4 Day Cancun Mexico Itinerary – The Best Ruins, Resorts, & Day Trips

Looking to make the most of your trip to Cancun? 

Cancun is known for its turquoise waters, ancient ruins, and all-inclusive resorts, and we did all of that and more on our March getaway to Cancun, Mexico! We spent four days in Cancun exploring, eating incredible food, visiting ruins, and figuring out how to get the best value out of our trip.

Here’s exactly how we did it – keep reading for my ultimate 4 Day itinerary for Cancun, Mexico!

Day 1: Arrival, Markets, and an Unexpected Food Revelation

If you’re taking an Uber from the airport, walk over to Hilton Garden Inn. Ubers aren’t allowed to pick up passengers directly at the airport (apparently it’s illegal in Mexico??), but this spot is close enough to make it work. 

We checked into our first hotel of the trip, Hotel Luma by Kavia, around 4 PM and, eager to explore, made our way to Mercado 28. It was a bit of a culture shock, honestly. The vendors were persistent about selling, which was a little overwhelming at first, but after a few minutes, I got used to it. I ended up buying some keychains for my collection at a great price (4 for $10).

Next, we walked to Mercado 23, but it was much quieter, almost empty. We wandered around for five minutes, quickly realizing there wasn’t much to see, and moved on to our next mission: find food and water. 

Stocking Up on Essentials

We made a mandatory stop at grocery store Chedraui Selecto to pick up water and some snacks for the next few days. I got some coconut cookies, oranges, bananas, yogurt (you know, real food) for our breakfast the next morning, and my boyfriend wanted to try some Mexican snacks.

To our surprise, the store mostly carried American brands like Hershey’s, Lays, etc. He ended up buying some “Emperador” cookies, two Mexican beers, and chili-lime peanuts (which were artificially flavored, but they weren’t that bad). Oh, and all of this for $20!! I was loving the prices here – this grocery run would have cost at least $40 in the US. 

We also stocked up on at least two gallons of water, to keep us hydrated in the Cancun heat. March is wintertime for Mexico, with highs of 86 degrees Fahrenheit/30 degrees Celsius… so buying water is a must. 

Dinner at La Mesa de Charro – The Meal That Changed My Mind

After dropping our snacks off at the hotel, it was time to find dinner. A quick Google search led us to La Mesa de Charro, a spot with great reviews. For just $12, my boyfriend got a burrito, I got a delicious chorizo dish (whose name I promptly forgot), and we shared an agua de horchata and a Mexican beer. They even gave us free chips and salsa, which instantly bumped my rating to an 11/10.

Something personal: I’m not a huge fan of Mexican food. When we go out in Northern Virginia, I never suggest Mexican – it’s just not my first choice. But this burrito was insanely good. The meat was so flavorful and tender, the guacamole was out of this world, and everything tasted incredibly fresh. I started stealing bites from my boyfriend’s plate and immediately regretted not ordering my own.

We went back to the hotel full and happy, had a beer, and watched some Mexican TV. The only English channel was CNN, so we mostly flipped through Spanish shows until it was time for bed.

Day 2: Chichén Itzá, Cenotes, and the Best Tacos Ever

Early Wake-Up Call & Tour Prep

We woke up at 6:20 AM, had a quick breakfast, and got ready for our amazing Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid tour from Cancun. We walked to our tour meeting point at Smart Cancun by Oasis. It was crowded with different buses and guides, but ours was easy to find.

Of course, I completely forgot my bug spray. I had packed this eco-friendly, all-natural one in a special bottle (not sponsored!), and I left it at the hotel. There was a guy selling tiny bottles for $10, but I decided to wing it (spoiler: I survived without it).

Mayan Astrology and a Lucky Break

Our guide, Alfredo, gave a fascinating overview of the area’s history and culture on the bus ride. Then he started talking about Mayan astrology. I had read that these tours sometimes offer astrology readings (you can buy your Mayan astrology report for $20), so I planned to skip it, but my boyfriend was curious and decided to do it.

While he filled out his information, I pulled out our portable Wi-Fi (also not sponsored, this portable wifi has saved me on so many trips) and looked up free Mayan astrology readings online. I read both mine and my boyfriend’s signs and even checked if we were compatible (we passed the test).

At our first stop, a Mayan village, I saw a woman from our tour group who had bought the overpriced bug spray. I casually asked if I could borrow some, and she was nice about it and let me borrow it, but suggested I buy my own. Whoops… but at least I was safe from Chichen Itza mosquitoes (which surprisingly, I didn’t see any!) 

Chichén Itzá – Hot, Crowded, but Worth It

As soon as we got off the bus, vendors started trying to sell hats. Our guides, Norma and Alfredo, handed us our tickets and led us inside. There was no line, and they got us in quickly.

Norma gave the English tour and did a great job keeping us in the shade while explaining the history of the ruins. It was hot, but the ruins were incredible to see in person. Vendors were everywhere, calling out things like “almost free” and using jaguar whistles to grab attention.

My boyfriend, having been to Egypt, assured me that this was nothing compared to the vendors there. Honestly, I didn’t mind it – I was too in awe of the history and architecture.

We had an hour of free time after the tour, so we shopped a little (you have to bargain in Mexico!). Alfredo had shown us this obsidian glass that lets you look at the sun, and my boyfriend bargained for one.

I tried to get a bracelet for $10, but the vendor originally wanted $20, and I wasn’t confident enough with my bargaining…luckily my boyfriend stepped in and we got two bracelets for $20 instead.

Cenote Swim & Mayan Buffet

Next, we visited Cenote Chichikan, and it was absolutely breathtaking. The water was refreshingly cool, and there was even a small waterfall you could stand under. We rented life jackets (mandatory for a swim in the Cenote) and lockers.

We left our phones in the lockers to enjoy the moment, so we didn’t get any *aesthetic* videos and photos, but it was nice to be present and enjoy the moment.

The Mayan buffet afterward was even better than I expected. The lime soup was amazing, and the taco stand was my favorite (I’m talking best tacos I’ve ever had.) Highly recommend a visit to this cenote if you’re in Cancun!

Tequila Tasting & Valladolid Stop

On the way back, we stopped in Valladolid, a charming colonial town, for a quick tequila tasting. I wish we had more time in Valladolid on the tour – we only had 20 minutes, with 10 of those minutes taken up by the tequila tasting. I wanted to buy a bottle to take home, but my boyfriend pointed out that $40 for a tiny bottle was a rip-off. Good call.

Back at the hotel by 6:30 PM, we were exhausted. We spent the evening snacking, watching more Mexican TV, and feeling so satisfied with our tour experience—all for $80 per person, including entrance fees, lunch, and free tequila samples! Based on our experience, I can confidently advertise this tour as the best Chichen Itza tour from Cancun.

We also calculated our total expenses for the tour: tickets on Viator were around $38/person, plus the lifejacket/locker rentals and Chichen Itza tickets made the tour around $80 per person, and it was so worth it.

The tour covered everything – entrance fees, transportation, food, and even free tequila samples. And we didn’t have to worry about parking, what to do, etc. – we could just relax and soak up some local history. Totally worth it!! 

Day 3: Ruins, Iguanas, and Luxury at Hilton Mar Caribe

After checking out of Hotel Luma at 12pm, we Ubered to the Museo Maya de Cancún y Zona Arqueológica de San Miguelito (Mayan Museum and Archaeological Site) near the Hilton Mar Caribe. Pro tip: Buy your tickets to the museum and archaeological site at the museum ($5/person).

The ruins were so beautiful and peaceful, with hardly any tourists. I finally remembered to bring bug spray, but even after applying it, I still got bitten. 

There were iguanas everywhere, bathing in the sun! Be careful as you walk along the paths.

The Most Insane Hotel Experience

After exploring, we did a quick 5-minute walk to the Hilton Mar Caribe. This hotel was so good it deserved its own blog post. We got an amazing deal through a Hilton Friends & Family rate and upgraded to Enclave for an extra $12 (our total for 2 nights at the all inclusive ended up being $666 for the two of us, which is a great deal given how pampered we were).

If you don’t know someone who works at Hilton, you can also get a great deal for the Mar Caribe on Booking.com – they price match, so you know you’re getting the best deal, plus they have flexible booking options and 24/7 customer support! 

From the moment we arrived, the service was unreal. They welcomed us with refreshing towels and guided us to an exclusive check-in area. We relaxed in a private lounge with complimentary meats, cheeses, fruits, pastries, and piña coladas (yes, all included!!).

When we got to our ocean-view suite, I almost cried. It was huge – more like an apartment than a hotel room. They even left us a bag of free sunscreen, after-sun care, and mosquito repellent (which was a bit ironic after my bug spray struggles).

Hydrotherapy & Beach Time

Our Hilton Enclave access included a hydrotherapy session, which started with a eucalyptus sauna, cold plunge, and a series of jacuzzis. There was hardly anyone there, and it was so dreamy, like a private spa experience.

Later, we hit the private beach cabanas reserved for Enclave guests. Staff kept an eye on our things while we swam. The water was crystal clear, not too deep, and the waves were easy to float in.

Dinner at the Hotel’s Asian Restaurant

For dinner, we went to the hotel’s Asian restaurant, Noriki. It turned out to be a hibachi show, which was fun, but the food itself was pretty average. I’m a bit spoiled from the amazing Asian food in Northern Virginia, and the food wasn’t as mind-blowing compared to the meals I’ve had before, but it wasn’t terrible either! It was pretty good, and we were very full after. 

Casino Night

We wanted to get the most out of our all-inclusive stay, and that night’s entertainment was a casino night – which was a hilarious coincidence, considering our annual trips to Las Vegas. The staff set up different casino games like blackjack, poker, and roulette, and handed out fake money for us to gamble with.

My boyfriend and I went straight to the poker table since it was the only game we actually knew how to play. The funniest part was that even though there was no real money involved (the most you could win was a free beach bag), everyone took it so seriously. 

People were analyzing their hands, making crazy bets, and acting like they had real stakes in the game. It made the whole experience much more entertaining. We played a few rounds, sipped on piña coladas, and had a great time before calling it a night.

Day 4: Making the Most of the Mar Caribe

I’ve always wanted to have room service in a luxury resort. My vision board is basically filled with images of women in bathrobes eating croissants and fresh fruit on hotel balconies. This was my moment to make this dream come true.

The night before, I scheduled room service for 10 AM, but our food arrived a little early at 9:50 AM. No complaints.

I finally lived my “successful woman having breakfast in a beautiful hotel” dream! I ordered an egg white omelet with spinach, which, of course, came with a side of guacamole. My boyfriend got a smoked salmon bagel, a Mexican egg-and-tortilla dish, and a fresh fruit platter. Everything looked amazing, and honestly, I was just soaking in the moment and enjoying our ocean view.

Beach, Sunburns, and People-Watching

We hit the beach at 11 AM. I didn’t sunbathe, but we both still got sunburned. I had packed my favorite organic SPF 50 sunscreen (again, not sponsored – this is a product I swear by), but I only used it on my face, thinking I’d use the complimentary sunscreen from the hotel instead.

That turned out to be a mistake. After a few hours in the sun, we looked like boiled lobsters. I rarely burn, so I was shocked. Maybe I should have used my own sunscreen after all…

After lounging with daiquiris and piña coladas, we decided to check out the Enclave section’s private pools at Chala Sky Bar. The pools were nice, but I honestly had more fun people-watching. From where we were, we could see another pool below, and it was entertaining to just sit back and watch people swimming below.

By mid-afternoon, we were exhausted from the sun, so we went back to the room. Our balcony view was incredible, and we watched some TV. Unlike our previous hotel, this one actually had more English channels than Spanish ones.

Final Dinner at Flame Steakhouse

For our last dinner, we had reservations at Flame, the resort’s steakhouse. The food did not disappoint.

I ordered a ribeye with mushrooms and corn ribs, and my boyfriend got the filet mignon with truffle fries and asparagus. The steak was perfectly cooked and so tender. We each had our own lava cake for dessert because, well, it was all included. Personally, I liked this restaurant more than the Asian restaurant! 

After dinner, we checked out the club entertainment at Chala Sky Bar, which ran from 10 to 10:30 PM. It wasn’t much of a party scene. Most of the adults stood off to the side while the kids took over the dance floor.

It was cute to watch, but if you’re looking for a more nightlife-focused all-inclusive, the Hilton Mar Caribe isn’t it. It’s definitely more on the family-friendly side, which I didn’t mind since we were just looking to relax, but if you’re looking for some fun parties in Cancun, I’d go with a different hotel. 

Final Morning & Wrap-Up

The next morning, we woke up early to enjoy one last breakfast buffet before heading to the airport for our 12:30 PM flight.

I had read mixed reviews about the food at Hilton Mar Caribe, but honestly, I thought it was really good. There was a huge ceviche and seafood bar, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, classic Mexican dishes, and even pizza, fries, wings, and desserts. There was something for everyone, and I never felt like we were stuck with boring resort food.

Final Thoughts

This trip was exactly what I hoped for, and more. The first few days were all about exploring, culture, and history, while the last two were focused on luxury and relaxation. It felt like the perfect balance.

If you’re planning a trip to Cancun and want to do more than just lounge on the beach, I highly recommend booking a tour like the Viator Chichén Itzá tour we did. It was the highlight of the trip, and the whole experience felt safe and well-organized. Since we prioritized Chichén Itzá, we didn’t have time to visit Tulum, but there are plenty of tours that combine both if you want to explore more ruins.

I can’t wait for our next trip to Mexico. Muchas gracias, Mexico!