Top Activities for Teen Families In Cancun, Mexico

Embarking on a family adventure to Cancun, Mexico opens the door to a world of sun-soaked beaches, vibrant culture, and unforgettable experiences tailor-made for teenage families. Nestled along the stunning Yucatán Peninsula, Cancun isn’t just a tropical paradise for adults; it’s a destination that seamlessly blends relaxation and adventure. From exploring ancient Mayan ruins to diving into the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, this bustling resort city offers activities that cater to the dynamic interests of teenagers and their families.

In this guide, we’ll uncover the top activities that promise to transform your family vacation into a treasure trove of shared moments and lasting memories. I have taken my teens to Cancun and done many of these tours and can honestly say these are the top activities for teen families in Cancun, Mexico.

Tours Are The Way To Go

We have been to Cancun a few times and can’t stress enough the importance of doing tours for most of these activities in lieu of getting yourselves around. If you are doing tours, you do not need to rent a car as the tours include transportation. Having a professional who knows not only their way around Mexico, but also is extremely knowledgable on the history of the sites, is truly priceless. When you book your tours through companies like Viator or TripAdvisor, you know that you are getting a quality and SAFE tour. Booking with trusted companies gives you the peace of mind that you aren’t being scammed or paying more than needed. Trust me, seeing the sites in Mexico on a tour is the way to go!

Cenotes

Cenotes are natural sinkholes formed by the collapse of cave systems, revealing crystal-clear freshwater pools beneath the earth’s surface. The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is home to thousands of these hidden gems, each with its unique charm and allure. These cenotes held significant spiritual importance to the Mayan civilization.

Snorkeling, scuba diving, cliff jumping and zip-lining are all popular activities to do in the cenotes. There are different types of cenotes found on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Open-Air Cenotes

These are the most accessible cenotes, with exposed water surfaces that are perfect for swimming or snorkeling. The most popular cenotes are located near Mayan ruins. Cenote Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote are both near Tulum and the Cenote Ik Kil is very close to Chichen Itza. Due to the proximity of the Mayan ruins to the cenotes, most of the tours offer the ruins and cenotes as a combined package.

Cave Cenotes

The most adventurous of the cenotes, cave cenotes offer a thrilling exploration of underground caves where stalagmites and stalactites create an otherworldly experience. The two most popular cave cenotes are Dos Ojos and Sac Actun, both near Tulum.

Semi-Open Cenotes

Combining elements of both open-air and cave cenotes, semi-open cenotes boast lush vegetation and impressive rock formations. The partially shaded areas provide a unique ambiance for relaxation and swimming. The Ik Kil cenote near Chichen Itza is semi-open.

Top Rated Cenote Tours:

1. VIP Cenotes Private Tour

2. Private Cenotes Tour

3. Private Half Day Cenotes Tour

4. Scuba Diving in Cenotes Guided Tour

5. Hidden “Instagrammable” Cenote Gems Tour

Tulum Mayan ruins

The Tulum Mayan Ruins sit atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Tulum is about 80 miles south of Cancun and is a popular day trip for both the Mayan ruins and Tulum cenotes.

Top-Rated Tours of Mayan Ruins & Cenotes in Tulum

1. Tulum Ruins Guided Tour, Cenote Swimming, Lagoon Snorkeling & Beachside Lunch

2. Tulum Mayan Ruins & Cenote Swimming Guided Tour

3. Cenotes Swim, Snorkeling with Sea Turtles & Lunch

4. Cave Cenotes & Lagoon Snorkeling Adventure

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks are fascinating and gentle giants that can be found in the waters around Cancun. These massive sharks are the world’s largest fish, and they are known for their impressive size and distinctive appearance. Cancun and the surrounding areas offer unique opportunities for eco-friendly tourism, allowing visitors to swim with whale sharks. Guided tours are available, and operators take participants to areas where whale sharks are known to congregate.

Top-Rated Whale Shark Tours

Private Guided Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour– Great value for groups of 10 or less!
Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour
Whale Shark Snorkeling & Isla Mujeres Visit
Whale Shark Adventure Snorkeling
Whale Shark Snorkeling on Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a beautiful and charming island located in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Cancun. It is a popular destination known for its stunning beaches, vibrant coral reefs and laid back island atmosphere and gorgeous water. The color of the water in Isla Mujeres is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

Prior to visiting Isla Mujeres, I thought Turks & Caicos had the prettiest blue water out of all of the Caribbean islands, but Isla Mujeres definitely takes the top spot. The water is a neon blue and is clear all the way to the bottom! I highly recommend taking a trip to Isla Mujeres while in Cancun.

Top-Rated Tours to Isla Mujeres

1. Luxury Catamaran Sail & Snorkeling Day Trip to Isla Mujeres

2. Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure

3. Isla Mujeres Catamaran & Snorkeling Tour

4. Isla Mujeres & Isla Contoy All Day Tour

5. 3 Hour Semi-private VIP Tour Isla Mujeres

6. Private Catamaran Isla Mujeres tour for your group (up to 12 people). This is a great and affordable choice for a small group.

Chichen Itza Ruins

Chichen Itza is one of the most renowned and well-preserved archaeological sites of ancient civilization, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico about 120 miles west of Cancun. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Chichen Itza attracts millions of visitors each year. Chichen Itza is a very popular all day tour from Cancun.

Top-Rated Chichen Itza Tours

1. Chichen Itza & Cenote Tour
2. Chichen Itza, Cenote & Lunch Tour
3. Chichen Itza Sunrise & Cenote Tour

XCaret

Xcaret is a popular eco-archaeological park located on the Riviera Maya, near Cancun. Known for its complex underground rivers, Xcaret is a great place for some adventure with your teenagers.

Top-Rated XCaret Tours

1. Xcaret Entry Ticket & Night Show

2. Xcaret Tour From Cancun with Transportation

Rio Secreto Nature Preserve

Rio Secreto, or the “Secret River,” is a series of caves carved out by an underground river in near Cancun. The reserve is most famous for its large half-sunken cave, which is a popular diving spot for tourists. You can also explore the cave’s passageways and swim in the underground river beneath the stalagmites and stalactites.

Top-Rated Tours to Rio Secreto

1. Rio Secreto Underground River & Crystal Caves Tour

2. Rio Secreto Wild Tour with Lunch

ATV, Ziplines & Horseback Riding Tours

Cancun offers several adventurous tours for riding ATVs, horseback riding and zip-lining. These are all perfect activities for families with teenagers.

Top-Rated ATV, Ziplines & Horseback Riding Tours

1. Horseback Riding and Cenote Swim

2. Horseback Riding, ATVs & Cenotes

3. ATV & Ziplining Tour

4. Ziplining, ATVs, Horseback Riding & Cenote Swim

XPlor Adventure Park

Xplor Adventure Park is an adventure lover’s paradise! Swim through underground rivers, under stalagmites and stalactites. Experience the thrill of zip-lining into the water and ride amphibious vehicles through lush forests and caves. Xplor Adventure Park is a one of a kind experience for both teenagers and adults alike.

Top-Rated Xplor Tours

1. Priority Access: Xplor Adventure Park with Transportation Included

2. Xplor Fuego Nighttime Adventure with Transportation

3. Xplor with Transportation Included

Snorkeling Underwater Museum

The Cancun Underwater Museum, also known as MUSA, consists of a unique series of underwater statues. Snorkeling at the underwater museum is a truly exhilarating experience!

Top-Rated Underwater Museum Tours

1. Cancun Snorkeling Adventure: Underwater Museum & Shipwreck

2. Snorkeling at Underwater Museum & Paradise Reef

3. 2 Hour Underwater Museum Snorkeling Tour

4. Scuba Diving Underwater Museum Tour

Jungle Boat Tours

Drive your own speedboats through the Nichupte Lagoon with these guided tours which include snorkeling in the Underground Museum.

Top-Rated Jungle Tours

1. Jungle Adventure Tour: Speedboat and Snorkel

2. Mayan Jungle Tour: Speedboat & Snorkel

Playa Delfines Beach & Cancun Sign

Playa Delfines is the only public beach in Cancun, located in the popular hotel zone. It is known for its stunning white sand, clear turquoise waters, and picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea. The famous and colorful Cancun sign is on Playa Delfines and is a popular photo spot for tourists.

Camel Rides

Ride a camel through the jungle with this guided tour which is sure to be a fun and memorable adventure for your whole family!.

Camel Caravan & Beach Club Tour

Xavage Park

Xavage Park is another adventure spot owned by Xcaret resorts. This park offers white water rafting, kayaking, a ropes course, ATVs, jet boats and monster trucks.

Xavage Park Tours

1. Xavage Park Admission Ticket

2. Xavage Park Priority Access

Xel-Ha Natural Aquarium

The Xel-Há natural aquarium is situated around a large, natural inlet and lagoon where freshwater from underground rivers meets the Caribbean Sea. The park is known for its calm and clear waters, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling and swimming. You can also experience a river float, cliff jumping and explore cenotes.

1. Xel-Ha Admission Ticket

2. Xel-Ha Priority Access with Transportation

Private Boat Rentals

When you first hear private boat rental, you may automatically think that is out of my budget. However, these boat rentals are extremely affordable if you have a group of people splitting the cost. In fact, if you will be paying for a large family per person for a regular boat tour, it may even work out to be the same price to rent a private boat. It is really nice to have the whole boat to yourselves, plus the ability to completely customize your tour and destinations!

1. Private Sailboat to Isla Mujeres or Custom Itinerary

2. Private Sunset Boat Tour

3. Private Yacht 46 Foot Sea Ray

4. Private Fishing Boat Charter

5. Private Boat Rental

6. Private Yacht Rental

Cancun is a fabulous destination for adventure lovers and beach lovers alike! Check out my article Traveling With Teens: The Top Destinations for more travel inspiration and tips for traveling with teens.

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