10 Most Instagrammable Places in Cancún
Where to Take Stunning Photos of Cancún to Impress Your Friends
Instagrammable places in Cancún abound, from glorious white-sand beaches to vibrant underground cenotes, archaeological sites, and unique structures. People come to this city to enjoy the nightlife and party scene, relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and explore ancient Mayan ruins.
Almost everywhere you go here presents a photo opportunity to capture the incredible culture, color, beauty, and history. Check out the 10 most Instagrammable places in Cancún that will light up your Instagram feed.
1. Chichén Itzá
Take a photo of a giant Mayan step pyramid
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Photo
Chichén Itzá is among the most important Mayan ruins in Mexico and offers photo opportunities in sophisticated ruins with a complete step pyramid and an ancient Mayan calendar. If you’re interested in ruins, history, and ancient Mayan culture, this place is a must-visit on any travels to Cancún.
The ruins take about 2.5 to 3 hours to reach by bus or car from downtown, and you can book a tour to get a better understanding of what you’ve seen. Plan a day trip and light up your Instagram feed with all the photos you can take here. Read more
Open: Daily from 8 am to 4.30 pm
Phone: +52 985-851-0137
Chichén Itzá
2. MUSA Underwater Museum
Photograph underwater sculptures
Good for: History, Photo
The MUSA Underwater Museum is one of the most unusual Instagrammable sites in the city, with hundreds of reef-friendly statues in a nature conservation site. The sculptures evolve and change over the years as the corals erode them and leave a mysterious, stunning atmosphere. They’re accessible by snorkeling or scuba diving, with guided tours available.
Here you can photograph more than 500 sculptures and experience a true interaction between art and the environment. It’s in the Hotel Zone about 20 minutes from downtown. Read more
Location: Cerrada Las Golondrinas Lote #24, Zona Hotelera, 77560 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Open: Daily from 9 am to 2 pm
Phone: +52 998-810-4508
MUSA Underwater Museum
3. El Rey Archaeological Zone
Explore an important Mayan site
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Photo
The El Rey Archaeological Zone lets you explore and photograph a city built by pre-Columbian Mayans along the coastline, with 47 complete structures. These date to the early classical period from about 250 CE to 600 CE. The ruins are believed to have once functioned as a vital commercial and fishing port in the Mayan Empire.
Today the site is among the most important archaeological sites in Cancún. It’s located in the Hotel Zone about 20 minutes from downtown and is sure to light up your Instagram feed. Read more
Location: Hotel Zone, 77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Open: Daily from 8 am to 5 pm
Phone: +52 983-837-2411
El Rey Archaeological Zone
4. Delfines Beach
Grab a photo of white sands and blue waters
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Delfines Beach, or Playa Delfines, is among the most popular beaches in the Hotel Zone due to its unspoiled, stunning photogenic beauty, easy accessibility, and lack of touristy attractions. Its name means Dolphin Beach, and it has a distinct lack of hotels and restaurants nearby, but it does offer clean white sands, clear turquoise waters, and features like a playground, restrooms, and shaded palapas.
Not only is this a great site to capture photographs for your Instagram feed, but it’s also a wonderful place to enjoy the surf and sun. If you’re staying in the Hotel Zone, it’s an easy jaunt, as it takes about 20 minutes to reach from downtown. Read more
Location: Punta Nizuc - Cancún 335, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Delfines Beach
5. Langosta Beach
Go snorkeling and get photos of underwater scenery
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Langosta Beach, or Playa Langosta, is a swimming destination with powdered coral sand and shallow, calm waters that are excellent for snorkeling and photographs. The underwater scenery here is outstanding and will certainly offer some unique Instagram-worthy photos if you’ve got an underwater camera.
Street vendors offer cold beverages, and the beach is among the most family-friendly in the city, just about 20 minutes from downtown in the Hotel Zone. You can even catch a ferry and catch photos of dolphins while you swim with these majestic creatures. Read more
Location: Kukulcan Boulevard, Hotel Zone, 77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Phone: +52 984-158-2318
Langosta Beach
6. Cenotes near Cancún
Explore vibrant natural swimming holes
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Cenotes near Cancún offer some of the most magical photo opportunities you’ll find anywhere with mysterious pools rife with sea life and clear, cool waters. These sites were formed thousands or even millions of years ago from limestone sinkholes and today are a unique way to explore the Cancún underworld.
Whether you go swimming in a deep underground pool or choose an open cenote above ground, you’ll find a world of opportunities to light up your photo feed. The best place is along the Route of the Cenotes, where you can see no fewer than 57 cenotes.
7. Punta Maroma
Catch a photo from a famed lookout point
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Punta Maroma is the lookout point on Playa Maroma, among the most famous beaches in Mexico, offering vibrant blue waters, soft white sands, and a tranquil location. This beach is often ranked among the best beaches in the world, and it’s accessible through beachfront hotels or local restaurants. It’s something of a hidden gem among local attractions due to its private access.
This beach is about 2 hours south of Cancún, so plan a day trip. It shouldn’t be an issue to find photo ops and things to do all day in this region, however, with lots of restaurants, shops, and points of interest in the area.
Location: 77730 Quintana Roo, Mexico
Punta Maroma
8. Playa Norte (Isla Mujeres)
Head for a gorgeous white-sand beach
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres offers a range of cozy beach clubs and stunning sites for photographs with options for snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming with dolphins. The island is accessible by a ferry ride from the shores, but it takes about 2 hours to get here, so plan a day trip.
You can rent a beach hammock for a siesta or capture tons of photos of the stunning crystal-clear waters and sugar-white sands. There’s a good reason this beach is considered one of the most popular in the area, and it’s sure to blow up your Instagram feed. Read more
Location: Rueda Medina 130, SM 001, Centro, 77506 Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico
Playa Norte (Isla Mujeres)
9. The Shell House
Check out a hotel that’s built to look like coral
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Unusual
The Shell House, or Casa Caracol, is a unique cabin you can rent in Cancún, but it’s also a photo-worthy site for your Instagram feed that’s shaped like a living coral reef. It’s located on the south end of Isla Mujeres and takes an hour to get to from downtown, but it’s worth the journey. It offers a private oasis away from the hustle and bustle with a private pool, coconut trees, tropical plants, and even wild iguanas that pop in for visits.
It’s just steps away from breathtaking cliff views and small, secluded beaches accessible at low tide. This is the place to catch a photo of the sunrise and showcase this intriguing building that looks like it’s just risen from the ground on its own.
Location: Carretera Garrafon KM 5, Punta Sur Mar Turquesa, 77400 Q.R., Mexico
The Shell House
10. Las Coloradas (Pink Lagoon)
Witness naturally pink-colored waters
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Unusual
The Pink Lagoon in the village of Las Coloradas is exactly what it sounds like: a lagoon with naturally pink-colored water that’s sure to start conversations on your Instagram feed. The vivid pink colors of this lagoon are utterly unique and are created naturally by the massive salt contents that generate microbes that color the water.
The lagoon is on private land and is only visible during the dry season because in the summer the owner draws water out to distill for salt. It’s a practical location and not generally open to the public, but it’s possible to visit on tours and is totally worth a photograph.
Las Coloradas (Pink Lagoon)
This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.