Cancun in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Many tourists head to this beautiful tropical paradise as part of a more complex travel itinerary that includes visiting other important cities in Mexico.

If this is your case and you only have a few days to see and enjoy all that Cancun has to offer; the success of your planning will depend on the variety in the type of activities you finally decide to do.

Here is my ideal travel plan focused on allowing you to enjoy some of the best that Cancun and its surroundings have to offer. With this 3-day itinerary in Cancun you will get to know incredible beaches, have fun in nature and enjoy ancient historical ruins.

Spend the first day of your Cancun itinerary enjoying the wonderful beaches this tropical paradise has to offer.

As you will soon realize, Cancun's best beaches are unparalleled and this is one of the reasons why so many tourists choose Cancun as their vacation destination time and time again.

Take a day trip to Isla Mujeres from Cancun for the day

Visiting Isla Mujeres from Cancun is one of the basic experiences that every traveler should consider and that I recommend taking on the first day to enjoy the warm sun and beautiful white sandy beaches.

Isla Mujeres is also considered an old pirate refuge, so be prepared to discover incredible and a bit lurid legends.

Located just 13 km off the coast of Cancun, you will find numerous local tour operators that offer this type of experience to the traveler. As a general rule, these companies include round trip transportation from Cancun to Isla Mujeres aboard a private boat, making the experience one of the best boat rides in Cancun.

On your visit to Isla Mujeres get ready to enjoy a day of fun at sea. The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, protected by the local government. This spot is considered one of the best places to have diving experiences in Cancun, so if you have some experience in this activity, don't hesitate for a second!

Additionally, since the island is so small, it is easy to get around in a short time. Golf carts for rent are available on site to get around and explore the following parts of the island.Useful Information

• Schedule: Excursions to Isla Mujeres depart from Cancun in the morning to take advantage of the hours of sun and fun at sea.
• Price: Available from 50€ per participant.
• Duration: Varies depending on the company you hire and the itinerary. You must reserve at least 5 hours for this experience and a maximum of 7 hours.

At night: take a stroll through downtown Cancun.

Once your adventure in the waters of the Caribbean Sea is over, reserve the evening hours to enjoy Cancun's nightlife.

Although this destination is famous for its nightclubs and wild parties, the truth is that the nightlife in downtown Cancun is diverse, entertaining and suitable for all tastes.

You can enjoy nightclubs with the tropical spectacle of Coco Bongo; improve your salsa steps at the Mambo Café, climb to the top of the Noria de Cancun or perhaps enjoy a quiet dinner at one of the many restaurants located near the Hotel Zone.

Considered by hundreds of travelers as one of the best Cancun tours and excursions, visiting this ancient Mayan city should be on the must-see list of everyone visiting the Yucatan Peninsula for the first time.

Built in 1200 A.D. by the Mayas, the ruins of Chichen Itza are on the list of the Seven Wonders of the World and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

There is a 200 km long direct road connecting Cancun downtown with the ancient Mayan city. That is why excursions to Chichen Itza from Cancun are an activity offered by numerous local companies in different formats, in different experience packages and at really affordable prices.

The specific aspects may vary depending on the company you hire. However, among the facilities included by local tour operators, the main ones are transportation to and from Cancun to the ruins, lunch for travelers and the entrance fees and taxes associated with the visit to the ruins.

Archaeological monuments in Chichen Itza.

Throughout history, the city of Chichén Itzá gradually expanded, especially with the arrival of the ancient Toltec warriors. Although the city is known for its Mayan heritage, the truth is that Chichén Itzá and its monuments possess a mixture of Mayan and Toltec traditions.

Consequently, during your visit to the ancient ruins you will come across several monuments and archaeological sites, some more impressive than others. Here is a list of the most impressive ones.

• Temple of Kukulkan: Also known as "El Castillo" (The Castle) is a magnificent and imposing pyramid that stars in all the covers and photographs referring to Chichen Itza. It is a marvel of architecture and engineering that even today holds many mysteries related to its construction.

• Akab Dzib: An elongated building 120 meters long. Archaeological experts consider this construction as the oldest building in Chichén Itzá. Its construction dates to the end of 800 A.D.

• Tzompantli: Also known as the Skull Wall because of the hundreds of human skulls carved in stone that make up the structure. It is a construction dedicated to death and can be found in numerous ancient Mayan cities, being Chichen Itza the oldest of them all.

Useful information about Chichen Itza

• Schedule: Excursions to the ancient ruins depart from Cancun early in the morning in order to make the most of the day's adventure.
• Price: Excursions to Chichen Itza from Cancun are available from 50€ per traveler.
• Duration: You will need to reserve a full day for this experience. The regular itinerary of most tour operators stipulates about 12 hours for the excursion.

To end your 3-day stay in beautiful Cancun on a high note, I recommend booking the last day of your itinerary to spend the day exploring the world's most famous nature and amusement park: Xcaret Park in the Riviera Maya.

This is a highly demanded activity by travelers visiting the city, so you will find several local tour operators offering package tours to Xcaret from Cancun.

The famous tourist enclave is located just 1 hour 45 minutes from downtown Cancun and can be visited in just 1 day trip.

What you will find in Xcaret

During your visit to Xcaret Park you will be able to enjoy approximately 50 different attractions. Some of the highlights are the aviary, impressive subway rivers, a reef aquarium, an ancient Mexican cemetery with a chapel, a butterfly garden, natural beaches, Mayan ruins and numerous pools.

Xcaret Park in the Riviera Maya is also the ideal place to have a snorkeling experience in Cancun during your vacation.

I recommend my traveler friends to buy the plus ticket to have access to all the attractions and training options offered here. For example, the night at Xcaret Park closes with a fabulous show that honors Mayan traditions and culture.

The perfect closing act to cap off an awesome vacation and if you are going to Cancun on vacation with kids, this is usually one of the favorite parts of the day's adventure at Xcaret.

Useful Information

• Schedule: Tours depart from Cancun early in the morning to make the most of the day.
• Price: Available from 140€ per traveler.
• Duration: You will need to reserve a full day for this experience, round trip excursions from Cancun usually take 10-12 hours to complete.