10 Things to do in Cancun at Christmas

Winter is considered by many travellers as the best time to travel to Cancun as it allows you to escape the cold. From December to February, Cancun has spectacular weather, with very little rain, mild nights and sunny skies all day long. Consequently, the activities to see, do and enjoy in Cancun at Christmas are numerous, varied and, above all, fun.

Ponche con piquete is a traditional Mexican drink that is prepared during the Christmas holidays, especially during the celebration of the traditional Posadas.

The drink consists of a traditional fruit punch (plums, apples, guavas, etc.) seasoned with cinnamon and a "piquete" of alcohol which can be tequila, rum or aguardiente, depending on the preparation.

To make your stay in Mexico even more memorable, make the most of the colourful and explosive gastronomy of this beautiful country. If you are going to Cancun in December for your Christmas holidays, don't forget to include in the list of "delicacies to try" the Mexican punch with piquete.

According to tourists and locals, Christmas time is considered the best time to travel to Cancun and enjoy its beaches due to its ideal temperatures, with sunny days and little rainfall that characterises the winter in the Yucatan Peninsula.

This is one of the reasons why so many tourists visit Cancun between December and February. If you are one of the lucky ones, make the most of your stay by visiting Cancun' s best beaches and enjoying activities such as snorkelling, surfing or just lying in the sun and relaxing.

Winter in the Yucatan is characterised by minimum temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius; the hurricane season has come to an end so bad weather is practically non-existent and the sea is very calm. If your stay allows it, this season is also ideal to book an excursion to the Mujeres Islands for a full day of fun in the sun.

The great weather that characterises winter days in Cancun makes Christmas the perfect time to do as many outdoor activities as possible. One of the best is to visit the Xtreme Adventure Eco-Park, which as its name suggests, is an ecological park located in the well-known "Ruta de los Cenotes", in the area of Puerto Morelos, just 20 minutes away from Cancun's Hotel Zone.

The park is focused on adventure and fun in natural surroundings, which makes it a great option if you are looking for things to do in Cancun with children. Some of the sports and games you can enjoy at the facilities are zip-lining through the cenotes, horseback riding, buggy rides, kayaking and snorkelling.

And if you are a lover of these adventure sports, remember that you can also book an excursion with snorkelling with whale sharks in Cancun, a quad tour through the jungle in Cancun or an adventure in the jungle with speedboat and snorkelling in Cancun.

Useful info

• Duration: You must book between 4 and 6 hours for the experience.
• Opening hours: The park is open to the public from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
• Price range: Around €80 per traveller approximately.

Cancun is a destination famous not only for its beaches, but also for its nightlife, often considered among the best in the world. If you find yourself spending the holidays in this paradise, you can't pass up the opportunity to join a **New Year'**s Eve party.

And one unbeatable option, without a doubt, is to book your ticket to the Coco Bongo nightclub, the most popular nightlife centre in Cancun's hotel zone. Upon arrival you will find a huge disco full of sound effects, decoration, music, live entertainment and lots of Latin music. Plus, this skip-the-line entry includes an open bar the entire time you're inside the club.

Other options to celebrate New Year's Eve in Cancun

Below is a complementary list of varied options, however, keep in mind that Cancun is full of clubs, so I invite you to do your own research:

• Bar La Vaquita: Young-spirited travellers should visit La Vaquita for New Year's Eve celebrations in Cancun. It is a modern concept pub where Hip-Hop, electronic, dance and other styles of music are played. Almost all alcoholic drinks are sold by the litre in giant-sized jugs.
• Señor Frogs Bar: Señor Frogs Bar's New Year's Eve party is always epic, with live bands and amazing drinks including options if you're going to Cancun with alcohol-free kids. A great option if you're looking for a more family-friendly atmosphere.
• La Habichuela Sunset: An ideal restaurant for those visiting Cancun as a couple and looking for a relaxed and romantic atmosphere.

An excellent plan for Christmas Day is to go to a good restaurant in Cancun's Hotel Zone and enjoy a traditional lunch. However, it is essential that you make your reservation in advance in order to avoid running out of seats.

If you are travelling to Cancun at this time of year it is important to know that most popular attractions are open to the public on Christmas Day, due to Cancun's popularity as a New Year's Eve tourist destination. So if you fancy a tour of the Chichen Itza Ruins or a trip to the Tulum Ruins, both are open to the public on December 25th.

Best Mexican Restaurants in Cancun for Christmas

• Mextreme: Famous for being one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in the Hotel Zone. If you want to take home a taste of Mexican culture and ambience, this is the place to go - their mole sauce is unbeatable!
• CAO De Tierra Y De Mar: Ideal to enjoy the exquisite gastronomy of the Port of Cancun. The ambience is elegant and the cuisine is inspired by the northern part of Mexico.
• El Huerto del Edén: One of the best options for lunch and breakfast in the area. If you go to El Huerto be sure to try their traditional huevos motuleños.
• Taqueria Coapenitos: A small and modest place that prepares some of the best tacos in all Cancun.

Las Posadas is the name given to one of the most important traditional Christmas celebrations in Mexico. It takes place during the nine days leading up to Christmas to commemorate the journey of the pregnant Virgin Mary and St. Joseph on their way to the town of Bethlehem.

When you attend Las Posadas you will hear traditional Christmas carols and see a religious procession that includes a couple dressed as Mary and Joseph and dozens of believers dressed in traditional white costumes. The party concludes with a piñata.

The best option to celebrate Las Posadas in the Riviera Maya is to visit Xcaret Park from Cancun; an eco-archaeological park located south of the city where the celebration takes place. In addition, there you can enjoy at least 40 different attractions. In the city of Cancun you will find numerous local companies that offer this type of experience to travellers with private transportation to and from the Hotel Zone to the park.

Useful information

• Duration: Varies depending on the company you hire and the itinerary. It usually lasts from 6 to 12 hours.
• Schedule: The companies leave Cancun early in the morning to make the most of the day in the park.
• Price range: From €150 per traveller.

Plaza Kukulcan is a major shopping centre located on one of the most touristic boulevards in Cancun's Hotel Zone. During practically the entire month of December, small events commemorating the Christmas holidays are held for the enjoyment of tourists and locals alike.

Many plazas and shopping centres in Cancun join in the Christmas celebrations through numerous initiatives, including themed decorations, Christmas lights, tree lighting parties and the presence of iconic characters such as Father Christmas. If you decide to attend, take a stroll along the Boulevard and enjoy the decorations and atmosphere.

Then head to the spectacular Kukulcan Ferris wheel, known by locals as El Sol de Cancun. From its highest point you'll have spectacular views of the Cancun skyline.

Useful Info

• Address and directions: The plaza is located on Boulevard Kukulcan, in the heart of Cancun's Hotel Zone.
• Opening hours: Open to the public Monday to Friday between 7am and 11pm.
• Price range: Free for everyone.

Take advantage of your stay in Cancun and the festive spirit of the city to do your Christmas shopping. You will find a very diverse and interesting offer, ranging from the traditional gifts you can buy in any big city to unique objects characteristic of Cancun.

Here are a few alternatives

• El Mercado 28: It is a picturesque and beautiful flea market style shopping area with stalls of handicrafts, curiosities and restaurants. If you want to buy unique souvenirs, don't miss it.
• Plaza Las Americas: In this plaza you will find all your favourite international and local brands. From Victoria Secret and Sears to the famous Adidas.
• La Isla Shopping Village: Located on Kukulcan Boulevard, this is the most popular shopping centre in the area. Visitors and locals alike come for the shopping options, but also for its many family entertainment options.

One of the inaugural events of the Christmas holidays in Cancun is the Christmas parade and tree lighting, which has been held for a number of years in downtown Cancun, usually in the first few weeks of the month. If you happen to be in town on this date, don't hesitate to join the celebration.

Thousands of local citizens and tourists of all ages participate in the event that takes place at the end of the day. The event begins with a parade of floats on Avenida Tulum, Cancun's most important avenue, located on the edge of the Hotel Zone. The protagonists of the parade are the traditional Mexican Christmas figures including the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, Father Christmas and the Three Wise Men.

In Cancun, tropical rhythms, such as cumbia and merengue, are an important part of the celebration along with traditional Christmas carols. After lighting the gigantic Christmas tree in the Palacio Municipal square, a Christmas classic, such as The Nutcracker, is performed.

Useful information

• Time: From 6 p.m. onwards.
• Price range: Free for all audiences.

If you find yourself spending your Christmas in Cancun, you can't miss the Christmas light park that takes place every year in Malecon Tajamar and that goes by the name of Christmas Show Cancun.

The attraction is an initiative carried out by the local government and intended for the enjoyment of the locals, but also for the thousands of tourists who flock to the city for these dates.

Open to the public from the first days of the month until 31 December, the light park offers visitors a place for family entertainment thanks to the sculptural figures erected on the site and adorned with twinkling Christmas lights. It is possibly one of the best things to do in Cancun at night during the holiday season.

Useful information

• Address and directions: The Malecon is located on Avenida Benito Juarez, in the heart of Cancun's Hotel Zone. You can get there by taking bus lines R-1 and R-66. The "Fuente" bus stop is a four-minute walk away.
• Opening hours: Traditionally, the place is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 6pm to 10pm.
• Price range: Free for the general public.

Christmas in Cancun coincides with the high season in the city, which includes the months of December and January. This implies a high influx of travellers and a high demand in hotels, amusement centres and entertainment venues.

During these months, with winter in the northern hemisphere, many travellers from the United States and Europe travel to the warm waters of the Caribbean to spend a few weeks in Cancun. In addition, many Mexican families enjoy holidays, which increases the flow of domestic tourism.

The best strategy for visiting Cancun at this time of year is to make all reservations in advance, especially if you are travelling with a companion.

Cancun in December is characterised by almost perfect weather for enjoying all the things to see and do in Cancun, with temperatures ranging from a low of 20 degrees Celsius at night to a high of 28 degrees Celsius during the day.

Likewise, during Christmas, rainfall is scarce and the days are sunny and clear. Taking these aspects into consideration, some of the items that should not be missing in your suitcase are:

• Swimsuits to enjoy the sea and the pool.
• Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen.
• Sandals for the beach.
• Nightwear for going out to clubs and restaurants.
• A light coat.
• Cool cotton clothes for walking.