Is Cancún Worth a Visit or It Is an Extremely Overrated Tourist Trap?

🏞 Visit Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas – The Pink Lakes

For a unique experience, take a day trip to Las Coloradas, where you’ll find stunning pink lakes caused by high salt and algae concentrations. Nearby, Rio Lagartos is home to flamingos, crocodiles, and diverse bird species in its protected biosphere.

Why Cancún Might Not Be for You

Cancún has gained a mixed reputation in recent years. Some travelers love it, while others find it overrated. Here are some reasons why you may want to think twice before booking a trip:

Cancún Feels More American Than Mexican

If you're looking for an authentic Mexican experience, Cancún is not the place. The Hotel Zone is filled with American chain restaurants, shopping malls, and bars catering primarily to North American tourists. Many people here speak English, and prices are often listed in US dollars.

It’s Overpriced

Be prepared for high prices—from accommodations to restaurants and activities. Tour operators overcharge for excursions, taxis are expensive, and even basic necessities in the tourist areas cost significantly more than in other parts of Mexico. If you book too many activities, your budget might take a serious hit.

Aggressive Sellers & Tourist Traps

From street vendors to beachside salesmen, you’ll likely be bombarded with offers—sometimes aggressively. Whether it's souvenirs, tours, or overpriced food, be prepared for constant sales pitches.

Can you spot the line waiting to get a photo with the Cancun Sign??? Isn't it ridiculous?

Overcrowding & Overdevelopment

Cancún is no longer the tropical paradise many imagine. Its coastline is packed with high-rise hotels, resorts, and crowded beaches. If you’re looking for a secluded getaway, this isn’t it.

Seagrass & Beach Conditions

The Caribbean beaches are beautiful, but in recent years, Cancún has been dealing with a major sargassum (seaweed) problem, especially during summer. Some beaches are heavily affected, making swimming unpleasant.

Party & All-Inclusive Culture

If you love all-inclusive resorts, pool parties, and nightclubs, Cancún is great. But if you’re looking for peace, nature, and unique cultural experiences, you might find it overwhelming.

Everything Costs Money

Want to park your car? You’ll be charged. Want to take a picture in front of a mural? That might cost too. It often feels like everyone is trying to profit from tourists at every step.

Our Personal Experience in Cancún

We flew from Munich to Cancún and spent two days in the city to adjust to the weather and the new time zone. This was the only reason we stayed for 72 hours, and honestly, that was enough for us to decide that Cancún is not our place to be.

The main tourist strip of Cancún felt like the cheapest version of Las Vegas, packed with bars, casinos, and loud, drunk tourists—especially Americans. The beaches, while wide and scenic, were overcrowded and filled with vendors trying to sell us everything from souvenirs to excursions. It felt like everyone was trying to make money out of our visit, whether it was parking fees, overpriced meals, or pushy salespeople.

By the time we left Cancún after 72 hours, we felt exhausted and disappointed. However, we always try to stay fair when evaluating a destination.  While Cancún is not our ideal travel destination, that doesn’t mean it’s not for you. I'm trying to stay fair with Cancún as with any destination I'm visiting. The city of Cancún is not the place where I want to spend my holidays, but this doesn't mean you won't like it. It depends on the type of traveller.

If you are the “All Inclusive” type of a person, or you don't mind touristy destinations, or dealing with overpriced activities doesn't bother you – there is a good chance you will like Cancún. But if you are looking for the real culture, adventure, nature, and the real vibe of Mexico, it is better to leave the city as soon as possible after landing, I guess!

Who Would Enjoy Cancún?

If you fit into one of these categories, you might actually love Cancún:

✅ All-Inclusive Lovers – If you enjoy luxury resorts where everything is included and prefer to stay inside the hotel rather than exploring, Cancún is perfect.

✅ Party Enthusiasts – If nightlife, beach parties, and poolside drinking are your idea of a great vacation, Cancún has plenty to offer.

✅ Convenience Seekers – If you want a destination with English-speaking locals, organized tours, and all amenities close by, Cancún is an easy choice.

✅ Tourist-Friendly Travelers – If you’re not too bothered by commercialized tourist areas and don’t mind slightly overpriced attractions, Cancún can still be enjoyable.

However, if you’re someone who prefers authentic culture, adventure, nature, and the true vibe of Mexico, it’s probably better to leave the city as soon as you land and explore the real gems of the Yucatán Peninsula instead

Main Strip, Avenida Kukulkan in Cancún

Here are some interesting facts about Cancún you probably didn't know:

• In 1970, Cancún was home to only three residents. Today over half a million people live in Cancún … without counting tourists!
• Cancún is actually an island and the famous Hotel Zone is a peninsula on a peninsula.
• Before Cancún got its name, it used to be called Ekab (Black Earth). The word Cancún is Mayan and means “Nest of Snakes”.
• The beachfront of the Hotel Zone, also called Zona Hotelera, faces the Caribbean Sea on one side, and the Nichupte Lagoon on the other.

• Zona Hotelera is home to 22.5 km of white sand beaches.
• All beaches are public, but (!) the strip is so overbuilt so it was difficult to find a path to the beach.
• Before the bridges Calinda and Nizuc were built, Cancún was separated from the mainland.
• Cancún and the Riviera Maya region are home to over 47.000 weddings every year.

• The international airport is the second busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America.
• The white sand beaches are made from crushed coral from the Great Mayan Barrier Reef.
• The Great Mayan Barrier Reef in Cancún is the second largest coral reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
• Almost 12 km of an artificial white sand coastline were added during the last couple of years.