Ken’s Going Places: Finding relaxation in Cancún

After a heart-pounding paragliding adventure through the mountaintops of Mexico, Ken needs to relax, and where better than Cancún? The Yucatán hotspot has grown from a tiny fishing village into one of the Caribbean’s most dazzling beach destinations, with head-turning all-inclusive hotels and high-energy nightlife.

But beyond the swim-up bars and spring breakers, there’s a much slower, more relaxing side to the city. Wellness these days goes far beyond a nice massage, and hotels are responding to this shift with increasingly sophisticated spas, harnessing both the latest high-tech treatments and Maya healing traditions.

Cancún has surprisingly quiet corners to discover too, from tucked-away ruins to peaceful mangroves. Just offshore, the world’s second-largest barrier reef offers another reason to get out on the water, while nearby islands are an easy escape from the crowds. So, whether soaking in a mud bath like Ken or floating in a cenote, there are plenty of ways to slow down.

Time to unwind

Long before wellness became a travel trend, Maya communities in the Yucatán had their own healing traditions, rooted in a close connection between cosmos, nature, and community. The temazcal, a steamy sweat lodge used for physical and spiritual purification, remains one of the most distinctive rituals.

This stretch of Yucatán coastline has become a holistic hub, from Tulum’s yoga retreats and jungle sound baths to serious, all-the-bells-and-whistles spa hotels. The Aura spa at the Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancún balances ancient wisdom with new-fangled treatments. In the Maya-inspired Kukulkan massage, relaxing movements mirror those of the sacred animals—the jaguar, the snake, and the eagle—while IV therapies boost energy and rehydrate at the cellular level. At family-friendly Moon Palace The Grand Cancún, the action of the fun-filled Water Park is offset by its indulgent O Spa—think about how the Maya believed that cacao was a gift from the gods as you enjoy a divine chocolate body wrap.

Beach Palace has a fantastical underwater-themed kids’ club for younger guests, giving parents a chance to slip away for a citrus-balm massage or diamond energy facial. Teens can book specialised spa treatments, too. At Riu Palace Peninsula, all ages can unwind—whether with a scoop (or two) from the ice cream parlour, tempting even for Malibu-man Ken, or a leisurely stroll along the breezy beach overlooking the ocean.

For families considering a trip beyond Cancun, Riu Flamingos offers another way to unwind: an easygoing, all-ages escape where shared beach time and laid-back resort days can be the reset. It’s on a different stretch of Mexico’s coast, but its family-friendly spirit connects naturally to Cancun’s mix of relaxation and fun.

Just north of Cancun’s main Hotel Zone, along the peaceful Costa Mujeres, the recently opened Ocean Allure Costa Mujeres is an adults-only retreat where relaxation isn’t confined to the Despacio Spa Centre, but is also found at the gentle lazy river, swinging hammocks, and swim-up bar.

Beach bliss

If, like Ken, you love time at the beach, then Cancún has you covered. Some of the best stretches of soft white sand can be found right along the Hotel Zone, which runs across a narrow spit of land between the Nichupté Lagoon and the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Playa Delfines (or Dolphin Beach) is popular with both locals and visiting sun-seekers who flock here to laze under thatched palapas and snap pictures with the colorful Cancún sign. It’s not all sun, sea, and sand, as Cancún’s most important archaeological site, El Rey, is just across the street. It was once a Maya settlement, but now the only inhabitants are iguanas. For even more impressive ruins, take a day trip to the major ancient city of Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Families will also love the sheltered bay of Playa Langosta on the north shore of the Hotel Zone with its shallow sea, waterfront restaurants and a playground.

From Cancún, the laid-back island of Isla Mujeres is a short ferry ride away. Here visitors get around by golf cart, cruising from the clear, calm waters of Playa Norte to the dramatic coastal cliffs of Punta Sur on the island’s rugged southern tip. Perhaps Isla Mujeres’s most unexpected attraction is MUSA, the Underwater Museum of Art, where about 500 sculptures dot the seabed just offshore, each slowly being reclaimed by coral. You can explore the gallery snorkeling alongside turtles or on a scuba diving tour.

Take to the water

There are plenty more opportunities to dive in around Cancún. The Yucatán is famous for its cenotes, and there are some 6,000 to 10,000 across the peninsula, formed over millions of years as slightly acidic rainwater seeped down into the limestone, slowly dissolving it. Some are networks of underground caves, worlds of dripping stalactites, and swooping bats. At others, the cavern roofs have eventually collapsed, leaving vivid blue-green water open to the sky and surrounded by jungle. To some ancient Maya communities, certain cenotes were sacred, home to the rain god Chaak, or portals to the underworld Xibalba.

Today, there are various tours that visit these cavernous swimming spots along the Ruta de los Cenotes, many with ziplines, rope swings, and jumping platforms. There are also kayaks and snorkel gear to rent, as well as life jackets to make a cenote dip safe for kids. You can also take part in Maya purification ceremonies at the likes of Cenote Chaak Tun, or wait for the sun to stream through onto the stone platform at photogenic Cenote Suytún.

Get back to nature

Coral reefs and cenotes aren’t the only natural wonders on the Yucatán. Along the north coast of the peninsula, about a three-hour drive from Cancún, the Barbie-pink lagoons of Las Coloradas look like something you might see in the gardens of the Dreamhouse. While the salt evaporation ponds are man-made, the color is completely natural, caused by red algae, plankton, and tiny brine shrimp that thrive in the water. It’s a tasty combination that attracts flocks of flamingos, and this colorful diet turns the birds’ naturally white feathers pink. The pools border the mangroves of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, and Aventuremos Río Lagartos leads tours that explore both and finish with a natural mud bath using the mineral-rich white clay from the lagoon.

Flamingos aren’t the only birds to look out for in these parts. On a birding trip from Cancún, you can head deep into the jungle to listen for the distinctive clucking call of the black-headed trogon or spot turquoise-browed motmot or the tiny ferruginous pygmy-owl. A kayaking adventure on the Nichupté Lagoon shows a surprisingly peaceful side to Cancún’s resort-lined shore. Paddling through the mangroves, you might see rays and herons—a moment of calm as the sun rises or sets over the city.

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Whether you are looking for adventure or relaxation, Expedia is The One Place You Go to Go Places. Be more like Ken and book flights, hotels, experiences, and more for your next Mexico trip at expedia.com and earn OneKeyCash every step of the journey.