Best Place To Stay In Cancun – Cancun, Mexico, the bustling Cancun hotel district, is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Mexico. Because not only is it home to some of the biggest and best all-inclusive hotels in North America, it also has epic white sand beaches, a cool underwater art museum, and a family-friendly interactive aquarium.
Meanwhile, there are tons of water sports. I promise, once you see the sparkling blue water in the Cancun Hotel Zone, you’ll be itching for it!
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However, visiting so many Cancun hotel districts can be a bit overwhelming. I mean, there’s so much going on around you, where do you spend your time?
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To help you plan your next trip, in this blog, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting the Cancun hotel district. It includes the best things to do in Cancun (preferably in the Cancun hotel area and surrounding areas) as well as details on the best hotels, restaurants and how to get around.
The Cancun Hotel Zone, also known as the Zona Hotelera, is home to all-inclusive resorts, international grand hotels, fine restaurants, and white sand beaches. This is where most visitors to Cancun choose to stay.
The area itself is 22.5 km (14 mi) long and is not to be confused with the traditional Mexican city of downtown Cancun (aka Cancun Center). The Cancun Hotel District is a 20-minute drive from downtown Cancun, with numerous buses plying the route. In fact, a bus plies this route every 5 minutes, every 24 hours.
Can you believe there are over 70 hotels in the Cancun hotel district? Most of these hotels are luxury all-inclusive hotels and are quite expensive. As a result, the area attracts tourists looking for a luxury vacation, with couples and families particularly fond of the area. I should note that if you are a budget traveler, the downtown area of Cancun is more for you!
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There are also dozens of restaurants in the area, most of which are located inside hotels and can be expensive, but there are also casual taco and burrito restaurants.
The best of the Cancun hotel district offers travelers a safe place to relax and unwind. Most people speak English here. Plus, the hotel area has a ton of tourist attractions, including ancient Mayan ruins and beautiful beaches.
Visitors to the area should spend at least a week here. That way, you can relax, unwind and explore!
Yes, the Cancun Hotel District is one of the safest areas in Cancun and is patrolled by the police.
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Yes, you can get around the Cancun hotel area, but be aware that the area is huge, so you may want to use a bus or taxi.
Yes, the Cancun hotel district is one of the most expensive in Mexico. This makes visiting luxury destinations affordable on the global stage.
Yes, the Cancun Hotel Zone is the best place to stay in Cancun for vacationers. There are many attractions, restaurants and hotels, it is very convenient and beautiful!
As mentioned above, the bus system in the Cancun hotel area is excellent, buses run 24 hours a day to downtown Cancun, stopping all the time along the way, and of course you can hop on and off anywhere along the way.
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Most of the hotels in the Cancun hotel district have bus stops right outside and the bus stops are clearly marked. The most common buses are the R1 and R2 routes, but there are also less common R15 and R27 routes.
R1 will take you downtown Cancun or the bus station. Another bus I should mention is the white bus that only runs the length of Cancun’s hotel district. This is perfect for researching blog posts without taking a taxi.
A one-way ticket costs only 10 pesos (50 cents), which is really worth it. The buses are modern but not air-conditioned (except the first bus). Buses in Cancun are also considered safe and I take them often.
Also, taxis are easily available in Cancun – your hotel can call you, you can pick one up on the street, or you can use Whatsapp (the most popular way to get one). You will also notice many taxi ranks in the hotel area and downtown Cancun. Taxis can be expensive, so it’s best to negotiate a rate before getting in.
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A cheaper option for taxis is Uber, available in Cancun via the Uber app. Although, I have to mention that there is some controversy surrounding Uber in Kanker. Local taxi drivers have been fighting to get rid of Uber since 2016, and as a result, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get Uber here.
For example, your Uber driver may not pick up outside your hotel or at the bus stop. Instead, they may walk you around the corner, or they may walk into your hotel to meet you and walk you to their car. They may also ask a passenger to sit in the front seat to cover themselves.
You probably know that Cancun’s hotel district is home to some of the best parties in the world, especially in February and March when thousands of spring festival goers descend on the city! The hottest nightlife scene in Cancun is Coco Bongo.
This lively club has live music, acrobatics and a party atmosphere that will keep you dancing the night away! In fact, Coco Bongo changes their shows frequently, so even though I’ve been many times, I still visit every year!
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Coco Bongo is insanely popular and lines can get pretty long, so get there early and book your tickets in advance. If you’re not interested in waiting in line, you can purchase a Gold Member ticket that gives you VIP access and 15 free drinks. I think it is great value for money as it includes pick up at your hotel.
Coco Bongo is open daily from 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM. Admission is $150 for basic entry. Guests must be 18 years of age or older to enter the Club.
The first thing every tourist does in the Cancun hotel area is hit the beach! Because there are many beaches within easy reach of your hotel – most within walking distance and some just a short bus ride away!
Playa Tortugasis is one of the funniest beaches in Cancun’s hotel district, and it’s where the partying goes – think loud music and crowds. This is a safe beach for swimming because the water is calm, you can even try snorkeling here, I recommend it because the water is so clear!
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There are several food vendors and restaurants along the beach. It’s important to note that most places don’t accept credit cards, so be sure to bring cash.
Although Playa Chacmool is located in the heart of the hotel district, many locals describe this beach as a “hidden gem”.
There are no restaurants or food shops here, so be sure to pack some snacks in your beach bag!
Playa Delfinesis is undoubtedly one of the most popular beaches in Mexico. Translated from Spanish, this beach means “Dolphin Beach”, and you can actually see dolphins swimming in the water here.
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This beach is huge and you will also find the famous Cancun sign. The beach has plenty of shade (palapa) to hide from the sun, and even though the waves are strong, there is a lifeguard on duty.
Playa Gaviota Azulis is smack in the middle of the hotel area and as you can imagine, it’s very popular. The entrance to this beach is next to Mandala Beach Club.
You can pay for a beach bed at the beach club here or just lay your towel on the sand – there are places where you can do that. The water here is calm and shallow and safe for swimming. Check out the Cubos area of the beach, an artificial barrier made of giant concrete cubes.
Now, one of my favorite activities is shopping! Cancun’s hotel district is full of boutiques and exclusive luxury boutiques, great if you’re looking to splurge! If you want to take advantage of the tax-free benefits when shopping for luxury items here, I recommend visiting the La Isla shopping center located in the hotel area.
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The process of applying for tax-free benefits can be a little confusing.
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