Have you always wanted to take a break from sitting for long hours in your office? Maybe you’re a busy mom and just need time off? Perhaps you are a top executive saddled with so much workload that you are beginning to feel suffocated and need some form of escape or respite? Are you stuck wondering where to go, and what to do when you get there?

Look no further, as Cancun might be the right fix for you. Picture yourself sitting in the sunny, windy shore of a crystal clear water with a gentle reflection from the midday sun. You are engulfed in the feeling of peace, quiet and tranquility.

Or you might be the adventurous type that wants to explore, discover new things, make new memories, and learn about a new culture. Whatever your reasons might be, Cancun can be a one stop for all your tour and excursion needs.

There are numerous activities to engage in and day trips one can take in Cancun, below are a few examples of activities/day trips for anyone looking to visit Cancun. It’s not just for spring break, people!

Isla Mujeres

Mujeres is an island with a day trip that is moderately cheaper than many other tours one will find in Cancun. It is usually quiet with a few quack tourist shops. Tourists do get around by golf carts, and the beaches comprise crushed corals and turquoise blue waters. It’s picture perfect.

There are options for either scuba diving or snorkeling, and if swimming is not your thing, there is always a choice of visiting a turtle farm that is home to endangered turtle species.

If any of these doesn’t interest you, what about the idea of snorkeling with whale sharks? The whale shark excursion is now a significant trend on this island, as hundreds of people troop in for this fantastic, breathtaking sight.

The peak time is usually between June and August. Many of the local dive shops offer whale shark excursions, and the fishermen’s cooperative also offers deep sea fishing trips, to capture Sailfish, Dorado, and Marlin. You will find the cooperative beside the ferry docks.

The island’s main beach is called Playa Norte. It has beautiful turquoise blue water, and unlike many beaches in Mexico, Playa Norte is very safe. But the most appealing characteristics of this beach is the fact that the water is only 5 feet deep even at the far end many meters away from the shore.

Isla Cozumel

Cozumel is a cruise ship destination, a far cry from the tourist zone of Cancun. This island is quiet and has some of the best diving reefs in the world.

As you might have guessed, the main attraction to this beautiful island rich with culture are diving and snorkeling, but apart from that, there are other sites worth visiting on this island, like some small Maya ruins and a marine park. There is also an option of renting a scooter to drive along the windswept shores that has a mesmerizing view.

The best time to visit this island will depend on the purpose of your visit. If one’s target is the festivity period, then February will be a good time, as there is a carnival in February that hosts live music performances with dancers decorated with feathers.

Also, in late April and early May, people from the town of El Cedral pay homage to Caste War refugees with local dance, rides, and rodeos. There is also a popular dance that locals do perform in this festivity called the “Dance of the Pigs’ heads.”

On the other hand, if your aim for visiting is to dive or snorkel, then the best time to visit will be from March to May when there are no sporadic hurricanes and strong winds.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is the most popular Yucatan Maya site, with a lot of people streaming in and out of this city. It is a beautiful sight to behold, and many tourists are attracted to this site.

Almost if not all tourists that visit this beautiful monument are left speechless, especially after witnessing the morning and afternoon sun produce a light and shadow illusion of the serpent ascending or descending the side of El Castillo’s staircase. This spectacle usually occurs around the 20th of March and the 22nd of September at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.

The only challenge though is a lot of people crowding up the place, making it impossible to see. Also, Parts of the temple get closed to the public after the period of these exhibitions.

But there is a hack to seeing this beautiful spectacle. There is a night show called light-and-sound show that occurs all year round that recreates the serpent-like effect on the EL Castillo’s staircase.

Bear in mind though that it is nothing close to the original and one can only see this in periods before the equinox.
One should also note that the crowd, humidity, and heat in Chichen Itza can be very rough, so the best time to visit is early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

In a Nutshell

Cancun and its environs are a must visit for anyone looking to be dazzled by ancient Maya ruins and old colonial cities that without a doubt boasts of some of the most exotic beaches and stretches of coastline you can ever imagine