Cancún closes out September with two pieces of news worth knowing before you book: a cultural festival that stretches all the way to Puerto Morelos, and a shift in strategy from the city so a visit isn't just about sun and sand.

What's making news this week

From September 23 to 28, Cancún hosts the 14th edition of the CoralCun International Festival, based mainly in Cancún with a special concert on Friday the 25th at Parque Fundadores in Puerto Morelos — a good excuse to pair your Hotel Zone visit with an afternoon in this fishing village just 30 minutes away. On top of that, Benito Juárez's tourism office unveiled its first municipal tourism agenda, designed to get visitors to stay longer with cultural and culinary experiences, not just the beach.

Must-do activities

  • Río Secreto — a semi-spelunking tour through an underground cave and river system, with stalactites and crystal-clear water.
  • Dos Ojos Cenote — one of the world's most famous connected cenote systems, great for swimming or cavern diving.
  • Isla Mujeres — a 20-minute ferry ride away, with Manchones Reef for snorkeling and beaches far quieter than the Hotel Zone.
  • MUSA Underwater Museum — more than 500 submerged sculptures just offshore, easy to pair with a snorkel tour.
  • Puerto Morelos — a coastal town with its own reef just 20 minutes from the beach, now hosting concerts as part of the CoralCun festival.

Best spots to visit

Looking for something outside the Hotel Zone? Puerto Morelos has a protected reef just off the shore — you can snorkel without needing a boat — and a much quieter boardwalk, perfect for a relaxed weekday afternoon.

Where to stay: the top-rated hotels

  • Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún — adults-only, with a water spa and one of the most established spots on Boulevard Kukulcán.
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún — five-star, oceanfront service, with several signature dining options inside the hotel.
  • Hyatt Ziva Cancún — family-friendly all-inclusive with multiple pools and direct beach access.
  • Riu Palace Las Américas — adults-only, among the top-rated properties on the Hotel Zone's northern stretch.
  • Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach — five-star, three pools and four different restaurants inside the complex.

Where to eat

For seafood, Fred's and Lorenzillo's (right on the Nichupté Lagoon) remain must-visits. If you're craving steak, Divina Carne serves up a Brazilian rodizio-style churrascaria, and for breakfast, Cambalache has been grilling over charcoal at Plaza La Isla for more than 30 years.