Day trips

The trips actually worth making

Cancún’s best feature is how easy it is to leave. Here’s what’s close and whether it’s worth it.

Isla Mujeres — about 20 minutes by ferry. Worth it. The easiest and best day out. Ferries run frequently from Puerto Juárez to a small island with Playa Norte, calm water and rentable golf carts. Go early, come back for dinner.

Cenotes near Valladolid — about 2 to 2.5 hours by car or bus. Worth it. The inland cenotes (Ik Kil, Suytun, Oxman and others) are the swimming holes the region is famous for, far wilder and cheaper than the commercial water parks near the coast. Best paired with Valladolid itself, a calm colonial town.

Chichén Itzá — about 2.5 to 3 hours by car or bus. Worth it, with a plan. The famous Maya site is genuinely impressive but gets brutally hot and crowded by mid-morning. Arrive at opening or go via Valladolid to beat the tour buses.

Tulum — about 2 hours by ADO bus. Worth it. Clifftop Maya ruins over the Caribbean, plus a very different town scene. Doable as a long day, better as an overnight.

Playa del Carmen — about 1 hour by bus. Depends. A walkable beach town with the ferry to Cozumel. Fine as a base or a Cozumel launch pad; the main pedestrian avenue is touristy.

Cozumel — ferry from Playa del Carmen. Worth it for divers. World-class reef diving and snorkeling. A stretch as a single day from Cancún; plan the timing carefully.