Best Cancun Tourist Cards

Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass offer perfect alternatives to tour this Mexican paradise while saving time and money. I'll tell you how these passes work and what features each one has.

Matías Rodríguez

Matías Rodríguez

11 min read

Best Cancun Tourist Cards

Afternoon in Cancun | ©OIF2BOY

If you are one of those who when you visit a destination want to know it in depth, then you will be interested to know that in Cancun, where you will find a lot of attractions, you can hire two tourist cards that will be ideal for you. Two options that will allow you to save time with priority tickets and also money with the discounts they offer.

Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, each with its own conditions, offer good alternatives to discover the best activities in Cancun and its surroundings, as they also include Chichen Itza and other attractions of the Mayan Trail in Quintana Roo. Whether you are planning a short stay or a longer one, you will find options for all travel plans.

The most organized option

Cancun Explorer Pass

A tourist pass that will give you access to a list of more than 40 attractions in Cancun and its surroundings.

You can visit the city with passes to visit 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 of the most emblematic tourist attractions of this destination, depending on the option you choose.

The Cancun Explorer Pass will give you the opportunity to choose passes to visit 3, 4, 5, 5, 7 or 10 of the city's most famous tourist attractions from a list of more than 40 available alternatives. You will be able to use it for a period of 60 consecutive calendar days from activation and together with the digital tourist card you will have a travel guide that will allow you to order the tour in an efficient way.

All you have to do is choose the option that best suits your itinerary and the travel days you have scheduled and start enjoying the theme parks, Mayan attractions, snorkeling activities and sunset cruises in the Gulf of Mexico. Just keep in mind that you will only be able to access each activity once.

Recommended if... you are planning a short stay in the city and want to make the most of your tour with an organized circuit that allows you to save money.

The most complete option

Cancun All-Inclusive Pass

A tourist card that will put at your disposal more than 30 attractions in Cancun in tours from 1 to 7 days.

You will be able to enjoy each and every one of the activities available during the validity of the pass, which is activated from the first use and includes premium attractions in contracts of 3 days or more.

The Cancun All Inclusive Pass will give you access to more than 30 attractions in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 day options that will start running on consecutive days from activation. During this period, you will be able to participate in the activities included in the list, but not only that, you will also have access to discounts of up to 50% in other activities and priority access to the available sites.

Also, if you choose to hire the 3 or more days alternatives you can also enjoy the premium activities, which include tickets to Xel-Ha and Xcaret parks and an organized excursion to Chichen Itza, among other attractions in Cancun and its surroundings.

Recommended if... you want to make an intense tour of the main attractions of the city and, above all, if you want to save money on premium activities in Cancun.

How much does each Cancun Tourist Pass cost?

Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

The price of each of the tourist passes depends on the options chosen in each case, as the Cancun Explorer Pass has different rates based on whether you choose the 3, 4, 5, 5, 7 or 10 activities alternatives. On the other hand, the Cancun All Inclusive Pass varies its price according to the number of days of validity of the tourist card, which can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive days.

Cancun Explorer Pass price

The Cancun Explorer Pass rate has an approximate initial cost of 119 euros per person for the 3 activity alternatives. However, the costs change according to the number of attractions you plan to visit:

  • Cancun Explorer Pass price of 3 activities for adults... starting at 119 euros.
  • Cancun Explorer Pass price of 4 activities for adults... from 151 euros.
  • Cancun Explorer Pass price of 5 activities for adults... from 184 euros.
  • Cancun Explorer Pass price of 7 activities for adults... from 239 euros.
  • Cancun Explorer Pass price of 10 activities for adults... from 332 euros.

Please note that children between 5 and 12 years old can get a reduced rate in each case, being the price for the little ones of 99 euros for 3 activities, 114 euros for 4 activities, 139 euros for activities, 169 euros for 7 activities and 179 euros for 10 activities.

Also, keep in mind that these passes also include discounts on other attractions not included in the list, making it one of the most outstanding alternatives to enjoy the best activities in Cancun and, at the same time, save money.

Buy the Cancun Explorer Pass

Cancun All Inclusive Pass Cancun Tour Price

The Cancun All Inclusive Pass rate has an approximate initial cost of 92 euros per person for the 1-day alternative, although this price changes based on the option chosen:

  • Cancun All Inclusive Pass 1-day adult price... starting at 92 euros.
  • Cancun All Inclusive Pass price for 2 days for adults... from 161 euros.
  • Cancun All Inclusive Pass 3 days price for adults... from 212 euros.
  • 4-day Cancun All Inclusive Pass for adults... from 276 euros.
  • Cancun All Inclusive Pass price for 5 days for adults... from 318 euros.
  • 7-day Cancun All Inclusive Pass for adults... from 387 euros.

Children pay a reduced rate of 59 euros for the 1-day pass, 119 euros for the 2-day pass, 147 euros for the 3-day pass, 184 euros for the 4-day pass, 202 euros for the 5-day pass and 249 euros for the 7-day pass.

Remember that the Cancun All Inclusive Pass also includes discounts of up to 50% on a long list of attractions listed on the tourist card and offers priority entrance without queuing for each of the activities, so with this alternative you can save time and money during your tour.

Buy the Cancun All Inclusive Pass

How do the Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass work?

Xel-Ha Theme Park| ©franck peyrelongue
Xel-Ha Theme Park| ©franck peyrelongue

Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass are activated from the moment of the first use. The substantial difference between both is that in the Cancun All Inclusive Pass the time will start to elapse in calendar days from the activation, while in the Cancun Explorer Pass you will be able to exhaust the number of activities available within 60 calendar and consecutive days from the moment you visit the first attraction.

In both cases you will be able to participate in each of the available activities only once and you will also have the digital pass and a guide that will provide you with information about each site and each attraction included in the list. In addition, with both tourist cards you will be able to access discounts in different activities and services in the city and you will have priority access without queues.

In the case of the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, if you purchase the 3-day or longer alternatives, you will also have access to premium activities, which include tickets for the Xel-Ha theme park, excursions to Chichen Itza, tickets for Xcaret park and other activities in Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.

  • I recommend that... in the case of the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, the activation should be done early so you can enjoy more time of your tourist pass.
  • Remember that... the total time limit to use the number of attractions you bought in the Cancun Explorer Pass is 60 consecutive days from the first use.

What does the Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass include?

Isla Mujeres| ©dronepicr
Isla Mujeres| ©dronepicr

The list of activities and attractions included in both tourist passes is very extensive and in both cases the list of options will be enough to get to know the best of this destination, especially if you plan to visit Cancun in June or during the summer months, which is one of the most outstanding times to visit the city.

Keep in mind that if your intention is to visit a specific list of attractions and those activities coincide with those included in the list of the Cancun Explorer Pass, you will want to choose this tourist card because it will allow you to organize your travel plan and, in turn, save time and money on the predetermined circuit.

However, if you are one of those who prefer an intense tour of as many attractions and activities as possible, then in that case I suggest you opt for the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, because it is an unlimited tourist card that will give you the right to visit as many sites as you wish during the validity of the pass.

Main attractions and excursions included in the Cancun Explorer Pass

The Cancun Explorer Pass offers a list of more than 40 activities and attractions that include some of the most outstanding sites in the city and several of the best tours in Cancun, among which the following stand out:

  • Guided tour to Chichen Itza with transportation included.
  • Dolphin encounter at Isla Mujeres
  • Tickets to the Sky Wheel Cancun
  • Romantic dinner cruise in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Cancun Interactive Aquarium tickets
  • Excursion with snorkel experience in Cozumel
  • Excursion to Tulum Ruins with hotel pick up and drop off at hotel
  • Excursion to the Mayan archaeological ruins of Coba
  • Tickets to Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum
  • Shopping tour in Cancun

Main attractions and excursions included in the Cancun All Inclusive Pass

The Cancun All Inclusive Pass, on the other hand, offers many of the activities of the Cancun Explorer Pass, but without a limit on the number of visits, but instead establishes a specific number of days. Some of the best alternatives of this tourist card are:

  • Parasailing adventure tour in Cancun.
  • Boat excursion through the mangrove swamps
  • Entrance fees to Royal Garrafon Reefs Natural Park
  • Tickets for Ventura Park water park
  • Sunset catamaran cruise in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Jet ski rental
  • Paraiso Nizuc glass bottom boat tour
  • Aquarium Trek tickets
  • Speedboat ride in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Wrestling, tacos and beer tour in Cancun

Buy Cancun All Inclusive Pass

Comparison between Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass: Which one is more convenient for your trip?

Snorkeling| ©Lina Jackute
Snorkeling| ©Lina Jackute

While both tourist passes offer similar attractions and activities, each is designed for different tourists with different travel plans. In general, the Cancun Explorer Pass will be useful for a visitor who has already planned a specific circuit and knows in advance which are the attractions he/she wants to discover in the city.

On the other hand, the Cancun All Inclusive Pass will be of great help for those travelers who want to visit as many attractions as possible in the shortest time possible, which will necessarily require an intense and organized tour. This tourist pass, then, will be the main ally of those who have planned a short stay of 3 days in Cancun or even less time, even though there are passes valid for up to 7 days.

When is it convenient to buy the Cancun Explorer Pass?

If you have an itinerary planned for the main sites of the city and you want to optimize your budget, while you want to save time in accessing each activity and you want to have an organized circuit, you can opt for the Cancun Explorer Pass, which will allow you to enjoy 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 of the most popular attractions.

From participating in snorkeling experiences in Cancun to touring the Mayan citadel of Chichen Itza or the Tulum Ruins, there are many alternatives that you will find in the list of this tourist pass, which you can use for a total period of 60 days from the time of first use.

Likewise, this pass will also allow you to save on attractions that are not on the list but are very popular in the city and you can also get priority access in each of the activities you choose to visit, so it will also be a convenient option if you have planned a short stay in the Riviera Maya, because you can optimize your time.

Buy the Cancun Explorer Pass

When is it convenient to buy the Cancun All Inclusive Pass?

The Cancun All Inclusive Pass will be ideal if you want to have a wide variety of options to enjoy the best activities in Cancun in the shortest time possible. Therefore, this tourist card is designed for those tourists who intend to make an intense and frenetic tour of the city, although they cannot do without organization to make the most of this resource.

On the other hand, the Cancun All Inclusive Pass will also give you access to premium attractions when you hire it in options of 3 or more days. This will be good news for your wallet, since you will be able to access free of charge to Xel-Ha theme park tickets, Xcaret tickets and guided excursions with round-trip transfers with hotel pick-up to Chichen Itza.

Buy the Cancun All Inclusive Pass

When is it not convenient to buy these tourist passes?

Both passes are focused on the best activities and attractions in Cancun and, unlike other tourist cards in other cities, they do not offer city transfers, so if during your trip to Cancun what you want is to live a relaxed experience in some of the best beaches in the city without moving too much, these alternatives will not be useful.

Also, the rates of these passes are not cheap, but because they are focused on providing a wide variety of proposals for those tourists who want to enjoy the attractions of Cancun, which is, in itself, an expensive city, so in that sense these tourist cards do fulfill their purpose favoring savings. That is why if you are not willing to make an intense tour or do not want to visit several sites, you will not want to buy these passes during your trip.

Tips to get the most out of your Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass

Isla Mujeres Tour| ©Rui Che
Isla Mujeres Tour| ©Rui Che

Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass offer in their listings several of the best experiences in the city and also a digital guide that will help you orient yourself and get the most out of your trip through the benefits of these tourist cards. However, you must first analyze your travel plan and choose the alternative that best suits your interests.

That is why I advise you to think before your trip, if you want to opt for a predetermined route or if you prefer a frenetic circuit through as many activities as possible. Clearing up this doubt will allow you to choose the one that will be the best alternative for you and will also help you to put together an itinerary, which will be absolutely necessary in order not to succumb to the multitude of activities offered in this destination.

Finally, keep in mind that many of the activities of these passes require a previous reservation, which will be indicated in the digital guide next to the list of attractions. Thus, some services such as the tour to Isla Mujeres or the romantic dinner cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, require you to set the date in advance to ensure your place in the experience.