Best Cancun Tourist Cards
Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass offer perfect alternatives to tour this Mexican paradise while saving time and money. I'll tell you how these passes work and what features each one has.
Afternoon in Cancun | ©OIF2BOY
If you are one of those who, when you visit a destination, want to know it in depth, then you will be interested to know that in Cancun, where you will find a great number of attractions, you will be able to hire two tourist cards that will be ideal for you. Two options that will allow you to save time with priority tickets and also money with the discounts they offer.
Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, each with its own conditions, offer good alternatives to discover the best activities in Cancun and its surroundings, as they also include Chichen Itza and other attractions of the Mayan Trail in Quintana Roo. Whether you are planning a short stay or a longer one, you will find options for all travel plans.
Cancun Explorer Pass
A tourist pass that will give you access to a list of over 40 attractions in Cancun and its surroundings
You can get to know the city with passes to visit 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 of the most emblematic tourist attractions of this destination, depending on the option you choose.
The Cancun Explorer Pass will give you the opportunity to choose passes to visit 3, 4, 5, 5, 7 or 10 of the city's most famous tourist attractions from a list of more than 40 available alternatives. You can use it for a period of 60 consecutive calendar days from activation and together with the digital tourist card you will have a travel guide that will allow you to organise the tour in an efficient way.
All you have to do is choose the option that best suits your itinerary and the travel days you have scheduled and start enjoying the theme parks, Mayan attractions, snorkelling activities and sunset cruises in the Gulf of Mexico. Please note, however, that you will only be able to access each activity once.
Recommended if... you're planning a short stay in the city and want to make the most of your tour with an organised circuit that saves you money.
Cancun All-Inclusive Pass
A tourist card that will put at your disposal more than 30 attractions of Cancun in tours of 1 to 7 days.
You can enjoy each and every one of the activities available during the validity of the pass, which is activated from the first use and includes premium attractions in contracts of 3 days or more.
The Cancun All Inclusive Pass will give you access to more than 30 attractions in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 day options that will start running on consecutive days from activation. During this period, you will be able to participate in the activities included in the list, but not only that, you will also have access to discounts of up to 50% on other activities and priority entry to the available sites.
Also, if you choose to book the 3 or more days alternatives you can also enjoy the premium activities, which include tickets to Xel-Ha and Xcaret parks and an organised excursion to Chichen Itza, among other attractions in Cancun and its surroundings.
Recommended if... you want to make an intense tour of the main attractions of the city and, above all, if you want to save money on premium activities in Cancun.
How much does each Cancun Sightseeing Pass cost?
The price of each of the tourist passes depends on the options chosen in each case, as the Cancun Explorer Pass has different rates depending on whether you choose the 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 activities alternatives. On the other hand, the Cancun All Inclusive Pass varies its price according to the number of days of validity of the tourist card, which can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive days.
Price of the Cancun Explorer Pass
The Cancun Explorer Pass has an initial cost of approximately 119 euros per person for the 3 activity alternatives. However, costs change according to the number of attractions you plan to visit:
- Cancun Explorer Pass price of 3 activities for adults... from 119 euros.
- Cancun Explorer Pass price for 4 activities for adults... from 151 euros.
- Cancun Explorer Pass price for 5 activities for adults... from 184 euros.
- Cancun Explorer Pass with 7 activities for adults... from 239 euros.
- Cancun Explorer Pass for 10 activities for adults... from 332 euros.
Please note that children between 5 and 12 years old can get a reduced rate in each case, the price for children is 99 euros for 3 activities, 114 euros for 4 activities, 139 euros for activities, 169 euros for 7 activities and 179 euros for 10 activities.
Also, keep in mind that these passes also include discounts on other attractions not included in the list, making it one of the most outstanding alternatives to enjoy the best activities in Cancun and, at the same time, save money.
Cancun All Inclusive Pass Cancun Explorer Pass Price
The Cancun All Inclusive Pass rate has an initial cost of approximately 92 euros per person for the 1 day alternative, although this price changes depending on the option chosen:
- Cancun All Inclusive Pass 1-day adult price... starting at 92 euros.
- Cancun All Inclusive Pass price for 2 days for adults... from 161 euros.
- Cancun All Inclusive Pass for 3 days for adults... from 212 euros.
- Cancun All Inclusive Pass 4 days for adults... from 276 euros.
- Cancun All Inclusive Pass for 5 days for adults... from 318 euros.
- 7-day Cancun All Inclusive Pass for adults... from 387 euros.
Children pay a reduced rate of 59 euros for the 1-day pass, 119 euros for the 2-day pass, 147 euros for the 3-day pass, 184 euros for the 4-day pass, 202 euros for the 5-day pass and 249 euros for the 7-day pass.
Remember that the Cancun All Inclusive Pass also includes discounts of up to 50% on a long list of attractions listed on the tourist card and offers priority entrance without queuing for each of the activities, so with this alternative you can save time and money during your tour.
How do the Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass work?
Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass are activated from the moment of first use. The substantial difference between the two is that in the Cancun All Inclusive Pass the time will begin to elapse in calendar days from activation, while in the Cancun Explorer Pass you can use up the number of activities available within 60 consecutive calendar days from the time you visit the first attraction.
In both cases you will be able to participate in each of the available activities only once and you will also have the digital pass and a guide that will provide you with information about each site and each attraction included in the list. Besides, with both tourist cards you will be able to access discounts in different activities and services in the city and you will have priority access without queues.
In the case of the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, if you contract the 3 days or more alternatives, you will also be able to access the premium activities, which include tickets for the Xel-Ha theme park, excursions to Chichen Itza, tickets for the Xcaret park and other activities in Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.
- I recommend that... in the case of the Cancun All Inclusive Pass you activate early so that you can enjoy your tourist pass for longer.
- Remember that... the total time limit to use the number of attractions you bought in the Cancun Explorer Pass is 60 consecutive days from the first use.
What does the Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass include?
The list of activities and attractions included in both tourist passes is very extensive and in both cases the list of options will be enough to get to know the best of this destination, especially if you plan to visit Cancun in June or during the summer months, which is one of the best times to visit the city.
Keep in mind that if your intention is to visit a specific list of attractions and those activities coincide with the ones included in the list of the Cancun Explorer Pass, you will be better off choosing this tourist card because it will allow you to organise your travel plan and, at the same time, save time and money in the predetermined circuit.
However, if you are one of those who prefer an intense tour of as many attractions and activities as possible, then in that case I suggest you opt for the Cancun All Inclusive Pass, since it is an unlimited tourist card that will give you the right to visit as many sites as you wish during the validity of the pass.
Top Attractions and Excursions included in the Cancun Explorer Pass
The Cancun Explorer Pass offers a list of over 40 activities and attractions including some of the city's most outstanding sites and several of Cancun's best tours, including the following:
- Guided tour of Chichen Itza with transportation included
- Dolphin encounter at Isla Mujeres
- Tickets for the Sky Wheel Cancun
- Romantic dinner cruise in the Gulf of Mexico
- Tickets for the Interactive Aquarium in Cancun
- Excursion with snorkelling experience in Cozumel
- Excursion to the Tulum Ruins with hotel pick up and drop off
- Excursion to the Mayan archaeological ruins of Coba
- Tickets to Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum
- Shopping tour in Cancun
Main attractions and excursions included in the Cancun All Inclusive Pass
The Cancun All Inclusive Pass, on the other hand, offers many of the same activities as the Cancun Explorer Pass, but without a limit on the number of visits, but with a set number of days. Some of the best alternatives of this tourist card are:
- Parasailing Adventure Tour in Cancun
- Boat trip through the mangrove swamps
- Entrance fees to Royal Garrafon Reefs Natural Park
- Tickets for the Ventura Park water park
- Catamaran cruise in the Gulf of Mexico at sunset
- Jet ski rental
- Glass bottom boat excursion on Paraíso Nizuc
- Aquarium Trek tickets
- Gulf of Mexico speedboat ride
- Wrestling, Tacos and Beer Tour in Cancun
Comparison between Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass: Which is more convenient for your trip?
While both tourist passes offer similar attractions and activities, each is designed for different tourists with different travel plans. In general, the Cancun Explorer Pass will be useful for a visitor who has already planned a specific circuit and knows in advance which attractions he/she wants to discover in the city.
On the other hand, the Cancun All Inclusive Pass will be of great help for those travellers who want to visit as many attractions as possible in the shortest time possible, which will necessarily require an intense and organised tour. This tourist pass, then, will be the main ally of those who have planned a short stay of 3 days in Cancun or even less time, even though there are passes valid for up to 7 days.
When is it convenient to buy the Cancun Explorer Pass?
If you are planning an itinerary around the main sites of the city and you want to optimise your budget, at the same time that you want to save time in the access to each activity and you want to have an organised circuit, you can opt for the Cancun Explorer Pass, which will allow you to enjoy 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 of the most popular attractions.
From participating in snorkelling experiences in Cancun to touring the Mayan citadel of Chichen Itza or the Tulum Ruins, there are many alternatives that you will find in the list of this tourist pass, which you can use for a total period of 60 days from the moment of the first use.
This pass will also allow you to save on attractions that are not on the list but are very popular in the city and you can also get priority access to each of the activities you choose to visit, so it will also be a convenient option if you have planned a short stay in the Riviera Maya, because you will be able to optimise your time.
When is it convenient to buy the Cancun All Inclusive Pass?
The Cancun All Inclusive Pass will be ideal if you want to have a wide variety of options to enjoy the best activities in Cancun in the shortest time possible. Therefore, this tourist card is designed for those tourists who intend to make an intense and frenetic tour around the city, although they will not be able to do without organisation to make the most of this resource.
On the other hand, the Cancun All Inclusive Pass will also give you access to premium attractions when booked in options of 3 or more days. This will be good news for your wallet, as you'll get free access to Xel-Ha theme park tickets, Xcaret tickets and guided excursions with round-trip hotel pick-up and drop-off to Chichen Itza.
When shouldn't you buy these tourist passes?
Both passes are focused on the best activities and attractions in Cancun and, unlike other city passes, they do not offer city transfers, so if you want a relaxed experience on some of the best beaches in Cancun without moving around too much, these alternatives won't be useful for you.
Likewise, the rates of these passes are not cheap, but because they are focused on offering a wide variety of proposals for those tourists who want to enjoy the attractions of Cancun, which is, in itself, an expensive city, so in that sense, these tourist cards do fulfil their purpose favouring savings. That's why if you're not willing to do a lot of sightseeing or you don't want to visit several sites, you won't want to buy these passes during your trip.
Tips on how to get the most out of your Cancun Explorer Pass and Cancun All Inclusive Pass
Both the Cancun Explorer Pass and the Cancun All Inclusive Pass offer in their listings several of the best experiences in the city, as well as a digital guide that will help you find your way around and get the most out of your trip through the benefits of these tourist cards. However, you must first analyse your travel plan and choose the alternative that best suits your interests.
That is why I advise you to think before your trip whether you want to opt for a predetermined route or whether you prefer a frenetic circuit with as many activities as possible. Clearing up this doubt will allow you to choose the one that will be the best alternative for you and will also help you to put together an itinerary, which will be absolutely necessary in order not to succumb to the multitude of activities on offer in this destination.
Finally, bear in mind that many of the activities on these passes require prior booking, which will be indicated in the digital guide next to the list of attractions. Some services, such as the Isla Mujeres tour or the romantic dinner cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, require you to set the date in advance to secure your place in the experience.