The Cancun Blog
Beachfront bliss and the best food you've had at a resort. Read all about it.
Cancun Travel Tips
Need a crash course on Cancun? We’ve got you covered.
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.
Pack Light: 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.
Live Like a Local: Ask our concierge 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 is on Eastern Standard Time (EST) year-round—no Daylight Savings.
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 and brushing your teeth.
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 Royal Resorts® by Holiday Inn Club Vacations®
Want to know what’s cooking at Royal Resorts? You’ve got plenty of options.
La Trattoria, The Royal Cancun
Handmade pizzas, hearty pastas, and fresh seafood await—all bursting with Mediterranean flavor. Don’t forget to end on a sweet note with creamy gelato, tiramisu, or cannoli.
Italian Night Buffets, Multiple Resorts
An Italian-lover’s dream come true: indulge in pizza, pasta, and desserts from different regions of Italy.
- Saturdays: The Royal Sands by Holiday Inn Club Vacations
- Tuesdays: La Palapa, The Royal Cancun by Holiday Inn Club Vacations
A Fiesta of Flavor at Hacienda Sisal, The Royal Sands
Kick off with chips, guacamole, and shareable snacks, then dive into family favorites like enchiladas and sizzling fajitas. Wash down every bite with handcrafted tequila cocktails. Salud!
American Comforts Available Everywhere
From juicy burgers and hot dogs to smoky BBQ ribs, brisket sandwiches, crispy wings, and roast chicken—every resort has at least one restaurant that serves U.S-style favorites that always hit the spot. Be sure to check the poolside specials, too—there’s something new every day.
Locally Caught Seafood
Being right on the Caribbean Sea means access to incredible seafood. The chefs across our resorts love taking the catch of the day and imbuing it with fresh, local flavors. Think Baja-style fish tacos, grilled shrimp, lobster, and 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 for order 24/7.
Tee Off in Paradise
Fresh air, stunning views, and world-class courses—Cancun is 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. As a Member or guest, you’ll enjoy special green fees and access to weekly tournaments.
Puerto Cancun: The Bay Meets the Fairway
Designed by Tom Weiskopf, this 7,241-yard course winds between the marina and the beach. Don’t miss holes 15 and 16 with breathtaking ocean views—and brace yourself for the challenging 18th. 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 tee time at the Golf & Restaurant Reservations Center, or ask your concierge to take care of the details.
Swim with Whale Sharks
Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime story to tell after your Cancun 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 Whale Sharks Come Here
Every summer, hundreds of whale sharks migrate to the warm waters near Holbox, Contoy, and Isla Mujeres. Drawn by plankton blooms (and even bonito fish eggs), they form the largest known gathering of whale sharks in the world. Picture a school bus-sized giant gliding calmly through the turquoise water, its spotted skin shimmering in the sun. It’s a sight that’ll stay with you forever.
Where to See Them
Two main 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.
These areas are now a marine biosphere reserve, protecting not only whale sharks but also sailfish, manta rays, sea turtles, and dolphins.
Swimming Beside Giants
Imagine slipping into the water, heart racing, then watching as a whale shark glides past—jaw open, scooping up plankton, tiny fish darting at its side. Each whale shark has its own unique pattern of spots and stripes (locals call them pez dominó), and researchers use photos to track them across the globe—from Mexico all the way 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 plus a guide should be in the water at once.
- No sunscreen, no flash photography.
Along the way, keep your eyes open—you might also spot dolphins, manta rays, or sea turtles sharing the feast.
Make It an Island Getaway: 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 sandy 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.
To fulfill the terms of this offer, you are required to attend a two-hour timeshare presentation.