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Cancún itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · MexicoOctober–May

Days
7
Stops
31
Per day
≈ 2,800 MXN
First stop
08:00

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers Cancún itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 31 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Hotel Zone beaches
  2. Day 2 Isla Mujeres
  3. Day 3 Chichén Itzá and cenote

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 2,800 MXN a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 08:30–18:00

Hotel Zone beaches

  1. Nature

    Playa Delfines

    Cancún's biggest free beach: no hotels, turquoise Caribbean water. Check for sargassum season (May to August).

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Cancún Sign Playa Delfines

    Colourful CANCUN letters, perfect for photos.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Food

    El Fish Fritanga

    Local fish restaurant on the lagoon. Try the ceviche and tikin xic (grilled marinated fish); rare value for the Hotel Zone.

    ≈ 300 MXN per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Culture

    Museo Maya de Cancún

    Maya museum with the San Miguelito ruins; an air-conditioned afternoon option.

    ≈ 100 MXN per person
  7. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Playa Chac Mool

    Central public beach for sunset and waves.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Mercado 28 Los De PescadoFish tacos in the downtown market, a spot for locals.
  • Playa TortugasCalm beach on the lagoon side, next to the ferry dock.

Day 2 · 08:30–17:00Day trip

Isla Mujeres

  1. Landmark

    Ultramar Feribot Puerto Juárez

    20-minute ferry (about 28 USD return). Rent a golf cart on the island (about 800 MXN).

    ≈ 280 MXN per person

  2. Nature

    Playa Norte

    One of the world's best beaches: shallow and calm, loungers 100-200 MXN.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Punta Sur Isla Mujeres

    The island's southern tip, with the Ixchel temple ruin and a sculpture park. Mexico's first sunrise.

    ≈ 50 MXN per person

  5. Food

    Mango Cafe Isla Mujeres

    Caribbean breakfast and lunch; the coconut French toast is the island's famous dish.

    ≈ 250 MXN per person
  6. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Nature

    MUSA Underwater Museum Snorkelling

    500 underwater sculptures. Snorkelling tours leave from the pier; catch the 17:30 ferry back.

    ≈ 600 MXN per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Isla Mujeres Mercado MunicipalCheap local food at the municipal market.
  • Garrafón Reef ParkZipline and snorkelling park, an alternative to MUSA.

Day 3 · 08:00–17:15Day trip

Chichén Itzá and cenote

  1. Culture

    Chichén Itzá

    2.5 hours from Cancún (ADO bus or tour). See the Kukulkan pyramid and ball court; at the 08:00 opening it is cool and empty. Entry about 697 MXN.

    ≈ 697 MXN per person
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Nature

    Cenote Ik Kil

    5 minutes from Chichén. An open cenote 26 m deep with hanging vines; life jacket compulsory.

    ≈ 300 MXN per person
  4. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Food

    Valladolid Casa Tía Micha

    Yucatán cuisine in Valladolid: cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) and sopa de lima (lime soup).

    ≈ 250 MXN per person

  6. Landmark

    Valladolid Calzada de los Frailes

    Pastel-coloured colonial street leading to the Convent of San Bernardino.

    Free

  7. Nature

    Cenote Suytun

    Cave cenote with a famous beam of light; best in afternoon light. The return trip takes 2 hours.

    ≈ 250 MXN per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cenote Zací ValladolidA cenote in the town itself, instead of Suytun.
  • El Mesón del Marqués ValladolidColonial restaurant on the main square.

Day 4 · 08:00–17:30Day trip

Tulum

  1. Culture

    Tulum Ruins

    2 hours from Cancún. A Maya fortress by the sea, opening at 08:00; entry about 95 MXN plus a parking fee. Look out for iguanas.

    ≈ 95 MXN per person

  2. Nature

    Playa Ruinas Tulum

    The beach below the ruins, good for a short swim.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Gran Cenote

    Cave cenote for snorkelling, with turtles and stalactites. The water is clearest in the morning.

    ≈ 500 MXN per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Food

    Taquería Honorio Tulum

    Tulum's legendary breakfast and lunch taco spot; cochinita and lechón (suckling pig), sold out by 14:00.

    ≈ 150 MXN per person
  7. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Tulum Beach Road

    Palm-lined coast road. Choose a beach club (Papaya Playa) or a public beach (Playa Paraíso).

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cenote Dos OjosA cave system with two "eyes", instead of Gran Cenote.
  • Antojitos La ChiapanecaAl pastor in Tulum town; an evening stop.

Day 5 · 09:00–21:00Day trip

Xcaret

  1. Nature

    Xcaret Park

    Underground rivers, a Maya village and an evening show (about 150 USD). 1 hour from Cancún; lunch is included in the Plus package.

    ≈ 2,800 MXN per person

  2. Food

    Xcaret Buffet

    Buffet inside the park, included in the Plus package.

    Free
  3. 5 h · travel, break, free time

  4. Culture

    Xcaret México Espectacular

    A show on Mexican history with 300 performers; included in the park ticket.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Playa del Carmen Quinta AvenidaPlaya's pedestrian street.
  • El Fogón Playa del CarmenAl pastor tacos in Playa, as an alternative to the park.

Day 6 · 09:00–17:30Day trip

Holbox

  1. Landmark

    Chiquilá Ferry Holbox

    2.5 hours from Cancún plus a 20-minute ferry. A car-free island.

    ≈ 250 MXN per person
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Nature

    Holbox Punta Cocos

    Shallow, warm lagoon with flamingos and hammock bars.

    Free

  4. Food

    Holbox Roots Pizza

    Lobster pizza on Holbox.

    ≈ 300 MXN per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Holbox Punta Mosquito Sandbar

    A sandbar you can walk to at low tide. Come for sunset, or a whale shark tour from May to September.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Holbox Las PanchasLocal breakfast and lunch.
  • Isla Contoy TourBird island with snorkelling off Isla Mujeres, instead of Holbox or Cozumel.

Day 7 · 09:30–14:00

Mercado 28: a light farewell

  1. Shopping

    Mercado 28

    Downtown crafts market: hammocks and silver, with 40% haggling room.

    Free

  2. Food

    Cocina La Chaya Mercado 28

    Yucatán home cooking: panuchos (stuffed fried tortillas) and chaya juice. A farewell meal.

    ≈ 150 MXN per person

  3. Landmark

    Parque de las Palapas

    Downtown square with marquesitas (crispy crepes) stalls in the evening; quiet by day.

    Free

  4. Landmark

    ADO Airport Bus

    ADO from downtown to the airport takes 30 minutes; time to say goodbye.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Taquería Los Charros CancúnTacos downtown, instead of the market.
  • Playa LangostaOne last swim in the Hotel Zone.

Good to know: 6 things that make a Cancún trip easier

  1. The Hotel Zone R1/R2 bus costs 15 MXN. ADO buses run to Chichén, Tulum and Playa. A hire car gives you freedom for the cenotes (insurance is expensive).
  2. December to April is dry and 28°C, but it is the busiest and priciest period (Christmas, March spring break). November and April are the sweet spot.
  3. Reach Chichén Itzá and Tulum at the 08:00 opening; by midday it is 35°C and tour buses arrive. Non-biodegradable sunscreen is banned in the cenotes.
  4. Hotel Zone restaurants are 3-5 times pricier; Mercado 28 and downtown (Parque de las Palapas) have local prices. Pay in pesos; the dollar rate is poor.
  5. Tip 10-15%; say 'no gracias' to beach vendors. Drink bottled water.
  6. Ferries: Isla Mujeres from Puerto Juárez (Hotel Zone piers are pricier), Cozumel from Playa, Holbox from Chiquilá.

Spending: ≈ 19,500 MXN per person for 7 days

  • Food6,500 MXN
  • Entry and tours7,500 MXN
  • Local transport4,000 MXN
  • Other1,500 MXN

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Cancún?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in Cancún cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 2,800 MXN per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in Cancún?

The first stop is at 08:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.