Fancy swapping grey UK skies for turquoise Caribbean waters? In around 10 hours, you could be on the white sands of Cancun, enjoying an All Inclusive escape on Mexico’s sun-soaked Yucatán Peninsula. Cancun’s Hotel Zone follows a narrow strip of Quintana Roo coastline, with the Caribbean on one side and Nichupté Lagoon on the other. Holidays to Cancun cover all bases too: family resorts, adults-only hotels, big nights out or days devoted to doing very little. When UK winters feel like they're dragging, Cancun holidays bring reliable winter sun straight back into the calendar. For more ideas across the country, take a look at our Mexico holidays.
Why choose Cancun for your holiday?
Cancun has much more up its sleeve than beach days. A short ferry ride takes you to Isla Mujeres, where you can snorkel above the sculptures of the MUSA underwater museum, with cenotes and Chichen Itza opening up another side of the Yucatán. An All Inclusive stay can cover the resort side of your holiday upfront, leaving you to decide which days out make the cut. The Hotel Zone keeps the Caribbean close when you fancy staying put. Most hotels here are around 20–30 minutes from Cancun International Airport, so the road to the coast starts soon after you collect your bags.
Where to stay in Cancun
Hotel Zone North
The northern end of Cancun’s Hotel Zone has calmer water and keeps you nearer Downtown, which can be handy with children in tow. You’ve still got the beaches and resorts you came to Cancun for, but the city is close enough for a few hours away from the coast. For families who like having both at their fingertips, this part of the Hotel Zone makes a lot of sense.
Hotel Zone South (Punta Cancun)
The southern stretch of Cancun's Hotel Zone, around Punta Cancun, is where nights out take centre stage. Bars and clubs cluster around this part of the coast, with several Adults-only resorts aimed squarely at couples here too. If a holiday to Cancun built around dinner turning into drinks and dancing sounds like your kind of night, this is your patch of the Hotel Zone, with the beach still there the next morning.
Downtown Cancun
Downtown, or El Centro, shows you a more local side of Cancun. Hotels can cost less than their beachfront counterparts, with restaurants, markets and everyday city life on your doorstep. The trade-off is location: you won’t be staying on the beach. Regular buses and taxis connect Downtown with the Hotel Zone, so a day by the Caribbean is still firmly on the cards.
Playa Mujeres
North of Cancun, Playa Mujeres holidays trade the Hotel Zone’s busy backdrop for a less developed stretch of coast. Resorts sit right by the Caribbean, with Cancun’s nightlife further down the road.
Best hotels in Cancun
Cancun does family fun just as well as grown-up holidays. These five hotels show how different a stay here can feel.
Best family hotels in Cancun
Moon Palace Cancun
Children’s pools keep little ones busy. Family suites come into their own when everyone needs a bit of time to recharge.
Hyatt Ziva Cancun
Two stretches of white-sand beach wrap around this Punta Cancun hotel, with a splash zone and KidZ Club for children.
Beach Palace Family Resort & Spa
Babysitting services give parents the chance to grab some rare time together at this beachfront Hotel Zone stay.
Royalton Chic Cancun
All Inclusive and set in Punta Cancun, this suite-only resort suits families wanting resort comforts within easy reach of the Hotel Zone's nightlife.
Adults-only hotels in Cancun
Sun Palace Cancun
This couples-only oceanfront hotel has a full-service spa for lazy afternoons, followed by bars and restaurants for the evening.
Hyatt Zilara Cancun
Every suite has an ocean view, with beachfront infinity pools and a Zen Spa for days when the diary is staying empty.
Cancun holiday types: All Inclusive, Adults-only & family escapes
Cancun takes the resort holiday in several directions. Adults-only hotels turn up the romance with beachfront dinners, spas and swim-up bars, leaving couples and honeymooners free to make the days as lazy or indulgent as they like. Families get a completely different experience, with water parks, kids’ clubs, splash zones and organised activities that can turn the resort itself into part of the holiday. All Inclusive runs through both. The trick is deciding what you want waiting when you step outside your room.
Explore more of the Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya holidays take you further along the Caribbean coast, with Mayan ruins and resort towns stretching south towards Tulum. Choose it when seeing more of the region is part of the plan.
Playa del Carmen
Around 45 minutes south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen holidays bring Cozumel and the coast’s big eco-parks closer. It’s a strong base for filling your days with trips beyond the resort.
Isla Mujeres
A short ferry ride from the Hotel Zone, Isla Mujeres swaps Cancun's busy roads for beaches, colourful streets and the MUSA underwater museum. A day trip, not an overnight stay.
More Travel Guides
We also have travel guides available for destinations in Mexico, including Playacar | Playa del Carmen | Playa Mujeres | Puerto Vallarta | Riviera Maya
