Playa Langosta and Playa Caracol have calm, shallow water without big waves. Out on the point at km 9 is the Party Center, where nightclubs like Coco Bongo, shopping centres and restaurants sit side by side.

Aerial view of the beach and hotels on Punta Cancún in the northern Hotel Zone

From here it’s easy to get out on the water. The ferry to Isla Mujeres leaves from the piers at Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol, and if you fancy a full day of snorkelling and beach time, you can take a catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres from about 35 dollars (around £25). I’ve written a whole guide on getting here from the plane by bus, shuttle or taxi: From Cancun Airport to the Hotel Zone.

See hotels in the northern Hotel Zone here.

I’d stay here if it’s your first trip to Cancun, if you want to be able to walk to restaurants and bars in the evening, or if you’re travelling with young children and want a beach with calm water. Most things are just a few minutes’ walk away, and the bus takes you to Downtown when you want to eat more cheaply.

The downside is the noise and the crowds. Around the Party Center the partying goes on until late into the night, especially in March, when American students are on spring break, so pick a hotel a little away from km 9 if you want to sleep. The beaches on the north side are also narrower than those further south.

Hotels in the Northern Hotel Zone

Hyatt Ziva Cancun All-Inclusive - all-inclusive luxury resort right out on Punta Cancún

Hyatt Ziva sits right at the tip of Punta Cancún with sea on three sides and beaches facing both north and east. There are several pools, a spa, a kids’ club and a wide choice of restaurants, and food and drink are included in the price. Some guests find check-in impersonal and too focused on selling upgrades.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic resort, it exceeded my expectations.”

See photos and book Hyatt Ziva Cancun here.

Beachscape Kin Ha Villas & Suites - quiet beach hotel with a garden at km 8.5

Beachscape Kin Ha is at km 8.5, right on the beach on the north side, where the water is calm, and it’s a few minutes’ walk to Punta Cancún. There’s a pool, a restaurant and free parking, and you can book room only or with breakfast. Rooms facing the boulevard can be noisy.

From one review: “Nice, clean hotel with a beautiful garden, pool and beach, a good restaurant and friendly staff.”

See photos and book Beachscape Kin Ha here.

Sina Suites Cancun - simple adults-only hotel by the lagoon

Sina Suites is on the lagoon side by the Pok-Ta-Pok golf course, less than a kilometre from the beach, and is adults only. There’s a pool with a bar and free parking, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in this area when I searched. You’re not staying on the beach, and a few guests find the food in the restaurant expensive.

One guest highlights: “A nice, comfortable hotel in a quiet spot.”

See photos and book Sina Suites here.

2. Hotel Zone South - best area for all-inclusive and beach holidays 🏖️

  • 📍 Distance to the centre: The southern part lies between km 13 and km 21, roughly 15 to 25 km from Downtown. By bus it takes 40 minutes or more.
  • 🚕 Transport: The buses run down here too, but most people take a taxi or stay at the hotel. Taxis in the Hotel Zone are expensive, so agree the fare before you get in.
  • ✈️ Time from Cancun Airport: Around 15 to 20 minutes by car, as the airport is just to the south.
  • 💰 Price level: $$ to $$$$$. The three hotels below cost around 110 to 665 dollars (roughly £80 to £500) per night when I searched for a weekend in February, and the two most expensive are all-inclusive.
  • 👮 Safety: Very safe around the resorts. Respect the sea, though, as the beaches here have waves and currents, so keep an eye on the flags by the lifeguard towers.

After Punta Cancun, the Hotel Zone turns south, and here the beaches face straight out onto the open Caribbean Sea. The sand is wider and whiter, the water is turquoise, and the hotels are big resorts with pools stretching right down to the beach. Playa Delfines at km 17.5 is one of the few large public beaches, and from the El Mirador viewpoint you can see the coastline in both directions.

The wide white beach of Playa Delfines with turquoise water in the southern part of the Hotel Zone in Cancun

At Punta Nizuc, at the southern end, you’ll find the MUSA underwater museum with more than 500 life-size sculptures, and a snorkelling trip to the gallery at Punta Nizuc costs 58 dollars (around £45). On the other side of the boulevard is the lagoon, where you can go by kayak or speedboat through the mangroves, and at Plaza Kukulcán, around km 13, there are restaurants with views over the water.

See hotels in Hotel Zone South here.

I would stay here if you want a classic all-inclusive beach holiday. In Cancun, all-inclusive is the rule rather than the exception, and it makes sense if you mainly want to lounge by the pool and on the beach. Just bear in mind that the à la carte restaurants need booking, the best drinks can cost extra, and tipping is still part of everyday life. If you want to eat out and explore the Riviera Maya, you’ll be paying for something you don’t use, so you’re better off choosing a hotel without all-inclusive.

The downside is sargassum seaweed. From spring until late summer, the brown seaweed drifts onto the east-facing beaches, and for some weeks large amounts pile up before the hotels manage to clear it. The quantities vary a lot from year to year, and the University of South Florida publishes a monthly forecast for the Caribbean. In winter there’s usually very little.

Hotels in Hotel Zone South

Secrets Mirabel Cancun Resort & Spa - adults-only luxury resort at km 19.5

Secrets Mirabel sits at km 19.5 right on the beach, with views over both the sea and the lagoon. It’s all-inclusive and adults-only, with a spa, an infinity pool and several restaurants. Guests complain that the staff are constantly trying to sell them something and that it’s hard to get a sun lounger.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The food was incredible with lots of variety, and the staff were friendly and attentive.”

See photos and book Secrets Mirabel here.

Oleo Cancun Playa All Inclusive Resort - all-inclusive at a mid-range price

Oleo Cancun Playa is also at km 19.5 on the beach, and here you get all-inclusive for less than at its neighbours. There’s a pool, a spa and a tennis court, and the hotel charges an environmental tax of around 5 dollars (about £4) per room per night on arrival. The loungers by the pool and on the beach are often reserved early in the morning.

One review says: “The staff were all really friendly and helpful and always cheerful, polite and welcoming.”

See photos and book Oleo Cancun Playa here.

BSEA Cancun Plaza Hotel - older beach hotel without all-inclusive

BSEA Cancun Plaza is at km 19.5 right on the beach, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions here when I searched. There’s a pool, free parking and beach loungers, but no all-inclusive, so you pay for food separately. Several guests mention that the building is very old and the furniture is basic.

One guest highlights: “Polite service, a clean hotel and a beachfront location in the hotel zone.”

See photos and book BSEA Cancun Plaza here.

3. Downtown Cancun - best area for local food and low prices 🌮

  • 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying in the city itself. Avenida Tulum is the main street, and from here it’s about 15 minutes by bus to the first beaches in the Hotel Zone.
  • 🚌 Transport: The ADO bus terminal is on Avenida Tulum, with buses to the airport, Playa del Carmen and the rest of the Yucatán, and the R-1 bus runs out to the Hotel Zone.
  • ✈️ Time from Cancun Airport: About 20 to 25 minutes by car or taxi and 30 to 45 minutes on the ADO bus to the terminal.
  • 💰 Price level: $ to $$. The three hotels below were around 50 to 150 dollars (roughly £35 to £110) per night when I searched for a weekend in February.
  • 👮 Safety: The streets around Avenida Tulum and Parque de las Palapas are lively and fine in the evening. Take a registered taxi late at night and stick to the central streets.

Downtown is the Cancun where the locals live and work, and it looks nothing like the Hotel Zone. There’s no beach here, but you get low prices, proper taquerias and street life in the evening instead. Parque de las Palapas is the city’s meeting point, with stalls selling marquesitas and tacos and live music, and at Mercado 28 you can buy souvenirs and have lunch for a fraction of the price out by the water. In the evening the little streets around the park are full of families, and the food often costs less than half of what you’d pay in the Hotel Zone.

The colourful Cancun letters in front of the town hall on Avenida Tulum in Downtown Cancun

Downtown is also a good base for day trips. Buses from the ADO terminal run to Valladolid and Mérida, and if you’d rather not drive yourself, you can take a day trip to Chichén Itzá with a cenote and Valladolid from around 57 dollars (around £45). The ancient Mayan city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is about two and a half to three hours away by car.

See hotels in Downtown Cancun here.

I’d stay here if you’re travelling on a budget, if you only have one night before or after a road trip, or if you want to see the Mexico that isn’t built for tourists. Many hotels have a pool, and a couple of them run free shuttles for guests out to the Hotel Zone.

The downside is the distance to the beach. You’ll need to take the bus every day, and in the hottest months it’s tough staying somewhere without a sea breeze. Also, stick to the streets around Avenida Tulum, Avenida Yaxchilán and the park, as the outlying residential neighbourhoods further into the city are a long way from everything and have nothing for tourists.

Hotels in Downtown Cancun

Enigmatic Boutique Hotel - adults-only five-star boutique hotel

Enigmatic is on Calle Mero in a quiet neighbourhood a few minutes’ walk from Avenida Tulum, and it’s adults only. There’s a pool, spa and restaurant, and breakfast is served. Some guests complain about damp in the rooms and poor lighting.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is fabulous for the price. Our two rooms with king-size beds were huge and very nicely decorated.”

See photos and book Enigmatic Boutique Hotel here.

Adhara Hacienda Cancun - large mid-range hotel with pool and breakfast

Adhara Hacienda is on Avenida Nader close to Avenida Tulum and had the highest score of the three hotels in this area in my search, with over 4,000 reviews. Breakfast is included, parking is free, and the hotel runs a free shuttle for guests out to the Hotel Zone. Without a car, though, it’s a bit of a trek to most places, according to some guests.

From one review: “Good pool and lovely breakfast. Free parking.”

See photos and book Adhara Hacienda here.

Hotel Parador - cheap and simple hotel on Avenida Tulum

Hotel Parador is on Avenida Tulum in the middle of Downtown, a few minutes’ walk from Parque de las Palapas and the ADO terminal. There’s a pool and free parking, and it was the cheapest hotel in the whole guide when I searched. Breakfast isn’t included, and a few guests feel the photos of the pool look nicer than the real thing.

One guest highlights: “The staff were very kind and welcoming. The rooms were clean, and the pool looked nice.”

See photos and book Hotel Parador here.

4. Costa Mujeres - best area for luxury resorts and peace and quiet 🥂

  • 📍 Distance to the centre: Costa Mujeres is on the mainland north of Puerto Juárez, around 10 to 30 km from Downtown depending on the hotel.
  • 🚕 Transport: There’s no practical public transport, so you’ll need a taxi, a transfer or a hire car if you want to leave the resort.
  • ✈️ Time from Cancun Airport: Around 35 to 50 minutes by car.
  • 💰 Price level: $$$$ to $$$$$. The three hotels below cost around 400 to 1,190 dollars (roughly £300 to £890) a night when I searched for a weekend in February, and the two most expensive are all-inclusive.
  • 👮 Safety: Very safe within the resorts, which sit behind guarded entrances. There just isn’t much to walk to outside the hotel grounds.

Costa Mujeres is Cancun’s newest resort coast and lies on the mainland directly opposite Isla Mujeres. Along the road towards Punta Sam and Isla Blanca, large resorts have been built with golf courses, long pools and their own beaches, and there’s far more space and calm than in the Hotel Zone. The beaches face Bahía de Mujeres, so the water is often calm and there are fewer people.

You’re staying close to Isla Mujeres. From Puerto Juárez and the car ferry at Punta Sam it’s a short hop over to the island, and many of the resorts arrange catamaran trips. Otherwise there isn’t much outside the hotel, and that’s precisely the point. On the other hand, most resorts have so many pools, restaurants and activities that a week flies by without leaving the area.

See hotels in Costa Mujeres here.

I’d stay here if you want a big luxury resort, if you’re on your honeymoon, or if you’re a family who wants a week of pool, beach and kids’ club without having to go anywhere. All-inclusive makes more sense here than in any other area in this guide, as there are no restaurants to head out to in the evening. Many of the resorts are new, so the rooms are modern and often larger than in the Hotel Zone.

The downside is the price and the distance to everything else. There are no cheap hotels in Costa Mujeres, and a taxi to the Party Center or Downtown can easily cost as much as a dinner. If you want to take day trips to Playa del Carmen, Tulum or the cenotes, you’ll also spend longer in the car than from the Hotel Zone. Also check whether an airport transfer is included in the price, as a taxi out here is expensive.

Hotels in Costa Mujeres

Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres - adults-only luxury resort at the far northern end

Secrets Playa Blanca sits far to the north on the road towards Isla Blanca and is the most expensive hotel in this guide. It’s all-inclusive and adults-only, with an infinity pool, a spa and several restaurants, and it has the highest rating of my three suggestions out here. Some guests mention noise when there are events at the hotel.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was far beyond our expectations!”

See photos and book Secrets Playa Blanca here.

Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort - all-inclusive family resort by the golf course

Dreams Playa Mujeres is located by the golf course in Playa Mujeres, right on the beach. It’s all-inclusive and built for families, with a kids’ club, water slides and several pools. Several guests feel the pricier Preferred Club rooms aren’t worth the money.

From one review: “Very relaxing, good food, and the staff were super friendly.”

See photos and book Dreams Playa Mujeres here.

Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa - large family resort closest to the city

Villa del Palmar sits at km 5.2 on the road towards Punta Sam and is the closest of the three hotels to Downtown. There’s a kids’ club, a spa and several pools, and you can choose with or without all-inclusive. Guests mention that there isn’t much to eat outside the resort.

One guest highlights: “The resort was very clean, and the staff were friendly and welcoming.”

See photos and book Villa del Palmar here.

5. Isla Mujeres - best area for couples and island calm 🐢

  • 📍 Distance to the centre: The island lies just off Cancun, and the ferry from Puerto Juárez takes around 20 minutes. The town and Playa Norte are on the island’s northern tip.
  • 🛺 Transport: You can walk around town, and for the rest of the island you can use a golf cart, scooter, bike or taxi. There’s no need for a car.
  • ✈️ Time from Cancun Airport: Around half an hour by taxi to Puerto Juárez and then the ferry, so allow one to one and a half hours in total.
  • 💰 Price level: $ to $$$$. The three hotels below cost roughly 85 to 590 US dollars (around £65 to £440) per night when I searched for a weekend in February.
  • 👮 Safety: Isla Mujeres is relaxed and safe. Drive carefully in your golf cart, as the roads are narrow and shared with taxis and scooters.

Isla Mujeres is a narrow island around 7 km long off the coast of Cancun, with colourful houses, café-lined streets and a completely different pace from the mainland. Playa Norte on the northern tip is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole area, with white sand and shallow, calm water you can wade far out into, and in the evening people gather here for the sunset. At the southern end you’ll find the cliffs at Punta Sur. Lots of visitors hire a golf cart for the day and drive all the way round the island, and at Garrafón in the south you can snorkel on the reef.

Playa Norte with white sand and shallow turquoise water on the northern tip of Isla Mujeres

The ferry sails from Puerto Juárez and from several piers in the Hotel Zone, and you’ll find the timetable and fares at Ultramar. Tickets are cheapest from Puerto Juárez, and the ferry company asks you to be at the terminal half an hour before departure.

See hotels on Isla Mujeres here.

I’d stay here if you’re a couple or travelling solo and want a holiday on a small island within walking distance of both the beach and restaurants. It’s also a good choice if you want to avoid most of the sargassum seaweed, as Playa Norte faces north and usually gets far less than the east-facing beaches.

The downside is the day-trippers. From late morning the catamarans arrive from Cancun, Playa Norte fills up and sunloungers at the beach bars cost money. If you want to go on excursions to Chichén Itzá or the cenotes, you’ll also have to take the ferry first, so the island is best suited to a beach holiday. On the other hand, the island becomes quiet and pleasant once most of the day-trippers have sailed back in the afternoon.

Hotels on Isla Mujeres

Ixchel Beach Hotel - beach hotel right on Playa Norte

Ixchel Beach Hotel sits right on Playa Norte, around a ten-minute walk from the ferry terminal, and has a pool and bar facing the beach. It’s the most expensive of my three suggestions on the island, but you’re staying on the best beach. Several guests find the food and drink at the hotel expensive.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The beach by the hotel (Playa Norte) was amazing. One of the best beaches we have ever seen.”

See photos and book Ixchel Beach Hotel here.

The Mint Resort Isla Mujeres - hotel with a pool in the middle of town

The Mint Resort is on Avenida Madero in the middle of town, around a four-minute walk from Playa Norte and five to ten minutes from the ferry. There’s a pool, spa and restaurant. Some guests find the beds uncomfortable.

One review reads: “The Mint Resort is a fantastic place to stay on Isla Mujeres, so good that we even extended our stay by two more nights.”

See photos and book The Mint Resort here.

Suites Los Arcos - cheap, clean rooms on Avenida Hidalgo

Suites Los Arcos is on Avenida Hidalgo, the island’s street of restaurants and bars, around a ten-minute walk from Playa Norte. It was the cheapest of my three suggestions on the island when I searched. There’s no pool, and guests mention noise from the nearby bars.

One guest highlights: “The place was really good for the price, very clean, check-in was easy, and the staff were friendly and very helpful.”

See photos and book Suites Los Arcos here.

6. Playa del Carmen - best area for town life and day trips on the Riviera Maya 🚗

  • 📍 Distance to the centre: Playa del Carmen is about 65 km south of Cancun. You stay in the middle of town and can walk to both the beach and Quinta Avenida.
  • 🚌 Transport: ADO buses run to Cancun and the airport, and colectivos run along the coast towards Tulum. The ferry to Cozumel leaves from the pier by Parque Los Fundadores.
  • ✈️ Time from Cancun Airport: About 45 minutes to an hour by car or on the ADO bus.
  • 💰 Price level: $ to $$$. The three hotels below cost about 95 to 295 dollars (around £70 to £220) per night when I searched for a weekend in February.
  • 👮 Safety: Quinta Avenida is lively and fine in the evening, but watch out for pickpockets and pushy vendors, and never buy anything from people offering drugs.

Playa del Carmen isn’t Cancun, but many people choose the town as their base instead of the Hotel Zone. It sits in the middle of the Riviera Maya and has a proper town centre, where the pedestrian street Quinta Avenida runs parallel to the beach from Parque Los Fundadores northwards, lined with restaurants, bars and shops. You can walk everywhere, and there are far more small hotels and apartments than big resorts. In the evening, the action moves up towards Calle 12, where most of the bars and clubs are.

Palm trees and tropical plants along the pedestrian street Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen

From here it’s a short trip to the cenotes, Tulum and the theme parks along the coast, and you can take the boat to Cozumel. It’s a good idea to hire a car for a couple of days, and you can compare prices at car hire at Booking.com. If you’d rather not drive yourself, you can take a jungle buggy tour with a swim in a cenote from about 105 dollars (around £80).

See hotels in Playa del Carmen here.

I would stay here if you want to see as much of the Riviera Maya as possible, if you like eating out every evening, or if you’d rather stay in a town with some life than at a resort. Tulum is about an hour further south, so Playa del Carmen is also a good compromise if you want to fit both Tulum and Cancun into your trip. The restaurants are also cheaper than in the Hotel Zone.

The downside is the beach. It’s narrower than in the Hotel Zone and faces east, so it gets sargassum seaweed in season, and the central stretch is very crowded. Quinta Avenida is also very touristy, with vendors calling out to you, and prices rise the closer you get to Parque Los Fundadores.

Hotels in Playa del Carmen

Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen - adults-only all-inclusive on the beach

Wyndham Alltra is on Calle Constituyentes, right on the beach in the northern part of the centre, less than a kilometre from the busiest stretch of Quinta Avenida. It’s all-inclusive and adults-only, with a rooftop pool, a spa and several restaurants. The pool area can get crowded and noisy when the hotel is full.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything! Fantastic service and facilities at a very reasonable price.”

See photos and book Wyndham Alltra here.

Hotel Casa Colibri - beach hotel in the middle of town

Casa Colibri is on 1. Avenida between Calle 10 and 12, right on the beach and a few minutes’ walk from Quinta Avenida. There’s no pool and breakfast costs extra, but the beach is right outside the door. Bars and clubs nearby can be noisy at night.

From a review: “Great location right on the beach, close to all the main spots in Playa del Carmen.”

See photos and book Casa Colibri here.

Hotel Casa de las Flores - small hotel with a pool a little away from the main street

Casa de las Flores is on Avenida 20 between Calle 4 and 6, a couple of blocks from Quinta Avenida and about 550 metres from the beach. There’s a pool, and breakfast is included in the price. It was the cheapest of my three suggestions here when I searched, but some guests mention street noise.

One guest highlights: “Fantastic hotel a little away from the main street in Playa del Carmen.”

See photos and book Casa de las Flores here.

Where not to stay in Cancun?

Don’t stay on the lagoon side of the Hotel Zone if the beach matters most to you. The hotels over there are cheaper, but you’ll have to cross the busy boulevard and find a public beach access every day. In Downtown, stick to the neighbourhoods around Avenida Tulum, as the outer residential areas are far from everything, and the Foreign Office warns of theft and robbery throughout Mexico.

Also don’t book a resort far down the Riviera Maya, for example at Puerto Aventuras or Akumal, if you want Cancun’s beaches and nightlife, because you’ll then spend an hour or more in the car each way. And don’t stay in Tulum to see Cancun. The two are about 130 km apart, and they’re really two different holidays.

If it’s your first trip to Cancun and you want the beach, restaurants and nightlife close by, I would stay in the northern part of the Hotel Zone. If you just want a week of all-inclusive and the most beautiful beach, the southern part is the right choice, and if you can afford to treat yourselves, Costa Mujeres is the one. Downtown is for those on a budget, Isla Mujeres for couples who want peace and quiet, and Playa del Carmen for those who want to get out and see the Riviera Maya.

Remember two practical things. All foreign tourists have to pay the state tourist tax Visitax, children included, and it’s paid online. And from June to November it’s hurricane season on the Yucatan Peninsula, so choose a booking with free cancellation if you’re travelling during that period.

Many people combine Cancun with a few days in the capital, and my guide to where to stay in Mexico City will help you with that part of the trip. If you’re flying via the USA, you can add a stopover and read about where to stay in Miami. And if you’re still weighing up another destination in the same part of the world, you can compare with my guides to where to stay in Costa Rica and where to stay in Puerto Rico.

Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇

• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers

Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?