Top 5 Things to Do in Cancún: Golf, Cenotes, Chichén Itzá & More
Heading to Cancún?
Beautiful Caribbean beaches and great resorts may be what bring you here, but there's a lot more to do than sit beside the pool for a week.
You can play championship golf, swim in a cenote, explore one of the world's great archaeological sites, spend a day on Isla Mujeres and snorkel in the Caribbean.
Here are our 5 things you should consider doing on your next Cancún vacation.
1. Play Golf in Cancún
We might be biased, but if you're a golfer, this should be near the top of your list.
Cancún and the surrounding Riviera Maya have an excellent selection of golf courses, ranging from convenient resort golf close to the Hotel Zone to championship courses designed by some of the biggest names in golf.
Golfers can choose from courses including:
- Iberostar Cancún Golf Club
- Puerto Cancún Golf Course
- Riviera Cancún Golf Club
- Cancún Country Club – El Tinto
- Playa Mujeres Golf Club
- Moon Palace Golf Club
Travel farther south toward Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya and you'll find even more golf, including El Camaleón Mayakoba, Gran Coyote, Hard Rock Riviera Maya, Iberostar Playa Paraíso and PGA Riviera Maya.
That means you can play one round during a family vacation or build several courses into a dedicated Mexico golf trip.
Book Your Cancún Golf Before You Travel
Don't wait until you arrive at your resort to start looking for a tee time.
Popular courses and desirable morning tee times can become limited, particularly during the busy winter travel season.
Golf Mexico Tee Times has been helping golfers book golf in Mexico for more than 15 years.
Book your golf before you leave home, get your tee time organized in advance and arrive in Cancún knowing your golf is already taken care of.
Golf Mexico Tee Times rates are displayed in U.S. dollars, so there's no need to calculate your golf costs in pesos when booking through us.
We can also help with rental clubs and transportation options at selected courses.
VIEW & BOOK CANCÚN GOLF COURSES
VIEW & BOOK RIVIERA MAYA GOLF COURSES
2. Swim in a Cenote
You can swim in a beautiful hotel pool almost anywhere.
You can't swim in a Yucatán cenote almost anywhere.
Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes created in the limestone landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Some are completely open to the sky. Others are partially enclosed or located inside spectacular caves.
The water can be incredibly clear, making cenotes popular for swimming, snorkeling and, at selected locations, diving.
There are numerous cenotes between Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, so you can choose anything from a simple swim to a full-day cenote adventure.
If this is your first trip to Cancún, make time for at least one.
3. Visit Chichén Itzá
If you're going to travel all the way to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, don't spend the entire vacation inside the resort.
Chichén Itzá is one of Mexico's most important archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The ancient Maya city is famous for El Castillo, the enormous stepped pyramid that dominates the site.
It's a longer day trip from Cancún, so plan accordingly.
Many travelers choose an organized excursion that combines transportation, a guided visit and sometimes a cenote stop.
Starting early can also help you avoid some of the midday heat and crowds.
For anyone interested in history, architecture or Maya culture, Chichén Itzá is worth giving up a resort day.
4. Spend a Day on Isla Mujeres
For a completely different day, head across the water to Isla Mujeres.
The island is just off the Cancún coast and is easily reached by ferry.
Once you're there, slow things down.
Visit the beach, explore the island, have lunch overlooking the Caribbean or rent a golf cart and make your way around the island.
Playa Norte is particularly well known for its clear, shallow Caribbean water.
Isla Mujeres is an excellent option when you want to leave the resort but don't necessarily want a long day driving across the Yucatán.
5. Snorkel the Caribbean & See MUSA
You came to Cancún for that incredible blue water.
Get into it.
Cancún and Isla Mujeres offer numerous snorkeling opportunities, including coral reefs and the unusual MUSA Underwater Museum.
MUSA features submerged sculptures that have become part of the underwater environment.
Depending on the excursion, you may snorkel reefs, see marine life and visit sections of the underwater sculpture museum.
If you've never snorkeled in the Caribbean, this is an excellent place to start.
Can You Do All Five on One Cancún Vacation?
Absolutely — but don't try to cram everything into two days.
A good Cancún vacation should still feel like a vacation.
You could:
- Play golf one morning
- Spend a day visiting Chichén Itzá and a cenote
- Take a day trip to Isla Mujeres
- Go snorkeling one morning
- Still leave plenty of time for the beach and pool
If you're staying for a week, that gives you a great mix of golf, history, adventure and relaxation.
Coming to Cancún? Book Your Golf Before You Arrive
You can decide which beach to visit after you arrive.
You can decide where to have dinner that afternoon.
But if there is a golf course and tee time you really want, don't leave your golf until the last minute.
Golf Mexico Tee Times has more than 15 years of experience helping visitors arrange golf in Mexico.
Tell us where you're staying, when you want to play, how many golfers you have and whether you need rental clubs or transportation.
We'll help you compare your golf options and get your golf organized before your trip.
BOOK CANCÚN GOLF WITH GOLF MEXICO TEE TIMES
Play golf. Swim in a cenote. Visit Chichén Itzá. Explore Isla Mujeres. Snorkel the Caribbean.
That's a pretty good Cancún vacation.
