Clustered with international restaurants, shopping malls and hotels, Zona Hotelera encompasses a narrow peninsula south-east of Cancun. It’s fringed by white sandy beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and serves as a gateway to the Mayan temples and ritual sites of Quintana Roo.

Things to do

Get a bird’s eye view of the Zona Hotelera and its Caribbean beaches from the Cancun Ferris Wheel, where gondolas rotate to a height of 60 metres. You can spend your days relaxing on the powdery white sands and refreshing in the crystal clear waters or get your retail fix at one of the shopping malls selling international brand labels. Once the sun goes down, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs to choose from, playing everything from electronic music to salsa.

Want to explore Cancun’s underwater world? Be sure to visit the Interactive Aquarium of Cancun to get up close to nurse sharks, sea lions and dolphins. Divers can venture to the MUSA Underwater Museum of Art, a unique attraction featuring nearly 500 statues that lie on the seafloor between Cancun and Isla Mujeres.

One of the Yucatan Peninsula’s most important collections of artefacts is showcased at the Museo Maya de Cancun, which occupies a newly designed building adjacent to the archaeological site of San Miguelito. After admiring the ceramics, jewellery and sculptural works that are on display in its three halls, take the time to stroll along the shaded trails that connect the ruins of San Miguelito.

Getting around

Cancun International Airport is the main gateway to the Zona Hotelera and has flights to destinations across North America. Buses and taxis connect Downtown Cancun with the Zona Hotelera and ride-share services are also available.