Cancun
Mexico
Caribbean turquoise meets Mayan history
Find stays in Cancun8/10Tourist score
3/5Safety level
Best time to visit
December to April (dry season)
Monthly temperatures
28°21°Jan
29°21°Feb
30°22°Mar
31°23°Apr
33°25°May
33°25°Jun
34°25°Jul
34°25°Aug
33°25°Sep
31°24°Oct
30°22°Nov
28°21°Dec
Currency
CurrencyMexican Peso (MXN)
Exchange rate1 USD = 17.2 MXN / 1 EUR = 18.6 MXN
Exchange at downtown Cancun (not hotel zone). Many places accept USD but give bad rates. Pay in pesos for best prices.
ATMs & cards
Use Santander, HSBC, or Banorte ATMs. Avoid standalone ATMs in tourist areas. Always withdraw in MXN, not USD.
Getting around
- R-1 and R-2 buses — run along the Hotel Zone, MX$12 per ride, very frequent
- ADO bus — for day trips to Tulum, Chichén Itzá, Playa del Carmen
- Taxi — no meters, agree on price before. Hotel zone to downtown ∼MX$400
- Rental car — useful for cenotes and ruins. Avoid the insurance upsell trap
- Airport: ADO bus to hotel zone (MX$100, 30 min)
Must-see
Food tip
Eat in downtown Cancun (Parque de las Palapas area), not the hotel zone. Try cochinita pibil tacos, salbutes, and marquesitas.
Safety
Hotel zone is very safe. Downtown is fine during the day. Don’t buy drugs — ever. Avoid driving at night outside the city.
Things to do
- Swim in cenotes
- Visit Chichen Itza
- Snorkel in Isla Mujeres
- Explore Tulum ruins
- Visit the underwater museum MUSA
- Party in the Hotel Zone