Top 5: Daytrips from Cancún, Mexico

All-inclusive package deals in the resort town of Cancún can make it difficult to form an argument for leaving the seaside city, but there’s so much more to the Yucatan than margaritas and tacos. When you’ve become fed up with the tourists in Cancún, head inland, down the coast or even off the coast to these magical Mexican destinations.

Tulum
If you’ve been on social media in the last year or so, you’ll surely have noticed the scores of posts from travelers who visited Tulum. About a two-hour drive south of Cancún, along the Caribbean coast, leads you to this seaside resort town of ancient Mayan ruins, most notably the castle that sits on a cliff overlooking the sea.

Chichen Itza
For more Mayan ruins, head inland to Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a recent addition to the Seven New Wonders of the World. The largest site of Mayan ruins has become insanely popular of late, so try to get there early in the morning to dodge the crowds.

A Cenote
Rent a car to venture out to one of the Yucatan’s famed watering holes called cenotes, where you can swim, jump onto a rope and dive into the bright blue waters where catfish swim peacefully beneath you. Some of the closer cenotes to Cancún are Aktun Chen and Ik Kil, near Chichen Itza.

Valladolid
A two-hour drive almost directly inland puts you in a small, local, colonial town called Valladolid, a far cry from the tourist-laden streets of Cancún. Make a point to visit the Convent of San Bernardino de Siena, which dates to the 16th century, or spend the afternoon in the Zac-hi cenote that is actually in town.

Cozumel
Hop in a boat and wander off the coast to one of Mexico’s biggest islands, home to plenty of shops, a freshwater lake, opportunities for water sports and even ancient Mayan temples.