8 Best Things to Do in Cancun with Kids

Tortugranja is a turtle farm on Isla Mujeres, an island off the coast of Cancun’s Hotel Zone. The Yucatan Peninsula is home to a number of endangered turtle species, such as the green turtle, hawksbill turtle and loggerhead turtle. Every year, the environment centre collects turtle eggs during nesting season, which takes place from May to September. The eggs are kept in secure enclosures, which are open for viewing via guided tours. The best time to visit Isla Mujeres is in August or September, as you get to see baby turtles being released into the ocean.  For accommodation, browse the family-friendly options on the island.

Playa Tortugas is a relatively small stretch of sand about 6 km northeast of Cancun’s Zona Hotelera. The beach is free to enjoy all year round, and its shores are shallow enough for children to safely swim in. Thrill seekers get to enjoy bungee jumping from the top of a 25-metre-tall tower on the pier. There are ferries departing for Isla Mujeres from Playa Tortugas every day.

Water sports are one of the highlights of Cancun, especially snorkelling on the Great Mesoamerican Reef, which is the among the largest reefs in the world. One of the most popular snorkelling spots is located at Isla Mujeres’s Garrafon Natural Reef Park, where you get to spot over 500 fish species and 100 colourful corals during your underwater excursion. Kayaks are available for rent for those who prefer to stay above water when exploring Garrafon Natural Reef Park.

Ventura Park Cancun, located 7 km east of Cancun International Airport, consists of several entertainment areas that are suitable for visitors of all ages. This oceanfront theme park is known for the Wet’n Wild section, which has a wave pool, lazy river, and a thrilling Kamikaze ride where you get to slide into a pool at high speed. If your little ones prefer to stay dry, check out the zip lines in Aaah! Ventura, rollercoasters in Fun World, and arcade games in Underworld.

If you're looking for accommodation near to the theme park, most options are in the are of El Rey, closeby.

Cancun’s family-friendly pirate ship tours combine dinner with a thrilling battle scene between 2 rival crews. This entertaining experience takes place on a traditional pirate ship, where you get to enjoy views of Cancun and Islas Mujeres. The tour typically starts with dinner (options include vegetarian, surf and turf, lobster, or grilled chicken) on deck, followed with a realistic sword fight and thrilling antics by actors in full costume. Prices for Cancun pirate ship tours start from $70 per adult and $20 per child.

The Cancun Underwater Museum displays about 500 life-like sculptures beneath the waters of the Cancun National Marine Park. Founded in 2008, these unique installations were created as part of the efforts to protect the Mesoamerican reef system and promoting new coral life in Cancun. There are 3 submerged galleries that cover a total area of 420 sq m, attracting divers and snorkelers with their surreal setting. A rather unsettling sculpture at the Cancun Underwater Museum is called The Bankers in Salon Manchones. Located off the coast of Isla Mujeres, the garden features statues of businessmen with their heads buried beneath the sand.

Xel-Ha Park is an all-inclusive aquatic theme park that sits around a natural inlet with many marine animals. You get to enjoy a variety of nature activities throughout your visit, including bike rides, zip-lining, and encounters with manatees and stingrays. The Children’s World features a wading pool with waterslides and a playground with rope climbing and hanging games. For expansive views of Xel-Ha Bay and the Caribbean Sea, climb to the top of Scenic Lighthouse, which is 40 metres tall.

Selvatica - The Adventure Tribe is a family-friendly entertainment centre near the port town of Puerto Morelos. The lush tropical jungles surrounding this adventure park offer a beautiful backdrop for ATV tours and nature activities for thrill-seekers in Cancun. Parent and kids as young as 3 years old get to race from platform to platform through a 10 zip-line circuit, swim in natural springs, as well as enjoy bungee jumping and rollercoaster rides. If you’re staying in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Selvatica - The Adventure Tribe offers roundtrip transportation service for your convenience.