Cancun Travel Tips

Get ready for your vacation with these helpful tips.

Get All Your Docs Together: U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport to enter Mexico. Visas are not required for stays under 180 days.

Stay Cool: Mexico enjoys warm weather year-round, with average temps between 75°F and 90°F. Pack light layers for hot days and breezy evenings.

Remember Beach Essentials: Bring breathable clothing, swimwear, a hat, and reef-safe sunscreen. Flip-flops are a must, but water shoes are great for excursions.

Be Rain-Ready: Rainy season runs from June to October, but showers tend to pass quickly. A light, packable rain jacket or umbrella can come in handy.

Explore Like a Local: Ask our staff for tips on authentic tacos, hidden cenotes, and local markets to add a little extra flavor to your getaway.

Tipping is Customary: While not required, small tips for housekeeping, drivers, and tour guides are always appreciated and go a long way.

Mind the Time Zone: Cancun does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Depending on the time of year, it is either on Eastern Standard Time or Central Standard Time.

Use Pesos or Plastic: While U.S. dollars are widely accepted, paying in pesos often gets you better prices. ATMs and currency exchanges are easy to find.

Don’t Drink Tap Water: Stick to bottled water for drinking.

Bring Bug Spray: Mosquitoes can be active, especially near jungle areas or cenotes. Pack insect repellent with DEET or picaridin.

Everything You Can Eat at Our Resorts in Cancun

Want to know what’s cooking at The Royal Cancun and The Royal Sands? You’ve got plenty of options.

Say “Ciao!” to Italian

La Trattoria, The Royal Cancun
Handmade pizzas, hearty pastas, and fresh seafood await—all bursting with Mediterranean flavor. End each meal on a sweet note with creamy gelato, tiramisu, or cannoli.

Italian Night Buffets, Multiple Resorts
Indulge in pizza, pasta, and desserts from different regions of Italy.

• Saturdays: The Royal Sands
• Tuesdays: La Palapa, The Royal Cancun

A Fiesta of Flavor at Hacienda Sisal, The Royal Sands
Start with chips, guacamole, and shareable snacks, then dig into family favorites like enchiladas and sizzling fajitas. Pair it all with handcrafted tequila cocktails. ¡Salud!

American Comforts Available Everywhere
Craving familiar flavors? Every resort features a restaurant serving U.S. favorites—from burgers and hot dogs to BBQ ribs, brisket sandwiches, wings, and roast chicken. Check the poolside specials for something new each day.

Locally Caught Seafood
Being right on the Caribbean Sea means access to incredible seafood. Our chefs showcase the catch of the day with fresh local flavors—from Baja-style fish tacos to creamy seafood pastas.

24/7 Pizza Delivery
Movie night or game day? Bartolo’s in-resort delivery has you covered with piping-hot pizzas. Or order straight from the Room Service menu for an easy family feast in your villa, available around the clock.

Tee Off in Paradise

Fresh air, stunning views, and world-class courses—Cancun and the Riviera Maya are a golfer’s dream. On your next Royal Resorts vacation, show off your swing on championship greens carved into the Caribbean coastline and jungle landscapes. Club members and guests enjoy discounted green fees and access to weekly tournaments.

Puerto Cancun: Where the Bay Meets the Fairway
Designed by Tom Weiskopf, this 7,241-yard course winds between the marina and the beach. Holes 15 and 16 offer breathtaking ocean views, while the 18th delivers a rewarding challenge. After your round, Marina Town Center is just steps away for shopping and dining.

El Camaleón Mayakoba: Welcome to the Jungle
Greg Norman’s 7,024-yard masterpiece combines jungle, mangroves, cenotes, and canals with unforgettable beachside fairways. After your round, kick back at the newly renovated clubhouse for a cold drink or casual bite.

Gran Coyote: A Riviera Maya Challenge
Nick Price designed this 7,050-yard course tucked behind The Royal Haciendas at CoraSol. With tricky bunkers, water hazards, and a notoriously tough 7th hole, it’s a true test for golfers looking to up their game.

Join the Fun: Weekly Tournaments
Meet fellow golfers and show off your skills at the Royal Day tournaments:

• Sundays (after 12 p.m.) at El Camaleón Mayakoba (8-player minimum)
• Tuesdays at Puerto Cancun (12-player minimum)

Ready for Tee Time?
Book your golf experience through Thomas More Travel by dialing ext. 165 when you arrive at your villa.

Swim with Whale Sharks

Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime story to tell after your Cancun or Riviera Maya vacation? From June to mid-September, the world’s largest fish—the gentle, awe-inspiring whale shark—gathers in the Mexican Caribbean. And yes, you can swim right alongside them.

Why They Come Here
Each summer, whale sharks gather in the warm waters near Holbox, Contoy, and Isla Mujeres, drawn by rich plankton blooms. It’s the largest known congregation of whale sharks on Earth—a spectacular sight as these gentle giants glide through turquoise waters, their spotted skin catching the light.

Where to See Them
Two primary feeding zones are hotspots for these gentle giants:

• Zona Verde: Near Holbox and Cabo Catoche, where nutrient-rich upwellings attract plankton.
• Zona Azul: Deeper waters off Isla Mujeres and Contoy, about 2.5 hours from Cancun.

Both areas are protected marine biosphere reserves, safeguarding not only whale sharks but also sailfish, manta rays, sea turtles, and dolphins.

Swimming with Giants
Imagine slipping into the water, heart racing, as a whale shark glides past—jaw open, filtering plankton while tiny fish dart at its side. Each whale shark bears a unique pattern of spots and stripes, known locally as pez dominó. Researchers use these markings to track individuals across the globe, from Mexico to Brazil, the Maldives, and beyond.

Eco-Friendly Encounters
Whale shark tours follow strict guidelines to protect both you and these gentle creatures:

• Swim alongside whale sharks, never in front.
• Stay at least 16 feet (5 meters) away.
• Never touch or block their tails.
• Only two swimmers and a guide may be in the water at a time.
• No sunscreen and no flash photography.

Along the way, keep your eyes open—you might also spot dolphins, manta rays, or sea turtles.

Get on Island Time: Holbox
For an even more unforgettable trip, spend the night on laidback Holbox. Early morning tours head out to find whale sharks, followed by fresh seafood lunches, lagoon explorations, and sunset strolls down streets lined with colorful murals.

Book Your Whale Shark Adventure
Ready to check this off your bucket list? Stop by the Thomas More Travel desk during your Royal Resorts stay to reserve your tour or plan a Holbox overnight escape.