October kicks off in Cancún with all eyes on high season: the industry gathers to close contracts, hotels adjust rates and the city fills with altars for Day of the Dead.

What's making news this week

October 21–23 brings the 38th edition of the Cancún Travel Mart, the Mexican Caribbean's main tourism negotiation platform, where contracts for year-end and the start of winter are set. Hotels expect sales above the $5.2 billion recorded in 2025 and rate increases of up to 35% for year end, so booking early can make a real difference. Also, the Grand Hyatt Cancun Beach Resort is already taking reservations, with 14 restaurants and nine pools, and hotels and parks are dressing up with marigold altars for Day of the Dead.

Must-do activities

  • Isla Blanca — a peninsula north of the city with shallow, calm water, popular for kitesurfing and kayaking.
  • Punta Nizuc — snorkeling on the reef barrier south of the Hotel Zone, with turtles and colorful fish.
  • Cancún Maya Museum — original archaeological pieces and access to the San Miguelito archaeological site.
  • Kabah Park — a green area in the middle of the Hotel Zone, ideal for walking or running among low jungle.
  • Festival of Life and Death at Xcaret — late October and early November, with altars, music and Mexican traditions.

Best spots to visit

If you want something different, Isla Blanca offers a much slower pace than the Hotel Zone: quiet beaches, simple waterfront restaurants and sunsets over the lagoon.

Where to stay: the top-rated hotels

  • Grand Hyatt Cancun Beach Resort — the season's newest arrival, an all-inclusive at Puerto Cancún.
  • Hyatt Zilara Cancún — adults-only, with a relaxed atmosphere and good service.
  • Paradisus Cancún — oceanfront, with a Royal Service area for a more exclusive stay.
  • Garza Blanca Cancún — Mediterranean-style architecture and several pools with ocean views.
  • Breathless Cancun Soul — adults-only, with a party vibe and lively nightlife.

Where to eat

For traditional Mexican food, La Parrilla has long been a downtown classic; Porfirio's serves chef-driven cooking in the Hotel Zone; and El Fish Fritanga is a good pick for fried fish and seafood in a casual setting.