Visiting Cancun with teenagers – Things to do

I can finally say that one month today we will be on our way to Cancun, our Mexican holiday that was booked  back in September last year. The thing with booking so far in advance is that you get the initial excitement, and then the holiday is put to the back of your mind. But with a month to go, I really need to start getting organised.

We are going All Inclusive to the Moon Palace hotel, which is situated on the outskirts of Cancun. We booked our holiday direct with the hotel, however if you prefer to book with a UK Operator, Holiday Gems has a wide range of hotels in Mexico. Whilst we will have all the amazing facilities of a 5* hotel at our fingertips, we also want to explore Cancun and the local area. It’s 17 years since hubby and I went to Cancun on our honeymoon, and I have been thinking about some of the local attractions we want to visit, this time as a family of four.

Ventura Park

Ventura Park is located a boat ride away from the Moon Palace hotel, though if you get sea sick like myself there is also the option of going by taxi. It has everything here for adventurous teens, from a huge waterpark, zip lining, fun fair, go carts, virtual reality adventures, and animals. We plan to spend the full day here as there is plenty to keep the teens happy, as well as the fearless 46 year old husband.

Chichen Itza

We are hoping to book in a tour to visit the world famous Chicken Itza this time, as sadly we didn’t get round to visiting last time we were in Mexico. The famous landmark is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, around 2 hours away from Cancun, but I understand the trip is well worth it. Chichen Itza was built by the Mayan people, and the main focal point is El Castillo.

Swimming with Dolphins

One of the highlights of our honeymoon back in 2001, was getting the amazing opportunity to swim with dolphins. I would love the children to experience getting up close to these beautiful creatures, and you can book this experience in several locations throughout Cancun. We are lucky that we get Resort Credits with our hotel booking, which we can then use against a Dolphin Swim experience.

Visiting the Cancun Strip

As our hotel is away from the strip in Cancun, we plan to book a taxi and head to the strip for the day. With the Caribbean Sea on one side, and the lagoon on the other, the strip is where you will find hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, markets, and when darkness falls the nightlife starts, though I am sure we will be tucked up in bed by then. One of the many memories we have from our honeymoon, is paying a few pesos for the excellent bus service that runs up and down the strip. I can’t wait to show the kids where Mum and Dad spent their nights drinking and dancing when we were in our youth !!!

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a 20 minute ferry ride from Cancun, and is a small island 4 miles long. It is surrounded by stunning beaches, and is quieter than it’s Cancun neighbour. On the island you can book watersports, watch the stunning sunsets from one of the many beaches, and even hire a golf buggy to explore the island.

Have you been to Mexico ? Is there anywhere else you would add that is good for teenagers ?