Introducing guest bloggers Amy & Liam from Plain2Plane
Cancun is an amazing place to travel as a family, with plenty of activities that your kids will absolutely love! From adventure parks to snorkelling trips and jungle tours, it is safe to say that you and your family won’t be bored when you’re exploring Cancun.
If your family loves adventure then Cancun is worth visiting and a great destination for children with lots of energy. There are plenty of parks that offer ziplining, waterslides, cenotes and so much more.
No matter the age of your children, there is a little something for everyone in Cancun that will keep your family occupied. There are also plenty of educational tours and activities so even when they’re taking a break from school, they’ll be learning in a fun, creative way.
This guide will walk you through the 10 best things to do in Cancun with kids, tips for visiting these attractions with your family and where to book them as well.
This post is part of our Discover Central America series
1. Ventura Park
One of the best things to do with kids in Cancun is to take them to Ventura Park, which is a huge amusement park that has everything your family could dream of.
At Ventura Park you will find a waterpark, go karts, ziplines, a bungee jump, simulations, arcade games and so much more. Whether you have small or big kids, there are plenty of things to do to keep everyone amused.
If you are visiting Ventura Park then you can catch the ADO bus from the Downtown Cancun Bus Terminal which will take you straight there. Alternatively, if you’ve decided to rent a car in Cancun then you will have a lot more flexibility so that you can arrive and leave Ventura Park when you wish to do so.
If you and your family are looking for fun, adrenaline, and new experiences, Ventura Park is one thing that you cannot miss while you’re in Cancun. It also hosts the only roller coaster in Cancun, so you will enjoy experiences at this park that you can’t get anywhere else.
It’s good fun for the kids and the adults, so you’ll get to spend some great quality time together as a family.
2. Day trip to Xcaret
Another great day trip from Cancun for families is to head over to XCaret Park for more adventure-filled activities. This is one of the most popular things to do for families in Cancun so you will absolutely want to make sure you take a trip there.
There are quite a few different XCaret parks, so which one you choose will depend on what activities your family would like to participate in.
XCaret and Xel-Ha are great options for if you have small children in your family as there is a little something for everyone. At XCaret, there are underground rivers, children parks, cultural activities and so much more.
Xel-Ha is located closer to Tulum but it is still possible to go on a day trip from Cancun. At Xel-Ha you will find more water-based activities, as it is a natural water park. Your family will be able to enjoy snorkelling, river tours, exploring caves, cliff climbs and water ziplines.
You will also find a childrens area at Xel-Ha which is perfect for smaller children with water slides, games, rope swings and a playground.
No matter which XCaret park you choose, they are a great fun day out for families with lots of activities to cater everybody.
3. Pirate Dinner Cruise
Become a pirate for the day and cruise out on a pirate ship in Cancun for dinner and a show. This is a really great family trip where you can enjoy games, quizzes, a show and lots of dancing.
The best thing about this boat trip is that you will get to enjoy some beautiful sights of Cancun and spend time as a family, and your children will be able to have fun with other kids their age with the different games.
There is also an open bar on the pirate ship, so the adults can indulge in a drink or two as well. This is a really unique family activity in Cancun, and you won’t find anything else like it!
4. Chichen Itza
Educate your children on the Mayan history that is prevalent within Mexico by visiting one of the seven wonders of the world. Taking a trip to Chichen Itza is one of the most popular things to do from Cancun and a great learning experience for families.
If you have very small children then this may not be the best day trip for you as a family. You will be able to wander around the ruins and learn more about the Mayans but this may not be very interesting for young children that are 5 and under.
However, for older children this is a great opportunity to learn more about the world around them and have fun whilst they’re at it.
When you’re exploring around Chichen Itza as a family make sure that you’re regularly topping up your suncream and take some electrolytes out with you too. During the day, it can get quite hot and you’re very exposed when visiting Chichen Itza with little to no shade available.
5. Take a trip to Isla Mujeres
Whilst you’re in Cancun, your family adventure is not complete without taking a trip to the small island of Isla Mujeres.
It is very easy to get from Cancun to Isla Mujeres and your family will love the ferry ride over to the island. Once you’re there, you can spend time relaxing on the beautiful Playa Norte whilst playing different beach games.
You will have lots of fun renting out a golf cart, which is the main mode of transportation in Isla Mujeres, and exploring the different sights of the island together.
Some families may even want to spend a few days on the island, as it is a great spot to snorkel with whale sharks.
There are so many different things to do in Isla Mujeres that you certainly won’t be stuck for choice. Even if you just visit on a day trip to see a different area of Mexico, it is really great fun for the whole family.
6. Relax on the beaches
Even if you don’t visit the Playa Norte beach in Isla Mujeres, Cancun has a lot of great beaches to offer families too. The most popular beach to visit in Cancun is Playa Delfines and it is no wonder why because it is absolutely stunning.
The only downside of visiting Playa Delfines is that it can get very busy, especially during peak season, so this may not be the best beach for you and your family.
Another great beach for families to visit in Cancun is Playa Marlin, where there are lots of different facilities, making it much easier and stress-free.
No matter what beach you decide on, you will be happy with your choice as they are all stunning. As both Playa Marlin and Playa Delfines have public bathrooms and nearby restaurants and snack bars, your family will be well catered for.
7. Go on a snorkelling trip
Your family will have the incredible opportunity to see plenty of marine life in their natural habitat by doing some snorkelling in Cancun.
Whether you go on a boat trip around some different snorkelling spots or just enjoy snorkelling at the shallows on the beach, it is an incredible experience.
There are lots of different beautiful fish for you to see and it is a great learning experience for your children. If you’re lucky, you will get the chance to see larger animals such as turtles, manta rays and maybe even catch a glimpse of a dolphin too.
You can also look out for large fish such as groupers, snappers, barracudas and so much more. The Caribbean is truly one of the best places to go snorkelling with crystal clear water and a large range of species.
Before visiting Cancun, if you’re planning to go snorkelling then it is worth checking which season is the best to see certain animals so that you can increase your chances.
8. Aquarium Cancun
If your children are still a little too small to go snorkelling, or you want to get your family out of the sun for a little while, then you will want to head over to Cancun’s Aquarium.
The interactive ponds are a great way to teach your children about the different marine animals and see them up close. There are over 140 different species of fish in the aquarium so there is plenty to see whilst you’re wandering around.
Cancun’s Interactive Aquarium is on a mission to educate others about marine conservation and the efforts being made to prevent overfishing, the invasion of certain marine species, and pollution. Your children will learn a lot from this aquarium in a fun, interactive way.
You may want to consider taking part in their aquarium trek, where you can walk around some of the different species, and you may even have a chance to feed some of them too.
Another highlight of visiting Cancun’s interactive aquarium is the electronic playground with plenty of educational games for children.
They will have great fun playing on the different tablets and learning more about the animals that they have just seen in the aquarium.
9. Explore the cenotes
One of the most popular things to do within the Yucatan region of Mexico is to visit one or many of the cenotes that it has to offer.
There are plenty of different cenotes around Cancun including open, semi-open and underground cenotes. Families are able to enjoy a swim in the cenote and explore around the area.
Some cenotes there is even an opportunity to jump in which is great fun for strong swimmers and big kids wanting to experience some adrenaline.
If you choose to go on a Chichen Itza tour then most of the tours will take you to a cenote at the end of the day so this way you can experience the best of both worlds.
Cenote Azul is one of the best ones to take the family if your children are a mixture of ages. You have some deeper areas for the big kids and there are some really great shallow areas for small children to splash and play too. With it being an open-cenote, you can see the children at all times and it is a really fun experience for everyone.
10. Speed Boat Jungle Tour
Depending on where you’re from and other countries you’ve explored, your children may not have any experiences with jungles yet. This is a great chance for your kids to experience something different.
Fly through the jungle watching out for wildlife and experience the Mexican jungle. Some of the tours, like the one below, also includes snorkelling so you will be able to see some of the marine life too.
If you choose to snorkel, you will also catch a glimpse of some of the infamous MUSA underwater statues. This is a truly unique experience, and your kids will absolutely love it!
There are plenty of amazing things to do in Cancun with kids no matter what age they are. For smaller kids, they will love the adventures at Ventura Park, exploring around Cancun’s aquarium, becoming a pirate for the day on a pirate ship and playing in one of the beautiful cenotes that Cancun has to offer!
For any families that have big kids, you will have so many opportunities to enjoy lots of adventure and exploration throughout Cancun. In particular, your children will be thrilled to try new activities at one of the XCaret parks.
This is a great place to visit for families and your children will not be bored that’s for sure! You and your family will be able to go on plenty of different tours and excursions from Cancun that will last you a lifetime.
About the Bloggers
Amy & Liam are part-time travel bloggers alongside their full-time jobs. After spending too much time wishing for a better life and wanting to make the most of the time that they have on this planet, it was time to show others how to explore more too. They are budget couple travellers that are looking to see more together on a budget and show others how to do the same.
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With thanks to Liam and Amy for their contribution to our guest series. You may also like to learn more about Belize with kids, or see what it’s like to travel with your kids to Honduras.
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