One day in Cancún

Day by day

1. Day 1: Playa Delfines (El Mirador) and Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito

   Playa Delfines (El Mirador), Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito, El Rey archaeological site and Punta Nizuc snorkelling, then Coco Bongo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Playa Delfines (El Mirador)

      Check the flag colour before swimming and stay on the sand on red-flag days; bring shade, as there is little natural cover. Allow 2–3 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito

      Visit in the heat of the afternoon or on a cloudy day; the galleries are air-conditioned. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cochinita pibil

      Downtown taquerías and market fondas, mostly in the morning; popular places often sell out by early afternoon.

   4. Afternoon

      El Rey archaeological site

      Combine it with Playa Delfines across the road; go early or late to avoid the strongest sun. Allow 45 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Punta Nizuc snorkelling

      Wear a rash guard and use biodegradable sunscreen; operators often ask you not to wear ordinary sunscreen in the water. Allow 2 hours.

   6. Evening

      Coco Bongo

      Arrive early; queues build fast at weekends and the show runs late into the night.

Before you go

• Coco Bongo: Buy tickets ahead for weekends and spring break, and check what the package includes.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–13 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Bus. R-1 buses run the length of Boulevard Kukulcán through the Hotel Zone and into downtown around the clock, stopping on request at beaches and hotels.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Cancún
• 3 days in Cancún
• 4 days in Cancún
• 5 days in Cancún
• 7 days in Cancún

Questions travellers ask