Cancun may be a legendary Spring Break destination, but if you dig a little deeper there’s so much more to the city than its glitzy resorts serving bottomless margaritas. Cancun serves as a gateway to some of Mexico’s best wildlife encounters and is also home to a handful of interesting museums and archaeological sites.

Things to do

If you want to party, head straight to Zona Hotelera, a gorgeous stretch of sand lined with shops, restaurants and high-rise hotels. Whether you want to top up your tan or cool off in the sparkling Caribbean Sea, Playa Tortugas is the zone’s go-to beach.

Another popular district is Avenida Tulum, Cancun’s main thoroughfare. For an offbeat experience why not take a stroll around El Centro? It serves as Cancun’s traditional downtown core and is dotted with tasty taco joints and late night salsa bars.

Isla Contoy National Park is a great day trip and unlocks the chance to swim with tropical fish, colourful corals and cruising sea turtles. Nearby Isla Holbox is famous for its enormous whale sharks, which makes it a mecca for divers.

If you’re craving a culture fix head to the Museo Maya de Cancún. From sculptures and ceramics to jewellery and weapons, the museum showcases some of Mexico’s most important Mayan artefacts.

Getting around

Most travellers choose to stay near Avenida Tulum or Zona Hotelera. By taxi, it’s easy to hop between the two in just 15 minutes, while local buses also make the trip. From Zona Hotelera, the drive to Cancún International Airport should take around 30 minutes.