Travel expert breaks down the 10 things you should NEVER do as tourist visiting Cancun

A TikTok travel expert has given the rundown on the top 10 things to avoid as a tourist in Cancun.

Dan, who posts under the handle @danstravelguide with more than 64,000 followers, dove into the essential need-to-knows of visiting the famed coastal city on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula in a rapid-fire video. 

The destination has long been one of the most visited spots in the world, welcoming a record-setting 30 million visitors in 2022, according to the Cancun Sun.

First up on Dan’s ‘don’ts’: Stay away from the tap water.

‘The tap water here is not the safest so it’s best if you just get a bottle of water,’ Dan said.

Second: Don’t give in to temptations to buy things before even getting out of the airport.

‘Don’t get pressured to buy things at the airport. You’re gonna get bombarded with all kinds of different things to buy. A lot of these are timeshare scams. Just keep going and say “No, gracias.”‘

Third: Avoid taxis. 

‘Don’t take the taxis. Taxi drivers have been known to abuse tourists, so take another form of transportation. It’s much better to take a bus instead. They’re about 10 per cent of what taxis charge.’

Number four was ‘don’t trust the excursions’ at face value, Dan stressed.

‘Always get it in writing and make sure it’s legit. You can often get scammed this way so just make sure you double check,’ he explained.

Fifth: Remember to wear sunscreen.

‘Mexico is a lot hotter than you may think. And even if you don’t go to the beach, you can end up like this guy right here,’ Dan said, gesturing to an image of a man with a sunburnt face, save for the white silhouette of sunglasses around his eyes.

Coming in at number six on his list, don’t worry about getting pesos in cash.

‘Most places will take US dollars as well,’ Dan said.

Seventh: Avoid timeshare presentations like the plague.

‘They’ll try to offer you discounts and free stuff if you go to these presentations. These are high-pressure sales. Do not go to them,’ the travel expert advised.

His eight tip was ‘never lose your [resort] wristband under any circumstances.’

‘If you lose your resort wristband, expect to pay a lot to get another one,’ Dan said.

‘When you’re out and about, make sure you hide your wristband. Some people will pretend to be like they’re from your resort and try to scam you,’ he added.

Ninth was: ‘Don’t forget to tip.’

‘A lot of the people here really depend on tips to survive, so make sure you tip at least 10 to 20 per cent,’ Dan said.

And last but not least: ‘Don’t be scared to go outside of the resort and explore.’

‘There’s a lot more to Cancun than just a resort so don’t be afraid to get out there and find some cool places,’ Dan concluded.

While tourists should of course make the most of their trip, visitors would be wise to use basic common sense and awareness of their surroundings at all times. 

After all, as idyllic as Cancun is, the area can also be rather seedy, thanks to those looking to make a quick buck off of unwary tourists as well as due to underground criminal activity.

In April 2023, authorities found eight bodies in a dumpster at a resort in Cancun, with the murders believed to be the doing of a cartel.

Earlier this year, a captain of a tourist boat was arrested after his speedboat was hit by a wave and sank, causing four of the 16 passengers deaths by drowning.

And in February, US officials issued a travel advisory to use ‘increased caution’ when visiting Mexico due to the prevalence of ‘unregulated drinks and synthetic drugs’ in the country.