Top Cancun Day Trips

The Yucatan Peninsula offers visitors a treasure trove of history, from the pre-Columbian archeological sites of the Maya civilization, to 16th century towns settled by the Spanish. Experience this history firsthand with a full-day tour from Cancun or the Riviera Maya. See the ancient Maya site Chichen Itza (admission not included) the pyramid of Kukulcan, and explore the architecture in Valladolid. After a busy day exploring, refresh yourself in the waters of the Saamal, and enjoy a delicious buffet meal.

Visit two of the biggest draws in the Yucatan on this tour to the Tulum Archaeological Site and Cenote Chen Há and Mariposa from Cancun. Not only do you get a guided tour of the massive archaeological site—a lot to cover on your own—but you get to make the most of your time in the area by visiting the beautiful cenote. You can swim there, too, if you pay a fee upon arrival.

Journey to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to visit the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza on this full-day tour and experience this incredible archeological site with a local guide. Arrive first thing in the morning to take amazing photos of the archeological site, walk along El Castillo and the Pyramid of Kukulcan and learn how this pre-Columbian city played an important role in the Mayan Civilization. Take a panoramic tour through the colonial town of Valladolid, stop at a cenote for a refreshing swim and enjoy a typical buffet lunch with vegetarian options.

Spend the day soaking up the sparkling Caribbean on this catamaran cruise to Isla Mujeres from Cancun. Feel the gentle breeze as you sip drinks from an open bar. Hop into the water to snorkel at a reef location teeming with vibrantly hued fish. Dock at a private beach club for a delicious buffet lunch and even more down time. Upon arrival at Isla Mujeres, enjoy free time to explore and shop. For added convenience, upgrade to include hotel transport from Cancun to the departing marina.

Your exclusive, direct admission ticket lets you enter the archaeological site the first ones of the day —so you can explore in cooler temperatures without the crowds. Plus, you’ll visit the untouched ruins of Yaxunah, enjoy a buffet lunch, and swim in a cenote. Enhance your experience of one of the New7Wonders of the World with this unique access tour of Chichen Itza, available only on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Combine a jungle zipline course, off-road ATV experience, and a cenote swim on a small-group adventure tour from Cancun to Extreme Adventure Eco Park. Take on a fun, family-friendly challenge in a scenic destination, with round-trip hotel transfer, refreshments, and all activities included.

Travel through the Mayan jungle on this action-packed all-day guided tour. Hop on your own ATV (or ride along with a driver) and head to a cenote, an underwater pool, where you can take a refreshing dip. Then fly above the treetops on a ziplining course. A local Mayan lunch is included. Only those 18 years old and above are permitted to drive their own ATV.

Explore coral reefs, ancient history, and nature in the Riviera Maya on an combination tour that features some of the best of Yucatan in a single day. Snorkel through the coral reef in the Caribbean Sea, visit the Tulum archeological site, and swim in a cenote, then explore a limestone cave and take a jungle walk. This tour includes entrance fees, a buffet lunch, and door-to-door transport from hotels in Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

Get door to door service and a chance to snorkel in the Mexican Caribbean during this 4.5-hour boat excursion from Cancun. Relax on board the comfortable boat and enjoy included refreshments, then go ashore in Isla Mujeres to check it out. Pickup and drop-off from Cancun hotels is included.

Take in two of the Yucatan's most important Mayan archaeological sites on this full-day tour: Coba, known for its towering pyramid, and waterfront Tulum. There's no need to worry about self-drive, as transfers are included. Along the way, enjoy a Mexican buffet lunch, swim in a cenote sinkhole, and explore Playa del Carmen. Package includes entrance fees but Coba tax and any bicycle or tricycle rentals are at your expense.

Take a day away from the beaches and bars of Cancún and see a different side to the Riviera Maya. This guided tour takes you to see the pyramid temples and other monuments of Chichén Itzá and the colonial city of Valladolid, and includes the opportunity to swim in an underground cenote.

Pack in the water adventures on this excursion in the Cancun jungle. Get your adrenaline pumping on a speedboat ride around Nichupte Lagoon, and slow the pace down with peaceful snorkeling over the underwater statues at the Punta Nizuc coral reef. Colorful marine life and sparkling blue waters await you. A guide is present throughout to make sure you enjoy your outing.

This kid-friendly snorkeling tour in Cancun is a great way for first-time snorkelers to earn their fins without dedicating a full day to the process. Guides work with first-time snorkelers and those with water-anxiety to create an unforgettable trip swimming with sea turtles, exploring an underwater shipwreck and statues, and checking out a reef.

Combine an in-depth tour of Tulum’s archaeological ruins with a refreshing dip in a cenote, or Mayan swimming pool, during this two-for-one tour. Departing from Cancun, you’ll enjoy a guided visit to the ancient, temple-filled Mayan site, with admission tickets and priority access included, followed by a swim in the region’s lagoon-like underground networks of water.

During your time in Mexico, ensure you experience the white sands and turquoise waters of Isla Mujeres. On this full-day tour from Cancun, cruise to the beautiful island on a catamaran and snorkel in the protected waters of a marine park. Spend free time relaxing on the beach and feast on a lunch buffet accompanied by an open bar. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cancun are included. 

Step into the world of swashbuckling pirates and Spanish galleons with tickets for 3-hour Captain Hook dinner cruise from Cancun. Sit down to a gourmet dinner and enjoy an evening of pirate tales, dancing, entertainment, then see a live-action battle at sea. This 3-hour dinner cruise includes access to an open bar, with air-conditioned indoor seating as well as an open-air dance floor and deck.

Satisfy an appetite for adventure on a full-day tour of the exhilarating Xplor Adventure Park from Cancun. Splash into the cool water of subterranean rivers; paddle through atmospheric caves filled with stalactites; glide over the jungle canopy on a high-velocity zip line; and drive an amphibious vehicle on exciting off-road trails. Feast upon an all-you-can-eat buffet of flavorsome and fulfilling dishes while sipping refreshing beverages from an open bar. On this all-inclusive tour, hotel transport, entrance fees and lunch are all completely covered.

Escape for the day to Xcaret, Mexico's ecological and archeology park located in Riviera Maya. On this full-day trip from Cancun to Xcaret, swim in a lagoon, snorkel in the clear aqua waters of the Caribbean, and discover a network of subterranean rivers. Watch for monkeys, birdlife, and butterflies as you stroll through the jungle at Xcaret and take tours of the ancient Mayan archaeological sites. After the sun sets, enjoy folkloric entertainment that highlights the ancient Mayan culture around Cancun, Mexico. This Xcaret outing includes pickup and drop-off at most hotels in Cancun.

Explore some of Cancun's most stunning underwater worlds during this shipwreck swim and snorkel tour. Paddle through tropical fish, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and giant sea turtles over the course of the day. This small-group excursion that ensures personalized attention and service and includes round-trip transportation from your Cancun hotel.

Combine a panoramic parasailing experience along the coast of Cancun with a thrilling jet ski ride during this two-for-one, small-group adventure tour, ideal for couples or families. Get a bird’s eye peek at natural sandbars, Nichupté Lagoon, and Isla Mujeres as you soar above the water, and then whip down the shore in a shared jet ski. Tours include access to changing rooms and showers and round-trip hotel transfers.

Beautiful Isla Mujeres is known for gorgeous beaches. Experience them from the deck of a catamaran on this full-day tour. Snorkel El Meco coral reef with guides to share the best spots, then dance on deck and enjoy the open bar as the sun sinks into the Caribbean. Upgrade to add round-trip hotel transfers: all packages exclude dock fees.

Parasail above Cancun's tropical coastline during this thrilling activity. Pull-on a safety harness and listen to a short safety briefing, then fly safely up to heights of 240 feet (80 meters). See the ribbon of Cancun's white sand beach stretched out below you and enjoy a panoramic view of Isla Mujeres, the hotel zone, and the turquoise Nichupté Lagoon.

Discover fabulous pink water on the Caribbean coast at the Las Coloradas lagoons, which can range from yellow and orange to fuchsia depending on the time of day, then enjoy wildlife including flamingos and crocodiles on a boat ride through the Ría Lagartos nature reserve. Round-trip transfers save you more than five hours of self-driving, while your package includes breakfast and lunch. Preservation tax is at your own expense.

Explore the Rio Secreto Nature Reserve outside of Cancun on this full-day excursion, where you swim and wade in one of the most spectacular underground caves in Mexico. See the famous crystal caves on a tour that showcases the spectacular natural wonders of the Yucatán. Choose round-trip transportation from your Cancun hotel, or meet your guide at Rio Secreto directly. You also have the option to visit the Tulum ruins which you can add as an upgrade.