Most of the major resorts are along the beachy strip known as the “zona hotelera,” though this is also where you’ll find a lot of the rowdier nightclubs and restaurants. For a more peaceful stay, consider the beaches and towns to the north and south of town.
With the coastal city as your home base, you can explore the jungles of the Yucatan and the ruins of ancient Mayan cities, take a dip in mystical cenotes (natural sinkholes that have filled in with seawater) and snorkel with gargantuan whale sharks (from May-September at least; just beware that this is also when you might encounter the notorious sargassum seaweed washing up on Cancun's shores).
There are hotels for every taste and budget ranging from luxury enclaves to energetic megaresorts with sprawling waterparks, which are a particular hit with the kids. What's more, major airlines offer flights from a vast array of cities across the U.S. to Cancun as well as the new, nearby Tulum International Airport (TPQ).
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
