In this section you can find different places to visit.
DMC offers organised tours in the Cancun area and surroundings (click here for more information). To make online reservation go here.
Please note, DMC will be also in the Exhibits area during the conference in case you are interested in group tours.
The tourist destination that everyone talks about! Its beautiful scenery framed by white sand beaches and turquoise sea; its extension and biodiversity in its reefs, lagoons, cenotes and forest; its ancestral Mayan culture wealth; its great air and ground transportation connectivity and; its highest level hotel infrastructure have positioned Cancún, Quintana Roo, as the most awarded Mexican tourist destination in the world and as a leader city in Latin America.
Cancun was the first tourist development of the Fondo Nacional de Turismo (FONATUR in its Spanish acronym). After its opening in the early seventies, travelers from all latitudes immediately arrived to explore its 23 kilometer coastline and to enjoy the quality of its hotels (35 thousand rooms) that still set the highest hospitality standards for the rest of the world.
Inexplicable beauty that makes you fall in love
When talking about Cancún, it’s impossible to avoid its beaches, which are mainly located along the Kukulkan Boulevard in the Hotel Zone. If you travel with children, elderly people, or in the case that you can´t swim very well, we suggest you choose a hotel located between kilometers 3 to 8.5. In those specific beaches, ocean waves are soft as they are located in front of Isla Mujeres which allows the formation of a bay called Bahía de Isla Mujeres.
On the other hand, if you stay downtown, you will be able to find 11 public beaches such as Perlas, Langostas, Tortugas, Delfines and Chac Mol. Most of them have been granted with the Blue Flag eco-label which certifies coast destinations that have reached top standards in water quality, environmental management, safety, services and environmental education activities.
Besides having the best beaches in the world, you can enjoy exciting water activities in Cancún such as diving, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing on a Catamaran or speed boat, flyboarding, windsurfing and paddle boarding in the Caribbean Sea or the Nichupte Lagoon. Both immense water bodies frame the scenery.
When it comes to food, Cancún offers a culinary experience through the fusion of Mexican and international flavors which are masterfully developed by the best chefs in the world. There are restaurants that have been granted with the 5 Diamonds of the American Automobile Association and have been recognized by Michelin Guide.
It is not possible to have vacation time in Cancún without being caught by its nightlife, which flows in clubs where international DJs and acrobatic performances can be found. In addition, fun can go beyond the shore and you can enjoy parties on board a Pirate boat or on a trajinera.
If you want to explore the surroundings, Cancún is also an entry to other popular destinations in the Riviera Maya: Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Holbox, Isla Mujeres, and Cozumel. Moreover, you can visit the Mayan Archaeological Sites such as Chichén Itzá, Cobá, and Muyil, just to name a few.
How to get to Cancún: Cancún is located in the Yucatán Peninsula in the north of Quintana Roo State in Mexico. Its airport is located five kilometers away from the Hotel Zone.
You can find more information here.
Cancún’s most beautiful tourist attraction: We may think that the only way to visit a beach in Cancún is by staying at a great hotel, but the destination has about 11 public beaches to freely enjoy them. Some of them have even gotten the Blue Flag eco-label due to their excellent water quality (for example, Isla Mujeres and Playa del Carmen).
Playa Delfines is located at kilometer 19 on the Hotel Zone. It is one of the most visited as it has a viewpoint and a Cancún sign where travelers don’t miss the opportunity to take a picture. Different from other beaches, the waves are strong so that it is recommended to be careful when swimming. Another beach that is also known to be deep and to have strong waves is Chac Mool, located at kilometer 10 on the Hotel Zone. It is usually visited to water ski, sail boat and parasail.
For those families traveling with children, beaches Langosta, El Niño, Las Perlas and Ballenas are recommended as there are no waves and they are not deep, in addition to having a wide area of sand. All of them offer services as palapas rentals, showers, restaurants and parking lots.
If you are looking for a party environment, go to the beaches Gaviota Azul, Caracol and Lagarto. These are always packed in peak season because of their beach clubs and nearby stores.
It is important to mention that Delfines and Las Perlas are known as inclusive beaches as they have ramps and footbridges to allow wheelchair access. Moreover, they offer water crutches and chairs.
Finally, Playa Coral is the only one that’s pet friendly. To assure a healthy coexistence with other animals, dogs must wear a leash and a name tag. In addition, the owners are responsible of collecting their pets’ feces and putting them into the corresponding containers.
Start your trip in the capital city of Quintana Roo: Chetumal, in the southern area of the state. We recommend visiting Bahía Boulevard, where you will find the city’s main attractions, such as the Parque Renacimiento (Renaissance Park), the Palacio de Gobierno (Governmental Palace) and the Monument to the Fisherman. You can also visit the Museum of Mayan Culture, with interesting exhibits regarding this civilization. If you like shopping, the Zona Libre of Belize is very famous, here you can buy everything from fragrances to clothing and accessories.
Go now to the Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Bacalar. This is a charming place to forget about stress and just spend time in the beautiful Laguna de los 7 Colores (Seven Color Lagoon), either swimming or doing a water activity, such as snorkeling, diving or paddle surfing. Around the lagoon there are many options to stay and eat.
Follow the route to Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Discover the wonderful history of this place founded by the Mayans, it was the setting of the most important events of the Guerra de Castas (Caste War). Visit Felipe Carrillo Puerto’s Urban Area, here you can find the church, the chapel, the museum and the Templo de la Cruz Parlante (Cruz Parlante Temple).
The itinerary ends in Tulum. Here you will find the perfect combination of rustic atmosphere and sophistication in its magnificent hotels, restaurants, bars and art galleries. Enjoy the day on beautiful beaches, or swimming in one of the cenotes distributed throughout the area. However, the main attraction of Tulum is its Archaeological Site. Get to know the only Mayan city facing the sea, here the Templo de los Frescos and El Castillo stand out, the latter used to be a lighthouse for ancient navigators.
You can find more information here.
In Cancún the fun is endless: The tourist offerings of Cancún are not limited to hotels and beaches. Water and theme parks are also powerful attractions that attract about a million and a half tourists each year.
Grupo Xcaret parks are the most visited. Nowadays, the brand has seven properties spread all over the Riviera Maya that endear tourists to the nature and the culture of the region without any unnatural ingredients. For example, Xcaret and Xel-Há are to enjoy the sea, rivers and lagoons and to have an encounter with rays and manatees, among other attractions. You can find more information here.
Xplor is for adventurous people as it has the safest and most visited zip-lines in the world and a semi flooded caverns circuit. There is also Xenses if you prefer to try out a sensorial day. The latest novelty of Xcaret is Xavage, a park with extreme adventure activities that go from rafting to driving an off-road vehicle through exciting obstacles.
Ventura Park Cancún is listed in the unmissable parks. It is a world of wave pools, toboggans and rivers to sail on float tubes. Moreover, it allows you to fly near the ocean through its three zip-lines circuits. For those who travel with kids, they will find a “planet” which has a carousel, crazy chairs and a roller-coaster.
Discover the capital of Quintana Roo: Surrounded by areas of natural beauty, right on the border of the Mexican southwest you will find Chetumal, the gateway to the Grand Costa Maya. It is one of the quietest and simplest cities to have contact with nature.
Chetumal is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo, located approximately an hour and a half from the ecotourism town of Mahahual. Its great cultural and historical wealth can be admired through the different monuments and museums located within the Bahía Boulevard, the longest in the entire Yucatan Peninsula.
Walk through Chetumal: Along the coast, either on foot or by bike, you will come across different monuments such as the Fuente de los Manatíes, built in 1996, when Chetumal was appointed as a Manatee Sanctuary. Further ahead you will see the Corredor Escultorico “Chactemal,” a space that has more than 20 sculptures by national and international artists alluding to the natural beauty of the state.
Make a stop at the Fuente del Pescador, the visitor’s favorite “parador” to take a photo there is a wooden corridor that goes into the bay and a large handmade clock.
Further ahead you will see the Explanada de la Bandera, it stands out for its large column with a clock on each of its four sides, the ideal place to take a break and be able to enjoy a delicious “marquesita” with Edam cheese or a deliciuos “machacado,” a traditional drink from Chetumal, made from seasonal tropical fruits. The esplanade is a meeting place for relaxation and family enjoyment every night in Chetumal. Since it is located behind the bay, it will allow you to enjoy the tranquility and the services offered for an afternoon of relaxation.
Delight yourself with the gastronomy of Chetumal: Chetumal offers in its dishes and traditional meals, a very unique and varied mixture of flavors, the result of its border location open to the various influences from all over the world, from the incorporation of imported ingredients such as Edam cheese from Dutch origin, which has been adopted and adapted enriching its gastronomy by developing signature dishes that uniquely characterize the entity, such as stuffed cheese or “marquesitas” that can be found in parks and downtown streets of the city.
The influence of Belizean Creole cuisine is very important and emblematic, with dishes such as Rice & Beans accompanied by marinated chicken and fried plantains. Also products of the region such as chaya, chico zapote, and other seasonal fruits that delight the palate of our visitors.
One of the places to try the typical food of Chetumal is the “Manuel Altamirano” Market, where the most popular dishes are served such as Tikinxic fish (grilled fish seasoned with achiote and sour orange, tomato, chili and onion), tamales stuffed with chicken or pork wrapped in a banana leaf, panuchos, sopes, eggs, shrimp, as well as various types of broths and many more stalls with appetizers.
Other places to buy products such as flowers, fruits, meats and taste more local snacks are: the “Lázaro Cárdenas del Río” and “Andrés Quintana Roo” markets.
Chetumal Past Tour: But the history of Chetumal is not only monuments and esplanades, we also see it in its museums. In the Museo de la Ciudad there are photographs, utensils and documents that narrate the history of the founding of the city and in the Museo de la Cultura Maya the history of all Mayan periods is presented.
You must take time to observe the magic of the cosmos, the stars, galaxies and planets at the Yookól Kaab Planetarium.
Don’t worry about lodging, Chetumal has a wide variety of cabins, hostels and hotels, for all tastes and budgets.
There is no special season to visit it; it has a warm climate throughout the year. For more information, please visit here.