Hot, sunny, beautiful, affordable, and fun! It's no surprise Cancun is such a popular travel destination. There's so much to see and do and it's a great travel spot whether you are traveling as a couple, a group of friends, or as a family. One easy way to describe Cancun is "Vegas on the beach." The main popular hotels are located on a strip located about 30-miles north of the airport. Once there, gorgeous turquoise waters will be at your feet. Most people tend to book at least five to seven days for a Cancun adventure, leaving enough time for leisure, adventure, and sightseeing. The hotel pools might quench your water needs for a day or two, but with so much going on nearby, you may find yourself itching to leave the hotel to look for something more adventurous. There are four main Eco-Adventure parks to visit on day trips from Cancun, with each catering to different themes and activities. Xel-ha is more categorized as a water theme park, offering swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling with tropical fish, whereas Xplor is more popular with adrenaline junkies looking to have their own Indiana Jones adventure-- they offer ziplining and ATV rides through the caves. One can easily book up two to four days doing some or all of the main popular Eco Parks.

Another popular activity would be to immerse yourself in the local history and natural formations nearby. Chichen Itza is one of the more popular Mayan temple ruins. While there, you can learn about intricate details of how the pyramid-like temple was designed and how each of the surrounding buildings served its purpose. Most tour providers also include a stop at a nearby cenote on the itinerary as well, such as Ik Kil cenote. Cenotes are naturally occurring water wells with dangling vegetation, so those who are brave enough to jump into the deep waters (some as deep as 100 ft!) may find themselves at the perfect spot for an amazing photo op.

I stayed at the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, a large 5-star hotel located in Hotel Zone with a private white sand beach. The resort has ten restaurants/bars, a 40,000-square-foot spa, and nice large pools that span the length of the hotel. My room was a Master Suite Oceanfront room, which was very spacious with the most amazing panoramic ocean views from the balcony. The water is such a beautiful turquoise I couldn't stop snapping photos from my room. You definitely get more sweeping views and more for your money here than staying in Hawaii for a comparable room. Definitely request a room on a high floor and get the master suite with a balcony with the best views.

when to go

Hurricane season is from June until November with the most amount of rain from September and October. Winter time is a popular time and "spring break" is as well.

transportation

Cancun - About a 30-minute taxi ride to the main strip of hotels.
Cancun to Isla Mujeres - 20-minute ferry ride.
Cancun to Playa del Carmen - About one hour by taxi/bus.
Cancun to Tulum - About 90-minutes by taxi/bus.
Cancun to Cozumel - Take a taxi from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen (1-hour), then take a 50-minute ferry to Cozumel. Alternatively, fly 20-minutes from Cancun to Cozumel.

things to do

Take a tour to Chichen Itza and stop by Ik Kil cenote along the way.
Enjoy a day at an Eco water Park like Xplor, Xel-ha, Xcaret.
Take a day trip to Isla Mujeres, a 20-minute ferry ride away, to relax at beautiful beaches, see turtles, snorkel/dive.
Consider breaking up your stay in Cancun to spend time in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or the island of Cozumel, which are beautiful spots along the Riviera Maya. The water parks are actually closer to Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen and Tulum have a more authentic vibe and are less commercialized compared to Cancun. Tulum is known for its beautiful seaside Mayan ruins and beautiful caves and cenotes (Cenotes Dos Ojos). Cozumel is an island known for its snorkeling/diving. It takes about one hour to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen by bus/taxi and then 50-minute by ferry to Cozumel. Some people choose to fly from Cancun to Cozumel.
If you're staying at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, spend an afternoon relaxing at their 10-step hydrotherapy spa, which is include a clay steam room, ice room, sauna, aromatherapy steam, bubble bath, and more.