My prejudice against Cancun was unjustified. When I noticed that the airplane tickets had soared down for this popular destination, I decided to check it out myself and realized I was completely wrong. I had just imagined it was full of expensive resorts and crazy clubs, and yes it does have these, but there is so much more to the Yucatan region. Here are my favorite things to do in Cancun for 3 perfect days.
Where to Stay:
Mayan Monkey:
Located in the Hotel Zone, Mayan Monkey Hotel is full of life. Every day they have a huge schedule of free activities that include yoga on the beach, cocktail making class, bachata class, live music, and more. They also have a full bar with happy hour every evening, a pool, free Wi-Fi, a laundry room, shared kitchen, bike rental, restaurant, and luggage space. You can book a private room or a dorm room with either mixed gender or female only rooms available. This hostel is also across from a public beach and surrounded by tons of restaurants and bars.
Day One:
I like to take it easy on the first day and just wander around getting more familiar with a place. Besides airports can be unreliable and I don’t want to have something big planned just for me to have to call and cancel. Eat some delicious food, chill at a public beach, and shop at some markets for local handicrafts.
Eat at the Surfin Burrito
My favorite meal in the Hotel Zone. They serve the best burritos and tacos that are customizable. Make sure to try the passionfruit margaritas.
Hang Out at the Beach
Walk along the soft, white sands and take a refreshing dip into the bright, blue waters. You are probably tired from the long journey here, so just sit back and soak in the sun’s rays, unless you’re a ginger. If you are lather up with another layer of sunscreen and find an umbrella to sit under.
Shop at the Markets
If you are interested in souvenir shopping, you will not find a lack of markets here. Make sure to haggle heavily for fair prices. Here are some markets you can check out:
- Mercado 23, Downtown Cancun
- Mercado Coral Negro, Hotel Zone
- Mercado 28, Downtown Cancun
Day 2:
My favorite day of the trip. I accomplished a major bucket list activity.
Swim with Whale Sharks
The best time to see them is between June and September when they migrate to Cancun for the warm water and the abundance of plankton. The largest fish in the world they really are gentle giants. You will see them with their wide mouths open trying to consume the small species of plankton. Whale sharks will pay you no attention at all, but please do not touch them. They are an endangered species, and their population has declined by 63% in the last decade.
The tour I took is Cancún: Swim with Whale Sharks | GetYourGuide. In this tour, not only will you see whale sharks, but they will take you to the island of Isla Mujeres where you can enjoy a dip into the crystal-clear turquoise waters. While swimming, your guide will prepare you a fresh ceviche and guacamole.
Coco Bongos
This was my first club experience, and I thought it was a blast. It’s an open bar with a show full of acrobats, impersonators, and dancers. The music is amazing, and the special effects are fun. Sometimes there’s smoke and other times confetti. I did not know what was going to happen from one minute to the next. Beetlejuice, the Mask, Michael Jackson, and Queen even “showed” up. The only downside was the price. It was around $143 per person to get in.
If you aren’t here for whale shark season, do not fret. There is still plenty of fun to be had here.
- Underwater museum. The museum has over 500 statues that are used to promote coral reefs.
- Catamaran tour with snorkeling.
- Ziplining
- ATV’s
- Parasailing
- Isla Mujeres
- Xcaret Park
- Kayaking
- Local food tour in Downtown Cancun
- Daytrip to Tulum or Las Coloradas (pink lake with flamingos nearby.)
Day 3:
A jam-packed day full of ancient sites, a clear cenote, and a colonial town.
Chichen Itza
Cancun is very close to one of the seven wonders of the world, and I must say that Chichen Itza surpassed my expectations. Every time I explore an ancient Mayan civilization, I am reminded about how highly intelligent they were. The pyramid here is a Mayan calendar that follows the lunar cycle and the seasons. If you stand directly in front of the stairs of El Castillo and clap your hands, a bird call will cry back at you from inside. The Mayans were able to replicate the call. If you move away from the center your claps will just ring back as clapping. Even more fascinating is that they built this pyramid over a massive sinkhole, a.k.a cenote.
Cenotes
Take a dip into the beautifully clear cenotes that were once used by the Mayans. There are many to choose from. Since I was short on time, I booked a day tour that included Chichen Itza, a sacred Cenote, and the colonial town of Valladolid. I was highly impressed by my tour guide and how much knowledge he shared with us along the way.
Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour | GetYourGuide
Here is a short list of cenotes to check out:
- Cenote Zaci, Valladolid
2. Cenote Suytun, Valladolid
3. Cenote Azul, Riviera Maya
4. Cenote Ik Kil, close to Chichen Itza
5. Cenote Saamal, Valladolid (the one I visited with tour)
Town of Valladolid
The main square is gorgeous and full of street food vendors. I recommend trying marquesitas. It is prepared using a hot grill. The vendor uses a wafer mix and can fill the inside of it up with nutella, condensed milk, cream cheese, or jam. Then it is rolled up and served. The outside is flaky and crunchy while the inside is exploding with flavor. You will also see elotes (street corn with mayo, chili powder, cheese, and lime), creamy helados (ice cream), and churros. Take a seat in the unique “confidant” chairs while soaking in the views of the Templo de San Servacio. This Catholic church was founded in 1545.
I hope this itinerary helps you plan 3 perfect days in Cancun.