9 of the Best Museums and Galleries in Cancun and How To Visit

Cancun’s history museum scene is centered in one key spot: the Maya Museum of Cancun. The museum houses one of the most important collections of Maya artifacts, including pieces from ancient ruins, such as Chichén Itzá and the Palenque Archaeological Zone. From Maya calendars to ceremonial and domestic objects, you’ll learn about how the Maya civilization lived, worked, and celebrated.

Don’t miss: Visiting the neighboring San Miguelito archeological ruins, included in your museum entrance ticket.

Exploring Cancun art museums may not be what you expect. The city’s most famous art museum comes with one unique caveat: It’s underwater! The Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) features more than 500 sculptures a few dozen feet below sea level at various sites. See them while snorkeling or diving, or opt for a glass-bottom boat tour, which allows you to view some of the art without going underwater.

Don’t miss: Check out El Entendimiento by Cuban artist Elier Amado Gil, a statue featuring six people sitting around a table that represents daily, multicultural life in Cancun.

One of the best museums in Cancun is the Mexican Folk Art Museum, located within the Xcaret eco-archaeological park. Spend the afternoon wandering the museum, which is set in a charming 19th-century hacienda, to explore Indigenous art from different regions of Mexico. Check out the colonial Mexican kitchen, home to Talavera ceramics, crucifixes, and masks. Then continue your adventure outdoors with ziplining, kayaking, swimming, and hiking opportunities, and stay at Xcaret for its cultural night show.

Don’t miss: The museum’s Day of the Dead figurine collection.

You’ll have to reserve ahead to experience this Cancun cultural attraction, but seeing vehicles up to 90 years old makes it worth it. The Old Car Museum of Southeastern Mexico features room upon room of classic cars, including ones from Ford and Mercedes Benz. There’s even a car decorated as Rayo McQueen for fans of the movie Cars.

Don’t miss: The section with photos and history of the famed Carrera Panamericana Road Race.

The closest thing to a Cancun science museum, the Ka'Yok' Planetarium is perfect for families and people of all ages. The space has something for everyone: a planet room, a biodiversity wall that features photos and information about the region’s unique flora and fauna, an immersive dome to admire the constellations, and an observatory.

Don’t miss: Special evening programs at the observatory, where you can view the Riviera Maya’s night sky from two different MEADE telescopes.

This underrated museum is tucked away behind Cancun’s Sky Wheel in a recently renovated space that features modern art from icons like Salvador Dalí. Much of the art showcases colors and shapes that represent the Yucatan Peninsula, such as the colorful splattered paintings of Gabriel Ramirez Aznar and the mythical sea creature paintings from Damian Lescas. And if you don’t want to spend a lot on Cancun museum tickets, the museum fee is simply a voluntary donation in the amount of your choice.

Don’t miss: The metal and textile sculptures by Mexican artist Melva Medina.

Take a day trip south along the coast to reach Playa de Carmen, another beach hub home to some cultural gems, such as the Frida Kahlo Museum (not to be confused with the museum in Mexico City). Explore the audiovisual exhibits, which include things like clothing, personal objects, and furniture that belonged to the artist and offer insight into her life and career.

Don’t miss: Stopping for lunch or snacks at the museum’s restaurant, which has menu items inspired by Frida’s life and artwork.

A Playa del Carmen cultural spot perfect for foodies, the Choco-Story Museum focuses on the history and importance of chocolate, one of the most significant edible items in Maya culture. Through seven rooms of interactive exhibits and information, you’ll begin to understand that chocolate wasn’t just a sweet treat for the Maya; it was a ceremonial and sacred substance with a spiritual purpose. Indigenous people would mix it with chile and water, drinking it to connect with the divine.

Don’t miss: Tasting Mexican chocolate at the end of your museum visit.

The Gastón Charó Art Gallery in Playa del Carmen was founded by artist Gastón Charó and features artwork from more than 40 diverse artists. In addition to paintings and sculptures, the gallery also offers jewelry, photographs, and more. Admire the vibrant, bright paintings by J. Vasta and modern acrylics by Chilean painter Vic, and make sure to stop and enjoy the artwork located outdoors at the gallery entrance.

Don’t miss: The cubist and surrealist rock paintings from the gallery owner, Gastón Charó.