Cancun Travel and Things to Do Guide

Welcome to Cvent's Meeting and Event Planning Guide to Cancun, a city guide for meeting professionals. Beloved for its pristine white beaches, cultural treasures and infinite activities, Cancun is both a vacation paradise and fantastic meeting destination, thanks to its proximity to Cancun International Airport and breadth of full-service hotels and event venues. Regarded as Mexico's tourism capital and visited by more than three million visitors each year, Cancun enjoys a reputation as a relaxing resort destination and culturally rich center surrounded by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Situated on the northeast corner of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, Cancun is still considered the gateway to the Mayan World, but features a modern infrastructure and amenities that rival leisure destinations worldwide. Cancun offers meeting delegates easy accessibility from North America, thanks to its proximity to Cancun International Airport. Located about 25 minutes from Cancun and 15 minutes from the heart of Boulevard Kukulcan, Cancun's hotel center, Cancun International offers direct flights to and from 24 American cities and international metropolitan areas. At the airport, travelers can hop aboard Cancun's public bus service, which conveniently runs into downtown Cancun. Conveniently located in the heart of Boulevard Kukulcan, the Cancun Center serves as Cancun's largest venue. Set to accommodate conferences and congresses of up to 6,600 people and exhibitions for up to 40,000 people, the Cancun Center features 78,533 square feet of space for exhibitions and 75,541 square feet for conferences and conventions – not to mention spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and Nichupte Lagoon. Meeting delegates can easily walk to several hotels and restaurants located situated steps of the Cancun Center. Cancun's variety of outdoor activities make it easy for groups to dive into team building and recreational fun outside of the boardroom. Set along Boulevard Kukulcan, the newly opened Maya Museum houses 350 archaeological artifacts focused on the Mayan population that resided on modern-day Quintana Roo. Groups can tour the museum's exhibition halls and view 14,000-year-old skeletal remains discovered in nearby Tulum's underwater caves, as well as explore the adjacent San Miguelito archaeological site, all within easy reach of the Cancun Center and major hotels. Also located within the hotel zone, the Kukulcan Plaza shopping center boasts hundreds of specialty stores, restaurants, theaters and a bowling alley, and serves as the perfect place to pick up artwork and silverwork; it is just one of many shopping areas located throughout Cancun. Located on Isla Mujeres, about a 20-minute boat ride from Cancun, Dolphin Discovery welcomes groups to swim with dolphins and manatees, as well as snorkel, kayak, hike, zipline and more at its Garrafon Park natural reef. A popular marina and tour center, Aquaworld specializes in fishing charters, as well as diving excursions for beginner to advanced divers to such destinations as the Cancun Underwater Museum. Set within the protected National Marine Park, the museum is home to more than 400 permanent, life-sized sculptures made from pH neutral clay to promote the growth of coral reef and marine life. Nearby Riviera Maya is home to a variety of world-class adventure parks perfect for group outings. Considered the largest aquarium in the world, Xel-Ha features snorkeling, spa options and marine life encounters, among many other activities, at all-inclusive pricing. Xcaret welcomes groups to discover the natural and cultural richness of Mexico through such highlights as the largest butterfly pavilion in the world, a coral reef aquarium, snorkel-ready underground rivers and nighttime shows that take the audience on a musical journey through Mexico's history. Xplor is the place to go for adrenaline-pumping ziplining and amphibious vehicle treks through the jungle and caves, as well as underground river swimming along stalactites and stalagmites. Groups can also visit the famous Takbeha and Takbelum cenotes at Hidden Worlds Rainforest Adventures, a family-friendly cenote adventure park home to a system of underground caverns and waterways.