The 7 best activities in the city center of Cancun Mexico + travel tips
The 7 best activities in the city center of Cancun Mexico + travel tips
A travel guide with the 7 best activities in the city center of Cancun, Mexico. Leave the leaked paths in Cancun and discover the hidden treasures of the city center.
Cancun is the official party capital of Mexico, with over 15 million tourists who flow here every year because of the white sandy beaches, tequila and 24-hour night life.
Most of these visitors will drive directly to the main tourist center, known as the hotel zone. But for those who want to explore Cancun's true heartbeat, you should watch Downtown Cancun City. If you consider how easy it is to move away and that most tours also offer collection from Downtown, a stay here also makes sense if you have a limited budget.
In this short travel guide, I will go through 7 things that you can do in the city center of Cancun to help you plan your visit. At the end of this article I also have tips and interesting facts about visiting the region.
The 7 best activities in the city center of Cancun
1. Mercado 28
Mercado 28 (Markt 28) is a long -standing flea market on Plaza San Miguel.
Visiting this market is always one of the top recommendations in downtown Cancun. Here you will find a spacious scene with stands that offer a large selection of articles for sale, including handicrafts, jewelry, souvenirs and more.
There are also a number of restaurants and small street sellers who offer traditional Yucatan dishes and of course Tacos.
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2. Parque de Las Palapas
The Parque de Las Palapas is the central main square in the city center of Cancun City. In fact, it was the first main square that was created here and is still a lively meeting point for the people of the city. You can find it directly behind the Avenida Tulum (the main street).
The park (square) has a number of food stalls and carts that mainly sell snacks and meals on a tortilla grinder, including fresh tacos and quesadillas. This place is popular with locals and often the scene of open-air performances after sunset.
Nearby is the first Catholic church, which was built in the city center of Cancun, called Cristo Rey.
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3. Book a day trip
Maybe one of the biggest attractions for visitors to the city center of Cancun that you can find accommodation for a fraction of the costs for a stay in the Hotel Zone Strip.
When you have come to Cancun to visit nature, explore the historical sites and swim in the many cenotes, then you are lucky. Most of the tours also offer collection in the city center of Cancun.
Below you will find some of the best rated activities that you can book online:
- tour to Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and Cenote
- Isla mujeres catamaran tour
- Tulum day trip & Coba tour
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4. Go Taquerìa Hopping
It is said that every meal in Mexico is a festival. This definitely applies to the city center of Cancun, where one of the best activities is a "Taqueria Crawl". There are plenty of great taco shops in the city where you can try authentic Mexican Street food without paying usury prices as you will do in the hotel zone.
My favorite-Taquerìa is Taqueria Coapenitos, a great little Taco-Local in bar style with fresh flavors and for Cancun famous tortas. Some other places that you might want to visit are:
- bloody tacos
- Taquería el Poblano
- tacos rigo
TIP: If you want to try the best Street Food in Cancun, you can book a guided street food tour that takes about 3 hours and stops at the most famous places.
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5. Market 23
While Mercado 28 is the main market attraction in Downton Cancun, Mercado 23 is a worthwhile visit to visitors who want to stock up on fresh fruit and products. The Mercado 23 is closer to the Avenida Tulum, which makes it more convenient.
You will not find busy restaurants or such a variety as on the Mercado 28. However, strolling through this special market definitely felt a bit more "more local".
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6. Stroll along the Avenida Tulum
The Avenida Tulum is the main street of the city. As a result, most hotels, restaurants and supermarkets are located on this strip. If you go out things in the city center of Cancun, take a walk through this street or climb into a Colectivo and see where it leads.
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7. Discover Mexican street art
What I didn't know before my visit is that Cancun Downtown is a kind of street art capital! Great murals are painted everywhere in the city.
Below are a few photos of some I stumbled through. However, you can also book a street art tour that leads you to the best in the city center. The best thing about booking a tour is that you also experience the background story behind the vision of the artist. This is something that I definitely missed while walking around.
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The best hotels in downtown Cancun-where to spend the night
Looking for the best hotels in downtown Cancun? In the following I presented you with the three best options that are all near the best activities and sights in the city center of Cancun.
You will find that the hotel prices in the city are much cheaper compared to a stay on the hotel strip.
New hotel in Central Downtown: Mex Hotel
- Great location in downtown Cancun, only 5 minutes on foot to the ADO (bus station)
- Great WLAN
- very clean throughout the hotel
- fitness room and pool on the roof
- Delicious breakfast in the in -house Restaurant
- near great local restaurants
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Best hostel in the city center: Nomads Hotel
- pool on the roof with a huge bar for the sunset
- 3 minutes walk from the Ado
- on the other side of the street of Taqueria Coapenitos-my favorite Taco-Joint in Cancun
- private rooms and dormitories available
- great atmosphere to get to know people
- common kitchen
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Cheap accommodation with pool: Selina Cancun Downtown
- 2 minutes on foot to the Ado
- Great outdoor pool on site
- Great kitchen to take away
- private and dormitories available
- Free meditation and salsa courses including
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How to come from downtown Cancun to the Hotel Zone
The best of a stay in the city center of Cancun City may be that you can be on the white sandy beaches of the hotel strip within 20 minutes and for less than 0.60 $ - without paying hundreds for accommodation!
I recommend taking either bus no. 1 or No. 2 from anywhere along the Avenida Tulum. Both buses take them to the hotel strip. The fare is only 12 pesos per person. I recommend paying in pesos because the bus drivers rarely have change for US dollars.
Alternatively you can also book a taxi or over 150-200 pesos per route.
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Tips for visiting the city center of Cancun
f. Is the city center of Cancun safe? It doesn't feel like a tourist hype, but a walk through the city center of Cancun definitely feels safe. Most people will tell them, however, that they should not run around outside of the main areas (Avenida Tulum and Parque de Las Palapas).
f. How do you get from the airport to downtown Cancun? The most convenient can get from the airport to downtown Cancun by booking an airport taxi. However, what I didn't know (and was stung) is that a taxi mafia operates here. These boys will invoice you for a 25-minute drive. I would propose not to leave the main building of the airport and to choose one of the authorized taxi directly in front of the luggage carousel. Under no circumstances go to the left right after leaving the airport building.
The second way is to take the ado bus. You can book a ticket on the "Ado Booth" shortly before you leave the airport building. This is the public airport bus service that drives to the city center of Cancun.
f. How do you move in the city center of Cancun? It is best to move on foot, take a taxi, climb into a Colectivo (minivan ride) or take the bus. There are Ubers in Cancun, but apparently the taxi drivers don't like them and there are often collapsing. Uber drivers are apparently very concealed in Cancun and I was told that they may not pick them up in front of taxis.
Further activities on the Riviera Maya
I hope this travel guide liked you with the best activities in downtown Cancun City, Mexico. While you are here in my blog, be sure to take a look at some of my other articles and travel guides away from the leaked path that I wrote for Yucatan and the Riviera Maya.
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