Exploring Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula remains to be one in all my all-time favorite journeys, with the mix of Maya historical past and beautiful seashore – and improbable for households, with so many issues to do round Cancun with children.
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Even in the event you’re not staying in Cancun itself, you’ll move by way of as the principle hub for worldwide flights. A keep within the Cancun resort zone isn’t my private favorite, though it’s house to numerous the realm’s huge resorts, however you may also discover some nice household lodging alongside the coast between Cancun and Tulum, resembling quieter Puerto Morelos.
However wherever you base your self on the Riviera Maya, you’ll discover loads of concepts for household days out, together with my choose of the perfect issues to do round Cancun with children.
Discover Tulum
Over the previous decade or so, Tulum has change into one thing of an instagrammer’s paradise – extra fashionable than Cancun, it’s grown ever busier than its sleepy previous, however remains to be as tempting as ever.
A hotspot for teenagers, it’s effectively value a go to even in the event you don’t select to remain close by, to see the traditional Mayan ruins on the Tulum Archaeological website set on a clifftop overlooking the Caribbean. Whereas there are numerous historic Maya websites throughout the Yucatan peninsula, all with their very own charms, few have such a memorable setting.
You may as well mix it with a go to to the Coba ruins within the jungle – in the event you’re visiting Tulum with teenagers or older children, you’ll be able to hire a motorbike to cycle to Nochol Mul (in addition to alongside the seashore street) or get a journey with a bicycle taxi.
Save a while for the seashore too with some superb stretches of white sand. Playa Paraiso is Tulum’s best-known seashore, however inevitably will get very busy, so Santa Fe seashore is one other quieter different, whereas you may also go to the small seashore by the ruins in the event you climb down (outdoors turtle nesting season in the summertime).
A few of Tulum’s (usually pricy) seashore golf equipment are additionally child-friendly: La Zebra and Ziggy’s Seashore Membership are nice in the event you’re visiting with youthful children.
Or head to one of many close by cenotes to swim within the clear water there. Scroll down for extra recommendations on the perfect ones to go to with children
When you don’t have your individual rent automobile, it’s simple to rearrange transport from Cancun to Tulum with numerous completely different choices together with prebooked transfers for the half-hour drive
See Chichen Itza
If there’s one website you completely can’t miss whereas staying in Cancun with children, it’s Chichen Itza. Designated one of many new Seven Wonders of the World, the Unesco World Heritage website is a improbable place to find the Yucatan’s Maya heritage.
El Castillo, the pyramid on the centre that’s additionally referred to as the Temple of Kukulcan, is the best-known a part of the positioning but it surely’s an effective way to find extra about Maya tradition and civilisation – one of many world’s finest historic websites to go to with children.
As you discover, you may also discover the Ball Courtroom – twice the dimensions of a soccer area, it was thought to have been used for ceremonies in addition to video games, though opposite to the tales you’ll hear, the shedding facet didn’t get sacrificed on the finish…
There’s additionally the Temple of Warriors, and much extra to find on the sprawling website. Understandably well-liked, it’s effectively value arriving early or attempting to go to outdoors peak season in the event you can.
You’ll be able to select from a complete string of excursions of Chichen Itza, in addition to shopping for skip-the-line entrance tickets or an early entry tour to beat the crowds. In case you are travelling independently or can discover a tour which incorporates Ek Balam, this was one in all my favorite Maya temples, hidden in jungle
Go to Xcaret Park
Round an hour south of Cancun, Xcaret Park has a lot for households that it’s tempting to spend longer than a day right here!
The eco-archaeological park has all the pieces from snorkelling and zip-lining to swimming in underground rivers plus an aquarium, an opportunity to see animals together with turtles and manatees, the butterfly pavilion, a Mayan village and a string of cultural performances for the Xcaret at Night time present.
It does make it a protracted day in the event you’re visiting Cancun with youthful children, but it surely’s effectively value staying for the night occasion in the event you can.
Purchase tickets with free cancellation or there are alternatives together with entry tickets with transport from Cancun
Play at Xel-Ha Park
Xel-Ha Park is one other eco-park with a complete array of actions for households, all supporting numerous programmes to guard and preserve the atmosphere.
There’s extra probability to snorkel right here, in addition to floating down the lazy river (or leaping off a cliff into the cenote). Youthful children will love the kids’s playground, whereas older ones can check their stability on the Trapachanga rope stroll over the water.
Or discover the pure reserve, the Ixchel Grotto carved out by underground rivers, or just chill on Hammock Island.
Purchase all-inclusive tickets with free cancellation, together with foods and drinks, or there are additionally choices with all-inclusive tickets plus transport from Cancun
Get lively at Xplor Park
Finest for teenagers and older children, the emphasis is on getting your coronary heart racing and discovering loads of adrenaline thrills at Xplor Park.
You’ll be able to zoom alongside on a zipper wire previous rock formations, swim in caves or go rafting, in addition to taking a journey aboard an amphibious car.
It’s just for children aged 5+ and there are another weight restrictions in the event you’re planning to go to Xplor Park with youthful children: realistically, until you have got a mini daredevil, it’s extra enjoyable for households with older youngsters.
Take a ship to Isla Mujeres
A ship journey to this beautiful island is among the hottest days out from Cancun with children – and for good motive.
It’s solely a brief ferry journey from Cancun, and the turquoise waters are fantastically clear; ideally suited for swimming and snorkelling in, plus there are many vibrant fish to identify and seashores to lounge on. Playa Norte has loungers to hire and the water is calm, ideally suited for little ones.
If you wish to discover additional, you’ll be able to hire a golf cart as effectively, or take a glass boat tour to find the marine life with out getting moist.
It’s simple to journey independently if you wish to go at your individual tempo: firms together with Grupo Xcaret and Ultramar run a ferry service from Cancun to Isla Mujeres, though you’ll find loads of excursions to Isla Mujeres as effectively, with some visiting Isla Contoy, plus different journeys together with snorkelling.
Discover Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
This stunning pure reserve is the right place to absorb the fantastic thing about this nook of Mexico – realistically it’s finest in the event you’re staying nearer to Tulum and even Playa del Carmen, in any other case it’s a protracted day from Cancun.
But it surely’s effectively value exploring. House to tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, there’s additionally a barrier reef the place you’ll be able to snorkel, plus wildlife galore.
The seashores listed here are a lot quieter than elsewhere on the Quintana Roo coast, whereas inland you’ll be able to spot manatees, turtles and even crocodiles within the mangroves and saltwater lagoons.
You’ll be able to discover elements of the biosphere reserve independently however some areas are restricted to guided excursions, plus there are restrictions on the variety of boats allowed per day, so it’s effectively value reserving these prematurely.
Try the completely different excursions to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere reserve, together with choices with transport from Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun, in addition to some which additionally go to the Muyil ruins
Swim in a cenote
One in every of my favorite reminiscences of our journey, you’ll discover cenotes throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Fashioned when limestone collapses to go away a pool of water – some underground, some mendacity beneath a zipwire, however all fantastic pure swimming holes.
Good for cooling off on a sizzling day, or for venturing outdoors your consolation zone as you swim at nighttime, some are higher with older children and youths, however many are perfect for households.
Yow will discover completely different cenotes all alongside the coast, whether or not you’re searching for one thing close to Cancun or Tulum, or to mix with a go to to the Maya ruins, and there are alternatives to swimsuit the entire household. You may as well discover numerous excursions visiting cenotes.
Among the finest embody Gran Cenote, Cenote Dos Ojos and Cenote Aktun Ha (aka the Automotive Wash Cenote) close to Tulum, in addition to Cenote Azul close to Playa del Carmen.
One of many closest cenotes to Cancun is Cenote Verde Lucero – finest for assured swimmers than little ones, there are ziplines and jumps in addition to the prospect to swim (plus it’s not removed from Selvatica Journey Park for extra zipwire enjoyable).
Gran Cenote has shallower sections for youthful children, in addition to some turtles within the clear water however does get busy, whereas Cenote Azul has its personal shallow areas (in addition to diving platforms to leap from for older children).
Swim with turtles in Akumal
Swimming with turtles is an unforgettable expertise, and in the event you head to Akumal, you’ll be able to swim with sea turtles of their pure habitat.
The bay right here is protected by a reef, and the turtles are used to having folks swimming round them (although do maintain a respectful distance) so you may get some superb views. Might to November is the perfect time to see them, and attempt to arrive as quickly after 9am as attainable to keep away from huge teams.
You’ll be able to merely head to the seashore and swim, though in the event you go and not using a licensed information, there’s a restrict to how far out you’re allowed to go. There received’t be an issue discovering a information although, as you’ll be approached by numerous folks providing their providers (and inevitably some trying to make money from vacationers), in addition to having the ability to rent snorkelling gear and life jackets there.
If you wish to keep away from any trouble, you may also discover excursions to swim with turtles at Akumal or take a look at the helpful recommendations on visiting Akumal’s turtles right here.
You may as well mix a go to with a visit to Aktun-Chen Pure Park close by, with its cave stroll, in addition to zip lining, snorkelling and mountain climbing within the journey park
What about swimming with dolphins?
It’s value figuring out that proposed new legal guidelines would cease animal sights providing dolphin exhibits and swimming with dolphins, affecting a number of the Riviera Maya’s household sights resembling Dolphin Discovery – it’s not one thing I like to recommend anyway
Interactive Aquarium of Cancun
It might sound odd to go to Cancun with children and head to an aquarium, particularly with the superb marine life close by beneath the waves.
However the Interactive Aquarium of Cancun is nice for households, with round 1,200 aquatic species, together with sharks, rays and sea turtles, with the prospect for teenagers to get palms on at occasions, in addition to studying tons concerning the completely different marine life.
Excellent for youthful children who can’t snorkel or in the event you’re unfortunate sufficient to get a wet day in Cancun with children.
Entry is among the choices included within the Cancun Go Metropolis Explorer Cross
Xenses Park
This enjoyable time out in Playa del Carmen has 15 completely different actions designed to enchantment to your completely different senses.
There are some quirky illusions, together with the Means of Dwarfs and Giants, which performs along with your means to guage dimension, but in addition an opportunity to stroll beneath a waterfall, fly like an eagle on a zipper wire, attempt to swim in a salt river and find out about completely different ecosystems on the Xensatorium, with out utilizing your sight,
Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here
Get pleasure from a pirate boat journey
Yo ho ho, there’s not only one pirate boat journey on supply in the event you’re visiting Cancun with children however two – they usually each include dinner.
Select between the Jolly Roger Pirate Present and the Captain Hook Pirate Present, each lasting round 3.5-4 hours aboard a duplicate galleon, together with leisure, meals and drinks.
Relying which you select, you possibly can additionally see fireworks or get pleasure from some particular video games for teenagers, plus there’s music and different enjoyable on board, in addition to having the ability to watch the sundown from the deck of those conventional crusing ships throughout your pirate dinner cruise.
Ventura Park amusement park
This household amusement park in Cancun is a superb time out with children in the event you’re searching for a water park with some added extras.
Moist’n’Wild has the standard household pleasant water park enjoyable, however you may also discover zip traces and aerial actions at Aaah! Ventura, plus go-karting, actions for little ones, and extra high-tech enjoyable together with the Star Wars Battle Pods.
Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here
Croco Cun Zoo
Croco Cun Zoo began life as a crocodile breeding farm, however the focus as of late is firmly on conservation, with an opportunity to find out about numerous the animals discovered within the area.
It’s designed to be interactive the place attainable in case your children love the prospect to get palms on, whereas instructing children about endangered species.
Hit the seashore
A visit to the seashore goes with out saying in the event you’re visiting Cancun with children or any of the Riviera Maya. Actually I’m undecided if it’s attainable to go to with out discovering your self on no less than one seashore (and also you’d undoubtedly be lacking out in the event you did!)
You received’t be wanting alternative: in the event you’re visiting Tulum or Isla Mujeres, take a look at the sections above, in addition to ideas in the event you’re visiting Akumal.
When you’re staying in Cancun, a number of the all-inclusive resorts and motels have direct seashore entry, however all seashores in Mexico are public, so you’ll be able to go to as many as you fancy. Playa Chac Mool is among the quieter ones: you received’t discover numerous services, but it surely’s a stunning spot to sunbathe and swim.
Playa Delfines is thought for its dolphin sightings, in addition to extra beautiful sand – there are bathrooms right here and no motels hooked up to it, though it will probably nonetheless be busy and the water generally is a bit uneven for youthful children.
If you wish to enterprise a bit additional north, Isla Holbox is a few hours from Cancuns and an incredible place to sit back out for just a few days after some busy sightseeing – take a look at a number of the finest motels in Holbox to verify into
Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. All opinions on the perfect issues to do close to Cancun with children are my very own
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