Cancún has two price lists. The Hotel Zone has one; the city behind it has another. Sleep in the city and the beach costs the price of a bus ticket.
Where the money goes, and where it doesn't#
| Item | Hotel Zone | Downtown / local |
|---|---|---|
| Room | Resort rates | Hostels and small hotels at a fraction |
| Getting to the beach | Taxi | R1 / R2 bus, a few pesos |
| Lunch | Hotel restaurant | Taquería, market, Parque de las Palapas |
| Beach | Hotel beach club | Free public access, same sea |
| Island day | Tour | Public ferry to Isla Mujeres |
Stay downtown#
Centro, around Parque de las Palapas, has hostels, small hotels, cheap food and real Mexican life. The R1 and R2 buses run from here along the whole Hotel Zone day and night.
Eat local#
Parque de las Palapas at night, the taquerías downtown, Mercado 28 for a sit-down meal, and the markets. Things to do in Cancún has more; where locals eat shows the approach for Mexico City too.
Free and cheap days out#
- Public beaches: Playa Delfines and Playa Langosta, through the public entrances.
- Isla Mujeres by public ferry, then Playa Norte.
- Cenotes near Puerto Morelos by colectivo.
- Chichén Itzá by ADO bus rather than a tour, if you leave early.
When to go#
November and the first half of December are the cheapest good-weather weeks (Cancún in November); Christmas, New Year and spring break are the priciest (Cancún in December). How much does a trip to Mexico cost? covers the country.
The cheapest guide is a local#
A Local Friend knows which taquería, which bus and which beach entrance, and costs less than one resort dinner. Roavi Local Friends in Cancún set their own rates and message you directly before you meet.
Do Cancún the way locals do.
Meet a Local Friend in CancúnFrequently Asked Questions
Is Cancún expensive?
The Hotel Zone is; downtown isn't. A budget traveller staying in Centro, eating local and using the bus can have a day for a fraction of a resort day, on the same beaches.Where should I stay in Cancún on a budget?
Downtown Cancún (Centro), especially around Parque de las Palapas: hostels and small hotels at a fraction of Hotel Zone prices, with the beach a 20-minute bus ride away.How do I get to the beach cheaply?
The R1 and R2 city buses run from downtown along the whole Hotel Zone for a few pesos, all day and night. Taxis in the Hotel Zone are expensive by comparison.Are Cancún's beaches free?
Yes, all Mexican beaches are public. Playa Delfines and Playa Langosta have free access; walk through the public entrances rather than through a hotel.What are the cheapest things to do in Cancún?
The public beaches, the ferry to Isla Mujeres (and a day on Playa Norte), cenotes near Puerto Morelos by colectivo, Parque de las Palapas at night, and the Mercado 28 for souvenirs if you bargain.