Cancun on a budget

Cancun plans on a budget

Are you traveling to Cancun soon but have saved up and plan to have a great vacation on a budget? Read on, as Cancun is one of those destinations where you are welcome with any budget and travel plan.

Cheap flights to Cancun

One of the things you can find to buy cheap flights to Cancun, and the fastest and most efficient way to do it, is to do a quick Google search for flights from (your location) to Cancun.
In the "flights" section, you can view the flight offers of the day and even save alerts to receive offers or price drops directly from Google to your inbox.

Cheap lodging in Cancun

Cancun is a paradise of hotels and resorts, but this does not mean all the places you stay are expensive. As proof of this, here is a detailed list of hotels and rental houses where you can stay during your trip to Cancun. Here is a list of the most affordable hotels, rentals and resorts:

** The prices are in Mexican pesos and may vary according to the hotel chain, occupancy, and season.

It is advisable to make a search and quotation before your trip to avoid misunderstandings. If possible, book your arrival in advance.

Cancun Discount Cancun Tours

Taking tours in Cancun does not necessarily mean spending a lot of money; this can also be an option for any type of traveler.
Cancun, a worldwide tourist destination, has tourist and non-tourist seasons. The season with less tourism is from May to September, when prices in hotels and tours are lower than usual.
As in any tourist area, we recommend taking a tour service that includes one or more activities inside or outside Cancun. Most of these packages are a little cheaper than conventional tour services purchased directly at the box office.
Below is a list of the cheapest tours in Cancun:

Cancun Sailing Catamarans

A trip on a Catamaran in the Caribbean is a must during your visit to Cancun.
Besides, this kind of tour usually includes a buffet at the beach club in Isla Mujeres, snorkeling, and free time on the island for shopping, sightseeing, taking pictures, and more.

• Prices for Catamaran trips from Cancun to Isla Mujeres start at $1,121 Mexican pesos per person.

Book a Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres, here

Contoy Experience

Want to travel to a new place but don't want to be surrounded by crowds and what you like is to enjoy nature? A boat trip from Cancun to Isla Contoy may be your ideal option.

• Visiting Isla Contoy from Cancun costs $2,502 Mexican pesos per person.

We recommend booking in advance since Isla Contoy only accepts 200 people on its tours daily.
Book a boat trip from Cancun to Isla Contoy here

Xcaret

One of the most attractive parks in Cancun is Xcaret, which offers several shows throughout the year. You can enjoy the festival of life and death, the Mexican festival, and Mayan cultural rituals, among others.
This is one of the few parks where thousands and thousands of people visit every day, so be prepared for the crowds at these parks.
The buffet at this park is NOT included unless you buy a pass for it. Please take this into account.

• Prices to visit Xcaret Park start at $2,705 Mexican pesos.

Xel-Ha

Do you want to live an adventure in a natural park full of adventure? Xel Ha is the ideal place for this type of activity.
You will find slides, zip lines, cenotes, rivers, and free diving, among other activities. The best part? The food is included, an international buffet with delicious food that, we assure you, you will visit more than once.

• Prices to visit Xel Há park start at $1,999 per person.

Chichen Itza Tour from Cancun

This is one of the favorite tours for travelers visiting Cancun and the Riviera Maya. You can do it on your own or directly with a travel agency, and you can visit the park on the days you want, during the time you want (as long as it is within the schedule established by the park).

• The entrance ticket to Chichén Itzá is $298 pesos for nationals and foreigners.

Read this post for instructions on how to get to Chichen Itza from Cancun and more interesting facts about the area.

Tour to Tulum from Cancun

Tulum, like Chichen Itza, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in southern Mexico, and has several sites you should visit.

Going to Tulum from Cancun is really easy, you can even find ADO buses that will take you to the area in a couple of hours.

If you want something more private or local, the shuttle service from Cancun to Tulum is also a good option.

Cancun's Nichupte Lagoon Tour

One of the best and cheapest tours in Cancun is a boat ride on the Nichupte Lagoon.
Arriving at the Art Garden, small boats offer tours around the lagoon for 100, 200, or even 300 Mexican pesos per person.

Cancun Scenic Tower

If you decide to take a tour at Xcaret, you can access the scenic tower by presenting your bracelet at the entrance.
It is also possible to climb the scenic tower without taking the tour to admire the beauty of the turquoise Caribbean.
The entrance fee to climb Xcaret's scenic tower is $20 USD.

Free activities in Cancun

Visit the beaches

It may look too idyllic in photos, but Cancun's beaches are free and open to the public.
Look for beaches in Cancun with the Blue Flag; this guarantees that the beach will be clean and beautiful and constantly monitored.
Some beaches have palapas (handmade umbrellas made of wood and palm).
Take precautions; on weekends, you may find more people than usual. It is best to go from Monday to Thursday when locals work and tourists are busy with other activities.

Know the 7 best public beaches in Cancun here

Snorkel on your own

You only need a pair of goggles (and, if you are not an expert swimmer, a life jacket) for this activity.
Once you have these items, you can go to any of Cancun's beaches to snorkel for free for as long as you want.
Another inexpensive way to snorkel is to take a ferry to Isla Mujeres for approximately $190-380 pesos.

Visit the shopping malls

Cancun has three main shopping malls ideal for tourists. One is Plaza Las Americas, where you can find a food court, entertainment, national and international stores, and more.

The second is Marina Puerto Cancun, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the artificial lagoon, which serves as a dock for yachts and small boats. This is an ideal spot to take pictures at the famous "Shark Tower," an apartment complex shaped like a shark fin, offering spectacular views to anyone visiting this mall.

Last is Plaza La Isla, where you can view the Nichupte Lagoon from its pier. The area includes restaurants, international stores, food places, rest areas, and activities such as a tour of the canal that crosses the plaza in giant transparent balls or small boats.

Enjoy the beautiful views of the sunset on the lagoon.

Previously, we recommended a walk through the Nichupté lagoon as part of the activities you can do in Cancun if you visit this city on a budget. However, you can also visit the lagoon at different points and appreciate the beautiful warm colors that the sunsets give to those who spend the transition from afternoon to evening on the side of the lagoon.

• Plaza la Isla

Watching a beautiful sunset alone or with company, at the pier of Plaza La Isla, near the fountains and the restaurant area, is always a good plan. The best thing about it is that it is totally free.

• Art Walk

If you take a boat trip, you can schedule it from 6:40 to 7:00 pm to enjoy an even more beautiful view of the lagoon.
If you don't have plans to get on a boat, you can also stay and enjoy a plane at the kiosks along the walkway, where you can appreciate a beautiful view of the sunset without spending a dollar.

• Ferris Wheel

Many people don't know about Cancun's Ferris Wheel until they visit the Hotel Zone and come across its beautiful structure adorned with LED lights. These lights attract the attention of anyone who happens to be near the site. The entrance is not free, but you can have a nice time with a wonderful view from this site.

Cheap restaurants in Cancun

Bubba Gump ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Blvd Kukulcan km 11.5, El Rey, Hotel Zone, 77500 Cancun, Q.R.

$400 to $700 per person

Cielo y Tierra Restaurant (varied food) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Sm 523 M41 L1, Local C, 77533 Cancun, Q.R.

$200 to $300 per person

Pescaditos (seafood) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Av Yaxchilán 69, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

$200 to $300 per person

Rooster ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Mero Rtno. 1 30, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

$200 to $300 per person

Tacos los Chachalacos ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Plaza Peninsula, Av. Bonampak Supermanzana 9 Manzana 2 Lote 5, 77503 Cancun, Q.R.

$100 to $300 per person

Tacos Rigo ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Plaza Parian Across from Chedraui, Selecto, Blvd. Kukulcan Km 8.5, 77500 Cancun, Q.R.

$100 to $300 per person

Eat like a local in Cancun (Local tips, for foreigners who want to try something different in Cancun)

Lonchería El pocito (Yucatecan food) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 31 Norte Lte 23 Mz35 SM 63, Centro, 77513 Cancun, Q.R.

$100 to $300 per person

Coapeñitos ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Av Carlos Nader 25, Bancos, 77500 Cancun, Q.R.

$100 to $200 per person

Las Palapas Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 77500, Tulipanes LB, Cancun, Q.R.

If something local you want to try, we're sure the empanadas del sol can't miss on your trip to Cancun.

Visit Las Palapas Park, where in addition to live shows at night, attractions for young and old, you can find Mexican snacks and delicious desserts. You will not regret it.

Recommendations to try in Las Palapas Park:

• Elotes.
• Esquites.
• Marquesitas.
• Quesadillas and Empanadas.

The above dishes and desserts cost from $30 to 70 pesos.
If you want to avoid the crowds, visiting this park from Monday to Thursday is advisable. Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days for locals and tourists.

Economic transportation in Cancun

It is important to save on hotels, restaurants, and tours, but it is equally important to find the method of transportation you plan to use to move around the city and its outskirts during your stay. So, we recommend the following economic transportation options in Cancun, with prices and modalities.

Public taxi 🚖

You can find a taxi service leaving from the airport or within the city. It is recommended that you agree on a fair rate with the driver to avoid inconvenience due to exaggerated charges.
An advantage of this type of service is that Cancun cab drivers know the city well and can help you find activities or restaurants.
Tip: Cancun cabs only accept payment in cash; it is advisable to pay in Mexican pesos.

ADO bus 🚍

If you are only interested in moving from the airport to downtown or vice versa, and you have decided that you don't need any other type of transportation, ADO is the proper method. Generally, the shuttle service from the airport to downtown costs no more than 140 Mexican pesos.
To reserve this type of service, you can find information islands at the airport exit. If you are downtown, you can go to the ADO bus terminal to get tickets to the airport.

Shared transportation

You can take a shared shuttle from the airport or your hotel in Cancun. Many hotels offer transportation to various destinations, such as the airport and downtown Cancun, amusement parks, and shopping malls. Ask at the front desk or your travel agent about including transportation in your reservation.
This type of transportation must be booked in advance.

Economical private transportation 🚐

Private is not necessarily synonymous with expensive. You can find deals on private transportation to get around Cancun to and from the airport or open service from 500 pesos per person.

Tip: keep track of the offers and promotions that some transportation agencies offer through social networks.

UBER / DiDi / InDrive 🚘

Another alternative to moving you within Cancun at the last minute is car transportation apps like Uber, DiDi, or InDrive. Most of them tend to have very similar prices.
Keep in mind that some of these apps allow you to schedule your trip to save time and money.

Sites that offer discounts for locals or nationals in Cancun

Some travel agencies, tours, and sites offer discounts for Quintana Roo residents. Here's a list of things you can find in Cancun with a Local discount.

⛵ Catamaran trips with discount online.

🦜 Xcaret discounts and promotions online or Directly at the Ticket Office showing ID.

Xel-Ha discounts & packages online or directly at the ticket office showing ID.

Chichen Itza archaeological site offers online or directly at the ticket office showing ID.

Tulum Archaeological Zone for Quintanarroenses - Directly at the ticket office showing ID.

Swim with Dolphins with discount online or directly at the ticket office showing ID.

🌴 Tell us in the comments if you have visited Cancun or are about to see it and what else you would like to know about this destination.