

Cancun is synonymous with beachy days and loud, fun filled nights — a favourite area for college students to visit on a spring break. All the party animals reading this should already be familiar with this sunny Mexican city that borders the Caribbean Sea. However, there are more slow paced, solitary adventures for you here in Cancun if you’re not that much of a night owl or clubber. We’ve selected these 15 things to do in Cancun for vacationers of all types with one unifying factor: these activities are all under 100 USD!
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1. For the adrenaline seeker
Do you want a bird’s-eye view? If you answered yes, then you may want to take a parasailing adventure with Cancun Parasailing Adventure. From this high vantage point, you’ll see sparkling hotels and the Caribbean Sea from above. Experienced guides will ensure your safety as you fly just above the water for half an hour.
Book Tours : Cancun Parasailing Adventure
2. For the aquatic admirers
This Reef and Shipwreck Snorkeling Tour is a beautiful way to see the waters of Cancun, over three and a half hours. Guides will properly train you to use the equipment, so it’s great for beginners. With the Reef and Shipwreck Snorkeling Tour, you’ll surely see some interesting underwater sights!
3. For the ancient ruins enthusiast
Ancient ruins will always have a mysterious charm. Unfortunately, that charm is not always so apparent when you have to deal with loads of other crowds and noise in the same area. This educational trip to Chichen Itza starts early so that you can avoid the crowds and dive into the secrets of the ruins with an archaeologist, who’ll show you and a small group around so that everyone has more time for questions.
4. For the party person
If you’ve come to Cancun for its vibrant nightlife, then the sexy, sizzling dance floor of the Palazzo is the place to be. Great drinks, fun techno music, and very enthusiastic staff are dedicated to providing guests with a great time, whether you remember it by the end of the night or not. Many people rave that this is one of the best clubbing experiences they’ve ever had.
Palazzo Nightclub Cancun
Address: Blvd Kukulcan km 9 Hotel Zone Cancun, Mexico
Price: from 60 USD
Opening Hours: 10 pm onwards
Contact: +52(998) 883 3333
Website: Palazzo Nightclub Cancun
5. For the surrealist artist type
Something fascinating lies under the waters of Cancun. Sculptures, frozen in time, act as a playground for the surrounding fish and algae. Blue waters and light filtering into the sea make the MUSA museum a must see for any visitor to Cancun. The tour package also includes other incredible views.
SEA VIEW Cancun: Transparent bottom boat with snorkel at underwater MUSA Museum
Price: from 60 USD
Duration: around 3 hours required
Website: Cancun CD
6. For the fine-dining fan
Peter’s Restaurant is a gourmet experience in a homey, romantic atmosphere with a chef that really knows what he’s doing. Peter’s Restaurant has been rated one of Cancun’s best restaurants for a very long time. The food here is fresh and high quality, yet the most expensive item on the menu is about 30 USD. A popular dish is the ravioli!
PETER's Restaurante
Address: Av. BONAMPAK 71-72, BETWEEN SIERRA & ROBALO Cancún, Mexico
Price: from 30 USD
Opening Hours: 6 pm to 10 pm
Contact: +52 998 251 9310
Website: PETER’s Restaurante
7. For that one friend who came with family
Even if your parents, sibling, or cousin managed to latch on to your spring break, you can still have tons of fun. The Interactive Aquarium Cancun will appeal to all, regardless of age! In the Interaction Tanks, you can even touch some of the sea creatures such as echinoderms (starfish)! Featuring some 1,195 organisms, every member of your family will find their favourite. The Delphinus Trek allows visitors to swim with and feed some of the fishes.
Interactive Aquarium Cancun
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km. 12.5 Hotel Zone, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
Price: from 11.90 USD
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Contact: (998) 2063311
Website: Interactive Aquarium Cancun
8. For the social butterfly
Those looking to interact with other travellers and locals can attend this fun half-day cruise for a day of social activities and opportunities to make new friends. Featuring a buffet, snorkelling, and dancing, this cruise is a friendly and fun one that will keep both your tummy and heart full.
9. For the authentic cuisine purist
Posted by Tacun on Wednesday, 4 January 2012
If you insist on an authentic, local food experience, this small outdoor dining restaurant delivers. Tacun serves up delicious, fresh, local food at great prices, making it stand out amidst a relatively touristy street. With hospitable owners, good fajitas and chorizo soups, you’ll want to come back more than once.
Tacun
Address: Boulevard Kukulcan Km 11 Cancún, Mexico
Price: from 7.41 USD
Opening Hours: 8 am to 10 pm
Contact: +52 998 593 3638
Website: Tacun
10. For the spring break shopaholic
Stunning buildings, a seaside breeze, and a canal makes this mall the best for kicking back and checking out some shops. Even just window shopping along La Isla Cancun’s beautiful walkways is a nice experience. That’s not to say that there’s nothing to buy here; there are lots of shopping options from high end to high street and international to local brands.
La Isla Cancun
Address: Blvd Kukulkan km 12.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Opening Hours: 8:30 am until 11 pm
Contact: +52 998 883 5025
Website: La Isla Cancun
11. For the ‘I should’ve been born in the 80s’ crowd
It's party time #CocoBongoStyle. P. A. R. T. Y? Because I gotta! ?
Posted by CocoBongo on Friday, 20 January 2017
For those who love throwbacks to icons of the past and old-school cabaret acts, an evening at Coco Bongo will be a great experience for you. It’s energetic and campy in all the best ways, making it less of a clubbing night out and more of a performance venue. Book a ticket to catch Coco Bongo’s shimmering lights and shimmying nights.
Coco Bongo
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 9.5 #30, Plaza Forum By The Sea, Zona Hotelera; 77500 QR. Mexico
Price: from 75 USD
Opening Hours: 10 pm to 5 am
Contact: +52 998 883 5061
Website: Coco Bongo
12. For those who need nature
Xcaret is another excellent family choice. It is an eco-archaelogical park that serves up a balance between thrilling entertainment options and natural attractions. For example, there’s the ‘Xcaret Mexico Espectacular’ performance, which is a show full of light and color that will take you through the history of Mexico. On the other hand, there are underground rivers to explore.
Xcaret
Address: Carretera Chetúmal-Puerto Juárez Kilómetro 282, Solidaridad, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico
Price: from 89.10 USD
Opening Hours: 8:30 am – 9 pm
Contact: +52 800 292 2738
Website: Xcaret
13. For the beach bosses
Want to show off your volleyball skills? Hit Cancun’s beaches! Playa Juventud is good for water sports and snorkelling. On the other hand, Playa Delfines is serene and breathtaking with dolphin spotting opportunities (hence the name), but the tide is a little stronger, so its not the best for those who want to swim. Playa San Miguelito is on the smaller side, but it has the bonus of being right next to a Mayan ruin.
Playa Juventud
Address: Playa Juventud, Pampatar, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela, Mexico
Playa Delphines
Address: Boulevard Kukulkan Kilometer 19.5, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Playa San Miguelito
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 16.5, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
14. For the budding anthropologist
If you are interested in what traditional Mexico is like outside of the main touristy areas, the Traditional Mexico Tour is for you. On this tour, visitors will prepare local food at a guesthouse and learn about local traditions, religions, and lifestyles of the local communities. This makes for a more slow-paced, educational travel experience.
Traditional Mexico Tour
Price: from 69 USD
Duration: 6 hours
Website:
15. For everyone
A Mahi Mahi Burger ?? featuring a 7oz marinated filet on the grill with onion ring, tropical salsa ?, all the fixings,...
Posted by The Surfin Burrito on Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Once you’ve quenched everyone’s thirst for adventure of all sorts in Cancun, it’s time to settle down and grab some tacos. Who doesn’t love 24/7 food? Travellers and locals alike have showered The Surfin Burrito with great online ratings and thousands of good reviews. It’s easy to find, affordable, and has a selection of traditional breakfasts!
The Surfin Burrito
Address: Kukulcan Blvd. Km 9.5, Cancún, Mexico
Price: from 2 USD
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Contact: +52 998 883 0083
Website: The Surfin Burrito
Cancun can entertain anyone
See? Cancun has wonderful options for every vacationing type out there! No wonder it’s such a popular destination. Come down and experience the wild, vibrant variety for yourself with a margarita in your hand and a view of the ocean.
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