Cancun · Mexico · Things to do
5 things to do in Cancun with kids
The five best family things to do around Cancun are a beach day on the Riviera Maya coast, a swim in a cenote, an early start at Chichen Itza, snorkelling the Mesoamerican reef, and a ferry to Isla Mujeres. Most are day trips from the Cancun hotel zone or Playa del Carmen, and the water is warm and shallow enough for young swimmers.
What to do, in order
- 1
Swim the Riviera Maya beaches
The Riviera Maya is the strip of Caribbean coast running south from Cancun through Playa del Carmen toward Tulum. The sand is white and the water is warm and clear. Inside Cancun itself, the bay side of the hotel zone, facing Isla Mujeres, is much calmer than the open-sea side, so it suits small children. Waves and red-flag days on the open side are common. Pick a beach with shade and lifeguards, and expect seaweed (sargassum) on some stretches from spring to autumn. Check recent photos before you commit to a hotel.
- 2
Cool off in a cenote
Cenotes are natural limestone sinkholes filled with fresh groundwater, and the Yucatan has thousands of them. Some are open pools with ropes and platforms, others are caves with stalactites and shafts of daylight. The water is cool, which feels very good after a hot morning. Most sites provide life jackets, and many ask you to rinse off and avoid regular sunscreen to protect the water. Ik Kil near Chichen Itza and the cenotes south of Playa del Carmen are common choices. Go in the morning, before tour buses arrive.
- 3
See Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a large Maya city with a stepped pyramid, El Castillo, a huge ball court and an observatory. It is about two and a half hours by road from Cancun, so most families join a tour or hire a driver. Arrive when the gates open. By midday it is hot, crowded and shadeless. You cannot climb the pyramid, but you can walk right up to it, and clapping at its base produces a bird-like echo that children enjoy. Bring a hat, water, and a plan for lunch, ideally combined with a cenote stop.
- 4
Snorkel the reef
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs along this coast and is the second largest reef system in the world. For children, the easiest way in is a guided boat snorkel from Cancun, Puerto Morelos or Playa del Carmen, where operators supply masks, fins and vests. Akumal, south of Playa del Carmen, is known for sea turtles feeding in shallow water, with rules about keeping your distance. Cancun also has an underwater sculpture museum, MUSA, which can be snorkelled or seen from a glass-bottom boat. Calm mornings give the best visibility.
- 5
Take the ferry to Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is a small island just off Cancun, reached by a short ferry ride of around twenty minutes from the docks on the mainland side. It is slower and quieter than the hotel zone. The classic day is Playa Norte, a shallow sheltered beach where children can wade out a long way, followed by a golf cart tour of the island. Most people rent golf carts by the hour or half day. Book the return ferry time in advance in busy months, and bring cash for small shops and beach bars.
Plan it
- Best time
- December to April is the dry, sunny season and the busiest. May and June are hotter and cheaper. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk in August to October, so travel insurance matters then.
- How long
- A week is comfortable. That gives you two beach days, three day trips (a cenote, Chichen Itza and Isla Mujeres) and a slow day to recover.
- Getting around
- Cancun airport is close to the hotel zone. Local buses run along the zone's main road, taxis are plentiful, and long-distance coaches link Cancun with Playa del Carmen and Tulum. For Chichen Itza and cenotes, a tour or private driver is the easy option with children.
Good to know
- Use reef-safe or mineral sunscreen. Many cenotes and reef tours require it.
- Book Chichen Itza and cenote day trips with an early pickup. Heat and queues build quickly after ten.
- Choose a hotel on the calm bay side or in Playa del Carmen if you have toddlers who want to paddle.
Frequently asked
Is Cancun good for families with young children? +
Yes. The water is warm, many hotels have kids' clubs and shallow pools, and the airport is close to the beaches. Choose a calm-water beach, keep children in life jackets at cenotes and on boats, and plan outings for the morning to avoid the heat.
How far is Chichen Itza from Cancun? +
About two and a half hours each way by road. Most families do it as a full-day tour or with a private driver, leaving early and combining it with a cenote swim on the way back to break up the journey.
Are cenotes safe for kids? +
Generally yes at popular, staffed sites. Children should wear a life jacket because the water is deep and cool. Stay on marked platforms, avoid cave sections you are not guided through, and rinse off before entering.
What is the best time to visit Cancun with kids? +
December to April has the driest, most settled weather. May and June are cheaper but hotter. From August to October, hurricane risk and heavy rain are highest, so plan flexibly and check cancellation terms.
