Your Definitive Guide To A 4-Day Trip In Cancun
Artwork by Daniel Popper in Bohemian Square - Hotel Zone, Cancun
WHAT TO DO ON A 4 DAY CANCUN TRIP
Cancun is a popular tourist destination in Mexico, known for its turquoise waters. It's a great place to visit if it's your first time in Mexico, as it's very tourist friendly.
We recently spent 6 months traveling around Mexico’s Caribbean coast. There is so much to see in the Riviera Maya, we know planning a trip to Cancun can seem like an overwhelming task. That’s why we’ve pulled together this 4-day Cancun itinerary, so you don’t miss any of Cancun’s best places to see.
Our itinerary for Cancun includes all the best aspects of a tropical vacation. It's ideal for someone visiting Cancun for the first time. We plan everything from delicious dining to swimming in crystal-clear cenotes.
You'll also find out about the area’s unique cultural history, and go on some adventures.
HOW TO GET TO CANCUN
Cancun is on Mexico’s Caribbean sea, in the Yucatan Peninsula. One of the key reasons Cancun is so popular for tourists, is that it’s an easy destination to reach from the USA, and Canada. Flying into Cancun direct from Toronto, New York or Los Angeles takes under 5 hours.
Cancun Travel Tips
Flying to Cancun:
An astounding 22 million passengers a year travel through Cancun’s International Airport (CUN).
It’s the second largest airport in Cancun after Mexico City. In fact, you can go direct to Cancun from 38 US cities. This is one of the easiest and safest ways to get to Cancun.
Another option is from Cozumel International Airport. We recommend a stop in Cozumel, it has some of the most stunning beaches in Mexico.
Cozumel is on a small island. To get to Cancun you’ll need to take a 45-minute ferry to Playa Del Carmen and then drive for another hour.
Arriving in Cancun
The majority of hotels in Cancun are in the hotel zone. The hotel zone is a strip of land that runs between Playa Delfines and the mangroves. It takes 32 minutes to get to the hotel zone from the international airport.
The drive is clearly marked and easy to navigate. From the airport you can rent a car or organize an airport transfer, there is no Uber.
We recommend hiring a car on the day of your arrival and using it to get around during your 4-day stay. There are plenty of day trips and places to discover along Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It makes a huge difference to have a rental car, so you can drive around and explore.
View from JW Marriot resort on Playa Delfines beach in the Hotel Zone, Cancun.
THE ULTIMATE 4-DAY CANCUN ITINERARY
The itinerary below will give you a good balance of culture, relaxation, and adventure. You don’t have to follow each activity in exact order, it’s just a guide.
We have optimized the guide so that the activity on the first day is easy, and fuss-free after coming off your flight. The last day we made a relaxing day, to unwind before heading home. The more action-filled days are included on days 2 and 3.
When planning your activities in Cancun, be aware that there is a seaweed season that runs from March through September.
We’ve made sure to recommend excursions that are great regardless of the seaweed.
Xel-Ha is very rarely affected by Seaweed.
On the day in Tulum, if you arrive in seaweed season you’ll have no issues with the cenote or ruins. Plan to head to a beach club with a pool to you’ll be able to have a dip if you can’t get in the ocean.
If there is seaweed on your trip, switch the day at the beach for a day trip exploring Chichen Itza. Or try a day trip to the beautiful town of Valladolid (only 1 hr 50 away).
Speedboats in the Cancun lagoon
DAY 1 - UNDERWATER MUSEUMS & SPEEDBOATING
When I travel I always love to get my bearings on the first day, it helps me settle into the area. That’s why I’ve recommended doing this boating activity first. It’s also a memorable experience that covers a few of Cancun’s best things to do in one quick, and easy outing.
On the first day, we recommend getting out on the water and taking in the breathtaking surroundings of Cancun’s coastline. A jet boat tour is an exhilarating way to see the hotel zone while getting out to do some watersports. The tour guides and boats are located across the street from the hotel zone. It's very convenient to get to, we've included a link to google maps below.
The tour itself is a half-day trip. It includes driving your own two-seater speed boat through the mangroves, while taking in 360-degree views of Cancun.
Also included is a snorkel at the national park underwater museum. We enjoyed every element of this trip, from the guides to the speed boating, the views, and the snorkeling. It’s a perfect way to start your tropical vacation.
Getting out on the water and into the mangroves is fun in itself. You'll be able to see the view of Cancun on one side, while speeding through the water surrounded by wildlife. You might even encounter some crocodiles on the mangrove banks.
After cruising through the mangroves for about 15 - 20 minutes, the view opens up to reveal Cancun’s beautiful beachside. You’ll be able to cruise by the luxury hotels lining the Punta Nizuc area.
The guide will get you to pull up at Punta Nizuc coral reef with the rest of the tour, line up your jet boats and jump out for a snorkel. The water here has great visibility, it’s a stunning aquamarine color, so clear that you’ll see the tropical fish swimming below you.
The tour guide will provide snorkeling gear and a lifejacket, then he will jump in and begin to guide you along the reef. I was impressed with the condition of the reef, it had colorful coral and an abundance of marine life, even sea turtles.
I wasn’t expecting to see such a well-preserved coral reef here, just out in front of all the hotels. It’s also a national marine park, filled with captivating underwater sculptures. It feels quite surreal swimming around the sculptures amongst the fish.
After about 30 minutes of snorkeling, you’ll jump back on the speed boat and head back along the coastline, to the mangroves.
On the way back our tour group seemed to be a little bit more confident with the speed. We managed to kick it up a notch, doing some speedy turns, and testing out the capabilities of the speed boat. We recommend getting into the whole experience and giving the donuts a go, they were so much fun.
Funky Geisha restaurant, overlooking lagoon - Cancun
DAY 1 - DINNER WITH A SHOW
There’s something about arriving in the tropics that makes me crave a cocktail. Part of my day-1 holiday tradition is to find the best restaurant nearby to celebrate the start of a trip.
That’s not hard to do in Cancun, there are lots of great dining options to choose from. For something festive with a bit of atmosphere, we recommend heading to the Funky Geisha. The Funky Geisha is run by Grupo Rosa Negra, who owns some of the beach clubs and best restaurants in Tulum.
Their Cancun outpost is as aesthetic as their Tulum location. Funky Geisha is part of Bohemian Square. A dining district that brings together art, music, food, and fashion to deliver an electric atmosphere.
There are a total of six restaurants and bars in the Bohemian Square precinct, each offering a bespoke style, cuisine, and show.
As soon as you arrive you’ll walk through a warmly lit bamboo tunnel out over mangroves. There are crocodiles swimming below you as you cross over a wooden bridge into Funky Geisha. You’ll also pass a stunning sculpture of a broken face by artist Daniel Popper.
While we enjoy the food at each of the restaurants, the best seat in the house is at Funky Geisha. On the menu, they offer a broad range of Asian fusion food, and delicious cocktails accompanied by spectacular service.
The restaurant itself sits over the lagoon, in the distance Cancun’s skyrises light up the night sky. Behind you, the backdrop of the mangroves and artwork is still visible, as crocs slowly slink by.
Dining at Funky Geisha is an experience in itself, but the addition of the Taiko drum show makes for an incredible evening.
The Taiko drum show is based on traditional Japanese percussion performance. At Funky Geisha the performance is modernized with bohemian dancers, fires, and sparklers. It creates a high-energy evening and the vibe of the night is always a good one.
Ziplines at Xel-Ha waterpark
DAY 2 - XEL- HA WATERPARK
I have the feeling you’ll be a little wary after a lively night of cocktails and drums. This excursion includes plenty of food and drinks, as well as a refreshing swim, light activities, and even a hammock if you need it.
On your second day, we recommend heading to the water park Xel-Ha. Xel-Ha encompasses all the best natural scenery that the Riviera Maya has to offer. Xel-Ha is filled with luscious jungles, limestone cliffs, crystal-clear cenotes, and beautiful beaches.
At Xel-Ha, they’ve tastefully maintained the beautiful landscape while providing a range of fun activities for people of any age.
You can jump off limestone cliffs into crystal clear water, ride down a natural lazy river, or cool off by taking a quiet bike ride through the jungle. There’s also zip lining over the lagoon, snorkeling, Mayan ruins, dolphins, stingrays, and even manatees.
The facilities and amenities of Xel-Ha are well thought out too, making it a very stress-free day trip.
They’ll provide you with easy-to-use lockers. These come with locker keys on a strap you can wear in the water.
If you want to do a lazy river or cenote experience you’ll be given a dry bag that you can use to put your valuables in. It has a padlock, and the staff will transport the locked bag to the end of the lazy river for you to pick up when you’re finished
The food and drinks are all-inclusive and there is a range of places to eat and drink throughout the venue. Have beers under a palapa, laze in a hammock with a cocktail or try some traditional Mexican food while taking in the beachside views.
They limit the number of people that can enter each day so there are never too many queues or people.
There are showers, toilets, and lockers in multiple locations throughout the venue.
Xel-ha is located near Playa Del Carmen, about one and a half hours drive away from Cancun. If you want to drink, then we recommend organizing a shuttle service or booking a tour that includes a ticket and transportation from Cancun. We’ve provided some recommendations below.
You can book your tickets for Xel-Ha here
Here is a tour we recommend this includes a ticket and transport
Tulum ruins day trip from Cancun
DAY 3 - EXPLORE THE YUCATAN PENINSULA
One of the questions we commonly get asked about traveling to Cancun is “Is it worth it to do a day trip from Cancun or should I just stay in Cancun?” The answer is yes. Don’t get me wrong, lazing at a resort poolside is my idea of bliss, but the Riviera Maya has so much to offer.
Even though Cancun is very close to Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres, they are all uniquely different destinations. We suggest heading out on your 3rd day in Cancun to see some of the archaeological sites, cenotes, and the beachside town of Tulum.
If you don’t have a car, there are a lot of tours available that will cover all of this in one day, but our suggestion is to get a rental car. This way you can skip the tour crowds and make a leisurely day of it.
If you can extend your trip for one day then we would also suggest booking a night in a hotel on Tulum beach. We recommend Mi Amor hotel, you can read a detailed review here.
Head To Tulum Ruins
Start your day early, jump on the road and head down to Tulum’s main archaeological site, the Tulum Ruins. The ruins can be found here, at the end of Tulum beach.
The site is home to important archeological artifacts of the ancient Mayans that used to inhabit the Yucatan peninsula. The site was once a busy trading port and had great significance to the Mayan people.
We recommend trying to get here before 11 am to beat the crowds and the heat. It takes 2 hours to get here from Cancun, so leaving by 8:30 am is ideal.
The cost is around 800 pesos, bring exact change with you as they don’t accept credit cards and often don’t have small change.
It will take about 15 mins to walk from the parking lot and get through the queue. If you arrive after 11 am this will take much longer.
Once you’ve paid for your ticket you can do a self-guided tour. I recommend downloading this
Bring your swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, water, and a hat.
The beach here is spectacular, as long as it’s not seaweed season, you’ll want to explore the beach beneath the ruins.
Tulum day trip from Cancun - Bagatelle beach club
Soak Up The Sun at Beach Club on Tulum Beach
After a morning of walking around in the heat, you would have worked up an appetite. We recommend driving down the main Tulum beach road and setting yourself up at one of Tulum's renowned beach clubs.
You can read our guide to the best beach clubs in Tulum here. Our favorite beach club is Bagatelle, but there are so many great beach clubs to choose from.
If it’s your first time in Tulum, you need to take a drive down the whole main road - Tulum-Boca Paila. The breathtaking architecture and boutique stores on this strip are a must-see.
Lots of Tulum’s beach clubs have a minimum entry. This can be used for food and drinks, so head in for lunch, laze by the beach cocktail in hand and enjoy your afternoon.
Swimming in Sac Actun cenote
Cool Off On The Way Back With a Swim in a Cenote
After all that time lazing in the sun, a refreshing cenote dip will be just what you need. This is the perfect way to end your day trip, with many of the cenotes located along the drive back to Cancun, it’s a fuss-free stop that is well worth the detour. We recommend trying Cenote Dos Ojos and Cenote Sac Actun. They are just 40 minutes outside of Tulum, off the main highway that you’ll drive along to return to Cancun.
Cenote Dos Ojos is here it cost 550 pesos to enter and rent snorkeling gear.
Cenote Sac Actun is here It cost 650 pesos to enter and rent snorkeling gear.
Playa Delfines beach, Cancun
DAY 4 - A DAY TO RECUPERATE AND RELAX BEACHSIDE
After an action-packed couple of days, we recommend taking the last day to just relax.
Try a spa day at Nizuc Spa by ESPA, located near the hotel zone on the beach. The setting here is serene, with quiet infinity pools, saunas, steam rooms, and vitality pools. The treatments are influenced by traditional Mayan therapies. We recommend the NIZUC renewal therapy which includes a hot stone massage and a meditative scalp massage.
You also can’t go past a swim in the sea, Playa Delfines is a picturesque beach that’s great for a day playing in the waves. The water is generally warm year round and soft white sand lines the beach.
Finally, end your day with a glass of vino while overlooking the sunset at the beach. We recommend Gustino, an Italian restaurant in the JW Marriott hotel.
While the interiors are a little dated, their pasta is exquisite and they have an extensive wine cellar. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer spectacular sunset views while a violinist plays over candlelight. An unassuming romantic spot that both couples and families can enjoy.
You can look at the treatment menu for Nizuc and your spa day here
Gustino reservations can be booked here
Read more of our guides to Riviera Maya