10 Things to Do in Cancun in November

Cancun is a Mexican city located in the Yucatan Peninsula and is annually visited by Mexicans and foreigners who want to admire the beautiful turquoise waters and also learn a little about the ancient civilisations that inhabited the area.

If you are planning to visit Cancun in November, you can enjoy activities, attractions and festivals that will make you live the Mexican culture to the fullest and experience each of its traditions, such as the Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition that is lived with great joy and colour every year.

Here I tell you in detail each of the activities that you can do during your visit to Cancun in November. In addition, I'll tell you some recommendations that will be useful for your visit to the city. Let's get started!

In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated every year in November, which is a pre-Hispanic tradition to remember loved ones who are no longer present.

This day is full of colours and aromas as it is a tradition to set up an altar of the dead dedicated to someone. This altar has different elements such as marigold flowers, papel picado, candles, incense, food, photographs, personal objects, among other decorations that make the altar of the dead a true space to remember and at the same time, celebrate life.

To commemorate this important date for Mexicans, Cancun's hotels set up their altars of the dead and some even have their own festivals and ceremonies. For example, Xcaret annually celebrates the Festival of Traditions of Life and Death, which includes artistic presentations of theatre, dance, music, among others, with the objective of preserving this beautiful Mexican tradition and to let the world know a little of the culture that is lived on those days.

But if you want to experience a completely different celebration, I recommend you visit the community of Tres Reyes, where on November 2nd an ancestral cult is celebrated, which creates a link between the living and the dead. You can also enjoy the typical dishes of this community.

It will be a wonderful experience that will take you back to the past! Remember to book in advance to be able to participate in this unique event in the year, it will be a day like no other and you will be able to get to know this beautiful Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead.

Are you a sports fan? Get ready to compete in one of the most important sporting events in Mexico that takes place every year in November, the Xel-Ha Triathlon, where in addition to developing your talent, you can witness the beautiful nature and landscapes of Cancun.

The triathlon has different categories so you can register in the one that best suits your needs. In addition, by participating in this event, you will also be contributing to the care of the environment as the organizers promote some actions such as the use of chemical free sunscreen, less use of printed material, separation of rubbish, among some others that can make a big difference.

A plaza located in Cancun's hotel zone where you can enjoy walking out doors or if you prefer, you can venture into its water canals and take a ride in a gondola. In addition, you can make a day of shopping and visit some of its shops, which include international, national and regional brands, as well as different restaurants that offer a variety of food for everyone.

And if that wasn't enough, you can observe the city from the heights while riding on the Ferris wheel of the square.

Discover this beautiful place in Cancun in November as the weather is very pleasant during this month and you can enjoy a fun time in La Isla shopping village.

Thanksgiving is an American holiday that is celebrated with the purpose of giving thanks for the year and is usually celebrated with a family dinner, where the main dish is turkey. And if you are one of those people who celebrate this day, you can do it during your stay in Cancun!

In the city, you can find different hotels that organise dinners to celebrate Thanksgiving in a different and original way, combining Mexican and American traditions. You will enjoy the traditional turkey and a delicious pumpkin pie, along with some tacos and ceviche.

Besides, the weather in Cancun in November is very nice since the hurricane season is over and what better time to take a holiday in Cancun to welcome the beginning of the countdown to Christmas.

If you are planning a holiday in November, Cancun is an ideal place to travel and you can also enjoy a Thanksgiving Day like at home. Don't miss it! As a recommendation, look for some hotel options where they organise dinners to celebrate this special day.

If you are visiting Cancun in November, you will have the opportunity to experience the patronal feast of Christ the King, which is lived with great devotion and joy every year by the inhabitants of the city.

The patronal feast is celebrated for nine days in the Church of Christ the King, located in front of the Palapa Park. Activities during the festival include religious activities, Mexican food sales, a fair and a Mexican folklore festival.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience an authentic Mexican patron saint festival, with activities both inside and outside the church.

If you are a fan of music, especially jazz, you will love this festival, which consists of three days of music with the participation of different artists and personalities from the world of jazz. In addition, the festival includes an extra night where you can attend additional concerts and enjoy Mexican food and drinks.

The festival is held annually in November at the Moon Palace Hotel, where you can also have fun on the beach, in the swimming pools or on the golf course. By staying at the hotel where the festival will take place, you won't have to worry about transfers or schedules, you will be able to enjoy everything in one place.

If you are planning to visit Cancun in November and attend the festival, I recommend you to inform yourself in advance of the packages and promotions offered by the hotel to enjoy the event to the fullest.

This park located in the centre of the city has a great variety of attractions for all tastes and ages. The little ones will be able to enjoy a playground, where they can run and play freely. On the other hand, adults will be able to visit some of the exhibitions that are located in the square, as the artists usually place themselves in the palapas and exhibit their works. You can also buy some handicrafts made in the region.

The park also has a stage where concerts and festivals are held, especially on weekends. So schedule your visit to be able to experience an event in the park. I recommend you to visit it in November as you can find some events to celebrate the Day of the Dead and at the same time, you can enjoy a nice walk outdoors.

Around the park there are several food stalls where you can taste some of the typical dishes and learn a little of the Mexican Caribbean gastronomy.

And while you are visiting the Palapa Park, I recommend you to take a walk through the city centre and admire the colours, sounds and beauty of Cancun.

If you are passionate about art, you will love this activity.

There are several paintings that have been painted on buildings located in the city centre and in the hotel zone. These works reflect the beautiful Mexican culture, as well as various realities such as education, care for the environment, conservation of flora and fauna, among other important issues.

Several artists are the ones who volunteer to paint these murals. Thus, national and international artists from Vienna and Brazil join forces to bring colour and life to Cancun's buildings and in this way promote art and raise awareness of current issues around the world.

Some of the initiatives that have joined the street art in Cancun are the Sea walls: Murals for oceans, which aims to promote the care of the oceans through art, The end of the age of walls, which refers to the issue of education in Mexico.

Although there is no guided tour to visit the murals, you can plan your own itinerary and visit them on the day and time that suits you best. This time you won't have to worry about schedules or entrance fees. In November the weather is very pleasant and you can enjoy a walk without having to worry about it.

When visiting somewhere, gifts are a must and what better place to buy them than in a typical market of the city.

Here you will find a wide variety of items of all shapes, materials and colours. You can buy handmade crafts, clothes, key rings, accessories, among many other things.

In addition to buying some gifts, you can also visit the food stalls in the market and try some of the city's local delicacies, not to be missed. If you visit the market in November, you will be able to find gifts and handicrafts for the Day of the Dead, they are very beautiful and you can take home a nice souvenir of Mexico.

Let yourself be surprised by the incredible fauna of the Mexican Caribbean and learn a little about it.

In this aquarium you will be able to observe the great variety of fresh and salt water fish, you will be impressed by their beautiful colours. Another area that you will enjoy is the contact area where you can interact with different species such as starfish, rays and sea urchins. If you are travelling with small children, they will love this activity.

Another of the aquarium's attractions is the Aquarium trek, which is an activity where you can dive to the bottom of the water, observe and touch some of the species that live in the aquarium.

Some other activities that the aquarium offers are swimming with dolphins, a visit to the auditorium where you can watch videos and educational documentaries about life in the sea. There is also an iPad area where children can do different interactive activities with the purpose of teaching them about the care and preservation of marine species.

Get to know a little more about the marine species found in Mexican waters and learn about their care and conservation, you will be amazed by the beautiful marine life of the country. As a suggestion, you can make a visit to the aquarium in November, as there are outdoor activities and the pleasant weather of the month will make you enjoy them to the fullest.

If you are wondering if November is a good month to travel to Cancun, it is! Even though it's autumn, the temperature in the city is actually very pleasant, with hot and rainy days. You will be able to enjoy the sea and dive into the waters as at any time of the year and at the same time enjoy some nice rainy days that will cool down the city.

Due to the hot days at this time of the year, it is advisable to drink a lot of water and keep cool. Also, don't forget to carry your umbrella in case the rain suddenly arrives.