In previous articles, we talked about how to get around Cancun using public transportation, taxis and buses.
As a result of these articles, we constantly receive emails asking us for help in putting together an itinerary or offering some advice on places to visit in Cancun without spending a lot or even for free,
So we make this list for those travelers who travel on a budget, we give you ideas about what to visit in Cancun, with places that are practically free or very cheap.
What places to visit in Cancun on a budget?
Here are some options on which places you can visit in Cancun for free or very cheap:
1. Cancun Spot
The proof you need to show off to everyone that you had the privilege of visiting Cancun is to take a photo at this point known as “Cancún Spot”.
It’s a relatively new place, where you also find free Wi-Fi to immediately upload your photo to social networks. It is located at Kilometer 19.5 of Kukulkan Boulevard, Hotel Zone and obviously, admission is free.
2. Delfines Beach Viewpoint
In addition to taking your photo at the “Cancún Spot”, at this same point you will find the Mirador and the Beach known as “Playa Delfines”.
It is one of the best public beaches in Cancun, it is one of the places you should visit in Cancun.
On weekends it is full of tourists and locals, but it is a huge beach, so you can always find a good place to lie down and enjoy the sea. Also if you travel with children, there are some children’s games.
The waves sometimes are strong, so if you are not an experienced swimmer treat the sea with respect.
It is located at Kilometer 19.5 of Kukulkan Boulevard, Hotel Zone and admission is free.
3. El Rey Archaeological Zone
About 200 meters from the Mirador of Playa Delfines is the entrance to the archaeological zone of El Rey.
Admission is free for Mexicans with official identification on Sundays, and on weekdays admission costs around 50 Mexican Pesos (about 3 USD).
It is an archaeological area with several small structures distributed over about 700 meters. Inside there are a large number of iguanas, which is very attractive, especially for the little ones.
It is advisable to bring water, a cap or hat and comfortable shoes, there are bathrooms but there are no shops or vendors inside.
4. Mayan Museum of Cancun and San Miguelito
The Mayan Museum of Cancun is the only space for miles around dedicated to the exhibition of Mayan vestiges. It is located at Kilometer 16.5 of Kukulkan Boulevard.
At the same time that you visit the museum, you can take a tour of the vestiges of the archaeological zone of San Miguelito, which is located next to this museum. It is open to the public from 9am to 6pm.
To visit the archaeological zone we suggest you arrive early, since when it starts to get dark access is limited.
Admission to the museum costs 57 pesos (Approx. 4 USD) and gives you the right to visit both places. On Sundays, admission is free for Mexicans with official identification.
5. Playa Langosta, Jardín del Arte (Garden of Art)
Beach or Lagoon? At kilometer 5 of Kukulkan Boulevard, you will have 2 options to choose from, either Playa Langosta, a quiet beach ideal if you are traveling with children or elderly people, or visit the place known as Jardín del Arte (Garden of Art), where you can admire the channels of the Nichupté Lagoon and see boats and wave runners constantly passing by.
Langosta is a free public beach, ideal to visit in Cancun because it has some basic services, and on the lagoon side, there are some kiosks and tables where you can even organize a small picnic.
6. Cancun Cycle Path
If you love sports, from Kilometer Zero in the Cancun hotel zone you can find a small park with equipment for exercising outdoors, and on the side of the sidewalk begins a path known as the Ciclopista, where you can ride a bicycle or skate in the hotel zone of Cancun.
If you start from KM zero, stop at kilometer 2.5, since this is where Playa Las Perlas is located, a good point to swim and cool off to continue the trip.
Excellent for keeping you in shape! Bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and plenty of water.
7. Scenic Tower
In the place known as El Embarcadero, there is a rotating structure approximately 100 meters high known as the Cancun Scenic Tower.
Whether day, afternoon or night, here you will have a great view of part of the Cancun hotel zone. Ideal to take a beautiful postcard home.
The entrance costs approximately 10 USD and the ride on the heights lasts about 15 minutes. Address: Kilometer 4.2 Hotel Zone.
8. Chac Mool Beach
This beach is located near the area known as Punta Cancún on Kilometer 9.5 of Kukulkan Boulevard. It is ideal for sunbathing and swimming.
At the entrance, there are some convenience stores where you can buy something to eat and refresh yourself, try to bring your garbage bag so as not to dirty the beach.
There are showers and lounge chairs for rent. The waves are moderate to strong.
9. Plaza La Isla
Around kilometer 12.5 of the hotel zone is La Isla Shopping Village, a shopping center better known as Plaza la Isla Cancún.
It is a place full of shops, boutiques and restaurants, which, although for backpacker tourism it may not be something so attractive, what you have to see are the spectacular sunsets on the side of the pier that the square has.
It is one of the activities worth visiting in Cancun.
10. Interactive Aquarium
Its official name is Aquarium Cancún, it is a small aquarium where you can interact with sea turtles or manta rays.
It is worth visiting at the same time that there is a free dolphin show, (around 6-7pm every day), ask for times at the ticket office.
The most spectacular thing is the large fish tank with sharks inside, you can see them swimming from below or from one of the corridors at the top.
There are swim with dolphin programs and for those traveling with the mother-in-law, there are swims with sharks. Admission costs approximately 15 USD.
11. Marlin Beach
Next to the residence of the famous former Mexican soccer player Hugo Sánchez, is Playa Marlín. The entrance is between the fire station and the Plaza Kukulkan shopping center.
If you are looking for a beautiful, quiet beach to rest or walk here is a good place to start. It has some basic services, rental of tables and chairs, and unlike others, there are not many people on weekends.
If you wish, once you finish enjoying the beach, you can enter the shopping plaza to eat at one of the fast food businesses.
12. Plaza Forum by The Sea & Beach Club
If you want to take a stroll through the heart of Cancun’s nightlife, a good place to start is Plaza Forum.
Here you can find restaurants, clothing stores, souvenirs and beach accessories. But the best thing is that in the surrounding area there are the best clubs in Cancun, such as The City, Coco Bongo, La Vaquita, Sr. Frogs, etc.
On the seaside, there is a beach club ideal for those backpackers who want to lie on the beautiful sand, it is undoubtedly one of the places you should visit in Cancun and spend a day sunbathing, with all kinds of drinks and snacks.
The Day Pass has an approximate price of 30 USD.
What to do in Cancun Downtown on a budget?
To get to Cancun Center from the hotel zone, you can take any city bus. However, there are two routes (R1 and R2) that, depending on the place you want to visit, are the ones you should take.
Peak hours in Cancun are from 7am to 9am and 6pm to 8pm, which as in any other city, is the time when hotel zone workers travel.
So if you want to go to the center of Cancun a little more comfortably, I recommend doing it outside of these hours.
13. Market 28, Plaza Bonita
It is a famous craft market, they say it is cheaper here than shopping in the hotel zone and there are also several options to eat.
To get to Market 28 from the hotel zone you must take the bus marked R2. Normally all the tourists who take this bus go to this area.
So that you don’t get lost, you can kindly ask the operator to please drop you off at “Mercado 28”. And although it doesn’t leave you exactly in front, it leaves you a few blocks away and you can walk there in about 5 minutes.
On one side of Mercado 28 is Plaza Bonita, a mall where local people come on weekends to offer organic items.
It is a very good option to buy souvenirs in bulk and at a good price.
14. Cancun Planetarium
The Ka Yok Planetarium is one of the places you should visit in Cancun, it is one of the most modern planetariums in the entire southeast of Mexico.
It offers several performances every day and admission costs approximately 3 USD (40 pesos). You can consult the schedules of the functions here.
This planetarium is located just behind Wal-Mart on Avenida Coba, so those backpackers who include stocking the pantry during their itinerary might consider stopping by and walking around this place.
15. Plaza Malecón Américas, a place you must visit in Cancun
On one side of Malecón Tajamar is the Plaza Malecón Cancún, also known as Plaza Las Américas.
More shops?, ok yes, more shops, but if you are near Malecón Tajamar after visiting it you will surely get hungry, so take a look at the fast food section where we assure you you will leave more than satisfied.
16. Las Palapas Park
It is located in the area known as SM 22, if you come from the hotel zone, take the bus marked R1 and ask to get off at the Municipal Palace. Cross Tulum Avenue, walk one block inward and you will be in Las Palapas Park.
It is a place that you should visit in Cancun, it is a meeting point for Cancun residents, especially on weekends when there are free musical events.
There are also stalls selling snacks such as cakes, empanadas and tacos. In the surrounding area, you can find several very affordable hotels and hostel options.
17. El Ceviche Avenida Tulum
This fountain is one of the symbols of Cancun and welcomes travelers coming from the Riviera Maya or the center of the country.
It is located right on the corner of Tulum Avenue and Coba Avenue (the continuation of Kukulkan Boulevard).
If you are planning a visit to the center of Cancun, this is a good place to start, since Las Palapas Park is close by and if you like to walk, you could go to Mercado 28. The R1 or R2 buses pass by this point.
Visiting the surroundings of Cancun?
If you want to visit places nearby Cancun there are a lot of beautiful not expensive options, here are some of them:
18. Isla Mujeres
One of the most beautiful places you can visit near Cancun is Isla Mujeres. It is currently considered a Magical Town.
To get to this place in the most economical way possible on your own is to reach the area known as “El Crucero”, in Cancun and at this point (See Google Maps) the vans leave that pass through Ultramar, Puerto Juárez and Punta Sam.
At the Ultramar dock, some modern boats leave, they have frequent departures at a cost of approximately 4 dollars (72 pesos per person) in 20 minutes they take you to Isla Mujeres.
Another cheaper boat leaves in Puerto Juárez, it leaves every 2 hours and costs you about 3.5 dollars (approximately 60 pesos) but the trip lasts approximately an hour.
Now if you want even cheaper, then go to Punta Sam, which is where the Cargo Ferry is located, there the cost is approximately 2.30 usd per person (About 40 pesos) and the crossing lasts an hour.
If you rent a car, the best option is to travel by ferry, here you can check the schedules as well as the cost of crossing with your car.
Be careful: something you will find at the Punta Sam pier is a salesman who will convince you to leave your car in the pier parking lot so that he can rent you a golf cart or sell you a tour (he takes his commission).
This depends on you, what I can tell you is that you can cross with your car and use it to explore the surroundings. If you don’t have a car, renting a golf cart for a few hours to see the entire Island is a great option.
19. Chichen Itza
If you are already in Cancun, then take the opportunity to get to know one of the new wonders of the modern world: Chichén Itzá.
You can go on your own but in this case, it is very good to take the tour, since it includes transportation, entrance and a tour guide, and depending on your budget you can opt for a package with food.
20. Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is located 30 minutes from Cancun and has very quiet beaches.
You can also visit its Botanical Garden, which is at the foot of the road.
The idea is to visit this place first and then go to the beach to cool off or walk along its dock.
Bus Terminal
The surroundings of Cancun also hold several surprises and more than pleasant places.
For example, you can take a getaway to Tulum, Xel-Há, Chichén Itzá, Valladolid, Puerto Morelos or venture to Playa del Carmen.
You can get to all of these places on your own, however, they are no longer within Cancun, so you will have to choose to go by bus.
On the ado.com.mx website you can find prices and schedules for these places.
All of them leave from the bus terminal in the center of Cancun located on Avenida Uxmal and Tulum, very close to Las Palapas Park.
Good, nice and cheap accommodation
If you have already chosen the tourist places in Cancun that you want to visit, the ideal is to put together a travel package with an affordable hotel.
Depending on your travel date, the rates may vary, but if you are looking for cheap hotels, you will find the best rates as long as it is not Easter, Christmas or summer since these are considered high seasons.
Another option is to book your package at least 3 months in advance, this also helps you find cheap flights to Cancun and save a little more. Here are some recommendations:
In Cancun Hotel Zone:
- Hotel Celuisma Dos Playas
- Imperial Lagoon
- Aquamarina Cancun
- Solymar Cancun
In Downtown Cancun:
- Hotel Plaza Caribe
- City Junior Cancun
- Margaritas Cancun
- Batab Cancun
- Kokai Hotel
Depending on your travel dates, nightly rates can range from 400 pesos to 1,200 pesos. (Between $25 and $90). Of course, by booking in advance, you may be able to find good deals. Also another option is to sear for an Airbnb in Cancun.
It’s time to organize that trip and visit everything in Cancun in a very economical way!