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FIT Cancun for Jewish Observant Travelers–DIY Hotels and Kosher Food
By: TJT Staff
Cancun is one of Mexico’s most popular resort areas with beautiful beaches and lots of fun activities for the whole family. There are so many things to do: lounging on the beach, spend a day at the spa, golf course, water sports, visit the Mayan Museum of Cancun, home to the many artifacts uncovered at the archeological sites on the Yucatan peninsula and visit the archeological sites in the surrounding area.
Cancun is a sought-after destination year-round, proving to be an ideal locale for kosher vacationers seeking balmy weather in all seasons. Its tropical climate ensures it stays hot throughout the year, making it a perfect sunny retreat even in winter. During the cooler months, you can expect average daytime temperatures to be a comfortable 84 degrees Fahrenheit, dipping to a still-pleasant 69 degrees in the evenings. Rain is a rare event in winter, with February and March typically standing out as the driest months. The sea is warm all year with an average temperature of 81°F, making it ideal for swimming. From the consistently warm temperatures to the minimal precipitation, Cancun truly shines as a year-round haven for kosher travelers seeking guaranteed good weather.
Sounds like a great vacation but what about observant Jews who keep kosher? Where will they eat? Where will they daven? Not to worry. There is no need to bring any food with you to a Cancun vacation. There are a number of restaurants, both meat and dairy. There are shops that sell kosher products. There is even a hotel with a kosher kitchen that serves three meals a day. If you are there for Shabbat, just beware that there is no eruv in Cancun.
There is an active Chabad house that has Shabbat meals and there are many hotels nearby. The Chabad has a shul (Synagogue) that has minyan during the high season (December–March). It is advised to confirm minyan times before scheduling your trip. The mikvah in the Chabad house recently opened and requires an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. The Chabad of Cancun operates the Bikur Cholim of Cancun to help those facing a medical challenge in Cancun.
The Chabad Jewish Welcome Center is located in the Cancun Convention Center which is in the Cancun Hotel zone. Cancun is divided into two areas: downtown is known as Ciudad Cancun and Cancun Island, also known as The Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera).
There are at least 10 Hotels near the Chabad House:
Aloft Cancun: two-minute walk from Chabad
Beachscape Kin Ha Villas Cancun: four-minute walk from Chabad
Dream Sands Cancun Resort & Spa: four-minute walk from Chabad
Fiesta Americana Grand Coral: four-minute walk from Chabad
Fiesta Americana Villas Cancun: three-minute walk from Chabad
Hyatt Ziva Cancun: eight-minute walk from Chabad
Intercontinental Cancun: four-minute walk from Chabad
Krystal Grand Punta Cancún: seven-minute walk from Chabad
Ocean Dream Cancun by GuruHotel: 10 minutes walk from Chabad
Royalton Suites Cancun: 15 minute walk from Chabad
There is one kosher hotel in Cancun offering full kosher menu. The NIZUC Resort & Spa opened a kosher kitchen that is supervised by Rabbi Eliahu Bar and a Mashgiach from the Neve Shalom Community in Cancun. The NIZUC Resort offers kosher breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week. Shabbat dinner is available if ordered by Friday at 3:00pm. There is no kosher meal option on Shabbat because there is no Mashgiach on premises.
During the week, choose from the following kosher dairy or kosher meat restaurant options:
Ember Kosher: Upscale steakhouse under the supervision of KMD (Kosher Maguen David Mexico.
Kosher Italian Gourmet: Dairy restaurant with a diverse menu including antipasti, pizza, pasta, Israeli cuisine and deserts under the supervision of KMD.
The Kosher Hotspot Cancun: Meat restaurant serving traditional American foods as well as Mexican dishes under the supervision of the Chabad of Cancun. Shabbat meals available for order and delivery to hotels.
Vico’s Grill: Meat restaurant offering chicken, meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes under the supervision of KMD.
If you want to stock up on some snacks and food, there are a number of supermarkets that offer a selection of kosher products:
Chedraui Selecto
Costco Cancun Sucursal
Soriana Super Kukulcan Plaza
Sightseeing and Activities in Cancun
Boating or snorkeling tour–jump in, the water is warm
Cancun has 13 miles of beautiful sandy beaches
Swim in one of the many cenotes (natural sinkholes filled with water formed in limestone caves) that can be found in the Riviera Maya
Tour the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum
Visit the Maya city of Chichen Itza–a UNESCO world heritage site famous for its ancient pyramids
Take a snorkeling tour of MUSA–the Underwater Museum is filled with sculptures made from materials that encourage the development of coral reef.
Whale shark tours–better chance of seeing the sharks, nesting turtles and sea turtles in the summer months
The Hotel Zone (Kulkukan Boulevard) is the tourist area with resorts, catamarans and beaches
Visit Downtown Cancun and check out the local culture
Zip lining at one of the adventure theme parks
Check out the amazing views of the Caribbean coast from the Cancun Scenic Tower
Pick up some gifts at the Mercado 28 (Market) in downtown Cancun–giant flea market with 600 vendors.
Cancun is a great vacation destination all year round. The weather is great and there are tons of activities to keep you busy. On the other hand, if you want to just relax then you can sit by the pool or on the beach. The kosher scene in Cancun has grown over the past few years, with new restaurants and a kosher hotel. The Chabad house is conveniently located in the hotel district and offers Shabbat meals, has a Synagogue and a mikvah. Check with the Chabad house as services depend on the tourists, which is usually not a problem during the winter months.
Cancun is great for a romantic getaway or a family vacation. There are beautiful beaches and spas if you want a relaxing, pampering vacation. If you want more adventurous activities then there are water sports and zip lining. If you are looking for culture then take day trips to the ancient ruins. You can also combine all three and do a little bit of everything. The nice thing about Cancun is you don’t have to worry about schlepping food along. The supermarkets sell kosher products and there are kosher restaurants so you can eat out every day.
If you want to visit other areas of Mexico, there are kosher restaurants and synagogues in other areas, such as Mexico City, the Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen. Check out our complete guide to kosher and Jewish life in Mexico.
