Destination head-to-head
Cancun or The Florida Keys in April?
Cancun scores 8.5 out of 10 in April against 7.3 for The Florida Keys. Warm sea, short flights, all-inclusive value and a whole Mayan world within two hours.
Quick verdict
Cancun for all-inclusive, value for money, nightlife. The Florida Keys for easy and safe.
Cancun, Mexico
9.1/10
31C days, 27C sea, 40mm rain
The Florida Keys, United States
7.3/10
28C days, 50mm rain
Rated side by side
Out of five on each criterion.
| What matters | Cancun | The Florida Keys |
|---|---|---|
| NightlifeBars, clubs and late-night energy | ||
| BeachesSand quality, water clarity and swimming | ||
| Food sceneRange, quality and local character | ||
| FamiliesKid-friendly resorts, pools and day trips | ||
| RomanceCouples, honeymoons and adults-only stays | ||
| Things to doExcursions, culture and day trips | ||
| All-inclusiveChoice and value of all-inclusive resorts | ||
| Value for moneyWhat a typical day actually costs | ||
| Easy and safeComfort for first-time visitors | ||
| Exploring soloHow easy it is to get out on your own | ||
| Flight accessDirect routes and flight time from North America |
Side by side in April
| Factor | Cancun | The Florida Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 31C | 28C |
| Rainfall | 40mm | 50mm |
| Sea temperature | 27C, swimmable | Varies by season |
| Beach quality | Wide white sand, calm Caribbean | 3 out of 5 |
| Getting there | under 5 hours from most of North America | Drive from Miami |
| Typical cost | Rates are above average but deals still appear midweek. | Expensive |
| Between beach days | Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes, Isla Mujeres, reef snorkelling | No passport for Americans, Great diving |
What is on in Cancun in April
- Semana Santa, Mexico's biggest holiday week, with beach parties everywhere
- Warm sea, long evenings
- Last month before sargassum season really begins
Crowds. Busy, but you can still walk into most places midweek.
Prices. Rates are above average but deals still appear midweek.
Seaweed. Sargassum can appear on some east-facing beaches. Isla Mujeres north beach and the cenotes are the reliable backup.
Storms. Outside hurricane season entirely.
Dated plans and community meetups are listed on the Cancun events calendar.
Book Cancun for April
- Check Cancun hotel ratesLive all-inclusive and boutique pricesOpen
- Browse Cancun toursChichen Itza, cenotes, Isla Mujeres and moreOpen
- Get an airport transfer quoteFixed price, 20 minutes to the Hotel ZoneOpen
Prefer a plan first? Build a free day-by-day Cancun itinerary.
Where The Florida Keys genuinely wins
- No passport for Americans
- Great diving
- Key West character
Pick The Florida Keys if your budget is open and you specifically want what only it offers: no passport for americans.
What catches people out
- Very expensive rooms
- Narrow beaches
- Peak season traffic
The Cancun edge
Cancun's beaches are wider and whiter, and a week there costs less than three nights in Key West.
Cancun is the rare beach destination that also works as a base. The airport is one of the busiest in Latin America, the transfer to your hotel takes twenty minutes, and within two hours you can be swimming in a cenote, climbing a Mayan pyramid, snorkelling the second largest reef on the planet, or eating cochinita pibil in a downtown market for the price of a coffee elsewhere. That combination is why we keep building these comparisons and keep reaching the same conclusion.
Cancun wins for you? Start here.