Itinerary and Travel Guide: 7 days in Cancun

Cancun is a dream destination in the Mexican Caribbean. Its white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, electrifying nightlife, and diverse culture make it the perfect place for a week-long trip. This travel itinerary will guide you through an exciting week of adventure and discovery in Cancun, exploring its best attractions and making the most of this jewel of the Mexican Caribbean.

Day 1: Arrival at Cancun International Airport 🛬

If you arrive in Cancun by air, you will most likely find a shuttle service, car rental, colectivo, taxi, or ADO.

We recommend to book any of these services in advance to avoid inconveniences or high fares when you arrive at the airport.

Read this guide about Cancun airport.

Transportation Agencies at Cancun Airport (CUN).

Taxi: Airport Hotel Shuttle

Google Maps Location 📍 Av Huayacán 77533, Smz 313, Cancun Quintana Roo CP 77533 México

Airport bus: ADO

Google Maps Location 📍 Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún, Carretera Tulum - Cancún Km 22 Terminal 2, 77220 Cancún, Q.R.

Private transportation: Cancun Airport Transportation

Google Maps Location 📍 Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún, Chetumal Km 22, 77569 Cancún, Q.R.

Car Rental: Kayak

Kayak offers electronic sales only

Once you get the transportation service to your hotel or point of arrival in Cancun, the first day's itinerary depends on the time you arrive in the city.

If you arrive early in Cancun on the first day, we recommend visiting and shopping at any of Cancun's most popular shopping malls.

Information and location of the most popular shopping malls in Cancun

Go Grand Outlet Riviera Maya

Website: https://www.gorivieramaya.mx/ 

Google Maps Location 📍 M1 de la SM 47 Km 21 Carretera Cancún - Puerto Morelos, 77564 Cancún, Q.R.

Marina Puerto Cancun

Website: https://marinapuertocancun.com/ 

Google Maps Location 📍 Blvd. Kulkulcán km. 1.5, Puerto Juarez, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

La Isla & La Isla II Cancún

Website: https://islacancun.mx/ 

Google Maps Location 📍 Boulevard Kukulcán Km 12.5 Zona Hotelera, 77500  Cancún, Q.R, México

Day 2: Explore Cancun's Hotel Zone 🏨

Start the second day of this adventure at your hotel with a continental or buffet breakfast (this depends mainly on the breakfast package your hotel or rental home offers).

After breakfast, you can relax at the beaches or pools of your hotel or villa. If you do not plan to stay at a hotel or resort in the hotel zone, you can take a shuttle or cab to the beaches. The most popular route to the Cancun hotel zone is the R2.

In the afternoon, you can ride to any of the attractions in the hotel zone, such as the Jardín del Arte, the scenic tower of Xcaret (360°), and the various piers to contemplate the Nichupte lagoon.

Some agencies offer boat or yacht rides on the lagoon and even Sunset tours, where you can enjoy the sunset in a pleasant atmosphere.

At nightfall, enjoy dinner at any of the restaurants in the hotel zone.

We share with you 8 of the most popular restaurants in Cancun Hotel Zone 🍽️ with addresses:

1. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cancun - Seafood

Address: Blvd. Kukulcan km 9, Punta Cancun, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Bubba Gump Cancun digital menu

2. Casa Rolandi Cancun - Italian Food

Dirección: Plaza Caracol, Blvd. Kukulcan Km 8.5, Punta Cancun, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Casa Rolandi Cancun digital menu

3. Thai - Thai Food

Dirección: Km12.5, Blvd. Kukulcan, La Isla, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Thai Cancun digital menu

4. Sonora Grill - Mexican Steakhouse

Dirección: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 12, La Isla, Zona Hotelera, 77504 Cancún, Q.R.

Sonora Grill digital menu

5. Casa Tequila - Mexican Food

Dirección: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 8.5-local 2, Punta Cancun, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Casa Tequila Cancun digital menu

6. Cenacolo - Italian Food

Dirección: Km. 1.5 Boulevard Kukulcan Marina Puerto Cancún Puerto Cancún, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Cenacolo Cancun digital menu

7. Hard Rock Cafe - American Food

Dirección: Plaza Forum, Blvd. Kukulcan Km. 9.5, Punta Cancun, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Hard Rock Cafe Cancun digital menu

8. Ryoshi Cancun - Asian Food

Dirección: Boulevard Kukulkán Lote 18-10 Manzana 52, U.P. 1 Sección “A, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R.

Ryoshi Cancun digital menu

Day 3: Adventure Day in Tulum 🍃

On the third day of your trip, you can enjoy a visit to Tulum and the ruins of the famous archaeological zone of this small Caribbean town.

Tulum is located less than 2 hours from Cancun on Carr. Tulum - Cancun/Mexico 307, so getting there is easy. You can even find all-inclusive tours with transportation, food, and entrance to the archaeological site.

Exploring the archaeological site early in the morning is advisable to avoid crowds and long waits to enter the site.

During your visit to the archaeological site “Zama,” you can take a break to get to know the city or visit the most famous cenotes in Tulum: Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera.

What you should know about entering the archaeological site of Tulum (Zamá) 

• The entrance to the archaeological zone is from 8:00 a.m., and the closing time is at 5:00 p.m.

• Food and beverages are not allowed, except for a bottle of water.

• You can visit the area and enjoy a beautiful cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

• Entrance to the archaeological site costs MXN 90.

• The most iconic and largest temple in Zama is “El Castillo.”

Tulum archaeological site in Google Maps 📍

Would you like more information about the archaeological zone of Tulum (Zama)? Find it on INAH's official website

Day 4: Visit and Explore Isla Mujeres 🏝️

Visiting Isla Mujeres should be on your list of things to do during your trip to Cancun. A Catamaran trip is one of the most popular options for getting to know Isla Mujeres. Besides having fun on board, this option includes snorkeling, lunch at the beach club, and discounts at attractions or restaurants on the island.

How to book a catamaran tour to Isla Mujeres? ⛵ 

To book a catamaran trip from Cancun to Isla Mujeres, you must contact Cancun Sailing, an agency specializing in catamaran trips to Isla Mujeres.

You can make your reservation online or by contacting Cancun Sailing by phone, email, or WhatsApp.

What to do in Isla Mujeres?

Despite being a small island, Isla Mujeres has an endless number of activities ideal for all kinds of people, such as beach clubs, touring Isla Mujeres in golf carts, enjoying the sunset at Punta Sur, and even relaxing on a deck chair in front of the sea.

If you plan to leave the hotel early to venture to Isla Mujeres, the ideal plan is to take a Catamaran. These have schedules from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, with approximately 5 to 7 hours of duration per tour. A perfect plan for a full day of fun in Isla Mujeres.

The tour includes an international open bar, music on board, snorkeling, a spinnaker, transportation from your hotel to the marina, a City Tour, a beach club with a buffet, and two and a half hours of free time to explore the island.

When you arrive at Isla Mujeres, you can visit points of interest such as North Beach, Punta Sur, Lancheros Beach, Guadalupe Chapel (overlooking the sea), Tortugranja, and even the Meco, where you can find two giant figures of hands as a symbol of peace.

Would you like to know more about this destination? read our guide to Isla Mujeres

Day 5: Aquatic Fun 🌊

During your fifth day in Isla Mujeres, we recommend a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion in the Caribbean Sea. One of the points of interest for this type of activity is the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA), where you can see life-size sculptures of people, cars, and beautiful visual elements, which, in turn, serve to regenerate coral reefs.

Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping at the local markets or malls, such as La Isla Shopping Village, which is close to the Nichupte Lagoon and Cancun's most renowned beaches.

Isla Blanca is very close to Cancun, and you can access the beaches of this beautiful place by car or taxi. One of the most popular activities in Isla Blanca is paddleboarding and camping. It is ideal for family groups, friends, and even couples. 

Other water activities in Cancun:

• Hoverboard

• Flowrider

• Snorkeling

• Skydiving

• Diving

• Subsea Explorer

Day 6: Cultural Exploration 🗺️

During your sixth day of visit to this paradise, we recommend you visit one of the most beautiful cultural museums in Cancun; of course, we are talking about the Mayan Museum of Cancun, where you can find a wide variety of activities ideal for young and old.

Delve into the Mayan culture and discover the traditions and customs of the region's ancestors. Enjoy interactive rooms, and take advantage of the cultural reserve of El Rey, where you can observe Mayan buildings and beautiful enclosures in the middle of nature.

➡️ Learn more about the Mayan Museum of Cancun. 🏛️

Visit Downtown Cancun and stroll through Mercado 28, where handicrafts and souvenirs are the main attractions. Bring souvenirs for yourself, friends, and family. You can get here by various means of public transportation such as Bus, Taxi, Uber and even DiDi.

After you visit Mercado 28, you can tour Mercado 23, Coba Avenue, and Nader Avenue, and even visit one of the most popular local spots, Las Palapas, where you can taste delicious local dishes, as well as desserts and snacks such as esquites, elotes, marquesitas and crepes.

Lunch at an authentic Mexican food restaurant. 🌮

One of the most popular places to eat authentic Mexican food is La Parrilla restaurant and El rincón de los antojos.

📍La Parrilla Restaurant in Google Maps

🗺️ Cancun Downtown Map.

If you plan to visit downtown Cancun, we recommend reading this Cancun Safety guide.

Day 7: Enjoy a Relaxing Massage 🧖

Before leaving paradise, we recommend a relaxing day of massage in a Cancun Spa or hotel either overlooking the lagoon or the Caribbean Sea.

The best five spas in Cancun are:

1. Bamboo Hair and Spa

2. Holistic Spa

3. Spa at The Royal Sands

4. Spa Life Cancun

5. Dosha Tan Spa & Wellness Center Cancun

Experience the balance between tranquility and relaxation in a spa, where you can enjoy various treatments and activities to spend a day full of relaxation in Cancun. It is an ideal activity for couples or friends.

Another alternative is to visit the beach, where you can find spa tents. Relax and enjoy a massage with the sound of the sea in the background.

A week in Cancun is ideal for exploring this small but paradisiacal city's natural beauty, culture, and adventure. Cancun has something for everyone, from sandy beaches to ancient Mayan ruins, water sports and activities, and delicious Mexican food. This 7-day itinerary in and around Cancun will help you plan an unforgettable experience in the Mexican Caribbean! Enjoy your trip!