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12 of the Best Nightclubs and Bars in Cancun

If you’re not traveling to Cancun for the sun, sea, and sand, chances are, you’re visiting for the nightlife. This small slice of the Yucatan Peninsula is a popular party spot, with clubs and bars drawing hedonistic vacationers in droves. And while venues like Senor Frog’s, Congo Bongo, and Mandala beckon visitors on the strip, there are also plenty of clubs and bars to be found in Cancun’s hotels for those who like a little action right on their doorstep. From nightclubs to speakeasies, here are 12 of the best nightclubs and bars in Cancun -- both in and out of hotels.

1. Coco Bongo

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If you like your clubs to offer more than just music and dancing, then Coco Bongo is the place for you. A night at Cancun’s most famous club can include anything from live trapeze acts and foam cannons to lasers and live bands, making the venue more like a daily festival than a regular nightclub. Be prepared to pay a high entry price, but the fee includes unlimited domestic drinks from 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

2. Mandala

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One of the hottest spots in Cancun, Mandala adopts the same approach to hospitality as many of the hotels and clubs in area, with an open bar included in the price of a ticket. If you want to bag a table, get in early because nights at the Indian-themed club are always rammed. The club is a little more intimate than the likes of Coco Bongo and The City, and evenings are more focused on the music.

3. The City

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As the name suggests, this mega club has a capacity that gives small stadiums a run for their money. Regularly packed during spring break and the summer, The City attracts big-name artists and DJs from the U.S. and beyond to entertain the crowds alongside other live floor acts. It’s a top spot to party in Cancun, thanks to the nearly spiritual experience of dancing with 5,000 people in tandem.

4. Senor Frog’s

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Senor Frog’s is all about fun. The see-and-be-seen clubs with bottle service and sparklers are a foreign concept at this anything-goes bar, which sits in the heart of the party zone. Picture yard-long drinks, foam parties, live authentic Latin bands, and a good-vibes-only appeal.

5. La Vaquita

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A reasonable cover charge that includes an open bar keeps La Vaquita packed on most nights. The open facade of the club is something different, tempting in waves of people that cruise the street outside. The quirky cow-print interior and go-go dancers also lure in visitors. Hip-hop and reggae are the genres of choice here, and the lively crowd makes the relatively intimate venue one of the best places to party in Cancun.

6. Congo

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Like La Vaquita, Congo’s layout allows you to peek inside before you decide to pay to party, but pay you will. Congo opens earlier than the larger clubs on the strip, so it can either be a pre-party spot or an all-night hangout, depending on what you’re after. Either way, you can expect a fun night of confetti canons, go-go dancers, and a blend of EDM and Latin music that pleases the mix of tourists and locals who make up the crowd.