5 days in Cancun itinerary

Welcome to our 5 days in Cancun itinerary.

The gateway to the incredible region of the Riviera Maya, Cancún is a popular city for those looking for some hot sun and tropical weather.

From its endless white-sand beaches and prehistoric cenotes to an array of mysterious ancient ruins, one thing is for sure – that you’ll have a real adventure when visiting this area of Mexico.

5 days in Cancun Backpacking itinerary

In this guide we’ll explore Cancún, the best things to see, as well as include our very own 5 day Itinerary for those heading to this coastal city.

From finding the very best beaches to heading into the Yucatán region, let’s take a look at what awaits in and around Cancún.

Getting to Cancún

Out of all the places to visit in Mexico, this will by far be the easiest city to reach (along with the capital of course). Cancún’s international airport has several different terminals that welcome direct flights from all corners of the world.

So it’ll be relatively easy to find your way in, and also save too if you book flights in advance (we recommend minimum of 3 months before, or also looking for last minute flights if you’re flexible).

For those already backpacking through Mexico, you’ll find that many cities have direct flights to Cancún. Some of the most popular routes are from Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas).

Domestic airlines in Mexico are also pretty cheap, so it’s worth hopping the short flights if you’re further away in the country.

The bus is the other option. Bus travel in Mexico is surprisingly good, and you’ll enjoy comfortable and spacious seats along your journey.

It’s also the cheapest way too, and makes sense to come by bus if in the neighboring regions of the Yucatán or Chiapas. The bus ride from Merida to Cancún takes 4 hours, and from Palenque it will take roughly 14 hours (the night bus is best as always).

Those who are in neighboring Belize to the south can cross into Chetumal, and then take the 6-hour bus up to Cancún.

Other Things to know: Travel Tips

When traveling on our itinerary of Cancún, we recommend a daily budget of $25 per day. With this, you’ll be staying in a dorm bed in a nice area of the city, whilst enjoying meals from local restaurants (and yes, you can go to fast food chains too if that’s your thing!).

You’ll also have a little left over for beers at night, heading on a couple of buses or renting snorkeling equipment for the day. Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.

Whilst Cancún is a popular destination, it doesn’t mean that all areas are particularly safe. We recommend staying around the Hotel Zone, or in El Centro if possible.

Walking around during the day is usually fine, although at night some areas can feel quite seedy. It’s a good idea to bring a safe wallet with you when out and about exploring.

Using Taxis is the best way to get around Cancún, however, you’ll want to make sure the rate is agreed upon before you set off (since costs can seemingly rise out of nowhere…).

The main bus station is also perfect for exploring the region, with ADO buses running hourly to other popular destinations such as Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Bacalar.

You can also travel directly from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen if you would like to spend some time there at the beginning or towards the end of your travels.

Cancún Itinerary (5 days)

Now lets explore our personalized 5 days in Cancún itinerary.

We personally think that 5 days is a great amount of time for an intro to the city and surrounding region, and below we’ll cover the very best highlights.

Days 1-2: Cancún Highlights

Arriving into Cancún on our first day, we’ll first head to the picturesque Hotel Zone. It’s one of the safest areas in the city, and there’s no better way to kicking off your time in Cancún than by lounging on its stunning beaches.

You’ll also have lots of great restaurants and entertainment options close by, a perk of being near all the big hotel chains.

It’s also a great place to come at night, where there’s lots of parties most days of the week. Speaking of nightlife, in Cancún, you’ll be in very good hands. Make sure you visit Cocobongo at least once, which is known for its wild parties and drink deals. Other good nightclubs worth visiting are Mandala and Amma.

During these two days, you’ll also want to go snorkeling, with these incredible waters teeming with tropical beauties and crystal-clear conditions.

We recommend heading on this snorkeling tour, where you’ll swim with turtles, get close to a shipwreck and visit the incredible MUSA underwater museum!

Those after some more relaxed beaches can head south to Puerto Morelos, which is 45km south of Cancún (just under an hour’s drive).

Day 3: Day Trip to Tulum

On our third day we will head out of Cancún to explore the Quintana Roo state, with Tulum our main focus.

This sleepy town is a big hit, with its more laid-back vibe and surrounding nature making it a must-visit. You can easily take buses from the ADO station in town, with the ride taking a couple of hours.

The Tulum Archaeological Ruins are located just outside of town, and are some of the most picturesque ruins to ever be built by the Mayans.

Perched on top of a cliff overlooking the blue Caribbean, you’ll be able to see structures that are still standing today despite the Spanish conquest. There’s also a nice beach down below for a quick dip in the sea.

Whilst in Tulum you’ll also want to explore the incredible nature that surrounds the town. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is full of wildlife and remote beaches, and you can easily spend the day cycling around just like I (George) did. We our backpacking Tulum itinerary which has more things to do here.

You’ll also find incredible cenotes here that you’ll want to visit, such as the Dos Ojos Cenote which has two bright turquoise pools, which can even be dived by those looking for a real thrill.

We recommend heading on this incredible Day Tour, where you’ll explore the Ruins as well as having a visit to the Xtun Cenote which is in the middle of the Jungle. You’ll also have an included visit to swim turtles in Akumal too.

Days 4-5: Chichén Itzá and the Yucatán Peninsula

On our final two days in Cancún, we’ll be making short trips into the neighboring Yucatán state. This stunning region has pretty much everything, and is best saved until last.

The absolute non-negotiable, must-see here is the Pyramids of Chichén Itzá. This site was once the heart of the Mayan kingdom, and is home to the emblematic Temple of Kukulcán (you’ll’ve already seen this in photos no doubt).

The very best cenotes are also found here, with Suytun and Ik Kil being the most memorable. Both are close to the city of Valladolid, which is another good stop for seeing colorful houses and colonial architecture.

Some of the best things to see in this city include Convento de San Bernardino de Siena as well as the Calzada de Los Frailes.

The best way to see all of these is with this all-inclusive tour. You’ll also get lunch and drinks included too, which are quite important given how hot it gets here!

Best time to visit Cancún

Cancún is located along the Caribbean coast of Mexico and therefore has a weather pattern that has extreme variations during different times of the year.

The dry season begins in December and lasts until April. Average temperatures range from 74-79F, with highs of up to 85F and lows of 67F.

You can expect anywhere from 1.5-2 inches of rainfall each month, making it a perfect time for heading to the beach and exploring the ruins and jungle.

The wet season runs from May until November. Average temperatures increase to 77-83F, with highs of a scorching 90F and lows of down to 71F. Rainfall is much heavier this time of year, with anywhere from 3-6 inches falling each month (make sure you bring a quality Poncho or rain jacket with you).

The advantage of visiting this time is that it’ll be cheaper, especially in May, September, October and November.

It’s worth noting that there’s an increased chance of hurricanes forming between August and October, however you don’t need to worry so much about this since locals are prepared for this (with infrastructure built to withstand these storms with ease).

Cancún Backpacking Tips

Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Cancún:

Backpacking Cancún Itinerary

An all-time favourite, Cancún is a great place to come to when in Mexico. Not only is the city pumping pretty much all days of the week, however it’s also the gateway to the spectacular Riviera Maya region.

In this itinerary-style guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about Cancún. This includes the very best destinations to visit, our top recommendations as well as a customized 5 day itinerary when heading here.

Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.

Also, read our backpacking Mexico guide which covers everything.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

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