Townapedia
CancúnCollage
CancúnCollage · Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Iglesia La Luz del Mundo Cancún
Iglesia La Luz del Mundo Cancún · Rayttc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Calle en la Sm. 29, Cancún. - panoramio
Calle en la Sm. 29, Cancún. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Calle en la Sm. 29, Cancún, Q. Roo. - panoramio
Calle en la Sm. 29, Cancún, Q. Roo. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Edificios departamentales en Av. Palenque, Cancún, Q. Roo. - panoramio
Edificios departamentales en Av. Palenque, Cancún, Q. Roo. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Casa en Sm. 29, Cancún, Q. Roo. - panoramio
Casa en Sm. 29, Cancún, Q. Roo. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0

Cancún, Mexico

Cancún is a town of 888,797 people in Quintana Roo, Mexico, founded in April 20, 1970.

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Population888,797 GeoNames
Elevation5 m 16 ft
FoundedApril 20, 1970
Time zoneAmerica/Cancun
Nearest airportIsla Mujeres Airport (ISJ) 14 km

Why visit Cancún

Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 21 parks and trails, 97 places to eat, 50 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include University of the Caribbean and Teatro 8 de octubre.

About Cancún

Cancún is the most populous city in the state of Quintana Roo, located in southeast Mexico, on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is a significant tourist destination in Mexico and the seat of the municipality of Benito Juárez. The city is situated on the Caribbean Sea and is one of Mexico's easternmost points. Cancún is located just north of Mexico's Caribbean coast resort area known as the Riviera Maya.

From the Wikipedia article Cancún (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Cancún on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do3

University of the Caribbean

School · 3.9 km

University in Cancun, Mexico

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Teatro 8 de octubre

Cinema and theater · 2.1 km

Avenida Chichen-Itzá, Cancún

Open in Google Maps

Cinépolis

Cinema and theater · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks2

clips

Monument and historic site · 2.0 km

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Monumento a la Madre

Monument and historic site · 2.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds21

Las Palapas

Park · 2.4 km

Parque con Areas Jardinadas, Andadores, Juegos, Explanada

Smza. 22 Manzana 28 Lote 1 Margaritas, Cancun

Open in Google Maps

Parque Ecológico Ombligo Verde

Park · 1.9 km

1 Calle Ixcún, Cancún

Open in Google Maps · +52 998 206 1356

Reserva Ecológica Municipal Ombligo Verde

Hiking and trails · 1.9 km

Reserva Ecológica Ombligo Verde es un área natural protegida con la categoría de reserva ecológica municipal, decretada desde el año 2012

Lote 1 Y 2, Mza. 1 Avenida Kabah, Cancún

Open in Google Maps

Cancha sintetica

Park · 0.8 km

Calle 79, cancun

Open in Google Maps

Camellón sunyaxchen

Park · 2.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Campo de Futbol Atlante

Park · 1.6 km

Open in Google Maps

Cancun 86

Sports field and stadium · 1.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Parque

Park · 1.2 km

Open in Google Maps

Parque 231

Park · 0.8 km

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Parque 232

Park · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Parque Bacalar

Park · 0.9 km

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parque de basquetball R. 221

Park · 1.9 km

Open in Google Maps

9 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes97

La Parrilla

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.1 km

51 Avenida Yaxchilán

Mo-Su 12:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · +529982878118

Picana & Grill

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.3 km

31 Avenida Yaxchilán, Cancún

15:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +52 998 259 5659

100% NATURAL

Restaurant · 2.2 km

25 Avenida Sunyaxchen

Mo-Su 07:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +52 998 884 0102

La Palapita Tulum

Restaurant · Tacos, Burger, Mexican · 2.4 km

Mo-Su 10:00-02:00

Open in Google Maps · +529982249946

Va Q Va

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.4 km

Calle 107 Calle 72

Mo-Su 10:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps

Babute - milk tea

Cafe · 2.3 km

Mo-Su 09:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +529981292667

Rooster

Cafe · 2.1 km

Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +529988100438

SUEÑA Y CREE

Cafe · Coffee Shop, Pateleria · 1.4 km

SM 228 Avenida Niños Héroes, CANCUN

Mo-Sa 09:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +52 998 527 7968

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.4 km

Avenida Palenque

Open in Google Maps · +528002880888

Taqueria Coapenitos

Restaurant · 2.5 km

Mo-Su 09:00-01:00

Open in Google Maps · +529988108699

Restaurante Pipo's

Restaurant · Chicken, Friture, Mexican, Noodles, Pasta · 2.4 km

13 Calle Azucenas

Mo-Sa 12:30-17:00

Open in Google Maps

Tacos Express

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.3 km

23 Calle Pino

Mo-Su 07:30-21:00

Open in Google Maps

85 more on the map.

History

In the years after the Spanish conquest of Yucatán, much of the Maya population died or left as a result of disease, warfare, and famines, leaving only small settlements on Isla Mujeres and Cozumel Island.

Cancún is a planned city, created to foster tourism. When development of the area as a resort was started on 23 January 1970, Isla Cancún had only three residents, all caretakers of the coconut plantation of Don José de Jesús Lima Gutiérrez, who lived on Isla Mujeres. Some 117 people lived in nearby Puerto Juárez, a fishing village and military base. Cancún was created as a government project to boost tourism. In 1967, the Mexican government allocated a 2 million-dollar fund to be administered by the Bank of Mexico to determine the feasibility of creating new recreational zones, "preferably where no other viable development alternatives exist." This was entrusted to INFRATUR, a Bank of Mexico agency.

Due to the reluctance of investors to gamble on an unknown area, the Mexican federal government financed the first nine hotels.

From the History section of Cancún on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay50

Churches and places of worship7

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Shopping29

Gas and EV charging19

Schools, colleges and libraries21

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Healthcare17

Map of Cancún

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Isla Mujeres Airport (ISJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 km away.

  • Zona Urbana Ejido Isla Mujeres 6 km north, about 6 min by car
  • Alfredo V. Bonfil 10 km south, about 10 min by car
  • Isla Mujeres 14 km northeast, about 14 min by car
  • El Porvenir 19 km southwest, about 19 min by car
  • Leona Vicario 42 km southwest, about 42 min by car
  • Chiquilá 58 km northwest, about 58 min by car
  • San Angel 61 km west, about 1 h by car
  • Playa del Carmen 65 km south, about 1 h by car
  • Kantunilkín 67 km west, about 1 h by car
  • Cozumel 76 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.