The Complete Guide to Cancun For Budget Travelers

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought there was no better country to focus on than Mexico! Last year, I spent 4 days in Cancun, Mexico for under $500, and you can too! It was one of the best long weekend getaways ever, and I highly recommend this beautiful location! Continue reading for the complete guide to Cancun for Budget Travelers.

Where to Stay in Cancun for Budget Travelers

One of the most expensive parts of visiting Cancun is staying at a fancy, all-inclusive resort. Luckily, this can be avoided! Many people worry that Mexico is unsafe if you leave the resorts. However, I felt completely safe walking around Cancun’s Hotel Zone and staying in a hostel. There is a lively backpacking culture in Cancun and plenty of hostels to choose from. Many of these hostels are located in the Hotel Zone, which is considered the safest part of Cancun!

When staying in a hostel in the Hotel Zone, you can experience the stunning beaches and delicious food without paying premium resort prices! I also find that hostels typically allow for a more local and social experience. I always enjoy walking around the touristy areas, but we tried more local food and were able to meet many other backpackers throughout our 3-night stay!

My hostel of choice was Mayan Monkey Cancun, which continues to be one of my favorite hostels to this day! It was a gorgeous hostel located on the Nichupte Lagoon. There was an open-air bar with amazing drink specials and social activities to participate in. Event better, it was within walking distance to the beach!

The beach across from Mayan Monkey Cancun

I stayed in a mixed dorm room with 3 friends. There were two ensuite bathrooms, privacy curtains, and lockers in the room. We even had a view of the lagoon! It did get a little hot in our room, but that is to be expected when you are in a hostel in Mexico. The prices may fluctuate, but I spent around $30 per night when I was there.

Best Activities When Visiting Cancun on a Budget

Luckily, Cancun has one of the best free activities ever, the beach! You can spend days hanging out on the white sand beaches by the sparkling blue water. However, if you have a little extra budget for activities, there are a ton of great things to do in Cancun!

My favorite activity had to be Chichen Itza. Visiting a world wonder is always breathtaking! I took an amazing tour with GetYourGuide where we visited Chichen Itza and swam in a cenote all on one tour! You can find my exact tour HERE. This is more on the pricey side, but I like to prioritize unique excursions when I travel! It was approximately $60 for the tour and $40 for the entry fee into Chichen Itza. I loved this experience, and I couldn’t recommend it more!

Another spontaneous activity that we decided to do was visit Isla Mujeres. A round-trip ticket cost around 30 USD, and we purchased it the same day. The island is so fun and there are so many cute restaurants and shops! There is another gorgeous beach here, which seemed a little more secluded than the main beach in Cancun.

Where to Eat in Cancun for Budget Travelers

There is no shortage of amazing food in Cancun! Out of all the options, there was one restaurant that we kept coming back to on our trip. It is called Los Chachalacos, and it is one of my favorite restaurants in the world! There are many locations in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, including one directly next to the Mayan Monkey hostel. This is a perfect restaurant in Cancun for budget travelers.

Another restaurant that we frequented was Surfin’ Burrito, located across the street from Mayan Monkey. At both of these restaurants, you could have a great meal for around 10-15 USD. I wouldn’t call this cheap compared to other countries, however, compared to the Cancun resorts and tourist restaurants, this is a steal and tastes much better too!

How to Find Cheap Flights to Cancun

Occasionally, you can find amazing flight deals to Cancun through budget airlines such as Frontier. I took a direct flight to Cancun for $175 round trip! The only way I was able to score such a great deal was by being flexible with my travel dates. I didn’t have a date or destination in mind, I just consistently looked at Google Flights until I found this amazing deal. I let the trip decide for itself!

For more information on using Google Flights to your advantage, check out my article, “How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets in 2023.” Don’t worry, my method hasn’t changed since then!

Other Expenses to Keep in Mind

At the end of the day, flights, accommodation, activities, and food are going to be your most expensive categories. However, make sure you are budgeting for other small expenses that may come up during your trip. For example, transportation to and from the airport, visa charges (depending on which country you are coming from), souvenirs, etc. I always recommend planning for these expenses, but an extra $100 in your budget for flexibility is always helpful. It’s important to be prepared for any situation when traveling!

Key Points

Choose a hostel in Cancun’s Hotel Zone for a safe and affordable experience!
You can prioritize free activities, such as going to the beach, or splurge on exciting excursions such as visiting Chichen Itza or Isla Mujeres.
Visit Las Chachalacos and Surfin’ Burrito for more affordable alternatives to the tourist restaurants.
Give yourself as much flexibility as possible when choosing dates for your trip.
Don’t forget to account for additional charges such as transportation to and from the airport, souvenirs, etc. when planning your budget.

Maddie Around the World