Cancun is Mexico’s best known resort. It is a busy, lively resort with a big sweep of white sand and plenty of glitzy hotels. For most, holidays in Cancun are about topping up the tan and lapping up some glamour. But they don’t have to be. Cancun can also be a place for active, adventurous holidays – including the possibility of a Cancun rock climbing trip.
Cancun lies on the Yucatan Peninsula, a large, flat, rocky outcrop on Mexico’s Atlantic coast. Its flatness means it is not ideal climbing territory. All is not lost, though, for those eager to climb. It is possible with a little bit of imagination.
There are several sites near Cancun where you can see ancient Mayan ruins. At some of these, visitors can climb up the steep-sided temples. It may sound tame, but it is often a tricky climb, and well worth doing for the views over the ruins. Climbing has been banned at Chichen Itza, the nearest and most famous ruins, but less busy ruins including Uxmal and Coba, which has the tallest ruins in Yucatan.
Another option is bouldering and scrambling, rather than technical roped climbing. There are a few rocky cliffs in the area that work well as bouldering sites. The beach sand below creates a natural crash mat! The cliffs at Tulum, another nearby Mayan ruins site, is a popular place for bouldering.
Proper mountain climbing can be found in the north of Mexico and around Mexico City, where there are some tough routes over mainly limestone rocks. A Cancun rock climbing trip is not about conventional climbing, but having fun and exploring the local landscape.
2 responses to “Guide to Cancun rock climbing holidays”
hi there! are there any tours or groups I can join to be able to climb with some people around Cancun?
Sorry but we don’t work with anyone offering climbing in Cancun at the moment. But there are a range of other activities which you can see here: https://awe365.com/destination/cancun/