9 of the Best Views in Cancun and Where To Find Them

Dolphin Beach (Playa Delfines) is one of the most photographed sites in Cancun and tourists typically descend onto this scenic lookout—near the Cancun Hotel Zone (Avenida Kukulkan)—for their first views of the shoreline and the Mexican Caribbean. Basically, it’s a traditional spot to say hola and adios to Cancun, so ask your driver to make a special stop.

When you're there, expect views of miles of white-sand beach, colorful umbrellas dotting the shore, and the blue, blue sea—as you might imagine then, stepping onto the white wooden lookout at Playa Delfines is, for some, the be all and end all of Cancun views.

Parasail up, up, and away to the highest highs for panoramic views of Cancun that will leave you exhilarated. Buckle into your harness and feel the ocean breeze on your skin as you soar over the Caribbean Sea, securely harnessed to a boat down below.

If you've never parasailed before, keep in mind that the most surprising part of a Cancun parasailing experience may be the peace and quiet, and, of course, those stellar panoramas of the Cancun city views and sweeping ocean beneath you.

Climb aboard one of 35 deluxe cabins on the Sky Wheel Cancun and enjoy a slow ride to the peak of the Ferris wheel, which at 229-feet-high (70-meters-high) offers some of the city's more extraordinary views. It’s one of the top viewpoints in Cancun to see it all, allowing you to capture panoramic photos of everything from the Hotel Zone to downtown Cancun.

The Sky Wheel is located in La Isla Shopping Village, which also makes it a convenient spot to combine the best views in Cancun with a shopping trip to search for the perfect souvenir.

Related: 9 Unique Souvenirs To Bring Home From Mexico

A visit to Cancun without seeing the Maya ruins is like a trip to Egypt without seeing the pyramids, os view the world through the eyes of the ancient Maya civilization as you explore archaeological sites in or around Cancun.

You can easily visit two Maya sites tucked into the Hotel Zone’s modern resorts: the San Miguelito and Ruinas del Rey archaeological zones, where you can get a glimpse of life millennia ago. Alternatively, for fantastic views outside of Cancun, book a day trip to Chichen Itza or Tulum.

A charming island situated across the bay from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is the easternmost point of Mexico and the first to welcome the rays of the morning sun. Naturally, then, it's the ideal place to enjoy sunrise views in Cancun.

Here, you can walk along the cliffs and listen to crashing waves as you gaze at the Cancun skyline in the distance from Punta Sur; admire the small Maya temple honoring the goddess Ixchel, with nothing but the sea as your backdrop; or fly high from the cliffs on the Garrafon Park zipline, then set sail aboard a catamaran for even more views of the Cancun skyline.

Dive into the depths of the deep blue sea off Cancun and you’ll understand why the Mexican Caribbean attracts scuba divers and snorkelers from around the world. Give it a go yourself at the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art (Museo Subacuático de Arte), or MUSA, which is comprised of a series of sculptures on the seafloor that draws an abundance of marine life, such as parrot fish and sea turtles.

Blending art and nature to create one-of-a-kind underwater statues, these pieces act as artificial reefs, bringing important new coral to the ocean floor. Book a private snorkel experience to be transported into a surreal watery world that offers some of the best below-the-surface views in Cancun.

Seeing whale sharks in real life counts as getting a great, front-row view on nature, right? Good, because every year, between the months of May and September, pods of giant whale sharks migrate to the waters around Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and Contoy Island (Isla Contoy). These gentle giants, which can grow up to 40 feet (12 meters) or more in length, are nicknamed “dominoes” by the locals for their dotted skin.

There are very few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks—including Cancun, Los Cabos, and Indonesia—so this experience is worth a special trip to the Mexican Caribbean during the summer season.

If you’re wondering where to watch the sunset, the deck of a Cancun catamaran cruise makes for a luxurious option. Sail past the Hotel Zone and the Isla Mujeres shoreline while the sun sets over the Bay of Mujeres during a sunset cruise with an open bar. Raise a glass to toast the day and soak up the sights from one of the top Cancun viewpoints for an impressive sunset vista.

Cancun offers more than just ocean views. As the sun sets and the moon rises, the sky over the Nichupté Lagoon fills with sparkling stars while the Cancun skyline lights up and reflects off the waves, creating a shimmery mirror image of the neon lights of grand hotels and luxury resorts. Keep an eye out for crocodiles by the dock and dolphins leaping by the bow. Booking a romantic Cancun night cruise for an extra swoon-worthy view is never a bad idea, either.