Cancun, Mexico

Compiled by FatPassport's travel experts

Great beaches and epic party scene
Cancun, Mexico

Many Travelers? Huge Tourist Crowds
Likes: Warm weather
Dislikes: Little culture, lots of tourists, can get very hot

Cancun is a playground for North Americans looking to take a beach break, or to take advantage of some tremendous nightlife.

For the vast majority of visitors, “Cancun” refers to the Hotel Zone, which consists of a string of excellent hotels lining the beaches. Quality of the beaches varies depending on exactly where you are, but in general they are very good, with nice white sand and wonderful warm water.

The nightlife here is amazing, with most clubs offering drink specials and some good stage shows. If you’re staying at a resort, the entertainment manager can arrange entry and drink cards at a discounted rate…though it still may not exactly be cheap. Various other bars and restaurants are good places to cut loose…and most everyone does.

Though there's not much to see in Cancun itself, you can arrange day trips to some excellent nearby sights and ruins. The big highlight for sightseers is famed Chichen Itza - site of a Mayan pyramid and included among the "New Seven Wonders Of The World". Chichen Itza is about 2.5 hours away by bus, and makes for a very popular day trip.

Despite the partying happening all around, Cancun is still a viable spot to consider bringing the kids. The beach will be the big draw for families, and there are several family-friendly hotels that offer special programs for kids. In the area, there are also things like swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling, and other activities that kids may also enjoy.

You can get by on just about any budget in Cancun, as there is the full range of both dining and accommodation options. At peak times, prices at the nicer hotels can shoot way up.

It can get very hot from June through September, and particularly in July/August when it’s tough to do anything but sit either by or in the pool. Hurricane season runs from June through November, with risk highest August-October, and unfortunately Cancun has been slammed by a couple hurricanes in recent years.

Families should avoid Spring Break (primarily in March), when the place is flooded with American college students partying like there’s no tomorrow. On the other hand, if you’re looking to partake in the Spring Break scene, then you'll love it here - book well in advance.

Cancun is generally very safe, but use common sense and don’t leave valuables unattended on the beach. Drink only bottled water, and avoid foods that have not been boiled or peeled.

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