travel yucatan peninsula

©GIBAN/Shutterstock

Yucatán Peninsula

Few Mexican destinations can dazzle you with ancient Maya ruins, azure Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico waters and colonial cities all in one fell swoop. Actually, there's only one – the Yucatán Peninsula. The peninsula comprises parts of Belize and Guatemala, as well as three separate Mexican states: Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche. Quintana Roo is probably the best known thanks to the tourism mega-destinations of Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, where millions flock annually to get their share of vitamin D on brochure-perfect beaches or resort infinity pools. But head just a couple of hours west and you hit Mérida, the capital of Yucatán state, whose colonial architecture and contemporary restaurants are a satisfying change of pace, not to mention the many cenotes (freshwater springs) nearby. Neighboring Campeche state is home to mind-blowing Maya ruins galore. This entire compact peninsula holds wonderful, varied and accessible travel surprises.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Tulum Ruins

Tulum is one of the most visited archaeological zones in Mexico and for good reason: it’s sublime. The ruins sit on seaside cliffs, high above turquoise…

Parque Nacional Isla Contoy

A white sand beach with manta rays gliding through the shimmering turquoise waters. No hotels. No nightclubs. No roads or cars of any kind. It’s hard to…

Wandering barefoot through the contemporary art museum at Azulik hotel, you feel like you’re in a giant cocoon. Nature surrounds you, inside and out:…

Museo Maya de Cancún

Surrounded by dense tropical forest, the contemporary Museo Maya de Cancún is a welcome respite from the beach and buffet lines of the neighboring high…

Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka'an

While floating down a canal that Mayans dug by hand centuries ago, you see tall grasses on either side and colorful birds flying overhead. You hear the…

Campeche State

Edzná’s massive complexes, that once covered more than 17 sq km, were built by a highly stratified society that flourished from about 600 BC to the 15th…

Chichén Itzá

Yucatán State & the Maya Heartland

Chichén Itzá, meaning 'mouth of the well of the Itzáes' in Mayan, is a stunning ruin well worth visiting for its spectacular, iconic structures and…

Quite unlike any other Maya city you'll visit in Yucatán, Calakmul was ‘discovered’ in 1931 by American botanist Cyrus Lundell, and is located deep in the…

Plan with a local

Experience the real Mexico

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from Yucatán Peninsula

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Wildlife & Nature

May 31, 2024 • 7 min read

Lazy rivers. Stalactites. Cenotes. Peek inside that natural beauty of luxury eco-resort Hotel Xcaret México.

Jan 13, 2021 • 4 min read

Dec 16, 2020 • 6 min read

Dec 3, 2020 • 2 min read

Aug 11, 2020 • 6 min read

Feb 28, 2020 • 7 min read

Feb 7, 2020 • 4 min read

Jan 3, 2020 • 1 min read

Oct 25, 2019 • 4 min read

Apr 18, 2019 • 4 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Yucatán Peninsula

Yucatán peninsula and beyond.

Ultimate 2-Week Yucatan Itinerary in Mexico

Embark on an incredible journey to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula: the Caribbean dream destination. From driving past the stunningly turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya to exploring ancient ruins and colorful colonial streets, there’s no shortage of amazing things to do in this part of Mexico . Add the region’s delicious (street)food, remarkable large cenotes, and vast jungles, and you’re set for quite the adventure. Discover all the best spots with this ultimate 2-week Yucatan itinerary.

Two weeks in the Yucatan Peninsula

The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico has an incredible range of destinations, from bustling tourist hubs like Cancun and Tulum to historic colonial cities like Valladolid and Merida. Though you can get around with public transportation, this Yucatan itinerary is best traveled by car, allowing you to hop between the region’s beautiful beaches, cenotes, and Mayan ruins. 

Tip: Many people speak English in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, but learning a few words in Spanish is always appreciated. Knowing how to greet people, order food and drinks, or ask for directions goes a long way!

Day 1: Arrival in Cancun

Start your Yucatan adventure in popular Cancun, known for its beaches, numerous resorts, and buzzing nightlife. As an iconic spring break destination, the city on the Caribbean coast immediately reveals one of the biggest draws to the region: the stunning turquoise sea. 

Take some time to recover from your flight by heading to the beach and grabbing some food at one of the restaurants. You’ll find the best beaches in the Zona Hotelera (Hotel Zone) , a long strip of soft sands and high-rise hotels. 

Tip: If you have time, it’s also an option to travel directly to Tulum . The boho town has an airport , though it’s much smaller and has fewer flights than Cancun. 

Where to Stay in Cancun 

In Cancún, the buzzing Hotel Zone is the perfect place for beach lovers, with pristine shores and vibrant nightlife. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a bit more authentic local experience with traditional markets and restaurants, choose a hotel in downtown Cancun . 

Hotels in Cancun 😴

Day 2-3: Tulum

Just 2 hours south of busy Cancun, you’ll find the slower, laid-back town of Tulum. With incredible white-sand beaches, jungles, Mayan ruins, and unique hotels , it makes the perfect destination to unwind on your Yucatan travel itinerary. 

Soak up the sun on the famous Tulum Beach that lies in front of the resorts of the Hotel Zone . With incredibly blue water and powdery sand, it’s a real slice of paradise and one of the main reasons people visit the Caribbean town.

Afterward, depending on where you’re staying, have dinner in the Hotel Zone or head to the vibrant Tulum Centro for some yummy tacos. Downtown Tulum also makes the perfect place to go boutique shopping or find some cool souvenirs!

Join this local food tour or vegan food tour in Tulum .

Tulum Cenotes and Ruins

Take your time to explore the area; head off on a half-day trip to hidden cenotes (also the best way to cool down on your Yucatan itinerary!) or walk amongst the ancient Mayan ruins that sit perched on the coast’s cliffs. You can tour the Tulum pyramids on your own or book a tour to learn more about the Peninsula’s rich history.

Read: Best things to do in Tulum, Mexico

How to Get to Tulum

Tulum is only 2 hours away from Cancun and is easy to get to by bus, car, or taxi. Rent a car in Cancun and drive south along the stunning coastline. Alternatively, hop on one of the ADO buses that leave for Tulum at the main bus terminal downtown ( book your tickets here ). Traveling by bus is generally the cheapest way of getting around the Yucatan in Mexico.

We recommend to rent a car in Mexico through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

Where to Stay in Tulum

Tulum has new accommodations pop up everywhere in town, with many dotted along the coastline ( Hotel Zone ). Prices are a bit higher here, but hotels include different amenities and have direct access to the beautiful beaches. You can also find good apartments and hotels downtown (Centro). 

Hotels in Tulum 😴

Day 4: Day Trip to Sian Ka’an

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected area on the Caribbean coast in Mexico, home to many animal species and stunning landscapes. Take a day to explore the jungle marshes, mangroves, cenotes, and vibrant blue lagoons in this protected UNESCO site.

Whether it’s relaxing in a hammock with your feet in the water of Laguna de Kaan Luum or walking through the jungle and past ancient Mayan ruins, Sian Ka’an offers a refreshing addition to your 2-week Yucatan itinerary. Cool off in the huge open cenote, float down man-made canals, and explore the Muyil ruins by booking an organized tour . 

Note: Due to the harsh chemicals in many sunscreens and bug sprays, you’re not allowed to wear them in the reserve (and many other places in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula). Instead, choose a non-toxic bug spray and reef-safe sunscreen .

Here are all your hotel options in Tulum.

Day 5-7: Bacalar (Highlight of Yucatan)

Discover the magical town of Bacalar, one of the highlights of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This beautiful destination is known for its freshwater lagoon with shockingly turquoise water and vibrant downtown. Though it’s growing in popularity, it remains somewhat of a hidden gem, making it a must-see on your Yucatan itinerary.

Read: Best things to do in Bacalar, Mexico

Spend a few days exploring the different corners of Bacalar and its surroundings, from deep open-air cenotes to powerful streams and the lagoon of seven different colors. Once you get to Bacalar, unwind at one of the beach clubs (Balnearios) at the lagoon’s edge and witness the beautiful sunset from the fortress downtown.

Kayak, Paddleboard , or Boat Tour on the Lagoon

Kayaking on the Bacalar Lagoon is easily one of the best things to do on a 2-week Yucatan itinerary. You can rent kayaks (or paddleboards) around the lake, including many Balnearios (200 – 300 MXN). Head out early to explore the island crops and ancient stromatolites.

Book an amazing sunrise paddleboard tour here

For a similarly relaxed experience, you can book a boat tour on the lake. There are many companies all around the lagoon offering 2-hour tours in a lancha (small boat) or ponton (pontoon). However, you can also hop on a sailboat or small catamaran for 3-4 hours. ( Book your tour here )

How to Get to Bacalar

If you’re renting a car in Mexico, make your way further south to Bacalar. From Tulum, it’s about a 3-hour drive through beautiful jungle roads. 

You also have the option to travel on the ADO bus that departs directly from Tulum. Though time-consuming (5+ hours), the buses are comfortable, safe, and easy to use. The bus drop-off in Bacalar is about 15 minutes from the town’s center. 

Book your bus tickets to Bacalar in advance

Where to Stay in Bacalar

The best place to stay in Bacalar is in the heart of town, where you find most hotels, restaurants, and the Bacalar park. From here, it’s only a short walk to the stunning lagoon. You can also book a boutique hotel or guesthouse directly on the lagoon, with private piers and stunning water views.

Hotels in Bacalar 😴

Day 8-9: Valladolid : A Yucatan Itinerary Must

On day 8 of your Yucatan travel itinerary, head to the beautiful Valladolid, which is full of color, culture, and history. When you arrive in the afternoon, explore the city’s rainbow-colored alleys and indulge in some delicious Yucateco dishes for dinner.

Read: Best things to do in Valladolid, Mexico

The next day, wander around the charming pastel streets, and explore the majestic San Servacio Cathedral, while you hunt for a yummy breakfast spot. From the restaurant patio, you can easily take in all the surrounding colonial architecture and lively marketplaces. Afterward, use the warm afternoon to cool off in the crystal-clear waters of nearby cenotes. ( Join this cenotes tour )  

Tip: Valladolid has a lovely cenote (Cenote Zaci) right in the center, only a short walk from the main square. This is a popular spot to visit but a must-see if you’re in the city!

How to Get to Valladolid

The colorful city of Valladolid lies about 4 hours away from Bacalar , meaning it’ll take a good chunk of your day to get there. You also have the option of the ADO bus to Valladolid. Note: There’s not always a direct bus route from Bacalar to Valladolid, so browse your options on the ADO site in advance.

Where to Stay in Valladolid

From colorful hostels to beautiful boutique hotels , there’s accommodation for every type of traveler in Valladolid. Most lie close to the center, making it easier to explore all the sites. What’s more, many include a delicious Mexican breakfast, too!

Hotels in Valladolid 😴

Day 10: Chichen Itzá

Close to Valladolid lies Mexico’s most famous Mayan site: Chichen Itzá. Perched between the jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula, it’s impossible to visit the nearby city and not take a morning to visit this stunning complex. 

Made up of multiple Mayan ruins, Chichen Itzá is one of the largest Mayan cities to have ever existed and the most visited ancient site in Mexico . Rent a car or motorbike, or join a tour to Chichen Itza to visit the iconic historical remains, wandering between massive step pyramids and stone pillars. 

How to Get to Chichen Itzá

Chichen Itzá is about a 45-minute drive from Valladolid. Once you’ve arrived, most people spend about 2-3 hours walking around the large archeological site, either self-guided or on a guided walking tour.

Afterward, hop back in your vehicle and use the afternoon to explore some of the other beautiful sites in the area: the quaint town of Uayma, the Ek Balam ruins, or the Insta-famous Cenote Suytun.

Day 11-12: Isla Holbox

On the last leg of your two-week Yucatan itinerary, explore the sleepy beach town of Holbox. Here, soft sandy beaches and calm waters make the perfect location to soak up some last sun before returning home from Cancun. 

Read:  Top Things to do on Isla Holbox, Mexico .

Relax on the island, lounging in a hammock with a delicious cocktail in hand, and listen to the sound of the waves. Days are slow here, but you can easily fill it up with some more excitement by going kayaking in the mangroves or cruising down the coast to Punta Mosquito . As you travel, take in the colorful murals spread across the little beach town, swim in the Caribbean Sea, and spot flamingos on the horizon. 

Tip: Isla Holbox sees some of the most vibrant bioluminescence at night! It’s worth booking a tour to walk or glide through the glowing waters to witness this incredible phenomenon.

How to Get to Holbox

From Valladolid, it’s about a 2-hour drive to get to Chiquilá, the port town where you can hop on a ferry towards Isla Holbox . Two ferry companies operate between the island and Chiquilá, leaving every 30 minutes all day long. The journey across only takes 15 minutes, and a roundtrip to Holbox costs about 400 MXN (23.30 USD). 

Book your ferry tickets in advance online

If you’re driving, you can park your car in Chiquilá, which costs about 200 MXN (11.61 USD) per 24 hours. Tip: Though it’s usually not a problem, it’s recommended to remove all your belongings from the car (learn more about travel safety ).

Where to Stay in Holbox

The peaceful atmosphere of Isla Holbox and its beachy location offer some incredible stays, from luxe eco-lodges to chill hostels with hammocks on the sand. The best area is right in the center near the ‘Holbox’ letters, close to all the things to do and many restaurants.

Hotels in Isla Holbox 😴

Alternative Option: Visit the City of Merida

If Valladolid has got you excited about colorful alleys, colonial architecture, and vibrant local music (and you want to see more), opt to visit Merida instead of Holbox. This city, known as the cultural heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, is rich with lively markets, Mayan heritage, and colonial streets. 

Dive into the delicious cuisine on lively patios while music plays and people dance in the background. Blending ancient history, rhythm, and modern energy, Merida is a must-see for those craving more local culture.

From Valladolid, it’s a 2-hour drive to Merida. Rent a car and drive yourself or book your bus tickets online .

Day 13: Return to Cancun

On your last full day in Mexico, grab a delicious coffee on Isla Holbox in the morning and ferry back to the mainland after. Once you get to Chiquilá, pick up your car from where you parked it and drive back to Cancun.

Tip: Take this day to relax before flying out the next day, stroll through Mercado 28, and shop for some last souvenirs.

How to Visit the Yucatan in 2 Weeks

Your 2-week Yucatan itinerary starts and ends in Cancun or Tulum, both of which have airports. 

Getting Around the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

For the ultimate freedom, we recommend renting a car in Mexico to complete your Yucatan itinerary in 2 weeks. This also gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and explore every destination you’d like. Besides, it’s often much faster and cheaper than taxiing or taking a tour .

Alternatively, you can book a taxi or private transfer or hop on the bus to get around. Though traveling by bus takes a bit longer than by car, the ADO bus network in the Yucatan Peninsula is very good, affordable, and comfortable.

Book your bus tickets online in advance

Our Favorite Accommodations for a 2-Week Yucatan Itinerary

Depending on your budget, there are many options for accommodation in the Yucatan, Mexico. For example, exclusive hotels , seaside resorts, lively hostels , or downtown apartments . Here are our favorites:

• Cancun:   Adhara Hacienda , Suites Malecon Cancun , Kin Ha Villas & Suites
• Tulum: Kai Tulum , Casa Ganesh Tulum , Meteora Tulum
• Bacalar: Hotel Sun Ha , Hotel CasaBakal , Hotel & Suite Oasis
• Valladolid:   Casa Tia Micha , Casa San Juan , Hostal Casa Xtakay
• Holbox: Dream Beachfront Hotel , Villas Margaritas , Casa Sofia

Is the Yucatan in Mexico Safe?

The Yucatan Peninsula is generally considered safe for travelers, with popular areas heavily patrolled by police to maintain security. However, like any other travel destination, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone at night. Luckily, due to its popularity, you’re rarely ever completely alone. You can also get a Mexico SIM card for added security and convenience.

Read more about how to travel safe

What to Know Before Your Yucatan Itinerary

Before you make your way through Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and explore its stunning jungles, towns, and coastline, it’s important to keep the following factors in mind. That way, you can confidently travel while respecting its unique cultural and natural landscapes.

• Learn a few words in Spanish. Despite its growing popularity, some people in Mexico don’t speak English. However, local Yucatecans are known for their warmth and hospitality, especially towards visitors who show interest in their culture.
• Get a Telcel SIM card. Getting a local SIM is great for staying connected during your Yucatan itinerary of 2 weeks. The best mobile data company is Telcel; for only 200 MXN (~12 USD), you have 30 days of unlimited data for social media and 5GB for all other browsings. The card itself costs only 80 MXN (or you can buy an e-sim in advance ).
• Tipping is very common in Mexico. Sometimes, it’s already included in the bill, so make sure to check this before paying!
• Drinking alcohol on the street is illegal . Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants and bars with beautiful patios to enjoy an alcoholic beverage on. 

• Bring a reef-safe sunscreen and non-toxic bug spray . Many areas in the Yucatan Peninsula are protected zones (cenotes, Sian Ka’an). To preserve this beautiful nature, they ask you not to wear any sunscreen, but sometimes a reef-safe option is allowed.
• Watch out for topes if you rent a vehicle. These inconspicuous ‘speed bumps’ are often found in and around towns and don’t always have a sign indicating them. They’re pretty high and can really pop out of nowhere – so keep an eye out!
• Don’t forget to try the different ‘antojitos’. These small dishes (mostly tacos and other small plates) are a must-try when traveling through the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Best Time to Visit the Yucatan Peninsula

The Yucatan Peninsula sees a warm tropical climate year-round, though the dry season offers more comfortable temperatures and less rainfall. This period is the best time to visit Mexico ’s Yucatan Peninsula and runs from the end of November to May (also the peak tourism season). 

The rainy season (May – October) sees more rainfall and has a higher chance of hurricanes, though travel is still possible with some planning. Keep in mind that some destinations, like Isla Holbox, are better to visit during the dry season to avoid mud and flooded streets.

How Much Do 2 Weeks in the Yucatan Cost?

Planning a 2-week Yucatan itinerary is guaranteed to be an adventure full of stunning beaches, ancient ruins, and vibrant local culture. Over the years, this particular area of Mexico has become incredibly popular, with many travelers seeking the Peninsula’s Caribbean atmosphere. However, costs can fluctuate depending on your travel plans and the season you visit. Here’s a quick overview of the average costs:

Costs of Traveling in Yucatan

Travel on a budget in Yucatan, from $480 − $560 USD weekly per person, mid-range $1050 − $2510 USD, and high-end from $2460 − $3650 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $40 − $225 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $10 − $20 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $20 − $40 USD Book public transport
• Car Rental: $80 − $150 USD Book a rental car
• Food: $10 − $50 USD
• Activities: $15 − $60 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $10 − $30 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

Tip: Access to ATMs and the ability to use credit cards can vary, especially in more remote areas. Because of this, it’s good to carry enough cash with you on your Yucatan travel itinerary. Note that it’s best to withdraw in Mexican Pesos, though, in more tourist areas, US dollars might be accepted. Just make sure to double-check the exchange rate provided.

By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️

• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Flights to Yucatan via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go

9 Best Things To Do in Valladolid, Mexico

8 unmissable things to do in holbox, mexico, 10 best things to do in bacalar (mexico’s blue lagoon).

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  Notify me when new comments are added.

45 Best Things to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula: A Local’s Guide

There are lots of incredible things to do in the Yucatan peninsula that will keep you occupied for days on end. From gorgeous Caribbean beaches that boast soft, powdery white sands and translucent turquoise waters, to ancient Mayan cities, quaint colonial towns, and unique gastronomy, this region has something for everyone. 

The Yucatan peninsula is a tri-state area in south-eastern Mexico made up of the states of the Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. The Riviera Maya region is incredibly popular with tourists, but for the most part, the wider Yucatan remains largely untapped. 

This article has been written by a British Travel Writer that has been living in the Yucatan capital of Merida for the last two years. In that time, I have made it my priority to see as much of my new home as is physically possible and travel to different places in the area every weekend. 

Only now am I starting to feel that I have seen a lot of what the area has to offer, so rest assured, you won’t be struggling for things to do during your one or two-week vacation. You are in good hands here 😉 

This article has not been written by someone who simply passed through once, and a lot of the recommendations you will find here are not mentioned in any other travel guides. 

Table of Contents

45 Best Things to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula in 2023 

The Yucatan is one of the safest places to travel in Mexico, as well as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. People often comment that culturally, the Yucatan feels very different from other parts of Mexico – almost to the extent that it feels like traveling to a different country entirely.

This makes sense as the Yucatan was an independent country for a period of time. Culturally, the Yucatan feels different because most of the people that occupy this region are of Mayan descent. 

Many Yucatan residents speak Mayan and the culture, cuisine, and customs are very different to those in other states. The suggestions of the best things to do in the Yucatan detailed below range from must-see sights, to off-the-beaten-path Yucatan highlights that few people are aware exist. 

Drive along the Ruta Esmerelda 

The beaches around Cancun, Tulum, and the wider Riviera Maya region may be some of the most popular among tourists, but they pale in comparison to some of the coastal areas along the Northern Yucatan. The Ruta Esmerelda is a scenic route that starts in Chuburna Puerto and runs all the way to the beach towns of San Crisanto and Dzilam de Bravo. 

Yucatan beaches are characterized by their soft, powdery white sand and translucent emerald waters that would rival those in the Caribbean. This area, at least for now, is largely undeveloped so you can easily find entire stretches of coastline and hidden coves to yourself – especially in the low season. 

San Crisanto, a pristine tropical beach surrounded by coconut groves, is worth adding to your radar. So too is San Bruno, which is home to the upscale Kokomo beach club and Tulum-inspired Casa Ku resort. 

Visit the ancient city of Dzibilchaltun

Dzibilchaltun , meaning ¨writing on flat stones¨ is an ancient Mayan city that sits just 16km north of the Yucatan capital of Merida. The settlement dates back to 500 BC and was once home to more than 25,000 people. 

If you are not a massive fan of archeological sites, it can feel like all of the various Mayan cities sort of blend together after a while. Dzibilchaltun is interesting because of a temple structure known as ¨the Temple of the Seven Dolls¨.

The structure is believed to have been built in honor of Yum Kax, the Mayan god of corn. When archeologists excavated the site, they found seven crudely-made clay dolls with exaggerated genitalia that were believed to have been used in spiritual rituals.

Today, the dolls are stored inside the on-site Dzibilchaltun museum. Twice a year, you can catch the spring/autumn equinox at Dzibilchaltun. 

At sunrise on these specific dates, hundreds of locals and tourists head from Merida to the site. The sun shines through the doorway of the Temple of the Dolls and this would indicate to the Mayans that it was time to start planting or harvesting their produce.

Stay in a converted luxury hacienda 

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Yucatan was one of the richest regions in the world! This was largely due to the local henequen industry. 

The natural fiber was harvested and shipped across the globe to make hammocks, baskets, and other course textiles. As the industry thrived, the Spanish built haciendas to maximize production and profits.

These grand homesteads doubled as spacious homes and agricultural premises used for growing henequen, tending livestock, and mining other nearby resources. Sadly, with the introduction of synthetic fibers, the demand for henequen gradually declined in the 20th century and many haciendas were eventually abandoned.

Fortunately, a number of properties have been purchased and converted into upscale restaurants and hotels in recent years. These make great places to stay if you want to treat yourself for a day or two during your Yucatan itinerary. 

If your budget doesn’t allow you to stay in a hacienda, you can consider stopping by for breakfast or dinner. The hacienda Santa Cruz is a gorgeous property close to the town of Dzununcán where live musicians and mariachi perform to delighted visitors over breakfast. 

Hacienda Sacnicte close to Izamal is perhaps one of the most upscale of the renovated Yucatan hacienda hotels. The property was purchased and restored by Italian designers and seamlessly blends local tradition with modern design. 

The property retains its original features and charm, while the rooms have been decorated with contemporary European artwork, eccentric sculptures and statues, and plush modern furnishings. 

Search for abandoned haciendas 

While a number of haciendas have been purchased and restored to their former glory, many more have not been so fortunate. As you drive around the Yucatan, you will pass by numerous abandoned haciendas. 

Some have been reclaimed by the jungle and have fallen into disrepair. Others are somewhat frozen in time, derelict, with old furniture still scattered throughout the ruined rooms. 

In the Merida area, there are a couple of interesting properties worth noting in case you happen to pass by them. The Hacienda Cancabchen Casares in Cholul is a spooky spot that is said to be haunted. 

According to local legend, the hacienda owner was abusive towards his employees until one day they eventually got tired of it and killed him. In Maxcanú, you can see what remains of the 16th-century hacienda San José Chactún and in nearby Chan Chocholá, you can find the impressive ex-hacienda Santa Eduviges whose turrets resemble a medieval castle.  

Travel back in time to the ancient city of Aké 

Aké meaning ¨place of the reeds¨ is a seldom-visited Mayan archeological site east of Merida and close to the town of Tixkokob. Settlers first arrived in the city around 2,300 years ago, and Aké thrived between 600 and 1200 AD. 

Like many Mayan cities, it was eventually abandoned around 1450 AD. The structures here are built in a style known as ¨Megalithic¨ and use huge blocks of stone. However, there are some buildings that exhibit the Puuc style of architecture. 

Among the various pyramids and shrines, one of the most notable structures here is the ¨pyramid of the columns¨ which once held up the biggest roof in the Mayan world. The sacbes (white stone Mayan roads) that veer off from the site once connected it to Izamal, which Aké is believed to have had a dependency on. 

One fascinating thing about visiting Aké is that the village’s hacienda is still operational. It is one of the only places in the Yucatan that is still involved in henequen production and if you poke your head through one of the windows near the hacienda, you will see all of the old machinery still in use. 

Many of Ake’s 300-strong population depend on this hacienda for work. 

Explore an eerie abandoned ghost town 

Misnebalam is an eerie pueblo fantasma (ghost town) that awaits just off the road between Merida and Progreso. There were once 170 people living here and working in the henequen industry. 

However, over the past century, numerous paranormal occurrences and sightings were reported and Misnebalam residents gradually moved away. The final inhabitants left in 2005 and the area has been abandoned ever since. 

Visiting Misnebalam today means having the chance to explore a grand old hacienda with a large pool and gardens that lie in ruins, an overgrown graveyard, roads to nowhere, and a roofless church. 

There have been reported sightings of the former hacienda owner seen wandering the grounds of his property, a ghostly monk, and the ghost of a young boy known as Juliancito. Producers of various supernatural shows like ¨Most Haunted¨ have filmed documentaries in Misnebalam and if you dare, you can camp out overnight to see if you spot anything strange. 

By day, kids from local villages come here to play a game of ¨gotcha¨ (paintballing) among the ruined structures. If you prefer not to come alone, you can do an ATV tour of Misnebalam from Progreso. 

Sample famous Yucatan honey at the pueblo magico of Mani

There are four pueblo magicos in the Yucatan state . One of the least visited is a city called Mani (meaning peanut in Mayan) which sits in the central part of the state, some 69km from Merida.

Pueblo magicos are cities, towns, and villages that have been recognized by the Mexican tourism board for offering a particularly special culture, history, or gastronomy. Generally speaking, when somewhere has been recognized as a ¨pueblo magico¨ it is a good indicator that it is a worthwhile place to visit. 

While the other pueblo magicos in the area get a trickle of tourists, Mani is largely overlooked. The city is famous for its meliponarios (beekeepers). 

In the Yucatan, beekeepers tend to a stingless melipona bee that is native to this part of Mexico and is known locally as Xunan kab. The honey has a different taste and runnier consistency than European/American honey and the ancient Maya believed that it had magical healing properties! 

At Mani meliponarios like U Naajil Yuum K’iin, you can see how the bees are tended to and buy some local honey, which makes a great souvenir of your trip to Mexico. In the city center, you can also admire the 1549 Franciscan convent of San Miguel Archangel and the Mani cenote. 

The local cenote has a dark place in local history. It was here where the Franciscan Friar Diego de Landa ordered the burning and destruction of Mayan books and manuscripts during the Spanish colonization. 

Try the locally famous huevos motulenos at Motul 

Huevos motuleños is one of the most famous breakfast dishes that you will find in the Yucatan. You can try it in various cafes and restaurants across the peninsula, but it hails from the city of Motul and if you are a true foodie traveler, this is where you will want to try it. 

Different establishments place their own unique spin on the dish. But the traditional way to make it is by serving fried eggs on a fried tortilla slathered in frijoles (beans) and then lathering them in tomato sauce, peas, ham, a dash of hot sauce, and plantains. 

For the best of the best huevos motuleños, you should head to Doña Evelia restaurant in the Mercado Municipal 20 de Noviembre in Motul. At weekends, people are often queuing out the door to sample these famous eggs but they are worth waiting for.

Wash it all down with a steaming hot cafe de olla – Mexican coffee prepared with cinnamon and piloncillo. The marketplace is a fun environment to dine in too – there are rarely any Western tourists here and local entertainers perform Yucatecan jarana dances and sing for tips as you dine. 

If you happen to be traveling to the Yucatan in July, you can catch the annual huevos motuleños festival. This unique event sees live performers take to the stage, as local chefs and restauranteurs compete to see who can make the very best huevos motuleños.

See Chichen Itza with your own eyes 

The ruins of Chichen Itza need no introduction. The ancient Mayan city is not only one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Yucatan, it is one of the most famous places in all of Mexico. 

The ruins were designated as a UNESCO-protected world heritage site back in 1988 and in 2007, Chichen Itza was voted one of the ¨new¨ seven wonders of the world. The main temple that you see in Chichen Itza is the Temple of Kukulkan but the site is actually far larger than many people realize and spans an area of over 4 square miles. 

Archeologists still debate about precisely when the city was founded but it is believed to be around 1,500 years old and date back to around 400AD. In its heyday, more than 35,000 people called the city their home. 

There are more than 26 notable structures in Chichen Itza. Some of the most interesting ones to look out for are the Tzompantli – a stone platform decorated with carved skulls that the Mayans would place the severed heads of their enemies on to scare potential traitors and other tribes.

The sacred cenote where people would be sacrificed, and jewels and valuables were thrown into the water as gifts to Xibalba (the Mayan underworld). Meanwhile, La Iglesia (¨the church¨) is also interesting because its doors and windows are decorated with masks depicting the rain god Chaac. 

Relax at Playa Las Dunas, Chuburna 

Playa Las Dunas is a paradisical, lesser-known beach that awaits about an hour away from Merida, close to the coastal village of Chuburna. Very few people are even aware of the beach’s existence or take the time to venture here. 

The beach offers miles upon miles of soft, white powdery sands that border translucent aquamarine waters and rolling dunes. The beach is never crowded; Even at weekends, you can easily find a peaceful stretch to yourself. 

Wild sea turtles call the warm waters here their home, and you will often see pelicans, flamingos and other wildlife flying overhead or diving for fish. En route to the beach, you will pass a lot of street vendors selling desserts prepared with fresh coconut. Pay de coco (coconut pie) and coco helado (coconut ice cream) are personal favorites.

Chill out by the beach in El Cuyo 

El Cuyo is a charming beach town that awaits at the far northeastern tip of the Yucatan state. It is not the easiest place to get to – El Cuyo is about 3.5 hours drive from Merida and 2.5 hours from Cancun respectively. 

But for now, at least, El Cuyo has managed to avoid a lot of the over-tourism and development that has affected the nearby Riviera Maya. 

You can think of the little beach town as what Tulum was like some 15-20 years ago. For the time being, it is little more than a handful of hotels and restaurants scattered along a pristine stretch of coastline. 

The natural bay that El Cuyo sits in means that the beach is often pretty windy and the area has quickly become a favorite destination for kitesurfers – many of whom can be credited for helping develop El Cuyo. The main draw of coming to El Cuyo is having the opportunity to relax and detach from the stresses of modern life. 

Waking up to see every sunrise and sunset is a must, and the sunrises here are some of the most beautiful over the Gulf of Mexico. If you are interested in kite surfing, it is possible to rent equipment or take lessons – whatever your age or experience level. 

A visit to El Cuyo can also be tied in with a trip to nearby Rio Lagartos and the lakes of Las Coloradas. 

Fall in love with the colonial capital of Merida 

The colorful colonial city of Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state and a highlight of visiting the Yucatan peninsula. Merida dates back to 1542 when it was founded by the Spanish Colonizer Francisco de Montejo y Leon. 

During the henequen boom of the 18th and 19th centuries, Merida was one of the richest cities in the world, and many grand, neoclassical mansions from this era still stand. 

(Many have now been converted into ultra-luxurious hotels, restaurants, boutique stores, and guesthouses that retain the original designs). The cobbled streets and promenades of Merida are lined with pastel-colored houses that are a photographer’s dream.  

(In particular, stop by Calle 58 and Avenida Del Deportista.) Even just one day in Merida is enough to get a feel for the city but the Yucatan capital makes a great place to base yourself during your trip and you can take day trips out from here.

Be sure to stroll down the Paseo de Montejo and check out the Monumento a la Patria – a giant carved indigenous sculpture by the Colombian artist Rómulo Rozo that depicts the history of Mexico through the centuries. 

The Mayan World Museum (C. 60 299 E, Unidad Revolución) contains interesting Mayan sculptures and artifacts collected from various places across the Yucatan peninsula, while the Merida paranormal museum is a unique exhibition containing items that are said to be ¨cursed¨ or ¨possessed¨. 

Go off the beaten path to the forgotten ruins of Oxkintok 

Oxkintok is about as off the beaten path as you can get in the Yucatan peninsula. The sunbleached remains of this Ancient Mayan city await 70km south of Merida near the town of Maxcanu and close to the border with Campeche state. 

The name ¨Oxkintok¨ is believed to mean ¨three flint suns¨ in Ancient Mayan, and this city had important commercial and political relationships with the cities along the Ruta Puuc (Uxmal, Labna, etc). Oxkintok is believed to have been occupied from 500–300 B.C. to around A.D. 1200–1450. 

The vast site deserves at least 2-3 hours of your time and if you can speak Spanish, you can hire a local guide at the entrance for around 200-300 pesos. 

One of the most mysterious and unusual buildings here is a labyrinth known as ¨Satunsat¨. It is not common to see labyrinths in Mayan cities and only two others have been documented in Mexico.

The labyrinth is unfortunately closed to the public (perhaps to stop tourists from getting lost inside?). However, interestingly it is spread over three floors which are believed to represent the earth, the underworld, and the celestial level.  

There are a couple of well-preserved temples that you can climb to enjoy views over the Yucatan jungle canopy and take great photos from high above the ancient city. The Palacio del Diablo is an interesting structure because its purpose is unknown but its entrance is guarded by a peculiar skeleton sculpture. 

Learn about Mayan trading culture at Xcambo ruins 

The Mayan city of Xcambo can be found close to the pink lake of Laguna Rosada and the coastal village of Telchac Puerto. The name ¨Xcambo¨ means ¨the place where bartering is done¨ which is a fitting title since this was once an extremely important commercial trading post. 

The Mayan people that lived here would mine salt from the nearby salt lakes and then trade it with other cities within the peninsula. Most of the structures here have been built in the Peten archeological style, similar to Mayan cities in neighboring Guatemala.  

Unfortunately, little is known about Xcambo or its rulers as the city was only excavated over the past couple of decades and didn’t open to the general public until 2021. 

At the center of the site, you will find a ramshackle catholic church with a little cross and a sculpture of Jesus on its roof. This was built by the local people back in the 1950s before INAH declared Xcambo an important archeological site. 

They quarried stones from the Mayan structures to build the church. According to a local legend, an apparition of the Virgin Mary once appeared here. 

Sample authentic Yucatecan cuisine 

When you talk about dishes that you must try in Mexico , tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas are the first things to spring into most people’s minds. However, Mexican cuisine is far more diverse than most people realize, with different regions and states offering their own distinctive gastronomy. 

Yucatecan food is special because many of the regional dishes follow recipes invented by the Ancient Mayan, and often, the same traditional cooking methods are still used all these centuries later. You won’t be short of opportunities to try the local cuisine in the Yucatan as ¨comida Yucateca¨ is the default offering at most restaurants and cucina economicas.  

Be sure to try cochinita pibil – slow-cooked pork that is marinated with achiote and orange rind and cooked in an underground oven known as a pib. Papadzules are a popular Yucatan street food dish that is made by rolling steamed eggs in fresh tortillas and slathering them in a delicious pumpkin seed sauce and tomato salsa. 

There are some spectacular restaurants in Merida where you can try the best regional food.  In particular, you should stop by Wayan´E for tortas and tacos, Habaneros for cooked Yucatecan delicacies, and Kuuk for elevated Yucatan cuisine. 

Visit Mayapan, the last great Mayan city 

The city of Mayapan , like so many other Mayan cities in Mexico on this list, is frequently overlooked by most people that travel to the Yucatan. This is a shame because this is one of the most important Mayan archeological sites in the country. 

Mayapan dates back to around 1000 AD and it is particularly interesting because King Kukulkan II and his people relocated here after the downfall of Chichen Itza. Many of the buildings that you see at Mayapan are replicas of structures at Chichen Itza, and indeed the main pyramid at Mayapan is considered an inferior replica of the temple of Kukulkan at Chichen Itza. 

After King Kukulkan II died, feuds broke out between the different groups that occupied Mayapan, and the city was eventually abandoned. 

Swim in the freshwater Homun cenotes 

The Yucatan peninsula is famous for its cenotes. These are freshwater sinkholes that were formed when the Chicxulub meteor smashed into the earth 65 million years ago and weakened the surface of the ground in Southeastern Mexico. 

There are more than 7,5000 cenotes in the Yucatan and this is the only part of the country where they are found (aside from one or two in Veracruz and Chiapas state ). Sure, there are cenotes that are famous on social media, but some of the most gorgeous ones in the Yucatan can be found in and around the little village of Homun. 

Homun has what is called a ring of cenotes (¨anillo de los cenotes¨). There are more than 20 cenotes in and around the village. 

For 200 pesos, you can hire a local tuk-tuk driver and guide to take you to some of the best cenotes in the area. Some are ¨closed¨ and set inside caves with dramatic stalagmite and stalactite formations. Others are open, surrounded by jungle. The Santa Barbara cenotes, Cenote Cholul, and Cenote Bal Mil are particularly gorgeous.

Stop for homemade ice cream along the Merida – Izamal Carretera 

There are few better ways to cool down on a hot, sticky, humid day in the Yucatan peninsula than with a freezing cold pot of homemade nieve (ice cream). You will find plenty of La Michoacana ice cream shops in all of the cities, towns, and villages here, but for something particularly special, look out for an old Mayan man and his daughter selling homemade ice cream along the Merida – Izamel carretera. 

He makes huge tanks of fresh ice cream each morning. This is often vanilla and strawberry ice cream with real fruit pieces, but sometimes he makes uniquely Yucatecan flavors like elote (sweet corn) ice cream which sounds obscure but is absolutely delicious. 

The vendor advertises his treats with a hand-painted sign on a giant boulder at the side of the road that reads ¨helado¨ and he stands beneath a thatched palapa hut. There are usually lots of Yucatecans lining up to order ice cream, with their cars parked up at the side of the road. 

Check out an out-of-place European castle

34km north of Izamal, you will find a little hamlet called Chenche de las Torres. Like Izamal, all of the houses and structures here have been painted in the same uniform shade of bright yellow, yet there are absolutely no tourists here whatsoever. 

While the dirt roads and narrow streets of this tiny settlement are great places to take photos of local life in the Yucatan peninsula, the highlight of this area is an imposing, out-of-place European castle. 

Hacienda Chenche de las Torres was built in the 18th century by Don Alvaro Peón de Regil and Doña Joaquina Peón Castellanos, Counts of Miraflores. The grandiose home, with its turrets, emblems, and sprawling gardens is more reminiscent of a castle in Europe than something you would expect to find in the rural Yucatan – although perhaps the Counts of Miraflores felt nostalgic for their homeland. 

The house is often rented out for celebrations, birthdays, and quinceaneras. If you happen to pass through the area, you can usually take a tour of the grounds for around 100 pesos. (Circa $5 USD). 

Drive along the Ruta Puuc 

The Ruta Puuc is a 30km long driving route in the southern part of the Yucatan state that leads you past a collection of ancient Mayan ruins that are known for their distinctive Puuc style of architecture. The route starts at the UNESCO-protected site of Uxmal and then takes you onwards to Labna, Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and the Loltun Caves. 

If you are short on time, you can explore the ruins in this area in a day. However, if you have a particular interest in Mayan history, you can spend a couple of days exploring the various towns, villages, and ruins along the route. 

Kabah, Labna, and Sayil boast several interesting structures and palaces whose facades are decorated with hundreds upon hundreds of masks of the long-nosed rain god Chaac. Labna is famous for its intricately-designed ceremonial archway, while Sayil is home to an interesting, well-endowed statue of a Mayan god of fertility. 

If you want to stay overnight in the area, you can opt to stay at one of the haciendas or hotels near Uxmal, or in the villages of Santa Elena or Sacalum. 

See the obscure mummy museum in Santa Elena 

While you are exploring the fascinating Puuc route, it is worth making a brief stop in the charming little village of Santa Elena. Local legends state that the entire settlement was built in just one night and there are a couple of interesting Yucatan attractions that are well worth checking out while you are here. 

The burgundy church of Santa Elena awaits up a flight of stairs a short distance from the central square (Zocalo), surrounded by papel picado flags that flutter in the wind. The benches of the zocalo act as a rendevous-point for local old-timers to catch up with their friends and neighbors and there are a couple of cute statues here of cowboy-wearing Mexican men and women in traditional dress. 

A small street food market offers the opportunity to fill up on yummy light bites like tacos and marquesitas, while the colorful La Michoacana ice cream store sells some of the best strawberries and cream ice cream you will ever taste. Still, the most fascinating attraction of Santa Elena is the somewhat macabre Santa Elena mummies. 

When renovation work took place on the church, 12 tiny coffins were found which turned out to be the bodies of 12 infants that for whatever reason, had not decomposed. Today, they are on display in the small, obscure Santa Elena museum. 

Visit the yellow city of Izamal 

The ¨yellow city¨ of Izamal is one of four pueblo magicos in the Yucatan state and somewhere that is quickly establishing itself as a popular day trip destination from Merida and Cancun. You might have seen photos and reels of the city on Instagram.

All of the buildings here have been painted in the same shade of bright yellow, likely in honor of the Mayan Sun God Kinich Kakmó. A pyramid dedicated to this deity can be found in the center of the town and it is free to visit and climb.

This is one of the only surviving pyramids in the Yucatan peninsula as the majority were torn down and destroyed by the Spanish colonizers. Nearby, you will find a restaurant that also goes by the name ¨Kinich¨ which is widely regarded as one of the best places to eat in southeastern Mexico. 

Here, you can try local classics like relleno negro and cochinita pibil, and wash it all down with a refreshing mezcal cocktail. Yum! 

The Convento de San Antonio de Padua (1561) sits on a hilltop in the center of town and is one of the oldest convents in North America. 

It still functions today, and depending on the time you stop by, you might see the resident nuns pottering around the garden or eating their lunch outside. 

Explore the jungle ruins of Chacchoben 

One of the best Mayan cities that you can visit in the Yucatan peninsula is the city of Chacchoben (Cha – cho – ben) in the southernmost part of Quintana Roo. Even if you have traveled to a bunch of Mayan ruins already, Chacchoben is unique because the pyramids and structures are nestled deep in the jungle. 

Many temples have become overgrown and are covered with moss, while 100-foot palm trees tower overhead, covering the jungle canopy so that you can barely see the sky. If you get here early in the morning before the tour buses arrive, you may find that you have the ruins largely to yourself and you might even be able to spot some of the howler monkeys, spider monkeys, foxes, and pecarries that call Chacchoben their home. 

Chacchoben means “the place of red corn” in Mayan and is believed to date back to 200 BC. It was not discovered until the 1940s when a local man saw the top of a pyramid poking out above the ground, loved the space, and decided to build his home amongst them. 

An American Archeologist eventually reported the site to INAH in 1972, but Chacchoben wasn’t opened to the public until 2002. 

Visit Progreso, the most popular beach town near Merida 

Progreso is the closest beach town to the city of Merida and is a popular place for locals, expats, and travelers to head to for the day when they are seeking some much-needed R&R by the sea. Progreso is your quintessential Mexican beach town and at weekends, the shores of the beach here are filled with families having picnics and dining at local restaurants. 

Most of the beachfront bars and taverns here let you rent a sunbed and an umbrella for the entire day provided you spend a few dollars in their establishments. Marymar Beach Club and Silcer beach club are also great choices if you are looking for something a little more upscale. 

It is pleasant to stroll along the waterfront Malecon, stopping here and there for drinks, a fresh coconut, or meringue , especially in the evenings as the sun sets. 

Spend a few days in the Mexican Caribbean at Mahahual 

If you want all the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean without the crowds of the Riviera Maya, you should consider traveling south through Quintana Roo to the Costa Maya and the little beach town of Mahahual. 

This little fishing village is home to just over 2,600 people and although a steady stream of tourists have started visiting the area, it is still relatively quiet and low-key compared to other coastal areas in Quintana Roo. 

A trip here is more about relaxing and unwinding rather than sightseeing and checking things off a to-do list. Reserve a stay in one of the waterfront hotels so that you can wake up and head street to the beach each morning. 

The Mahahual promenade is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants serving fresh seafood dishes sourced from the nearby waters, and delicious cuisines from all over the world. From the central Mahahual beach, you can also walk or rent a bike and cycle to the beaches of La Bamba and Maya Chan. 

Kayak across the multicolored lagoon of Lake Bacalar 

Lake Bacalar is a long, narrow lake in the southern part of Quintana Roo, close to the border with Belize. It is affectionately referred to as the ¨ seven-color lagoon¨ because the waters here shimmer in different shades of green, blue, and turquoise. 

Bacalar is the second-largest freshwater lake in Mexico and a great place to treat yourself to a relaxing weekend break. As is to be expected with a lake town, there are a ton of water-based activities that you can enjoy here – from kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding to taking a guided boat trip across the lagoon. 

There are a couple of notable sites to look out for as you make your way around town. The Fort of San Felipe is what remains of an old defensive structure that was used to defend the town’s residents from English pirates centuries ago, while an abandoned hotel complex at the northern point of the lake was an ultra-luxurious property designed to accommodate the mega-rich, but was never allowed to open as its founder was arrested for having links to organized crime groups. 

Browse the markets of Muna 

Muna, meaning ¨place of soft water¨ in Mayan, is a small city in central Yucatan that is home to just over 11,000 residents. There aren’t a heap of things to do here, but you may have to change buses here en route to/from Uxmal from Merida, or you may have time to stop for a traditional dinner while exploring the Ruta Puuc. 

The Muna Zocalo is flanked by the impressive burgundy 16th-century Virgin of the Assumption church and the nearby Mercado Municipal de Muna is a charming marketplace whose walls and ceilings are decorated with colorful murals depicting scenes of life in the Yucatan peninsula. 

If you are renting a car in Mexico , you can drive to the Muna lookout point on the outskirts of town. Here, locals have built a higgledy-piggledy wooden viewing platform which you can climb for a few pesos and glance across the jungle canopy to see the pyramids of Uxmal in the distance. 

Treat yourself to an indulgent stay at the Telchac Puerto Marina 

Telchac Puerto is a beach town along the Yucatan’s Ruta Esmerelda, just an hour away from Merida. It doesn’t quite have the beauty of San Bruno or San Crisanto, but if you have plenty of time to spend in the Yucatan peninsula, it’s a nice alternative place to visit. 

The town itself is home to a long sandy beach bordered by a waterfront Malecon where couples come to take scenic strolls at night and street vendors sell micheladas in every flavor imaginable, served in obscure cups. 

Arguably the best place to stay or stop for lunch is the Hotel Marina Kinuh, whose excellent in-house restaurant serves sumptuous dishes from across Mexico, and where guests can take a golf caddy to a private section of a pristine secluded beach. A lot of yacht owners moor their boats at the marina here while exploring the Yucatan peninsula, and the property is effortlessly elegant without any air of pretension.  

Nearby, you will also find the Sayachaltun Eco Reserve. The reserve is a new project by a collective of 26 fishermen from Telchac Puerto, who want to show visitors the natural beauty of the region. 

Here, you can organize kayaking and boat tours through the mangroves and your local guide will point out all of the wildlife that calls the reserve home. 

Go scuba diving off the coast of Cozumel

Cozumel is a gorgeous island in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Playa Del Carmen, Akumal, and the state of Quintana Roo. The ferry to get here takes just 45 minutes each way, and Cozumel is well worth the effort to get to. 

There are dozens of breathtaking beaches on the island and if you venture a little ways away from the main towns and resort areas, you can find some secluded spots that feel like your very own desert island getaway. Head to the eastern part of the island if you are looking for something peaceful away from the crowds. 

Punta Morena, El Mirador, Playa de San Martin, and Playa Chen Rio are gorgeous spots. Cozumel also offers the opportunity to dive or snorkel in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

This is the second-largest reef in the world. (Second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia) and you can organize dive lessons and tours to see coral reefs, colorful fish, rays, and turtles. 

See flamingoes in their natural habitat at Celestun 

The coastal town of Celestun , in the western part of the Yucatan, is home to the protected Ría Celestún biosphere where thousands of pink flamingos, crocodiles, and birds live within the rivers and mangroves. The reserve was inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2004 and is a beautiful place to visit during your time in the Yucatan – even if you don’t consider yourself someone who is massively interested in birdwatching. 

When you arrive at the reserve, you can rent a boat for 1800 pesos (circa $107 US dollars). The boat accommodates 8-9 people so if there are just a few of you, you can wait until other travelers arrive and the boat is full. 

(There are always plenty of tourists here so it isn’t difficult to find other people to share your trip with). The American flamingoes are here between November and April each year before migrating east toward El Cuyo. 

Experience an authentic Yucatecan neighborhood in Itzimna 

Most tourists that travel to Merida will base themselves in the central touristic districts close to the Paseo Montejo, Parque San Juan, the Zocalo, and Parque Santa Lucia. But if you want to experience an authentic Yucatecan neighborhood that still offers plenty by way of cafes, restaurants, and cultural experiences, take a look at Itzimna. 

This quaint district takes its name from the Mayan God Itzamná and was once an independent town until urban expansion saw it become a part of Merida. Parque Itzimna marks the center of the neighborhood and is home to the 1710 ¨Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help¨ Catholic church. 

Casa Gemela (Calle 16 No.107 Esq. 31, Cto. Colonias, Itzimná) is an elegant mansion that has been transformed into an art gallery and cultural space. It plays host to live musicians every Saturday night, who perform to a small, intimate audience. 

Caffe Latte Itzimina is widely regarded as being the very best coffee place in the city, while the various independent stores that encircle the square sell local agro products that make great souvenirs from your trip to Mexico. 

Experience Hanal Paxan – the Mayan Day of the Dead 

If you happen to be traveling to Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula in November , you can participate in the region’s magical Hanal Paxan celebrations. This is essentially the Mayan answer to the infamous Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) and the two holidays take place on the same dates, although they share several differences and similarities. 

Hanal Paxan means ¨food for the souls” in Mayan and the holiday celebrates the lives of loved ones lost. November 1st and the 2nd are the key dates but in the capital of Merida, the festivities go on for a couple of weeks. 

Bakeries and patisseries around the city sell pan de los muertos (bread of the dead) – a delicious, sugary orange-flavored doughnut-like pastry and every store, train station and hotel decorate their interiors with calavera skulls and calaca skeletons. 

Paseo de las Animas is a particularly interesting tradition. Locals paint their faces with catrina makeup and participate in a candlelit procession from Merida’s Cementerio Genera to the city center, to welcome the souls of the deceased back into the world of the living. 

Relax at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a large protected area just south of Tulum. Sian Ka’an means “gate of heaven” or “origin of the sky” in Mayan. 

This area is a paradise for hikers, nature lovers, and beach-goers alike. Here, you can swim in the crystal clear waters of alluring white-sand beaches backed by dense jungles and coconut groves, sail through the mangroves, or set out on a hiking and trekking adventure.

Assuming that you want to relax by the coast, some of the best beaches in the area can be found at Punta Allen and Boca Paila. If you are lucky, you might spot dolphins playing in the nearby waters. 

Go birdwatching in Rio Lagartos 

Rio Lagartos is a small fishing village on the banks of Lagartos Lagoon, on the northern tip of the Yucatan state. Less than 4,000 people call this little pueblo their home and most of the local residents work in fishing and agriculture, although a small handful of tourists have started venturing here in recent years.

For 900 pesos, you can hire one of the local fishermen to take you on a 3-hour boat tour across the lake. Along the way, you will stop to see mud baths that the Mayans would use as a natural spa, a grove occupied by crocodiles, and the spectacular beaches of Playa de San Felipe and Playa Publica.

For an extra special experience, take a boat out at night to see the sunset over the lagoon and the Gulf of Mexico. There are only a handful of hotel/accommodation options in the area, most of which are quite rustic. 

Hotel Rio Lagartos is a nice choice, and they have an excellent rooftop bar where you can enjoy pina coladas and frozen margaritas as you gaze across the lagoon. 

See the famous pink lakes of Las Coloradas and Laguna Rosada 

The infamous pink lakes of Las Coloradas and Laguna Rosada were on everyone’s social media feeds a couple of years ago. The water in the lakes is naturally a shade of ultra-bright pink – creating a setting that looks absolutely out of this world. 

This is because of a specific type of red brine shrimp that lives in these waters. Las Coloradas is the more popular of the two, but it is often crowded with tourists, even if you go early in the morning. 

Laguna Rosada, close to the Xcambo ruins and Telchac Puerto is a great, alternative option. Interestingly, locals also mine salt from these waters, and you can see them working and sieving it out as you walk around. 

Experience Valladolid 

The city of Valladolid is a charming pueblo magico in the center of the Yucatan state, some 44km away from the ruins of Chichen Itza. Valladolid Mexico is named after the city of the same name in Spain, which was the country’s capital at that time. 

The city dates back to 1543 and was developed by the descendants of Spanish Conquistadors over the site of an existing Mayan city. The Spanish destroyed Mayan temples and shrines, pillaging them for building materials. 

This led to several violent clashes and fights between the Spanish and the Maya that would last for centuries.

Modern-day Valladolid is sleepy and tranquil – a stark contrast to its violent origins.

Despite its size, the city has more of a small-town feel about it. The impressive 1545 San Servacio church can be found in the city center, along with some interesting local markets selling traditional food and clothing. 

While you are here, you should also make time to visit the colorful Convent San Bernardino – one of the oldest convents in the Yucatan. 

Spend a weekend in Campeche 

The state of Campeche is the least visited of the three states in the Yucatan tri-state area. The state capital, Campeche City is a colorful colonial port city that thrived during the 17th century and was an extremely important trading post for the Spanish. 

Its old town is UNESCO-protected and is widely regarded as being one of the best-preserved colonial settlements in Mexico today. The crumbling remnants of old fortifications, bastions, defensive walls, fortresses, and rusting cannons that once guarded the inhabitants against pirate attacks still stand. 

Part of the joy of visiting Campeche is simply found in taking the time to get lost among the cobbled streets and narrow passageways. For 100 pesos, you can take an old-fashioned trolley tour of the city, stopping here and there to photograph important churches and neighborhoods. 

The Campeche Malecon is a 7km promenade that leads you along the waterfront, past interesting sculptures, street art murals, bars, and restaurants. 

See a city developed around ancient ruins in Acanceh 

Acanceh is a small town southeast of Merida that is worth stopping at briefly if you are driving through the area en route to the Homun cenotes or Izamal. Acanceh means ¨lament of the deer” in Yucatecan Mayan, and the interesting thing about this town is that it is also an ancient Mayan city and archeological site. 

Here, grand Mayan pyramids and observatories, with well-preserved stucco masks of the sun god K’inich Ahau sit beside colorful churches and tumbledown wooden shacks selling drinks and snacks. The modern-day town has been built between and around the ruins, and Acanceh is unlike anywhere else in the world. 

Have brunch or dinner in Cholul  

Cholul is an upscale village just north of Merida whose bars, restaurants, and boutique stores attract a crowd of well-heeled Yucatecans. It is worth coming here for an afternoon from Merida to have lunch or dinner and to meander around the Parque K’íiwik Cholul. 

Every Sunday morning, there is a small flea market beside Cholul church, where locals come to sell their second-hand clothing, toys, and games, while street vendors pop up selling local fruits, sweets, and carne asada. 

Al Modar (C. 20 106, Cholul) is a great place to head to for breakfast or brunch, and the eatery offers giant cups of frothy cappuccinos as big as your head, as well as excellent breakfast dishes from across Mexico and the world – from Spanish omelets and eggs benedict to spicy chilaquiles. 

Nearby Sabor a Mango offers elevated Mexican cuisine in a stunning setting. The interior of the premises is designed like a traditional Yucatecan homestead, while you can also choose to sit in the outdoor courtyard where live musicians perform jazz, blues, and Mexican pop music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. 

Spend a day by the beach in Sisal

Sisal is the final of the four Yucatan state pueblo magicos. It was awarded ¨pueblo magico¨ status in December 2020 and awaits at the northwestern tip of the state. 

In the 19th century, this was an important trading port for the Spanish as they shipped henequen (¨sisal¨) to various countries across the globe. As time went by, Progreso became the best strategic port in the Yucatan and today, Sisal is best known for its pretty beach. 

You could easily while away a lazy day or two hanging out on the beach here. Since Sisal is a bit of a trek from Merida, Cancun, and the other popular tourist sites in Yucatan Mexico, few people make the effort to venture here and the beach is generally pretty quiet. 

If you are traveling from Merida, you can also stop in the lovely town of Hunucmá on your way to Sisal, to indulge in traditional cuisine and homemade ice cream. 

Edzna Ruins 

The Edzna ruins , some 52km south of Campeche city are both some of the most impressive and yet, largely unknown Mayan ruins in the Yucatan peninsula. This, in part, is likely because public transport in Campeche state leaves a lot to be desired, and a lot of travelers are not aware of the existence of the site unless they have a major interest in history. 

Edzna was also known as ¨House of the Itzas¨. It dates back to 700 BC and formed strong political and commercial relationships with Uxmal and Chichen Itza until it was eventually abandoned in 1500 AD.

The ruins were not discovered until 1907 and excavation works were still ongoing in the 1980s. There are a couple of interesting buildings to look out for here. 

The ¨Temple of the Masks¨ contains two incredibly well-preserved giant masks of the god Kinich Ahau. One portrays him as an old man, the other portrays him in his youth. 

The Great Pyramid and the Grand Acropolis that occupy the main plaza are towering structures that can be seen from a distance along the jungle road well before you arrive at the Edzna complex. 

Swim with whale sharks at Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox (pronounced ¨Hol Bosh¨) is a gorgeous island off the northern coast of Quintana Roo in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. It is part of the Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve and a protected area. 

A diverse range of wildlife can be found in Holbox; American flamingos live here from April to October, and pelicans, turtles, crocodiles, and dolphins also call the island home. 

No cars are permitted on the island, so most people get around by ATVs and golf caddies. 

One of the best things that you can do on Holbox Island is to take a whale shark tour or go swimming with whale sharks. These majestic endangered creatures migrate to the warm waters of the Mexican Caribbean between April and September every year.

These gentle giants can grow up to 12 feet long and live off a diet of plankton. They pose no threat to humans. (The suggestion of swimming with sharks can sound terrifying but this isn’t like you are swimming with great white sharks!)  

From Holbox, you can also take day trips and excursions out to the nearby Isla Pasión (Passion Island), Isla Pájaros (Bird Island), and Cabo Catoche (Cape Catoche).

Admire the coastal Tulum ruins 

The Tulum ruins are among some of the best Mayan ruins in Mexico . They are perched on top of a rocky bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the site is the only known Mayan city that was built along the coast. The name “Tulum” means “wall” in Mayan – a nod to the sunbleached defensive walls that still stand here. 

It is thought that the original city that once stood here was actually named “Zama” and the site is believed to date back to at least 564AD. One of the best things about visiting the Tulum ruins is having the opportunity to swim in the turquoise waters of the beach beneath them. 

Rent a bicycle and cycle through the ruins of Coba

The Coba archeological site is what remains one of the largest and most important Mayan cities in the Yucatan peninsula. At one point, more than 50,000 people called Coba home, meaning that the city was of equal size and scale to Chichen Itza. 

It is estimated that there are more than 6,500 structures at the Coba site, although only a portion of them have been excavated currently. (Who knows what other treasures and artifacts await beneath the surface?). 

The site is so vast that its various buildings and plazas are connected by a series of white stone Mayan roads known as sacbes that you can rent a bicycle and cycle between. One of the most notable structures here is the 137-foot pyramid of Nohoch Mul – one of the largest in the Yucatan. 

Take photos at Cenote Suytan 

Cenote Suytan is the famous Instagram cenote that you have probably seen plastered all over people’s social media feeds in Mexico. It’s the popular cenote that has a little circular platform in the center of it, providing the perfect photo opp. 

A small hole in the roof of the cenote allows a single spotlight of sunlight to shine through, creating a magical effect. Cenote Suytan was once used by the Ancient Maya for ceremonies and rituals and they believed that it was a portal to the underworld that would allow them to communicate with their gods. 

Cenote Suytan is not really a place to go if you want to spend a peaceful afternoon swimming as it is always crowded and you have to queue up to get a photo on the famous platform. But it isn’t far from the main attractions in Tulum, so if you want to get a shot of yourself here, it is worth stopping by. 

(Come as early as you can to avoid the crowds and tour buses!)  

Final thoughts on the best things to do in the Yucatán Peninsula 

Do you have any further questions or concerns about the best things to do in the Yucatan? I have been living in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula for the last two years and have explored every destination in this Yucatan peninsula travel guide, and a great deal more!

This guide is already pretty mammoth but I will update it periodically as I find more and more interesting things to do in the Yucatan. If you are planning a trip to this region for the first time, you might also enjoy reading these Mexico travel tips.  

Have a wonderful time in Mexico! Buen Viaje! Melissa xo 

Melissa Douglas

Similar posts.

34 Best Day Trips from Merida, Mexico: A Local’s Guide for 2024

There are lots of incredible day trips from Merida that you can take during your visit to the cultured Yucatan capital. The “White City”, built…

How to Get from Tulum to Chichen Itza in 2024: 5 Ways to Travel

Curious about how to get from Tulum to Chichen Itza during your time in the Mexican Yucatan? Not to worry, I have got you covered…

Izamal Mexico: Your 2024 Guide to the Yellow City

Izamal Mexico is a wonderful addition to any Yucatan travel itinerary. The little city is characterized by its bright yellow houses and buildings.  Up until…

How to Get from Cancun to Chichen Itza in 2024: Local’s Guide

If you are curious about how to make the journey from Cancun to Chichen Itza, you have come to the right place. I live in…

Kikil Yucatan and Cenote Kikil: Off-the-Beaten-Path Yucatan

The charming little village of Kikil Yucatan is a place that most travellers have never even heard of. It isn’t a tourist destination per se,…

17 of the Best Day Trips from Cancun to Take in 2024

You have arrived in sunny Cancun! Once you have had your share of tacos, margaritas, and other mouth-watering street food, explored the beautiful coastline, and…

Sun and beach

Mérida, Southern Cultural and Culinary Capital City

Archaeological zones.

Plan your trip

Getting here.

• USA, Houston
• USA, Oakland
• USA, Dallas
• MX, Chiapatas
• MX, Jalisco
• MX, Nuevo León
• MX, Veracruz
• MX, Villahermosa
• MX, Querétaro

Travel to Yucatan trough the different airlines

Explore Yucatán in

Meet the experiences that Yucatán has for you

Venture into our regions.

Yucatán, Cenotes and Haciendas

Mayan World Capital

Puuc Route and Mayan Villages

Riviera Yucatán

Explore yucatán.

Hanal Pixán

The meaning in Mayan of the words “Hanal” and “Pixán” are “food” and “soul” respectively, therefore Haná Pixán means “Food for the souls”.

Río Lagartos

Only 12 kilometers separate the port of San Felipe from Río Lagartos, from where you can take a tour that will give you a memorable experience.

Flamingos route

Some of these routes will take you to the reserves or protected areas covered with vegetation, cenotes, salt flats and lagoons right where the flamingos court and nest.

Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá, it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988 by UNESCO and a Wonder of the World since 2007.

The Cuyo is the small port of the municipality of Tizimín within the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.

Nowadays, known as "The Capital of the Mayan Orient", Valladolid is one of the two Magical Towns of Yucatán. It is a beautiful destination, since it has kept the architectural beauty of its ancestral colonial buildings.

Unique experiences

No. 015 Snorkeling in Sisal

Discover Sisal’s nature, a small and picturesque port, learn about the history of the first port in Yucatán.

No. 300 Practice Sailing at Telchac Port

Discover the incredible beaches of Riviera Yucatán and learn to navigate at the same time. The Yucatecan coast is one of the best...

No. 221 Beer Spa at Uxmal

Close to the Archaeological Zone of Uxmal, you can enjoy this unique experience in the entire state, a beer spa!

No. 351 Skate Park in Progreso

Nothing better than enjoying the sea breeze while practicing an outdoors sport, skating and its urban movement lovers will...

No. 094 Scuba diving in Sisal

A new experience available in the Magic Town of Sisal, scuba diving in the sea, available only during certain seasons of the year, with...

No. 365 Alacranes Reef Experience

Alacranes Reef National Park is a set of small islands of coral origin, located 80.7 miles to the north of Progreso Port in Yucatán.

No. 178 Experience at Silcer Boardwalk

A day pass in one of the most beautiful beaches in Yucatán, in Silcer boardwalk at Progreso, in an assigned sunbed...

No. 280 Tekax Chapel look-out

Tekax’s historic downtown is undoubtedly a must visit for all those who seek to learn more about the cultural richness of the region.

No. 120 Kaan Ac Hacienda

Kaan Ac Hacienda, built in the 16th century, is located in the Magic Town of Valladolid. It has a unique architecture in the region...

A paradise of world recognition

Valladolid, best destination to visit.

Yucatan, State of Peace

Merida, Best Small City in the World

Valladolid, Best emerging destination

• Isla Holbox
• Isla Mujeres
• Playa del Carmen
• Puerto Aventuras
• Puerto Morelos
• Riviera Maya

• Hotels & Resorts

Experience Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula... Accommodations, Private transfers, Private experiences

Price transparency, serving since 2000, private is better, {{popularmexicodestinations.heading}}, {{popularprivatetransportationroutes.heading}}, {{experiencetheyucatanpeninsula.heading}}, {{recentmexicotravelguides.title}}, {{item.title}}.

{{item.description}}

OTHER DESTINATIONS

• Chichen Itza
• Costa Maya – Chetumal
• Private Rentals
• Private Transfers
• Private Tours
• Global Hotel Reservations

AREA HIGHLIGHTS

• Mayan Ruins
• Whale Sharks
• Yucatan Peninsula

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Travel Resources

23 Amazing Things to do in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Written By: Justin and Tracey

Updated On: April 18, 2024

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is an expansive swath of land in the southeastern part of the country, separating the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. From the azure waters of the Caribbean Coast to the remains of ancient Mayan ruins strewn throughout the interior, there are so many things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula you’ll need to go back again and again to see it all. 

The Yucatán Peninsula is often referred to as simply “The Yucatan” but it actually consists of three states – The Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. Most people are familiar with Quintana Roo as it is here you’ll find famous beaches and the all-inclusive resorts of Cancun , Playa del Carmen , Cozumel, and Tulum . This travel guide is going to take you beyond the tourist resorts to explore everything the Yucatan Peninsula has to offer.

Things to do in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula

Few places in the western world see luxury beach resorts built beside ruins from a previous civilization that thrived not so long ago. Where spring-breaking college students frequent an area just as popular to world-renown archaeologists and academic experts from around the globe. The Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico appeals to everyone!

What to do in Yucatan Mexico

This Mexico Yucatan guide was originally written by Justin and Tracy and it has been updated and expanded for 2022

Littered with archeological sites, endless white-sand beaches, and containing the ring of Cenotes , there are so many things to do in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula that it will draw you back again and again. No matter the reason, once you get there, there are many different ways you can explore, enjoy, and enrapture yourself in the Yucatan Peninsula. This area, once a primary stronghold of the Mayan Empire, is now a haven for tourists of all walks of life.

Our Favourite Hotels in the Yucatan

When we visit the Yucatan Peninsula, we often stay in all-inclusive hotels for at least a week to relax before setting out to explore. And sometimes we simply book a week-long getaway. These are some of the hotels we’ve stayed in and have thoroughly enjoyed. Read more: Where to Stay in Cancun: Best Hotels and Areas For Every Budget

• Excellence Cancun Riviera  – This all inclusve adults only hotel is perfect for a romantic getaway or special occasion. We had a private pool on our rooftop and enjoyed the incredible spa.
• Moon Palace Grand  –  We spent a week here and enjoyed the different levels for families and couples. Check  TripAdvisor  and  Booking.com  for reviews and rates
• Hyatt Zilara  – We love the Hyatt Zilara resorts and it also different levels of hotels for families, and couples. Check  TripAdvisor  and  Booking.com
• Barcelo Maya  – We loved our stay here on the Mayan Riviera. Check out  TripAdvisor  and  Booking.com
• The Fives Azul Beach Resort  – All-Inclusive Luxury Resort – 10 Minutes from Playa del Carmen. Check out  TripAdvisor  and  Booking.com

1. Swim with Whale Sharks

By far one of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula is to go swimming with Whale Sharks. Taking a boat trip just two hours off the coast of Cancun is the chance to check off this ultimate bucket list item and get in the water to swim with whale sharks. Read more: Swimming with Whale Sharks Cancun

We booked our whale shark tour with GetYourGuide . This was an amazing tour that takes you out to the islands of Contoy and Holbox. Besides whale sharks, keep an eye out for sea turtles and dolphins as well.

Book your tour here to swim with the Whale Sharks – It offers free cancelation within 24 hours of excursion and it picked us up at our apartment rental in Playa del Carmen.

2. Make a Stop at Chichen Itza

One of the top things to do in the Yucatán Peninsula is, without question, is Chichen Itza. This sprawling UNESCO World Heritage site of Mayan pyramids, ball courts, sanctuaries, and temples is believed to be the primary location for Mayan Governance. Read more at the Ultimate Guide to the Yucatan .

The Mayan Pyramid of Kukulcan, or El Castillo as it’s colloquially called, is the centerpiece. The steep, high stairs seem to taunt you as they draw the eye up in admiration of a truly magnificent Mayan structure. It is here where Mayan priests conducted their most private and important ceremonies, to give thanks, ask for blessings, and even bury their leaders.

In addition to El Castillo, The Great Ball Court is another thing you do not want to miss. Once the site of an ancient, ritualistic game played by the Maya in honor of the Gods, whose loser lost not only the game but often his life this part of Chichen Itza gives an interesting look into the Mayan culture. Book this highly rated tour of the ruins . Besides seeing Chichen Itza, it also takes you to the Sacred Cenote and Valladolid.

3. Swim in The Sacred Cenote

On the grounds of Chichen Itza is the Sacred Cenote, the primary cenote from which the ancient Maya civilization thrived for hundreds of years. Evidence suggests that the Maya used this site for religious ceremonies. See what it’s like to tour one of Mexico’s underground rivers at Rio Secreto Cenote – Mexico’s Magical Underground Caves

Today it is a primary attraction for visitors to the Yucatan due to the deep, refreshing waters and mesmerizing scenery. This cenote is a key destination for historians, scientists, and professional divers, as pottery, tools, and even remains have been found along riveted shelves in the cenote walls!

Cenotes of the Yucatan

One of the best things to do in the Yucatan is to explore its Cenotes. (An underground cave). There are several cenotes scattered throughout the Yucatan and the state of Quintana Roo. This Cenote Tour takes you to the four types of cenotes in Quintana Roo that exist in nature: semi-open, open, ancient, and cavern explore its Cenotes. Book this highly rated tour here.

4. Take in the Beautiful Scene from Tulum

When walking up to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, you can’t help but think that “these Mayans had the right idea!” With the crystalline aqua of the Caribbean Sea as a beautiful backdrop, Tulum stands proudly on the shores far above the white sands beneath. Amid beach clubs, vacation resorts, hammocks, and sun-kissed tourists, Tulum is one of the most visually captivating locations in all of North America.

The resort town that Tulum rests within does nothing but add to the inspiring nature of the location, as revelers of fun-in-the-sun can take a history break to walk the grounds of the former Mayan fortress. After exploring the beautiful ruins, take a walk down the road to any one of the local restaurants for fresh food and drinks – right on the beach.

Book this Tulum Tour in Mexico Yucatan, it includes a tour of Tulum where you’ll learn of the Mayan civilization and culture followed by a stop at one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula.

5. Sian Ka’an Biosphere

Located farther south down the coast of Quintana Roo, The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is rich with wildlife including many bird species. With activities like boat tours and snorkeling, visiting the Sian Ka’an Biosphere is a great way to get out and experience the natural beauty of the Riviera Maya.

6. Stroll The Streets Of Playa Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a major tourist destination in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and not only is it a good place to visit, but it’s also a great place to stay. Day tours and hotels often shuttle people to Playa del Carmen, where you can shop on La Quinta Avenida. But staying overnight is a must as well.

The restaurants and nightlife will keep you busy, but it isn’t quite as wild a night out as it is in Cancun. There are many places to choose from, including the world-famous Coco Bongo, but you’ll also find chilled-out beach bars, live music, and delicious Mexican cuisine.

7. Isla Mujeres – The Island of Women

Isla Mujeres is a popular day trip from Cancun but you can stay on the island as well. It has white sand beaches, clear waters, and great snorkeling at Garrafon Reef Park. Isla Mujeres is translated to the Island of Women in English. It was sacred to the ancient Mayans who worshipped it as the goddess of childbirth. Hence the name the Island of Women. Read more: The Best Cancun Day Trips . You can book day tours to Isla Mujeres with tours to Isla Contoy for bird watching.

8. Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a quiet island off the coast and has become quite popular in recent years. Whale sharks migrate through the region making it a good choice for whale shark tours. No cars are allowed on the island but there are hotels, vacation rentals, and restaurants. You can book whale shark tours from here.

Day tours take you to Chiquilá where you catch the ferry to explore its colorful houses, do some bird watching, and swim in its pristine waters. But if you want to mellow out, stay overnight for a day or two.

9. Scuba Diving

The waters of Cozumel have pristine coral reefs filled with an abundance of marine life and colorful fish. Its amazing clarity, with visibility reaching over 100 feet, makes it one of the great places for scuba diving in the world.

Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island, located a short ferry ride from Playa del Carmen. In 1961 Jacques Cousteau discovered the magnificent scuba diving here and declared the area as one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. They were declared a national marine park in 1996. This has allowed the reef to thrive and the wildlife to flourish, making for one of the most sensational scuba diving experiences you’re likely to ever have. We particularly enjoyed drift diving in this area.

10. Cozumel Island

Speaking of Cozumel, we spent a week on the island not only making it our base for scuba diving, but it is also a lot of fun to explore Cozumel Island. We rented a jeep to get around the island and explore the beaches. If you are staying on Cozumel and can’t make it to the mainland to visit the Mayan Ruins, you can go to Discover Mexico Park to see models of Mexico’s most popular attractions.

Or you can visit the small Mayan Ruin of San Gervasio Ruins to pay tribute to the Goddess of Love. There are markets, restaurants, and bars in Cozumel making for a great Mexican vacation. Cozumel Island is a 40-minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen making it a popular day trip as well.

11. Party it Up in Cancun

No trip to the Yucatan would be complete without at least stopping in the famous coastal city of Cancun. Its long sandy beaches, an endless row of hotels, and world-famous nightlife have made it a stop on every spring breakers bucket list. It’s fun to head into town for the night to party in one of its bars. Go crazy for a night and have some fun in the town in the Hotel Zone. Just make sure to stay safe.

Cancun isn’t just for partiers though the endless sand beach is attractive to anyone, Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (Mayan World Museum the largest collection of Mayan artifacts . There are plenty of things to do in Cancun and we have a complete list of Cancun attractions here.

12. Sea Turtles of Akumal Beach

Akumal is a popular nesting ground for sea turtles, and swimming with sea turtles has become the top draw in the area. The protected bay makes for perfect conditions for snorkeling. Sea turtles are abundant, and you can snorkel here independently without needing to take a tour. So grab your snorkel gear, rent a car, and make your way to Akumal to see what it’s like to swim with sea turtles. Akumal is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, 104 km (65 miles) from Cancun.

If you want to go diving in a Cenote, Cenote Dos Ojos is located between Akumal and Tulum. Dos Ojos Cenotes (meaning Spanish for two eyes) is one of the best places to scuba dive in a Cenote in the Yucatan. Cenotes in Photos – Discover Mexico’s Extraordinary Underground Caves

13. Mérida

Known as the White City, Mérida is the capital city of Yucatan State and is known as the cultural capital of the cities in Yucatan. It’s also considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Yucatan. Merida has become a popular spot for ex-pats settling in Mexico thanks to its infrastructure and amenities. Colorful buildings line the streets, where local artisans sell hammocks, traditional clothing, and traditional Yucatan foods. It is also a great place to learn Spanish. It became known as the white city due to the white mansions that line the tree-lined boulevard, Paseo Montejo. Make sure to spend a day or two in Merida for a more authentic Mexican vacation away from the touristy cities of Quintana Roo.

Izamal, aka La Ciudad Amarilla (or The Yellow City), is designated a Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) by the Mexican government. This designation is to preserve its special culture and it is special indeed. Located between Mérida and Chichén Itzá, Izamal is a popular day trip from Merida. Named after the Mayan God Itzamná, Izamal attracts visitors to marvel at its beautiful yellow buildings. Some people believe the city was painted yellow to honor a visit from Pope John Paul II in 1993 while others say it is to honor the Mayan Sun God Kinich Ahau (Kinich Ajaw) . Whatever the reason, it has done an amazing job attracting visitors.

15. Cliff Dive at Cenote Zaci

Cenote Zaci is one of the most popular cenotes in the Yúcatan. Located in Valladolid, Cenote Zaci is just a short walk from downtown. Zaci Cenote is cheap to enter, at only about 30 pesos per person, and offers a simply irreplaceable experience once inside. You’ll find yourself stepping down a steep, narrow, staircase that reveals a grand expanse of vegetation and cliffs which overlook the beautiful Cenote Zaci. Here you can challenge your fear of heights with a jump of more than thirty feet into the waters below!

Watch our video having fun in the Yucatan’s Cenotes

If cliff jumping isn’t quite your speed, the expansive and cool waters are perfect for a peaceful float in the heat of the day, and easily reachable by the walkway that is built into the perimeter of the cenote. Read more: Cenotes in Photos – Discover Mexico’s Extraordinary Underground Caves

Cenotes can be found all over this part of Mexico, especially in Quintana Roo. If you don’t make it to Cenote Zaci, make sure you at least look into other Cenote Tours Like this one that we did .

16. Explore Enchanting Ek Balam

Ek Balam is the ancient Mayan city nearest to Valladolid and that needs plenty of time to visit. The complex is sprawling, with more than 45 structures of varying purpose, design, and size. The most notable structure on the grounds is El Trono (‘The Throne’), where the founder of Ek Balam society, Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’, is thought to be buried.

This is a striking structure with a deceivingly steep climb of 106 steps to the top. From here, one can gaze upon the entire canopy of the Yucatan jungle. Closer to ground level, there are ancient chapels, steam baths, and the Oval Palace. It was believed to be a place of worship giving thanks to the Gods.

17. Climb the Steps of Coba

Coba is among the ruins in the Yucatán Peninsula that offers the most interesting, freshest perspective among history-lovers and archaeologists. It is believed that 90% of the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula are still buried at Coba.

Only partially complete in its excavation, Coba remains a rugged structure that peaks above the emerald trees to reveal the true remoteness of its setting. You can see mounds upon mounds of unearthed structures across the forests – where scientists believe that more than 90 percent of the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan remain hidden! Book this Tulum Coba and Valladolid Tour to experience the best of the Yucatan in one day.

While not as fully excavated as Chichen Itza, that is exactly what makes this special. Here you can climb the highest Mayan Pyramid in the Yucatán Peninsula at more than 130 feet in height. Make sure you wear a good pair of shoes, as Coba presents one of the more challenging climbs among the pyramids in Mexico, with 120 steep and daunting steps to the top!

18. Las Coloradas (Pink Lakes)

Las Coloradas has certainly grown to become one of the top things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula. With Instagram and TikTok gracing our lives, everyone wants to share photos and videos of pink lakes. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see pink lakes, and the ones at Las Coloradas are second to none. The bright pink salt lakes are the result of the critters that thrive in the dense saltwater. Algae, shrimp, and brine. You can no longer go in the water or even get close to it. There are now platforms for viewing but the best way to view the lakes is to book a tour.

This Day Trip from Cancun takes you to the Pink Lakes in comfort where you’ll explore the salt lakes of Las Coloradas, the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, and a seafood lunch.

19. Laguna de Bacalar (Lagoon of Seven Colors)

It was in 2003 that we took a bus from Cancun to cross the Belize border while exploring Latin America. Taking our time exploring the south of Mexico was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. On our way to the border town of Chetumal (the capital city of Quintana Roo), we stopped at Balacar Lagoon.

Known as the Maldives of Mexico, The Lagoon of Seven Colors has (you guessed it) seven shades of blue. Located two hours south of Tulum , it is the perfect getaway to avoid the mass of tourists in the Riviera Maya.

This 60km series of inland waterways was once a passage for pirates and early traders. We’ll never forget the beautiful turquoise waters of Balacar Lagoon. Read more: 26 of the Best Things to Do in Belize in 2024

20. Valladolid

While the temptation will be to stay in either Cancun or Playa del Carmen we think you’ll get more out of your time in the Yucatan by staying in Valladolid. Located a mere two-hour drive from ruin locations such as Tulum and less than an hour from a handful of other desirable locations, Valladolid is both affordable and beautiful.

Valladolid has the distinction of being named a Pueblo Mexico (Magic town) meaning it has been recognized by the Mexican government as having magical qualities. Valladolid is the largest city in the heartland of the Yucatán state. You’ll want to stay as close to Plaza e Parque Francisco Canton (Central Plaza) in downtown Valladolid as possible. Valladolid has a myriad of restaurants and shops. Plus it is easy to access Mexico’s highway 180, which goes west-to-east across the peninsula. If you want to really see all the Yucatan offers, staying in Valladolid is a must.

21. Go For A Drive – With Your Camera!

It took us only one afternoon to learn a very valuable lesson – take your camera everywhere in the Yucatan. Even on seemingly long, empty stretches of road between ruin locations or cenotes, there are opportunities for the casual shutterbug.

Whether a railway leading into the brush, a beautiful country shop, or scenic nature, the Yucatan will continue giving you opportunities to capture more. Simply get lost, stop wherever you’re moved, and try to capture what only the eye can see. This would’ve been how the Mayans would’ve wanted you to experience their home, so do it! Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is full of photo opportunities, like this beach in Tulum.

22. Immerse with The Locals

When it comes to the people and culture, the Yucatan Peninsula will leave you truly moved. Any trip to the Yucatan is truly remiss without the area’s greatest attribute – the people.

They are so kind, so giving, and so engaging that you’ll find yourself lost in simple conversation while wanting to know more about the customs that make the Yucatan truly unique.

The Yucatan pulls the best from you, and from that, you’ll find yourself truly mixing with a land, and people, who are unmatched in their charm, beauty, and warmth.

When you visit the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, you will create memories to last a lifetime and will want to come back again and again. The Yucatan attracts all types of travellers.

23. Indulge in Delicious Delicacies

You’ve never had authentically Mexican food quite like that offered in the Yucatan. So stunned will you be by the depth of flavor, the intricacy of preparation, and the satisfaction of the experience that you will yearn for it long after your trip home.

Fresh. Bold. Rich. The profiles of even the simplest dish in the Yucatan will leave the foodie in all of us begging for more! We could honestly say upon leaving that we’ve never had guacamole so good and never had tacos so good!

But more importantly, we enjoyed the unique spin on everyday Mexican classics the people of the Yucatan have perfected. There are a few local favorites in the Yucatan, most of which are comprised of some of the best steak and chorizo dishes this side of Argentina! Typically these locally-created dishes are served with pickled sweet-onions along with fresh jams, bean dishes, and sauces such as chimichurri.

Best Way to Get Around the Yucatan Peninsula

For us, the best way to get around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is by renting a car . We prefer this over tours because we can get to places before the tour buses filled with vacationers from the Riviera Maya converge. Check car rental prices and availability here.

Local Bus – Mexico has quite nice buses that are air-conditioned and affordable. ADO bus company connects cities and regions throughout Mexico and the Riviera Maya.

Collectivos a re the best way to get around if going a short distance. They are shared taxis and are cheap and affordable.

For Transfers from Cancun Airport to your hotel , check out  eTransfers for the best prices.  They offer shuttles to the Hotel Zone, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, and all along the Mayan Riviera.

The Yucatán Peninsula has something for both the adventurer and the beach-bum. Perhaps it’s this diversity of appeal that makes the Yucatan so enjoyable, so striking, and yet still somewhat mysterious. Filled with ancient and natural wonders, turquoise waves crashing on endless beaches and plenty of adventure, Mexico’s Yucatan is a place you will love. When you visit Mexico, make sure to add this spectacular destination to your itinerary.

Plan Your Next Trip to Mexico With These Resources

• Best Things to do in Cancun, Mexico
• Best All Inclusive Resorts in Mexico
• An Unforgettable Adventure at Mexico’s Isla Espiritu Santo
• Swim with Whale Sharks – A Massive Adventure in Mexico

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

You May Also Like

26 Best Things To Do In Oaxaca, Mexico in 2024

The Best of Loreto – Best Kept Secret in Baja California Sur

Is Mexico City Safe To Visit in 2024? Travel Warnings And Safety Tips

About Justin and Tracey

Justin and Tracy Uselton are the writers of A Couple for the Road, a couples travel blog that focuses on food, drink and culture written from a personal and artistic perspective for the avid traveler. Follow them on ACoupleForTheRoad / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Join thousands of others who get our monthly updates!

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

1 thought on “23 Amazing Things to do in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula”

Great guide!

I loved the trip to Yucatan peninsula! The highlights of my trip were the cenotes, lovely beaches in Playa del Carmen, and the colorful city of Merida.

I didn’t know that in Yucatan you can snorkel with whale sharks. Well, that is a reason to return to Yucatan. 🙂

The Yucatán Travel Guide

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

Select Month

• roughguides.com
• North America
• the-yucatan
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice
• Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

We bought the tour from Italy a few days before departure, the information was detailed and precise. Excellent organization from arrival until the end of t...

Until the 1960s, when proper road and rail links were finally completed, the Yucatán Peninsula – the states of Campeche , Yucatán and Quintana Roo – had more contact with Europe, Cuba and the US than with central Mexico. Today, the region remains distinct, with traditional Maya life alongside massive tourist attractions such as the great ruins of Chichén Itzá and the super-resort of Cancún . Once the province of Maya rebels and palm-plantation owners, the Caribbean coast is now the so-called Riviera Maya, which includes the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum . But away from these big centres, especially in the south, where settlements are sparsely scattered in dense forest, there’s still a distinct pioneering feel.

Brief history

Fiestas in the yucatán, chicxulub and cenotes, río bec sites.

In northern Yucatán state, the landscape is relatively spare: shallow, rocky earth gives rise to stunted trees, and underground springs known as cenotes are the only source of water. Campeche state, by contrast, boasts a huge area of tropical forest, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. The entire coastline is great for spotting wildlife – notably turtles at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo and flocks of flamingos at Celestún and Río Lagartos in Yucatán. Along the Caribbean coast, magnificent offshore coral growth forms part of the world’s second-largest barrier reef.

There’s really only one main route around the Yucatán Peninsula; the variation comes in where you break the journey or make side trips. Whether you come from Palenque or along the coast from Villahermosa, you’ll find yourself on Hwy-180, which heads up to Campeche , then veers away from the Gulf Coast towards Mérida and east to Valladolid and the Caribbean coast. Near Mérida are both the excellent craft town of Izamal and the Ruta Puuc, which includes major Maya sites such as Uxmal and Chichén Itzá , as well as a trove of smaller, less-visited ruins. Past these, you can push on to the Caribbean beaches.

The stretch of coast between Cancún and Tulum , known as the Riviera Maya, and including Playa del Carmen and Isla Cozumel, is one of Mexico’s most heavily touristed areas. South of Tulum , the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, encompassing mangroves thick with birdlife and coral reefs offshore, briefly slows the march of progress. The coast south of the biosphere – dubbed the Costa Maya – is on its own development trajectory, but it’s still your best bet for hammock camping. The vast, beautiful Laguna de Bacalar is a crystal-clear lake that’s rich in wildlife and an affordable alternative to the beaches. Chetumal , the state capital and a duty-free border town, is chiefly important as a gateway to and from Belize.

The road across the south of the peninsula is much less travelled. It passes through jungle territory dotted with ruins, collectively known as the Río Bec sites. The star is the enormous site of Calakmul, deep in the forest reserve near the Guatemalan border. From the top of its main pyramid, the tallest in the Maya world, the forest stretches to the horizon like a green sea.

Travel ideas for Mexico, created by local experts

17 days  / from 1590 USD

The Magic of the Yucatan and Mexico City

Explore the magic of the Yucatan Peninsula: from colonial towns like Merida to Archaeological sites like Uxmal and Calakmul, close to the Guatemala border, to beaches in Bacalar and Tulum, this itinerary shows you the real Yucatan before heading out to explore Mexico City.

15 days  / from 1430 USD

Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatan

Explore Central Mexico with its ever-busy capital Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan and the famous museums in the city. Further on to Oaxaca City, the gateway to the Archaeological Site Monte Alban. Afterwards, continue to the white beaches of the Yucatan: Cancun and Isla Holbox await.

18 days  / from 1735 USD

Fascinating Mexico: From Guanajuato to the Yucatan

Discover Mexico from fascinating San Miguel de Allende over busy Mexico City all the way to the Yucatan Peninsula. This itinerary combines public transportation with domestic flights to ensure you can make the most of discovering fascinating Mexico within two weeks.

The Yucatán Peninsula is the longest continuously settled part of Mexico, with evidence of Maya inhabitants as early as 2500 BC. The Maya were at their cultural peak during the Classic period (300–900 AD), during which time they used solar, lunar and astral cycles to develop their complex and highly accurate calendar; they also had an elaborate mathematical and hieroglyphic system. Five hundred years before the Renaissance, moreover, the Maya had developed a sophisticated perspective in art. In the early ninth century AD, southern lowland cities (Tikal, in Guatemala, and Calakmul, among others) were abandoned, and northern cities such as Chichén Itzá grew. These in turn collapsed around 1200 AD, to be succeeded by Mayapán and a confederacy of other cities that probably included Tulum and Cozumel.

By the time the Spanish arrived, the Maya had splintered into tribalism – although still with cities and long-distance sea trade that awed the conquistadors. The Yucatán Peninsula proved the hardest area of the country to pacify, with the Maya resisting slavery and debt peonage through constant armed rebellion. The latter half of the nineteenth century saw the Caste Wars, when the Maya briefly gained control of the entire peninsula. The guerrilla fighters were eventually pushed back into the wilds of southern Quintana Roo, and held out until the early twentieth century, ending their struggle with conciliation from the Mexican government. It was one of the most successful fights against colonialism in the New World.

Today, the Maya still live in the Yucatán, in many cases remarkably true to their old traditions and lifestyle. The culture and language remain a strong source of pride that sets this area apart from central Mexico.

On February 1, 2015, the state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancún , changed time zones, swapping Central Standard Time for Eastern Standard Time. The aim was to boost tourism by creating longer, lighter evenings.

A highlight of village festivals in the area are the massive bullrings, elaborate hand-built structures made entirely of saplings. Expect plenty of fireworks and jaranas, one of the traditional Maya dances. Carnaval, the week before Lent, is colourfully celebrated in Mérida and on Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. For events in smaller villages, ask at the Yucatán state tourism office in Mérida , which maintains a full list, or check the weekly events bulletin at yucatanliving.com , which often mentions nearby fiestas.

• Fiesta de los Tres Reyes (Jan 1–6). In the cattle town of Tizimín (Yucatán); expect steak.
• Día de la Candelaria (Feb 2). Candlemas: candlelight processions at Tecoh and Kantunil (Yucatán). The week prior is a fiesta in Valladolid (Yucatán).
• Equinox (March 21). Huge gathering for the serpent shadow at Chichén Itzá .
• Semana Santa (Holy Week, beginning Palm Sunday, variable March–April). Passion plays in Mérida , Acanceh and Maní (Yucatán).
• Fiestas de Santa Cruz (end of April). Two-week fair in Cozumel’s El Cedral (Quintana Roo), ending on or near May 3.
• Fiesta de la Cruz Parlante (May 12–18). Chancah Veracruz (Quintana Roo), near Felipe Carrillo Puerto, celebrates the Talking Cross of the Caste Wars.
• Feria del Jipi (May 20). In Becal ( Campeche ), celebration of the Panama hat.
• Torneo de Pesca (last weekend in May). Fishing tournament and party in Puerto Morelos.
• Día de la Chispa (June 4). In Valladolid (Yucatán), re-enactment of the battle that sparked the 1910 Revolution.
• Fiesta de San Pedro y San Pablo (June 26–30). On Cozumel and in Panaba (Yucatán).
• Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Carmen (July 15–30). Ciudad del Carmen ( Campeche ) and Motul (Yucatán).
• Chac ceremony (dates variable). In Edzná (Yucatán), to encourage the spring rains.
• Feria (Aug 10–16). Town celebration in Oxcutzcab (Yucatán).
• Feria de San Román (Sept 14–30). Campeche’s city festival.
• Gremios (mid-Sept to mid-Oct). Pilgrimages and processions to Mérida’s main church.
• Equinox (Sept 21). Another serpent spectacle at Chichén Itzá (see March).
• Día de San Miguel (Sept 29). Cozumel’s main town festival.
• El Cristo de Sitilpech (Oct 18–28). The miraculous Black Christ is paraded from Sitilpech (Yucatán) to neighbouring Izamal, where there’s ten days of celebration.
• Feria del Estado de Yucatán (first three weeks of Nov). At fairgrounds south of Mérida.
• Feria de Motul (Nov 4–11). Festival in Motul (Yucatán) with bullfights.
• Día de la Inmaculada Concepcíon (Dec 8). Widely celebrated, especially in Izamal, where crowds gather to sing the entire night before.
• Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Dec 12). Celebrated everywhere; roads are filled in the days prior with church groups running relays.
• Christmas Fiesta (Dec 25–Jan 6). In Temax (Yucatán), featuring the procession of Las Pastorelas, in which images of the Holy Family are carried from house to house.

Some 65 million years ago the Chicxulub asteroid struck the Yucatán Peninsula – near the town of the same name – an event that is considered to have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. The strike also caused large sections of the region’s limestone bedrock to collapse, in turn forming thousands of cenotes (sinkholes).

The region’s network of cenotes – which are generally filled with fresh water – was crucial for the Maya civilization that dominated the Yucatán Peninsula before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s. These flooded subterranean chambers were vital sources of potable water in an area short on rivers and lakes, and towns, villages and ceremonial sites often sprung up around them. They were also considered sacred gateways to the Maya underworld, known as Xibalba (“the place of fear”). At Cenote Sagrado at Chichén Itzá (see p.752), for example, the Maya threw statues, pottery, incense, textiles, jade, gold and human sacrifices into the water as offerings to the gods of the underworld. The few human sacrifices who survived the ordeal, incidentally, were considered to have spoken with the gods, and have developed prophetic powers.

Today the region’s cenotes – some of them have been turned into theme parks, others remain blissfully undeveloped – are perhaps the most memorable places for a swim, snorkel or dive in the Yucatán. Two of the most spectacular are Cenote X’Keken and Cenote Samula, just outside the city of Valladolid .

West of Chetumal, along the border with Guatemala, lie the little-visited but dramatic Río Bec sites, many tucked in dense jungle that harbours diverse birds and beasts, especially in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, around the ruins of the same name. The area was once heavily populated by lowland Maya, and linked with the site of Tikal in Guatemala. The largest ruins here, with their long, low buildings, dramatic towers (really elongated, stylized pyramids) and intricate carvings, are easily as impressive as Chichén Itzá, heightened by the jungle setting. The area is accessible either from Campeche or from Chetumal, and you’ll need to have a car or hire a taxi to see many of these sites – but this means you’ll see few other tourists.

The largest town in the area is Francisco Escárcega (usually just called Escárcega), far to the west in Campeche state. It’s a major bus hub, but somewhat dusty and unwelcoming, so most visitors to the sites use the much smaller village of Xpujil, on the border of Campeche and Quintana Roo, as a base for visiting the area. It’s a one-street town straddling Hwy-186, with basic hotels and restaurants, as well as taxi drivers prepared to shuttle visitors around. If you’re in your own car, note that there’s a gas station just east of town.

The ruined Maya city of Calakmul is one of the best places for contemplating the culture’s architectural legacy. The complex is only partially restored and a long drive south of Hwy-186, but its location in the heart of the jungle and its sheer size are awe-inspiring. Probably the biggest archeological area in Mesoamerica, Calakmul has nearly seven thousand buildings in the central area alone and more steles and pyramids than any other site; the great pyramid here is the largest Maya construction in existence, with a base covering almost five acres.

The view of the rainforest from the top is stunning, and on a clear day you can even glimpse the tip of the Danta pyramid at El Mirador in Guatemala. Arrive early (the gate to the biosphere on Hwy-186 opens at 7am) to look for wildlife such as wild turkeys, peccaries, toucans and jaguars. Even if you don’t spot anything, you’ll likely hear booming howler monkeys and raucous frogs. Plan to spend about four hours exploring the site – longer if you’re a Maya-phile. Bring snacks and water, as there’s no vending at the ruins.

During the Classic period, the city had a population of about two hundred thousand and was the regional capital. A sacbé (Maya road) running between Calakmul and El Mirador (another leads on to Tikal) confirms that these cities were in regular communication. Calakmul reached its zenith between 500 and 850 AD but, along with most other cities in the area, it was abandoned by about 900 AD. Excavations begun in the 1980s have so far uncovered only a fraction of the buildings, the rest being earthen mounds. Some of Calakmul’s treasures are on display in the archeological museum at Campeche, including two hauntingly beautiful jade masks. Another mask was found in a tomb in the main pyramid in 1998.

Discover more places in Mexico

• Cancún and around
• Chichén Itzá
• Costa Maya and Bacalar
• Playa del Carmen and around
• Tulum and around
• Valladolid and around

The Rough Guides to Mexico and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find even more inspiration here

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

Ready to travel and discover Mexico?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

The Ultimate 10 Day Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary

For several years, Mexico has consistently ranked among our favorite countries in the world to explore–and after our most recent return visit to take a Yucatan road trip, we are more confident than ever that it will never be unseated. 

Between the overwhelming number of interesting sights, absolutely sublime food, and incredibly welcoming culture, we can never get enough of Mexico.

With this 10 day Yucatan itinerary, we hope we can help you fall in love with it too!

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is one of those just-right destinations that is easy enough to travel in that newer travelers will feel comfortable exploring, and fascinating enough that veteran travelers will never be bored.

Between the Mayan cities and mystical cenotes, the colorful towns and delicious food, the lagoon of Bacalar and the stunning beaches the region is known for, a Yucatan road trip truly has something for everyone.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Table of Contents

How We Structured This Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary

Why choose the yucatan for a mexico road trip, getting around during your road trip in the yucatan, will this 10 day yucatan itinerary work without a car, other destinations to add to your yucatan road trip itinerary, useful driving tips for this mexico road trip itinerary, faq about taking a road trip in the yucatan peninsula, yucatan road trip itinerary map, the best time to road trip the yucatan peninsula, what to pack for your yucatan road trip.

We structured this Yucatan road trip itinerary to center around some of our favorite things to do in the Yucatan: explore Mayan ruins, swim in cenotes, and enjoy beautiful beaches.

We are covering the Yucatan peninsula here, not just the state of Yucatan, and much of this Yucatan travel itinerary does take place in Quintana Roo.

It’s a fairly fast-paced itinerary in the sense that it packs a lot in and involves climbing many pyramids, but to drive this route straight through without traffic would actually only take around 12 hours.

You’ll drive a bit more than that, counting day trips and such, but the bottom line is that it’s a very doable distance in 10 days!

We’ve included some of Mexico’s biggest tourist highlights here, including Chichen Itza, while also throwing in up-and-coming spots like Bacalar, and organized them in a loop beginning and ending in Cancun (aka, the biggest airport hub in the region by far).

This guide to spending 10 days in the Yucatan is quite long, so feel free to use the table of contents above this section to navigate to the most important parts for you if you wish!

When looking for the perfect road trip in Mexico or even all of Latin America, the Yucatan peninsula immediately shoots up to the top of the list.

The peninsula is known as one of the safest regions for tourists in all of Mexico (and for the record, we have always felt incredibly safe not only there but everywhere we’ve been in Mexico), the driving is very lowkey, and the sights, from the ruins of Mayan cities to beaches to colorful towns to the peninsula’s world-famous cenotes, are sublime.

With a flawless combination of safety, ease of travel, and unforgettable sights, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect Mexico road trip than one through the Yucatan.

The best company to rent a car for your road trip in Mexico from will likely vary dramatically depending on exactly when you’re traveling.

Sometimes large international carriers offer the best prices, sometimes local outfits. Sometimes one company has an excellent base price, but terrible rental requirements.

The best way to find your rental car is to search through  Discover Cars , which will sift through dozens of companies to find the best combination of low prices and reasonable rental terms for your Yucatan road trip.

Check prices and shop rental cars for your Yucatan road trip today!

Parts of it, yes, but it would be more of a hassle to reach some spots.

Mexico’s ADO bus network is impressive, incredibly comfortable (some of the most comfortable buses we’ve ridden on anywhere, quite frankly), and can easily get you around the peninsula, including all the way down to Bacalar.

For smaller day trips like visiting Ek Balam and the cenotes around Valladolid , though, you’d need to either negotiate a taxi (not terribly difficult, but a hassle, especially if you’re not comfortable negotiating in Spanish), jump in a collectivo, or book a tour.

There’s no doubt that driving will make this particular 10 day Yucatan itinerary much easier and more flexible, but if you can’t or would prefer not to drive, you can still have an incredibly rewarding trip to the peninsula using this Yucatan travel guide.

Day 1: Arrive in Cancun and head to Valladolid.

Assuming you arrive in Cancun early enough in the day to reach Valladolid before sunset, we highly recommend grabbing your rental car at the airport and then immediately hitting the road!

If your flight arrives in the late afternoon or evening, though, you’ll want to spend your first night in Cancun itself and then get an early start by driving to Valladolid the next morning.

Valladolid is a little under 2 hours from Cancun by car.

Day 2: Explore Valladolid and check out nearby cenotes.

The colorful, small city of Valladolid is a laid-back and delightful place to explor.

The Zocalo, cathedral, and the Convent of San Bernardino de Siena are all worth a look, as are the many delicious restaurants and the colorful street of Calzada de los Frailes.

The main reason that Valladolid is a favorite for people exploring the Yucatan, though, is not for the charming city that is itself one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns), but for what lies outside of it.

Valladolid is located at the perfect epicenter of many of the area’s best day trips, including several cenotes and Mayan ruins.

For the first several days of this Mexico road trip, we recommend basing yourselves here–the next few days of this Yucatan itinerary are designed as day trips from Valladolid.

For today, start your stay in Valladolid by exploring the town and potentially by checking out a few of the nearby cenotes.

Instagram-famous Cenote Suytun is less than 15 minutes from town by car, as is the complex housing both Cenote Samula and Cenote Xkeken.

Too tired to drive anymore but still want to check out a cenote today?

No worries–Cenote Zaci is certainly not the most impressive of these cenotes, but it does win points for being right in the center of town!

Where to Stay in Valladolid

Valladolid has a fantastic selection of places to stay, ranging from budget hostels to beautiful boutique hotels. 

Here are some of the best, including the hotel we adored on our most recent visit!

Hostel Candelaria — Featuring a perfect location in the center of Valladolid, colorful decor, hundreds of near-perfect reviews and plenty of dorm and private room lodging options, Hostel Candelaria is a go-to choice for budget travelers to Valladolid.

Check rates & book your stay at Hostel Candelaria!

Casa Aluxes Hotel — We absolutely adored our stay at this boutique hotel. The breakfast is fantastic, the service perfect, the inner courtyard and pools beautiful, and their location excellent. When we return to Valladolid yet again, we’ll definitely consider staying again.

Check rates & book your stay at Casa Aluxes Hotel!

Le Muuch Hotel — This luxury hotel in Valladolid offers spacious family rooms, excellent service, and a fantastic breakfast, all housed in a convenient location within walking distance of Valladolid’s major sights.

The grounds include two beautiful pools, and the hotel’s hundreds of excellent reviews make it a sure bet when visiting Valladolid.

Check rates & book your stay at Le Muuch Hotel!

Day 3: Visit Chichen Itza and Cenote Ik Kil.

For your first day trip from Valladolid, head to none other than Mexico’s most famous Mayan ruin and one of the 7 New Wonders of the World: Chichen Itza.

We highly recommend showing up very, very early, and entering the park as soon as it opens at 8:00 AM if you want to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Most of the big tour buses bringing visitors in by the hundreds from Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen won’t show up until an hour or two after that, giving you a bit of time to explore the ruins in relative peace.

After you finish up at Chichen Itza itself, be sure to take a dip in nearby Cenote Ik Kil!

Day 4: Visit Ek Balam and Cenote X’canche.

I’ll be honest: I intentionally scheduled Chichen Itza as the first Mayan city on this Yucatan itinerary, not only because I know just about everyone wants to visit, but because the other Mayan cities you will visit after it–in my biased opinion–blow it out of the water.

Ek Balam is located about half an hour from Valladolid, and in contrast with bustling Chichen Itza the previous day, will likely feel downright deserted.

With far fewer crowds and plenty of structures that you can climb, visiting Ek Balam is an absolute delight and one of our personal favorite stops on this Yucatan road trip.

Located in the same complex of sorts–you won’t need to move your car again–is Cenote X’canche, which is arguably our favorite cenote that we’ve seen on the peninsula as well!

Featuring brilliantly beautiful water, a slightly wild feel, and a waterfall, Cenote X’canche is one of those places where it is easy to understand why the Mayan religion purports that cenotes are the entrances to the underworld.

Day 5: Make your way to Tulum.

On day 5 of your Mexico road trip, it’s time to say goodbye to Valladolid and head for the beach!

Tulum is about an hour and a half away from Valladolid, giving you plenty of time to make your way back to the coast and then visit the famous Tulum ruins and beach.

While the ruins are certainly more crowded than Ek Balam from yesterday, their setting just cannot be beat–the views of the Mayan city overlooking the phenomenal beach are just magnificent.

Be sure to bring your swimsuit along: your ticket to visit the Tulum ruins also includes access to the beach, and you’ll definitely want to spend a few hours there!

When it comes time to find somewhere to stay for the night, you absolutely can stay in Tulum itself, but be prepared for some serious sticker shock: Tulum is not only expensive as compared to other cities in Mexico, it’s just expensive, period.

If you’d like to save a little cash, consider staying outside of Tulum instead–there are plenty of options, from luxury accommodation to hostels to boutique hotels, a 20-30 minute drive down the road.

One of the major benefits of being on a Yucatan road trip rather than a traditional itinerary is that you can take advantage of flexibility like that!

Optional Yucatan Road Trip Stop: Coba.

Still dreaming of more Mayan ruins?

With three archaeological sites in three days included on this Yucatan itinerary, you quite possibly will not, but it’s worth pointing out that as you drive from Valladolid to Tulum, you’ll pass right by the Coba ruins, which also make for a delightful place to explore.

Less popular (read: crowded) than Chichen Itza, but more crowded than Ek Balam, Coba boasts some stunning structures in a forested setting, and you can climb the main pyramid for beautiful views over the jungle.

Day 6: Road trip Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to Bacalar.

On day 6, it’s time to head to the most up-and-coming destination on this 10 day Yucatan itinerary, a place we’ve heard described as “what Tulum was 30 years ago”: Bacalar.

The drive from Tulum to Bacalar takes less than 3 hours, so depending on time you could spend the morning in Tulum before heading down, or stop at Sian Ka’an Biosphere to see another magnificent part of the Yucatan peninsula.

Alternatively, you could wake up early and head right to Bacalar to maximize your time at this otherworldly lagoon–more on it below.

Day 7: Enjoy Mexico’s Lagoon of Seven Colors.

Look out over the beauty of the Bacalar Lagoon, and you may just be convinced that you’ve been transported to the Maldives or to an obscure Pacific atoll.

You’ll almost certainly have a hard time comprehending that the brilliant blue you see doesn’t come from a sea or ocean of any kind, but from a freshwater lagoon.

Bacalar, both the town and the lagoon it is named after, is a sleepy, beautiful place where it’s easy to kick back, relax, and enjoy some truly unique nature.

While you’re there, consider taking a boat tour to discover the best swimming spots and viewpoints on the lagoon, checking out the rapids (basically a natural lazy river), and hopping down to one of the beach clubs for a swim and some food served up with incredible views.

Back in town, be sure to visit Fort San Felipe, which was built by the Spanish in the 18th century to defend against the real-life pirates of the Caribbean that attacked the town.

For dinner, we can heartily recommend La Playita–one of the best-known spots in town with one of the best restaurant views imaginable–and also La Pina, which isn’t located right on the lake but has an impressive garden atmosphere all the same.

Where to Stay in Bacalar

We recommend spending two nights visiting Bacalar as part of this Yucatan road trip–here are some great options for where to stay.

Blue Hotel — With comfortable rooms, affordable prices, and excellent service, Blue Hotel is a fantastic choice for travelers visiting Bacalar on a budget.

While the hotel is located a bit further from the center of town than most, in Bacalar, that’s not a problem when you’re on a Yucatan road trip–you’ll probably drive to most attractions anyway.

Check rates & book your stay at Blue Hotel!

Hotel Tuparenda — We loved this boutique hotel in Bacalar–so much, in fact, that when we doubled back to Bacalar on our Mexico road trip, we returned for a second stay here!

The location is excellent (a short walk from La Playita), rooms comfortable, and service wonderful.

The rooftop, where the included breakfast is served and there is a small pool, has a lovely view of the lagoon in the distance!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Tuparenda!

Maya Bacalar Boutique Hotel — Want to stay directly on the lake, with a restaurant and spa located on-site and no reason to leave?

If so, check yourself in for relaxation and pampering at the popular and well-reviewed Maya Bacalar Boutique Hotel for a taste of luxury… at far more affordable prices than a similar accommodation would go for in Tulum or Playa del Carmen.

Check rates & book your stay at Maya Bacalar Boutique Hotel!

Day 8: Head to Playa del Carmen, stopping at Akumal on the way.

At this point during your Yucatan road trip itinerary, things become a bit choose-your-own-adventure by virtue of the fact that there is so much to do between Bacalar and your eventual destination of Cancun, where you’ll say goodbye to Mexico in a couple of days.

Our suggestion is to head to Playa del Carmen (we loved our time at Isabella Boutique Hotel if you’re looking for an adorable but not insanely expensive place to stay), which is about a 3.5-hour drive from Bacalar and will put you both much closer to Cancun and in the heart of plenty of things to do in the Yucatan.

Along the way, consider stopping off at Akumal to cross a major highlight off of your Yucatan bucket list: swimming with sea turtles.

Day 9: Cross one more thing off your Mexico bucket list. 

With one more day of your Yucatan road trip left and an excellent central base in or near Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya is your oyster.

Here are a few of our suggestions for what to do on the last day of your road trip in the Yucatan…

Go for a swim in a cenote (or two).

Playa del Carmen is surrounded by absolutely stunning cenotes, including Cristalino, Jardin del Eden, and Cenote Azul.

Have a beach day at Xpu-Ha.

While the beaches in Playa del Carmen proper are not among the best on the Riviera Maya, Xpu-Ha, which is located just a short drive outside of town, is absolutely amazing and a fantastic place to kick back and relax.

Go snorkeling or scuba diving.

The stunning island of Cozumel is located very close to Playa del Carmen, and is especially well-known for its incredible scuba diving and snorkeling! Whether you book a day trip from Playa del Carmen or hop one of the many ferries over to Cozumel yourself, you’ll be able to find excellent snorkeling opportunities.

Prefer to go underground?

Snorkeling in an enclosed cenote is an unforgettable experience.

Day 10: Return to Cancun and say goodbye (for now) to Mexico.

As your Yucatan road trip comes to a close, it’s time to return to Cancun.

Before saying goodbye to Yucatan travel, though, consider hitting the beach one last time if you have time before heading to the airport!

Cancun has some of the best beaches in Mexico, and some are absolutely free to visit, including the positively magnificent Playa Delfines.

A mere 10 days in the Yucatan could never hope to cover all the incredible peninsula has to offer.

If you have a longer Yucatan itinerary to work with, here are a few other places to consider adding onto your Yucatan road trip!

I specifically didn’t include popular Isla Mujeres or Isla Holbox in this Yucatan travel blog post, as they’re decidedly not road trip destinations, but we adore them both and they’re definitely worth considering adding to your itinerary for the Yucatan as well!

In fact, we started our most recent trip to the Yucatan peninsula with a few days on Isla Mujeres before picking up our rental car, and couldn’t recommend the experience more.

The pink lakes of Las Coloradas, Mexico have become increasingly #instagramfamous in the last few years, and they are still one of the most unique places to visit in the Yucatan!

They are actually private reservoirs belonging to a salt company, not natural lakes at all, but they are incredibly interesting to look at.

Visiting has become more regimented over the years, and these days you’ll be charged a small fee to enter and be required to keep a guide with you, and you definitely can’t swim in the lakes.

If you’d like to see them for yourself, they’re a doable day trip from Valladolid (a little under 2 hours of easy driving each way).

The colorful, beautiful ex-pat haven of Merida is incredibly popular with visitors planning long stays in the Yucatan, but it’s quite far out of the way for this Yucatan itinerary that focuses more on the southern and central parts of the peninsula.

If you have longer than 10 days in the Yucatan, though, definitely consider stopping by to explore some of the best things to do in Merida .

It’s a beautiful, colorful city with lots of amazing food to offer, and is also the capital of the state of Yucatan.

Buried deep in the jungle in the state of Campeche, Calakmul is one of the most difficult Mayan ruins to get to, but it’s also one of the most rewarding.

Climb atop the pyramids there, and you will see nothing but ruins surrounded by lots and lots of jungle.

If you look closely on a clear day, you may even spot the tip of La Danta, a pyramid in modern-day Guatemala that once stood in the lost city of El Mirador and is–by some measures–the tallest pyramid in the world.

The city of Izamal is located vaguely between Valladolid and Merida, and is known primarily for its brilliant color–much of the town is painted bright yellow!

Be sure to check out the Convent of San Antonio of Padua, the beautiful (yellow) architecture downtown, and the markets while there.

Our current favorite archaeological site in Mexico is located only an hour and a half north of Bacalar, making it easy to add on to your Mexico road trip!

Becan is uncrowded, inexpensive, incredibly well-preserved, and a true hidden gem on the Yucatan peninsula. 

If you’re looking for a memorable side trip while traveling the Yucatan, we can’t recommend a visit to Becan enough!

Plan to drive only during the day.

With lots of speed bumps (more on that below) and very few street lights, the Yucatan peninsula is not an ideal place to drive at night. 

Luckily, this Yucatan road trip itinerary should make it fairly easy to drive during the day only–most days include only a couple of hours of driving.

Keep an eye on the time (zone).

This itinerary covers destinations in both the state of Quintana Roo and the state of Yucatan.

Despite being right next door to each other and frequently covered on the same trip, these Mexican states are in different time zones!

Quintana Roo uses Eastern Standard Time, and Yucatan uses Central Standard Time.

Typically, someone will pump your gas for you.

Most frequently, when you pull up to the gas pump in Mexico, someone will pump your gas for you as well as clean your windshield. You’ll want to provide a small tip for the service.

If you don’t see someone servicing the pumps, though, you can also pump your own gas in some places, so keep an eye on what others are doing!

… but be sure to check the pump to avoid scams.

There’s a known gas station scam in the Yucatan in which you’ll be charged extra because the gas pump isn’t set to $0.00 before the attendant starts pumping your gas.

This has never happened to us, but we’ve heard of fellow travelers experiencing it!

Luckily, the way to avoid it is very simple: if you’re not pumping your own gas, be sure to look at the pump and confirm it’s set to zero before the attendant starts to pump.

Keep an eye out for topes.

Topes (in English, speed bumps) are the major way that speed limits are enforced in the Yucatan peninsula, especially in towns and other population centers.

Go over them too fast, and you’ll throw out the suspension of your rental car–proceed carefully and when in doubt, go slow.

Don’t leave anything visible in the car when you park.

This is truly good advice for most of the world, but it especially goes here: visible luggage and belongings left in a parked car can attract thieves.

Leave nothing visible.

Check for onsite parking when booking hotels.

It will make your life much simpler if there’s parking onsite at each place you stay in Mexico, and hotels with parking are very easy to find.

We’d consider it a road trip mistake to accidentally show up somewhere without parking!

Pick up a Mexican SIM card before you get started.

Having cell phone data with you will make your Mexico road trip through the Yucatan far, far simpler, and buying data is incredibly affordable.

To save time and hassle, consider picking up a SIM card for your phone before you even leave the airport.

Do you need to speak Spanish for this Yucatan road trip?

No, but it will make your trip much, much easier.

While you definitely don’t need to know how to speak Spanish well for this Yucatan itinerary, we recommend learning at least some basic phrases before you go.

How’s the driving?

Incredibly easy!

Truly, we found driving in the Yucatan to be far, far easier than driving in most places we’ve been in Europe. 

For most of this Yucatan road trip itinerary, you’ll be driving on flat, well-signed, uncongested highways.

After the initial few hours of getting used to driving in Mexico, we found our road trip to be extremely relaxing.

Like in virtually all places around the world, driving is a bit more complex and congested in and around large cities, but not overly difficult for confident drivers.

Is this road trip in Mexico safe?

Safety is a very complicated subject, of course (I discussed a bit more about safety in Mexico here ), but generally speaking, yes. 

While cartel violence is certainly a problem in Mexico, it very, very rarely touches tourists and even more rarely touches tourists who avoid going near illegal activities (don’t stumble out of a bar drunk at 3am and try to pick up a prostitute on the way home, basically).

We have spent months in Mexico, spread across many different states, and have always felt supremely safe–just as safe as we feel in an average town in the USA.

Our fellow American travelers do tend to stick to the Riviera Maya (basically the corridor between Cancun and Tulum), but every place on this Yucatan road trip itinerary has a fairly developed tourism structure, with plenty of hotels, restaurants, and tourism services.

Very generally speaking, the people traveling this route are made up of a combination of European and Canadian vacationers (including lots of young families!), as well as Mexican tourists exploring their own country and a fair number of long term travelers/people backpacking the Yucatan.

In other words, while these places are a bit off the beaten path for an average US citizen taking a week off of work to head down to Mexico, they’re not remotely intimidating places to travel once you get the hang of the route, and they feel very safe.

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.

The high season for traveling the Yucatan Peninsula runs roughly from mid-December to April, with the biggest crowds (and highest prices) typically found around Christmas, New Yea’s, Spring Break, and Easter.

This is most prominent on the Riviera Maya, though–we’ve traveled the Yucatan peninsula extensively during high season on multiple trips, and have had no issues with crowds or extreme prices outside of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.

Hurricane season runs from June to November, and while the odds are long that your trip would be caught up in a hurricane, you can expect more rain and cloudy weather during your Mexico road trip during those months.

Lower prices and fewer crowds might very well be a solid trade-off, though, depending on your travel style.

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and a fast-paced Yucatan road trip is definitely better a case of safe than sorry.

We use and recommend Safety Wing for trips to Mexico.

Cell Phone Holder — This is especially important if you don’t have a reliable co-pilot: the last thing you want to do is be fumbling with the GPS on your phone during your road trip in the Yucatan.

Pack a cell phone holder to attach to the car and you’ll be able to drive much more safely!

Additional Car Insurance — Whether you purchase a policy that covers car rental (only some do, so double-check!), purchase a policy through the rental car company, or something else, be sure you have coverage: it’s worth the peace of mind.

Comfortable Day Bag  — We currently use  Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack  and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable.

Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a  Northface Jester backpack  for years and loved it as well.

I use them on all boats and the occasional bus, and if things get really bad, take some Non-Drowsy Dramamine as well.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

28 thoughts on “The Ultimate 10 Day Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary”

This is basically my dream Mexico trip!!! My boyfriend and I had talked about going this year but obviously we’ll see. Either way saving this post for inspiration. We’ll definitely make sure to see that cenote at Ek Balam, wow.

Ahh I’m so happy to hear that Jessica! We truly love this part of the world so much, I just want to shout from the rooftops about it. SERIOUSLY hoping your trip can happen this year, for so many reasons.

Currently planning ours for next month!! Thank you so much

As a fan of this area for over 35 years, enjoyed reading your writings here. As far as shouting from the rooftops, I often feel maybe I have done that too much. Holbox and Bacalar are two places I have known for many years and often recommended. But now due to mass development they are both becoming almost unrecognizable to me and that is a sad thing.

Great post, Kate. We’re stuck up here in Ohio at the moment and would love to be on the beach in Mexico instead.

Thanks, Mark! Completely agree–we’d much rather be back on a beach in Mexico right now too.

This article was extremely helpful. Thank you for suggested itinerary and descriptions.

So happy to hear that, Beth! Hope you have a great trip to the Yucatan!

Do you think a road trip around the Yucatan would be at all feasible with a 1 year old? I think we’d have to make some modifications but overall do you feel like it would be safe and not an insane amount of driving?

Hi Michelle!

Yes, it’s absolutely doable with modifications (depending on the one-year-old in question, of course). We’ve always seen quite a few families out and about when in the Yucatan. Hotels and restaurants tend to be extremely welcoming to kids.

If you want to cut quite a bit of driving, you can trim off Bacalar to stay more central. Most of the driving distances in this itinerary are fairly short, coming in at 3 hours or less of driving a day.

I finally booked plane tickets to Mexico thanks to your blog! Thanks for all the inspiration. I’ll be following most of your itinerary!

Thank you so much, Allie, that makes my day! Hope you have an amazing trip!

Hi, thanks so much for your 10 day itinerary post. I’m trying to figure out which of the islands -mujeres or cozumel- to include given ill cut out chichen itza and coba probably, and bacalar as i want to minize driving time. Im travelling with a two year old so ruins may not be the best idea. Would really appreciate your thoughts.

Both islands are beautiful, but Cozumel is better known for diving and Mujeres for its beaches. You guys could have a great time in either, but if I had to choose, I’d say that Mujeres is probably a bit more toddler-friendly.

We (couple with 16 year old son) went to Cancun for the first time in March 2021 and really loved it! Planning a trip back in the spring of ’22. We split our time between Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and Puerto Morelos, including day trips to Coba, Tulum, and Akumal. Just wanted to add an update, though…unfortunately at the time we went there was no climbing at the ruins which had previously allowed it. We heard different reports of whether that was temporary due to COVID-19, or if that was permanent. Also, do watch out for gas station scams! (Search it on the internet…) I had read of some before we went and was prepared, but I was still pretty surprised when the very first place we stopped for gas the attendant used one of the scams to try to rip us off! We called him on it and he tried to talk his way out of it at first, but when we insisted on speaking to his boss he changed his tune and gave back the extra money. We totally would have been fooled if we hadn’t read about it first.

Hi Katie! Thanks so much for the additional information, sounds like you love the area as much as we do. So far I’ve only heard that climbing at Coba is limited due to COVID, but we’ll definitely keep an eye on whether it becomes permanent. Coba is beautiful but if you’re looking for even more ruins next time, Becan, Calakmul, and Ek Balam are all among our favorites.

Hi! What do you think of going on this trip in May?

You will be very, very hot! That wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for us, personally, especially since you’ll probably also benefit from a shoulder season dip in prices, but be prepared for soaring temperatures, especially inland.

The rainy season generally starts in June, so your odds of having sunny weather are solid (especially if you visit toward the beginning of the month), but be prepared to spend lots of time cooling off in the water.

Hello 🙂 thanks for a great post. we are planning the first night in Cancun as we arrive late. the next day we will drive to Valladolid early and have 1 night there. then we will travel to Tulum, and here my boyfriend and I are discussing, whether we should stay in Tulum and take day trips to Bacalar and Akumal or whether we should take overnight stays in Bacalar and playa del Carmen as you recommend. my boyfriend feels stressful changing hotel all the time and driving so much. did you find it stressful? and would you have done something different now if you could? we arrive March 2 and travel home March 11, 2022 – can we snorkel with sea turtles at this time? or is it only possible in the sea turtle season? thanks in advance. Sincerely, Christina

It all depends on your tastes, but I’d be more likely to stay somewhere other than Tulum and day trip to it rather than from it! The prices, crowds, and traffic are all much higher in Tulum than in the surrounding areas.

Basing yourself in fewer places and taking day trips is definitely much easier than changing hotels every night! That being said, driving in the Yucatan is pretty simple once you’re outside the larger cities.

The sea turtles are in Akumal year-round, you shouldn’t have any problem seeing them in March. 🙂

Hope you guys have a great trip!

Thank you for the great ideas and suggestions . We are planning on visiting Cancun in April 24, 2022. We are looking for transportation from Cancun Airport to Valladolid. We don’t want to rent a car, any suggestions? Thank you in advance

Sincerely, Estela

If you don’t want to drive, the easiest way is definitely to take the ADO bus! You’ll need to take one bus from the airport to the downtown terminal or Playa del Carmen, and then catch a bus to Valladolid.

The ADO buses are very comfortable and popular with travelers (but bring a jacket because they tend to blast the a/c).

Alternatively, you can hire a taxi or private transfer, but it will be very expensive!

Hi Kate – Thank you for all the great tips! We are trying to figure out how to rent a car after our trip to Isla Mujeres. Essentially we are flying into Cancun, going to Isla Mujeres and then renting a car to drive around the Riviera Maya. We’ll return the car. I tried the car rental place but I can’t figure out how to rent near the Isla Mujeres ferry. Any tips? Thank you!

Hi Mary! It’s just a quick cab ride from the ferry to the airport, where you can easily rent a car. Taking a taxi to the rental car agency will likely be the simplest way to get there.

Thanks a mill for this itinerary! We are planning 2-3 weeks for my big milestone birthday so having the different add-ons to extend the trip is so great 🙂

Just nervous about driving, as we drive on left side here in Ireland but I’m sure I’ll figure it out!

You definitely will! We’ve gone the opposite way (spent about a month in total driving in Ireland) and it wasn’t nearly as bad switching between the sides as we feared. 🙂

Hello, thanks for this great post! My husband and I were in this area 20 years ago but a lot has changed! We are considering traveling here with our kids (ages 16 & 12) in late June – early July. They are pretty experienced travelers and have been to different areas in MX a few times before. I’m just worried that the level of heat, rain & mosquitos might make the trip unpleasant. We were in Greece last summer and found that as long as we arranged our day to be in water, AC or driving for the middle part of the day we were fine, but that was dry heat. Any advice? Thanks much!

Hi Rebecca,

With the caveat that I spent my upbringing in very hot and humid climates (Texas, Florida, Oklahoma), I would say that generally speaking, the humidity will probably be more intense than in Greece but the general format of your trip will still be doable.

The heat will be more of an issue at the inland locations for sure, I’d definitely plan on some slow afternoons at cenotes and/or resting, and try to reach any ruins you visit first thing in the morning.

There will definitely be weather moments that can be described as unpleasant, but that personally wouldn’t be enough to keep me away from Mexico. 🙂

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Mexico Yucatan Peninsula

Your ultimate guide to mexico ‘s yucatan peninsula, yucatan peninsula travel guide contents.

Location | Getting There | Top Destinations  |  Things to Do  | Tours  |  Travel Safety  | Yucatan Blogs |  FAQ

mexico Yucatan Peninsula Travel Guide

Mexico yucatan peninsula: at a glance.

From world-class beaches and swimmable cenotes, to Mayan ruins and colorful, colonial cities — there’s something for everyone planning a Yucatan Peninsula trip. The area known as the Yucatan Peninsula consists of three states: Quintana Roo state, Yucatan state and Campeche state.

• Quintana Roo:  This state is home to all the big destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancun , Tulum , Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen , but also great off the beaten path places, like Isla Holbox Island and Laguna Bacalar Lake .

• Yucatan : This state is considered one of the safest in Mexico, if not the safest. The capital city, Merida , is known as the safest city in Mexico, though other cities like Valladolid and Izamal , as well as the beaches of Yucatan , are also safe to visit.

• Campeche : The least visited Yucatan Peninsula state, this off the beaten path Mexico destination is safe. From the Walled City of Campeche to the Calakmul Mayan Ruins — both UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Campeche State has many Mexico hidden gems.

Mexico Yucatan Peninsula: Know Before You Go

• ✈️ Airport: Cancun Airport (code: CUN) and Merida Airport (code: MID) ⏰ Time Zone: Central Daylight Time (GMT-5)
• 💰 Currency: Mexican Peso
• 🗣 Language: Spanish, though English is common, and you may even hear some indigenous languages
• 🎫 Mexico Visa: The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, Japanese and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.
• 🔌 Electricity Socket : You’ll mostly find Type A (two-prong) and Type B (three-prong) — the same as used in the United States. For visitors from other countries, you’ll need this  universal travel adaptor .
• 📲 Mexico SIM Card : Wondering, Do I need a SIM card for Mexico? The answer is yes, every traveler will want a one for the reasons explained in this article all about the best Mexico SIM cards .
• 🚙 Car Rentals : The Mexico rental car process can be a bit daunting, and many people are apprehensive to drive in a foreign country. I get it! Check out this guide to Renting a Car in Mexico for info on the process.

What’s the best time to visit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula?

For the best weather: November to March are the ideal months to travel to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This is, of course, the high season or busy season in Yucatan, so expect higher price tags and larger crowds.

Yucatan Peninsula Shoulder Season: March to May is the shoulder season in Yucatan — a magical time when the weather is still nice, and the prices are still low.

For the best value: May to September will get you the most bang for your buck! However, know these months can be rainy, hot, humid and buggy. Surrounded by the Mayan jungle, mosquitoes an issue in Yucatan, especially in the summers, so don’t forget your eco-friendly bug spray 🦟

⛈ Note: June 1 to November 30 is the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Located on the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is susceptible.

Where is the Yucatan Peninsula located?

The Yucatan Peninsula is a region in southeastern Mexico that consists of three states — Quintana Roo state, Yucatan state and Campeche state. As its name state, this is a peninsula , with the Gulf of Mexico to the north, and Caribbean Sea to the south and east.

Yucatan Peninsula map

What’s the best airport for Yucatan Peninsula travel?

For most travelers, you’ll want to use for Cancun International Airport (code: CUN) — the largest airport in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This airport has the most direct flights, and you can easily travel to Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tulum from here.

If you’re visiting Merida, Valladolid or Campeche, opt for Merida International Airport (code: MID).

What are the best Yucatan Peninsula travel destinations?

Tulum , Mexico

Once a sleepy beach town, Tulum is now one of the top Mexico travel destinations. It has some of the best beaches in Mexico, located right on the Caribbean Sea.

Is Tulum worth visiting? Tulum is perfect for travelers looking for a unique experience. It has an interesting mix of bohemian vibes and spiritual seekers, with luxurious Tulum resorts on the beach, Mayan Ruins and swimmable cenotes .

Cancun , Mexico

Cancun has been one of the top Mexico travel destinations for decades now. Visitors from all over the world head here to enjoy the beautiful beaches, Cancun cenotes , lively party scene and more.

Is Cancun worth visiting? For travelers who want to take advantage of the great Cancun all-inclusive resorts , kick back on the beach, frozen Margarita in hand — you’ll love Cancun Mexico!

Playa del Carmen , Mexico

Playa del Carmen is located about 45 minutes south of Cancun. It is popular with expats in Mexico, as well as travelers, and digital nomads in Mexico.

Is Playa del Carmen worth visiting? Playa (as it’s known by locals) has a similar vibe to Cancun, but on a smaller scale. There are still great Playa del Carmen resorts , but it sees fewer tourists than Cancun.

Merida , Mexico

Merida is the capital city of Yucatan state — and considered the safest city in Mexico. Once a Mexico hidden gem, Merida is fast becoming a top Mexico vacation city.

Is Merida worth visiting? Those seeking to experience the “real” Mexico will love Merida. It’s a great place for Mexico culture travel and foodie travel, with plenty of amazing Merida day trips located nearby.

Best things to do in Yucatan Peninsula

Each of the best places to visit in Yucatan Mexico have unique things to do. The easiest way to plan your Yucatan trip is to identify the places you plan to visit, and then discover all the best things to see and do within those locations.

Click on any image below to learn more ⤵

Holbox Island

Isla Mujeres

Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins

Bacalar Lagoon

Cozumel Island

Akumal Beach (Turtle Swim)

Campeche City

Izamal “The Yellow City”

Best yucatan peninsula tours.

Multi-day tours in Yucatan are a great way to see a lot of sites on one trip — and not have to worry about coordinating your transportation between places. Below, you’ll find the best Yucatan tours, which include unique excursions on land to see the Mayan Ruins, and unforgettable adventures under the sea.

Is Yucatan Peninsula safe for travelers?

According to experts, you are statistically quite safe while visiting Mexico. Popular areas in Mexico, like the Yucatan Peninsula, are heavily moderated by Mexican police to keep these places safe — so visitors continue to return year after year!

Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small… When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is  yes . —Carlos Barron, FBI Veteran (source:  Forbes )

That’s not to say bad things don’t happen in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula; they do. As with traveling anywhere, follow general travel safety like not walking home alone at night, watching your alcohol consumption and staying aware of yourself and surroundings.

For an added safety measure, pack these  travel safety items , dress in a way so your Mexico outfits blend in with the locals, and buy a Mexico SIM card .

Some other less-obvious things to watch out for are dehydration, sunburns , mosquitoes and hangovers! With a tropical climate, Yucatan is hot year-round, and the mosquitoes are quite bad in the summers.

Speaking of summer, this is the Atlantic Hurricane Season, and situated between the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan is susceptible.

What’s the best travel insurance for Mexico?

This is a question I get a lot as a Mexico travel writer and Mexico expat. To determine which Mexico travel insurance is best for you , consider factors like the policy’s total cost, your deductible, the coverage you need, your medical benefits, etc.

🏆 In general, I only ever recommend three companies to purchase Mexico travel insurance from:

• World Nomads — For general travelers and adventure travelers.
• SafetyWing — For general travelers and digital nomads in Mexico.
• Travel Insurance Master — Mexico travel insurance search tool, for those who want to compare policies.
• 👉 Click on any of the links above to get a FREE quote on your policy!

Yucatan Travel Blogs: Learn more about Yucatan Mexico 🇲🇽

Cenote Ik Kil Mexico: Ultimate Visitor’s Guide for 2024

10 Best Chichen Itza Private Tours for Travelers in 2024

Renting a Car in Riviera Maya Mexico: What to Know in 2024

Mexico yucatan peninsula: frequently asked questions, can you drink the water in mexico.

No — Unfiltered Mexico tap water is not safe for human consumption. However, you will need to keep drinking water and to stay extra hydrated, as Mexico is quite close to the Equator. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.

So what can you do?

• If you’re renting a place with a kitchen, you can boil the water before drinking it.
• You can keep buying bottled water — Though this gets expensive, and is horrible for the planet!
• Use the Water-To-Go Filterable Bottle . This refillable bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico, and is good for the planet ♻️ Get 15% OFF with code SOLO15!

The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals, chemicals and more. I personally own one, as you can drink Mexico water from any source (even the tap), and be completely safe.

🧳 Mexico Packing list

Wondering what else you need on your packing list for Yucatan Mexico? Check out this guide — Ultimate Packing List for Mexico + FREE Checklist Download !

What’s the Yucatan weather like?

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula has a tropical climate — meaning you can expect warm and hot temperatures year-round, and heavy rains throughout the summer.

In the summers, temperatures hover around 95°F (35°C), though can feel hotter because of the humidity. For the best weather in Yucatan Mexico, visit between November to March.

Is Yucatan worth visiting?

Yes — Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a unique destination that so many types of travelers will want to check out.

This area of the country has the largest Mayan population in Mexico, and you can visit numerous Mayan Ruins in Mexico, like Tulum Ruins, Uxmal Ruins, Coba Ruins and Chichen Itza Ruins, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

There are also amazing Caribbean beaches, 5 Star all-inclusive resorts and overwater bungalows , world-class birdwatching, delicious Yucatan food , historic Colonial cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and cenotes (natural jungle pools).

No matter the kind of vacation you’er after, you can find it in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

How many days do I need in Yucatan Mexico?

If you only have a weekend to travel, stick to 1-2 cities that are near each other — like Cancun and Isla Mujeres , or Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Island . If you have one week in Yucatan, you can visit 3-4 cities. To see all the best sites and the entire Yucatan Peninsula, you’d need at least two weeks, if not more!

The Yucatan Peninsula is large, and if you want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, a Mexico rental car is the way to go.

🚗💨 Looking for the best Mexico car rental company?

Discover Cars works with both local Mexican companies and international companies so you get the best rates. Not only do I recommend them — I also use them!

🚗💨 Is it safe to drive in Yucatan Mexico?

Many want to know, Is it safe to drive in Mexico? For most travelers, YES , it’s perfectly safe to rent a car and drive in Mexico.

Head here for a complete guide to Renting A Car in Cancun , where you’ll also get 10 useful Mexico driving tips so you feel safe and confident while driving in Mexico.

Is Yucatan Peninsula expensive?

This depends on where you’re going, as some places are pricier than others. Big-name destinations like Cancun, Riviera Maya and Tulum cost more (though Tulum budget travel is totally possible!), but off the beaten path places cost less.

To visit the cheaper Yucatan hidden games, head to Valladolid , Puerto Morelos , Bacalar Lagoon and Merida .

🗣 Mexico Language

Mexico Fun Fact : There’s actually no official language of Mexico!

Spanish is the most widely-spoken, so some mistakenly say Spanish is the official language of Mexico. However, the government actually recognizes 68 national languages, including the Nahuatl Aztec language, and the Maya language.

💰 Mexico Currency

Mexican Peso — Exchange rates vary, but have hovered around $18-21 pesos to $1 USD for about the last decade. You will find some places that take U.S. dollars, but usually at an unfavorable rate, so stick to using pesos in Mexico .

☀️ Mexico Weather

Mexico is a big country — the 7th largest on Earth, in fact! It’s hard to generalize the weather in Mexico, because it will vary greatly by where you’re traveling.

In general, temperatures are mostly mild everywhere all year long, though summers on the coast are hot and humid, and winters in Central and Northern Mexico are on the colder side. Throughout the whole country, the rainy season runs from (about) April through September.

✈️ Mexico Busy Season & Slow Season

• Mexico Busy Season: The busy season in Mexico runs October to March, as this is the dry season and you’ll get the best weather. December is the busiest month for tourism in Mexico.

• Mexico Slow Season : If you don’t mind some rain, you’ll often find the best travel deal during the Mexico slow season of April to September. Do keep in mind that June 1-November 1 is Hurricane Season, and Mexico beaches are all susceptible.

• Mexico Shoulder Season : The shoulder season is that magical time when prices are still low and the weather is good. The Mexico shoulder season is from about mid-October to November and January to early-April.

🧳 Download your FREE Mexico Packing Checklist here!

Check out this Ultimate Packing List for Mexico — so you know what to pack and what NOT to pack for Mexico! This article offers advice on packing for Mexico cities, and packing for a Mexico beach vacation.

Beyond what Mexico outfits and clothing you’ll want to bring, here are a few extra things to consider:

• Filterable Water Bottle: Mexico is close to the Equator, so you’ll need to stay extra hydrated. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.

A filterable, refillable water bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico.

The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals and chemicals.

• Mexico SIM Card: Want to be able to use your phone in Mexico?! Of course you do! Pick up a TELCEL Mexico SIM card before your trip, and swap it out on the plane while you’re waiting to exit, so you have phone and data service the second you arrive in Mexico.

•  Anti-Hangover Meds: Planning to party hardy?! Make sure you’re not wasting any of your precious travel time with a hangover. Liquid I.V. has about 70,000 reviews on Amazon, and is considered the best defense against a hangover.

•  Sun Hat: No matter if you’re headed to the beach or a city, you’ll want to wear a hat to shield yourself from the strong Mexican sun. This cute sun hat is the perfect stylish and practical accessory for your Mexico vacation.

•   Sunscreen: As you’ll want to reapply a few times throughout the day, a light, Mineral-Based Sunscreen is ideal.

Headed to the beach? Do your part to practice responsible tourism in Mexico by only using an eco-friendly reef safe sunscreen while swimming. You can even ditch the sunscreen altogether and opt for a long sleeve swimsuit (AKA rash guard) instead.

•   Bug Repellent: Mosquitoes are common throughout Mexico — especially on the beaches! REPEL Insect Repellent is an eco-friendly brand that’s DEET-free and plant based, with a pleasant lemon and eucalyptus scent. Don’t want to use a spray? Pick up some Mosquito Repellent Bracelets .

The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.

🤔 What is the mexico FMM ?

When you go through Customs & Immigration to enter the country, you’ll receive your Forma Migratoria Multiple , or FMM Tourist Card (sometimes listed as FMT). If you’re coming by plane or cruise ship, there is no charge; for those driving across the border, the FMM costs about $30USD.

In most circumstances, all visitors get a 180-day (six month) visa — so you can legally stay up to six months!

🚨 Have your FMM on you at all times

Keep in mind that though it’s called an FMM card , it’s actually just a small piece of paper. Keep your FMM on you at all times in your wallet, as this proves your legal status in Mexico. It’s rare, but if an officer stops you, they can ask to see your FMM.

🎫 Don’t lose your FMM!

You need to have your FMM on you at all times, as proof of your legal status in the country.

Be sure to keep track of your FMM, as you’ll have to give it back to an Immigration officer at the airport, cruise port, or land crossing when you’re leaving the country.

If you lose your FMM, there is a $600 peso ($30 USD) cost to replace it, and some paperwork you’ll need to fill out before you can leave the country.

If you’re flying home, plan to arrive at the airport about one hour earlier than you normally would to do the paperwork and pay the fine.

As this question doesn’t have a yes/no answer ( I wish it did! ), I do my best to answer it in depth in this article, Is Mexico Safe for Travelers Right Now ? However, for the most part, Mexico is actually statistically quite safe for all travelers — including solo travelers.

Check my Solo Female Mexico Travel page for more info.

💃 Mexico solo travel guides

Mexico is a big country, and it has plenty of amazing solo female travel destinations — like the ones featured in this article, Mexico Solo Travel: 20 Safe Destinations for Female Travelers .

In it, you’ll get recommendations of places to visit in Mexico, from solo travelers who have actually been to them.

🎧 solo travel podcasts

• Ep. 34 |  Planning your first Mexico solo trip • Ep. 40 | Tips for safe solo travel in Mexico • Ep. 53 | 30 Solo female travel tips, Pt. 1

To answer the question, Is it safe to drive in Mexico? — YES , it’s considered safe to rent a car and drive in Mexico.

As the country is quite large, road trips are a great way to see a lot in a little time, and especially popular in the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California Peninsula.

The one caveat to Mexico driving safety is that you’ll be in a foreign country, unfamiliar with their laws and customs. Head here for a complete guide to Renting A Car in Mexico: Everything You Need to Know , where you’ll also get 10 useful Mexico driving tips!

🚙💨 Looking for the best Mexico car rental company? Discover Cars works with both local Mexican companies and international companies to get you the best rates. Not only do I recommend them — I also use them!

As a general rule, you’ll want to know at least a few words of Spanish when visiting anywhere in Mexico. This is both a sign of respect, and will also help you have a better, smoother trip.

If you stick to the more touristic places in Mexico, you should be fine with basic Spanish. For those planning to venture off the beaten path, be advised most people in pueblos  (small towns) speak little to no English.

🗣 Here are some options:

• Brush up on your Spanish: Use a language-learning program like Rocket Spanish , so you’re confident, and conversational, before your trip.
• Download the Google Translate App: For this to work at all times, you’ll need a Mexico SIM card with data — as the app won’t work when you’re off-WiFi.
• Travel with a Mexico phrasebook: This Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook is an Amazon best seller, and a great non-digital language assistant!
• Save this infographic an image on your phone. This way, you have access to these common words, phrases and questions, even when you’re off-WiFi.

• Mexico City
• Copper Canyon
• Guadalajara
• Huasteca Potosina
• San Cristóbal de las Casas
• San Miguel de Allende
• 5-Day Mexico City Itinerary
• 10-Day Baja California Road Trip
• 10-Day Chiapas Road Trip
• 10-Day Copper Canyon by Train
• 10-Day Guanajuato Road Trip
• 10-Day Yucatan Road Trip
• 10-Day Oaxaca Road Trip
• Cozumel Island
• Isla Mujeres
• Holbox Island
• Playa del Carmen
• Punta Allen
• Puerto Escondido
• Hot Springs
• Mayan Ruins
• Mountains and Valleys
• Wildlife Experiences
• Best Mexican Foods
• Best Mexican Movies
• Best Books about Mexico
• Mexican Artists
• Mexico Fun Facts
• Mexico Historical Facts
• Mexican Holidays
• Day of the Dead in Mexico
• Pueblos Mágicos in Mexico

Yucatan Road Trip: My 10-Day Yucatan Itinerary [2024]

• by Nellie Huang

For an epic Yucatan road trip, here is a detailed 10-day Yucatan itinerary packed with outdoor adventures and cultural immersions.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a lot more than just all-inclusive resorts and wide sandy beaches — it’s dotted with gorgeous cenotes (underwater sinkholes), impressive ancient ruins and charming colonial towns. Since moving here, we’ve discovered that the region really has no shortage of archaeological ruins, historical colonial cities, and freshwater caves.

We chose to live here, for good reasons! I promise you’ll fall for the Yucatan, just as we did. To help you plan the perfect Yucatan road trip , I’ve put together this action-packed Yucatan itinerary that will show you the best beaches, colonial cities and ancient sites in just 10 days.

Table of Contents

How to Get to the Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico travel requirements , best time for a yucatan road trip, is this yucatan road trip safe, how much does a yucatan road trip cost, where to stay in valladolid, yucatan itinerary day 2: valladolid, swim in cenote zaci, visit convent of san bernardino, visit the stunning cenote suytun, explore ek balam , swim in cenote x’canche, float in cenote ik kil, visit the yellow city of izamal,  soak up mexican culture in merida, where to stay in merida, see the monumento a la patria, visit  the palacio de gobierno, explore the mayan world museum of merida, catch a pok ta pok mayan ball game, experience a shaman ritual in cenote sacamucuy, where to stay in tulum, visit  mystika tulum, swim in the gran cenote, extending your yucatan road trip, more travel tips for the yucatan:, further reading on mexico, yucatan  road trip guide.

The main gateway to Yucatan is Cancun International Airport (even though Cancun is not in the Yucatan state). Flying into Cancun from the US is really affordable. You can  fly from New York to Cancun  for as little as $300 return (4.5-hour flight).  Flights from Los Angeles to Cancun  are slightly more expensive around US$350 return (4.5-hour flight).

Book Flights to Cancun

Mexico has no travel restrictions, and there’s no need for proof of vaccine or PCR tests on the plane or ferry. Anyone is welcomed to travel to Mexico.

However, I always recommend travelers to buy travel insurance, whether you’re traveling for a year or a week. It is particularly important to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19.

Safety Wing  is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their  Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date. Refer to my  travel insurance guide  for more details.

How to Get Around the Yucatan

For this Yucatan road trip, I recommend hiring a compact car. An economy rental car in Mexico averages just $200 for a whole week, which is less than $25 a day. The current price for gas is 16.50 pesos per liter (about $2.50 per gallon), though this varies throughout the country.

It’s generally easy to drive in Mexico, especially outside of the cities. I drive in Playa del Carmen everyday and find it quite easy: just watch out for portholes and crazy drivers! In this Yucatan itinerary, we cover roads that are in relatively good conditions. 

Check Car Rental Prices

If you don’t want to drive in Mexico, it is absolutely possible to follow this Yucatan itinerary by bus. Mexico has an extensive bus network and buses are really affordable. The buses are generally good quality and air-conditioned. The most popular bus company in the region is Grupo ADO. Book tickets online to ensure availability . Some offer luxury or de lujo services with lots of legroom, reclining seats, and TVs.

The best time to visit the Yucatan is during the dry season between December and April , when there is virtually no rain. Head to the Yucatan Peninsula at the start of the season (November to early December) when prices are lower. Read this guide on the best time to visit the Riviera Maya .

The wet season begins in the south in May and lasts until October. The Caribbean coast can be affected by the hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Try to avoid public holiday as surcharges are common around Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter.

 Yucatan is one of the safest places in Mexico for travelers . While petty crime is common here, it has one of the lowest rates of homicide in Mexico (10 times lower than the rest of the country).

Many travelers report that taking public transport around the peninsula is safe during the day. However, like the rest of Mexico, it’s advised not to travel around at night . Carjackings have been reported, most occurring at night or on desolate roads.

A common scam targeting visitors is money switching, particularly at gas stations. You may hand over a 500 peso note and the attendant swiftly changes it for a 50 peso note, insisting you need to pay more. Make sure when you hand over the correct amount, keep your eyes on them and don’t leave until you have the correct change.

Mexico is generally very affordable, but the Yucatan Peninsula is slightly more expensive than other parts of Mexico that receive less tourism. Budget travelers can survive on around US$40 – $50 per day.

My 10-Day Yucatan  Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Cancun
• Day 2: Valladolid
• Day 3: Day Trip to Ek Balam
• Day 4: Day Trip to Chichen Itza
• Days 5-7: Merida
• Day 8-10: Tulum

Yucatan Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in CANCUN

Begin your 2-week Mexico itinerary in Cancun. If you’re coming a long way here, then spend a few nights at a resort in Cancun and have some downtime. Check out our list of fun things to do in Cancun and where to stay in Cancun . But for those who don’t like lazing at an all-inclusive resort (like us), I recommend heading straight to Valladolid.

Calm and unpretentious Valladolid is one of the best kept secrets of the  Yucatan Peninsula . Despite being the closest town to  Chichen Itza, Valladolid is surprisingly quiet and laidback. It’s a 2-hour drive away from Cancun, on a new tolled highway.

Listed as one of Mexico’s  pueblo magico  (magical towns), Valladolid is lined with cobblestoned streets, pastel colored houses and old colonial buildings converted into art galleries or indie boutiques. It also has a large Mayan population — you’ll see plenty of locals walking around in traditional dress and lots of the restaurants serving typical Mayan dishes.

Budget: Casa Hipil

A lovely homely budget option, this place feels more like a guesthouse than a hotel and even has a lounge and communal kitchen. It’s warm and welcoming with clean and comfortable en suite rooms. Check rates here.

Midrange: Hotel Colonial Zaci

Located just one block from the main central square, Hotel Colonial Zaci is a graceful and elegant choice. Rooms feature dark wood furniture and beautifully-patterned tiles on the floor, but also feel modern and updated. There’s also a lovely central courtyard to relax in. Check rates here. 

Luxury: Le Muuch

One of the best and newest hotels in Valladolid, Le Muuch is full of charm and color. Open-air public spaces feel jungle-like with lots of plants and foliage. Individually-decorated rooms are themed around different precious stones and feature added touches such as a hammock, traditional cookies and local Mexican coffee. Check rates here.

Don’t be fooled by the small size of Valladolid. There are actually many things to do in Valladolid , from exploring archaeological sites to cenotes and charming colonial architecture.

One of the best things to do in Valladolid is to wander around town aimlessly. It’s such a pleasure strolling along the streets, admiring the pastel colored houses and wondering what surprise is in store around each corner.

The most photogenic street in Valladolid is the Calzada de los Frailes, which has been tastefully restored with indie boutiques, museums, and small cafes. Be sure to stop at  Idilio Folklore Cervecero , a stylish restaurant that offers a small museum and beer tasting sessions.

Valladolid is unique in the fact that it boasts a cenote right in the center of town: the Cenote Zaci . While beautiful and easy to get to, it’s not the most spectacular of the Cenote’s close to Valladolid. One of the best we visited was Cenote Saamal , a very deep cenote with a gorgeous tumbling waterfall. Just grab a taxi from the central square to get there.

In the evening, head out to the elegant San Bernardino Convent , where you’ll see video mapping and colored lights are projected onto the sides of the complex. The projections tell the story of Valladolid and its history in a beautiful and magical way. Check with the Tourist Information Office on the main square as to the days and timings.

Yucatan Itinerary Day 3:  Ek Balam

I’m a big fan of cenotes: they’re in essence natural sinkholes or caves that contain water. Cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya, and occasionally for sacrificial offerings. Of all the cenotes I’ve been, my absolute favorite is   Cenote Suytun .

Yes, it’s risen to enormous fame thanks to Instagram, but it’s one of those rare few places that’s actually as magical as it appears in photos. I took the following photos with my iPhone (no filter!) and didn’t need any fancy photography equipment.

If you visit first thing in the morning (9am) like we did, you’ll avoid the crowd and be able to capture the famous sunbeam (provided it’s sunny). It’s only a 12-minute drive from Valladolid. Read my guide to visiting Cenote Suytun .

A 20-minute drive from Cenote Suytun is the spectacular and less-visited archaeological site, Ek Balam . It’s equally impressive but far less commercialised (you won’t find any vendors here!). Read my guide to Ek Balam ruins .

It’s also still possible to climb to the top of the pyramids. At 100 feet (29m) high,  the Acropolis  is the tallest structure in Ek Balam. A spectacular view awaits at the top: ancient pyramids poking above the tree canopy and lush green jungles for as far as the eye can see!

Midway to the top of the pyramids is the tomb of Ek Balam’s powerful ruler, Ukil-Kan-Lek-Tok, who reigned during the city’s peak in 800 A.D. The tomb is being restored, but you can see carvings, paintings, and murals.

Next to the archaeological site of Ek Balam is the wild and rugged Cenote X’canche .We absolutely loved the wild and atmospheric setting of this cenote. It’s surrounded by the jungle, with tree roots hanging over the spearmint blue water and rickety wooden bridges running along the sides of the cenote. There’s also a zipline over head, which our 6.5 year old daughter loved!

Best of all, it was actually empty when we visited on a Saturday afternoon, and we had the whole place to ourselves.

Yucatan Itinerary Day 4: Chichen Itza

One of the highlights for any first-time visitor to the Yucatan Peninsula is surely Chichen Itza , one of the country’s most celebrated Mayan archaeological sites. An important Mayan-Toltec city it spans a thousand years of history. Today, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , it ranks #1 on the best things to do in  Yucatan .

It’s only a 30-minute drive from Valladolid, but I recommend leaving early and reaching the site around 8am, before all the day-trippers arrive from Cancun. I also suggest hiring a guide, as there aren’t many plaques or information. Read my guide on how to get to Chichen Itza .

No trip to Chichen Itza is complete without a swim in the Cenote Ik Kil , a sinkhole that is connected to Chichen Itza by a raised pathway. It’s said that this large natural well may have given Chichen Itza (“Well of the Itzáes”) its name.

The use of the Sacred Cenote was exclusively ceremonial. Over the years, the water has yielded many artifacts including gold, jade, copper, shells and the bones of around 200 people who were thrown in as a sacrifice.

This cenote isn’t my favorite, as it’s the most commercialized that we visited (artificial stairways, lookout points and too many tour groups). But with an almost perfect circular opening and lush green vegetation dangling over the water, the cenote definitely has a stunning setting.

Cost: 150 Pesos ($7.50) per person

Yucatan Itinerary Day 5:  Merida

Start by strolling along the Paseo de Montejo, a tree-lined street flanked by the most beautiful buildings in Merida. Walk the whole length of 2 miles or 3.2km, and make stops at the numerous cute cafes and chic shops along the way. Read our full list of 30 best things to do in Merida .

Budget: Hotel & Hostal Boutique Casa Garza

A beautiful budget option for solo travelers, this centrally-located hostel has beautiful rooms with a garden, terrace and small pool. Check rates here.

Yucatan Itinerary Day 6:  Merida

Dating back to 1892, the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace) houses Yucatan state’s executive government offices and it’s open to the public. You’ll find murals and oil paintings by local artist Fernando Castro Pacheco, depicting the Yucatan Peninsula’s history.

A 20-minute drive from Merida is the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (Mayan World Museum), which houses the largest collection of Mayan art and artifacts in the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s lauded as the best museum in Merida, so it’s worth a trip for art and history lovers. Note: it’s closed on Tuesdays.

Pok Ta Pok is an ancient Mayan game that was played thousands of years ago. The ball game was part of a sacred, sacrificial ceremony, pitting good against evil. The winner (yes, winner!) of the game was sacrificed, which was then the highest honor bestowed on a Mayan player.

On Friday nights at 8-9pm, the ancient sport is reenacted in front of Merida Cathedral – luckily though, sans sacrifice. It’s fun to watch and it gets pretty crazy towards the end, when the ball is literally ON FIRE, prompting faster passes, for sure.

Yucatan Itinerary Day 7:  Uxmal Day Trip

Yucatan Itinerary Day 8:  Drive to Tulum

Even so, the area near the beach hasn’t been overly built up and the jungle comes right down the sand. Beyond the beach, you’ll also find  cenotes (sinkholes filled with crystal clear waters), secluded lagoons, turtle reserves, and fascinating Mayan ruins that have been tumbled and shaped by time. Check out our list of best things to do in Tulum .

The town itself doesn’t have any particular attractions, but it’s great for tacos and vegan food. For lunch, there are some great places to dine in town. If you’re a vegetarian, I highly recommend La Hoja Verde , which offers lots of typical Mexican dishes with vegetarian alternatives. The other place I absolutely loved was Burrito Amor , who make their own deliciously spicy sauces.

Budget: Che Tulum Hostel

Situated in the center of Tulum Town, this may be a budget choice, but it still offers an outdoor pool and fun hip vibe. There are both private and dorm rooms available, as well as lockers and free wi-fi. They also rent bikes, so you can easily cycle to the beach. Check the rates here.

Midrange: Coco Hacienda

Sitting on the edge of town, the Coco Hacienda is a great option for those who don’t want to pay the high prices on the beach, but still enjoy being surrounded by nature. As it is located a bit out of the center, the hotel has a large tropical garden filled with palms and banana fronds. It’s built in a rustic colonial style and has two tranquil swimming pools. Check the rates here.

Luxury: The Beach

As the name suggests, this gorgeous eco-boutique hotel sits right on the beach and offers a boho-chic vibe with a rustic charm. The luxurious thatched cottages offer private plunge pools and hammocks, while the communal areas feature several pools hidden amongst the jungle foliage. There are also free yoga classes each morning. Check the rates here.

Yucatan Itinerary Day 9: Tulum Ruins

You can’t travel to Yucatan without visiting the Tulum Archeological Zone . The area is filled with Mayan ruins, which sit high above the turquoise Caribbean Sea, as well as numerous iguana and tropical flora. Remember to bring your bathing suit as there are a few lovely white sand beaches, which can only be accessed from the site.

After a busy day under the sun, head to the Gran Cenote , a gorgeous sinkhole filled with clear turquoise-colored waters, partly open to the sky and partly under an enchanting cave. Remember to bring a mask and snorkel with you (or rent one when you’re there) as a variety of fish and turtles live beneath the surface.

 Itinerary Day 10: Fly Home!

If you have some extra time before your flight, I recommend doing a day trip from Tulum checking out cenotes and wilderness reserves in the area. Some of my favorite cenotes include Car Wash Cenote, Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido . Each one is totally unique and beautiful in its own way.

• Buy a Mexican SIM card before you start this Yucatan road trip.  Having internet data will make it easier to navigate, do research on the go and contact hotels etc. You can get a Telmex SIM card from OXXO for less than $10.
• Pump your gas in advance, don’t wait until your gas tank is completely empty. We always use PEMEX (the petrol kiosk withe the best prices), as we’ve always found the staff to be reliable. They always pump it for you, though they expect a small tip.
• Try to avoid driving at night, as you won’t be able to see the speed bumps.
• That brings me to my next point —   you’ll find MANY speed bumps (topes) on the roads of Yucatan, including on the federal highway. Some of them are treacherous, so make sure you slow down when you see a sign that says ‘TOPE’.
• Don’t leave anything visible in your car, to avoid break-ins and theft. We always leave anything we have in the trunk.
• Parking is super easy anywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula . In the city centers, there are usually street parking (marked by white squares) and green parking meters for paying. You simply key in your license plate number and throw in a few coins (average cost is 10 pesos/hour). Once outside the center, parking is free.

For those who are planning to travel more of Mexico, check out other articles I’ve written on Mexico:

• 35 Fun Things to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula
• 30 Cool Things to Do in Tulum
• 20 Best Day Trips from Tulum
• 30 Fun Things to Do in Playa del Carmen
• 30 Best Things to Do in Merida
• 20 Cool Things to Do in Valladolid, Mexico
• My Guide to Isla Holbox Mexico
• 10-Day Oaxaca Road Trip Itinerary
• 10-Day Baja California Itinerary
• 10-Day Guanajuato Itinerary
• 10-Day Copper Canyon Itinerary

Inspired? Pin it!

Related Posts:

15 thoughts on “Yucatan Road Trip: My 10-Day Yucatan Itinerary [2024]”

thanks for this trip plan! A few good ideas for me.

peeked at your WildJunket very quickly…and my first thought was:

The true voyage of discovery is not in going to new places, but in seeing with new eyes. – Marcel Proust

And this is coming from 80+ country traveler….most of recent travels – past decade, most places have been to countries I’ve already been to – but certain specific places.

Most unexplored place in the world…is looking back at you in the mirror….ever heard of a True Mirror?

anyway…like your photos of the Yucatan. 2nd trip to Yucatan next year…but will rent car, so not dependent on tours, buses, guides.

Thanks very much for the kinds words! Interesting stuff.. I need to go read up on True Mirror!

I think one thing to mention is that MERIDA is a HUGE CITY / area of 1.2 million people. which may come as a shock to anyone traveling in Yucatan. There is no other city larger than 100,000 people (Per wiki).

All your lodging choices (Look nice) are smack dab in the middle of the city…which I guess is ok if you arrive by bus or what not…but I’m not driving through that mess of streets in a car. Don’t use GPS – just printed maps (sometimes I print google maps out) and sense of direction.

Want to visit the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, but that’s on the fringe a little, on a major street. I think staying in Progreso is a better choice or Ixmal. Or for a visit to Uxmal, right near Uxmal in small towns.

You’ve added several days to my planned trip!

Ah yes.. Merida is a big city, but honestly the town center doesn’t feel that way. It feels rather quaint and small to me. We drove our car and stayed in the center of the historical city. The streets aren’t too messy or hectic to navigate and there’s not a lot of traffic. We parked the car at the hotel and mostly walked everywhere, but used to it to explore outside of the historic center like the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya and Uxmal. Progreso does look pretty laidback (I made a new friend who lives there) and we definitely want to visit someday!

ok..took a closer look…if one stays on the main drag or two, easy to avoid 99% of all other streets…so staying in the center is not as bad as I thought.

Also I see the sequential street numbering, so not hard to get around from that angle.

Progreso still looks more peaceful for the $! 🙂 We’ll see…

Hi! Your information about the Yucatan is awesome. Can one safely travel with small children?

hi Rachel, yes! We live in the Yucatan Peninsula (specifically Playa del Carmen) with our 7-year-old daughter and we feel safe traveling around the region with her. The area is great for kids because of all the outdoorsy activities available, like cenote-hopping, exploring Mayan ruins, and beach combing.

Hi Nellie, your 10-day road trip around the Yucatan Peninsula sounds great. I was curious how much downtime there is factored in. My wife and I are going on a 8/9 day trip at the end of November and I want to make sure we don’t end up rushing around too much. How would you adapt the trip to allow enough downtime? Any suggestions you can give would be much appreciated. Thanks, Phil

hi Phil, thanks for dropping in! Honestly, there’s not a lot of downtime factored in. If you want to allow for some downtime, I would suggest removing Uxmal from the itinerary (since you’ll be seeing Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and Tulum ruins) and then spending the day relaxing in Merida or even going to Tulum earlier to chill on the beach. You can also skip the cenotes in Tulum since you’d have visited a few in Valladolid (which in my opinion are better there). Hope this helps!

Just wondering if it’s possible to do 5 days of all inclusive resort and 4 days of road trip. Do you know if I can book separately?

hi Cathy, oh it’s all up to you and what kind of travel you like. I personally don’t like all inclusive resorts but it’s easy to see why it appeals to so many people. You can definitely book it yourself and then hire a car to do the road trip yourself. If you need some ideas on where to stay, check out this Cancun article I’ve written. From there, you can do a short road trip to just Valladolid, Chichen Itza, and Cenote Suytun. Alternatively, if you prefer to stay on the coast, then you can head down to Tulum, see the Tulum ruins and explore the cenotes near there. I’ve written about all these destinations so feel free to search on my site.

Great itinerary! We have been to Mexico several times and done road trips. We felt that it was safe, and smooth sailing. I think I have been to all the places on your list! We love visiting cenotes, Mayan ruins, and places in the cities.

Hi Nellie, just want to thank you so much for all of the wonderful tips you have provided! We have 6 nights booked in Merida at an AirBnB, and another 7 nights in the Yucatan area. Your advice is helping me to plan a route and narrow down where we should stay for the later half of the trip. Thanks again from Canada.

Aww Kathie, thank you for the very kind comment! I’m so glad you’ve found my tips helpful! Have a great trip in the Yucatan Peninsula. 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Ultimate 2 to 4-week itineraries for the Yucatan Peninsula

Posted on February 27, 2020 | Julie J. |

Last Updated on July 17, 2023

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of Mexico’s most visited places and not for nothing. There are tons of unique things to do there, from relaxing at unspoiled beaches to exploring underground cenotes to climbing Maya pyramids and visiting colonial towns. Read on to discover the recommended itineraries and the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula.

You can visit all the places listed below via public transportation or rent a car and do a road trip.

Related – What to pack for a trip to the Riviera Maya

Travel Tip : Before any international trip, make sure to check visa requirements and get travel insurance .

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on any links and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission, at no cost to you.

Getting to Cancun

Cancun has the biggest international airport in the region, which makes it the easiest starting and ending point. Cancun is famous for its beautiful beaches and party vibes. I personally don’t like Cancun, and I wouldn’t advise going there unless what you want is to party or go on an all-inclusive vacation.

Arriving at Cancun Airport you can head directly to Playa del Carmen or Tulum with an ADO bus. If you want to visit Cancun, stay in the Zona Hostelera, where the beaches and the parties are. To get there from the airport either a cab (there’s no Uber) or an ADO bus to the bus station in Cancun. Don’t take the taxis right in front of the bus station, walk to the main road to your right, where you can either catch a cheaper taxi (agree on the price first) or take the bus for only 10 pesos (it stops practically in front of every hotel).

What to do in Cancun

To visit the beaches just use public transportation. Towards the north, the sea is rougher and deeper faster ( Playa Delfines is one of my favorites). Towards the south, the water is quieter and shallower, better for swimming. At night, head to the party center, where all the bars, restaurants, and nightclubs are located. The most famous nightclub is Coco Bongo , half a club half a cabaret with live performances every night.

While in Cancun, make sure to visit a few Mayan archaeological sites!

Is Cancun safe?

More or less, it’s clearly not the safest destination in the Yucatan Peninsula, if you stay at your resort, you should be fine. Just keep your eyes open at night, especially in the party area, and do not buy drugs.

Is Cancun family-friendly?

While many people go there to party, many go only to enjoy the beaches. There are many family-friendly resorts you can stay at, even during Spring Break you can find kid-friendly activities.

Is Cancun budget-friendly?

No, but it can be if you don’t stay in the Zona Hostelera. You can book an Airbnb (or Couchsurf) in Cancun Old Town. Try to find one that’s close to the bus line heading to the beaches. In the old town, you’ll also find cheap restaurants and supermarkets.

How long to stay?

Some people spend their entire vacation in Cancun and only take day trips to nearby attractions. For this itinerary, spend 2 nights and one full day (more if your flight is early), and then next head to Playa del Carmen.

Playa del Carmen

From Cancun, you can either take a Colectivo (van) or an ADO bus. The vans are faster and cheaper, but the buses are more comfortable. They both leave from the bus terminal.

Where to stay in Playa del Carmen

Stay near the beach and 5th Avenue. Towards the north, big all-inclusive resorts and southwards, villas, and bungalows on the beach. There are also a couple of budget accommodations in this area, but without the beachfront.

What to do in Playa del Carmen

Like in Cancun, beaches and parties are the main things to do in Playa del Carmen . In Playa del Carmen, you can spend some time at the beach and stroll around 5th avenue in the evening. 5th avenue is where you’ll find all the shops, restaurants, and bars. It gets really lively at night. If you want to buy souvenirs don’t hesitate to haggle. Speaking some Spanish might help.

You should also check out Punta Esmeralda . You won’t find many tourists there, only locals know about this place. It’s a beach with a small open-air cenote. You can also plan to spend a day in Xcaret, a famous attraction park, where you can do all sorts of activities.

There are many beaches and open-air cenotes you can visit along the Playa del Carmen – Tulum road. For each of them, you can take a collectivo to reach your destination. If you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll find some of the best cenotes for scuba diving near Playa Del Carmen , such as Dos Ojos, El Pit, or Tajma Ha.

Among the most beautiful beaches are Akumal, Xcacel, Xpu-Ha, Saasil Kantenah, and Chemuyil . Bring a mask and snorkel, as you can easily snorkel off most beaches. The prettiest cenotes are Cenote Escondido, Taak Bi Ha, Media Luna, and Dos Ojos . Some of them are closer to Tulum than Playa del Carmen, so you can wait to be in Tulum to visit them.

Playa Del Carmen is also one of the best spots in the Riviera Maya to go diving from.

Related – Beach break packing list

Is Playa del Carmen safe?

Again, more or less, during the day, it’s fine, just be careful late at night in the bars and nightclubs. If you go to a beach with not many people around, keep an eye on your stuff.

Is Playa del Carmen family-friendly?

Playa del Carmen is definitely more family-friendly than Cancun. You can easily stroll around the 5th Avenue with children at night, and you can easily find a stretch of sand (away from the big concrete resort area) without anyone being drunk. There are plenty of fun things to do with kids in Playa Del Carmen.

Is Playa del Carmen budget-friendly?

Like in Cancun, if you go farther away from the “tourist” area, you’ll find cheaper accommodations and food options.

How long to stay in Playa del Carmen

You can spend a day in the city, then the next exploring maybe a beach and two cenotes. If you have more time, you can visit more of the beaches and cenotes or spend a day in Xcaret.

Related – 9 Incredible Beachfront Airbnbs in Playa del Carmen

Same as for Cancun-Playa del Carmen, you can take a collectivo or a bus to reach Tulum.

What to do in Tulum

Tulum has quickly become a hotspot for travelers, it grew tremendously in the last few years, to accommodate more and more tourists. You will find many things to do in Tulum.

There you can visit the Maya ruins , the only ones in Mexico built on the seaside. If it’s the first Maya site you visit, I advise taking a guide so you can learn everything about the Maya culture and the ruins. You can also visit some of the cenotes nearby, such as Labnaha, Gran Cenote, and Zacil-Ha.

You cannot miss the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve either. The reserve is full of birds (and crocodiles so be careful), it’s mostly mangrove. You can either book a tour from Tulum, and you’ll go around the reserve on a boat, or you can drive to Punta Allen, where you’ll see beautiful beaches on one side and the mangrove on the other.

If you need to relax and want to try a unique experience, make sure to check out a Holistic Healing Spa or maybe join a yoga retreat at Tribal Tulum .

Is Tulum safe?

Tulum partly became a tourist destination because it’s deemed safer than Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Common sense applies, but apart from having to watch your belongings, you should be fine.

Is Tulum family-friendly?

Yes! Kids will love the cenotes and the ruins. It’s also a more low-key/hippie atmosphere. There’s still a lot of parting going on but not to the same extent as other destinations.

Is Tulum budget-friendly?

Contrary to Playa del Carmen and Cancun, Tulum hasn’t been invaded by huge concrete resorts and has kept a more local vibe. So yes, it’s possible to visit Tulum on a budget .

It’s a backpacker’s heaven, with many budget travelers skipping Playa del Carmen and Cancun and heading straight to Cancun. It’s actually what I recommend if you’re looking for a more authentic vacation.

How long to stay in Tulum?

You can spend a day exploring the ruins and maybe a cenote or two, then the next day head to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Tulum is a nice destination to spend a few more days if you have time for it.

From Tulum, there’s an ADO bus once a day heading to Mahahual in the evening.

What to do in Mahahual

In Mahahual you’ll feel like you have just arrived at the end of the world. This peaceful and slow-paced village is the best place to spend a couple of days, relaxing at the beach. Oriented towards tourism, you’ll find everything you need there without the crowds of tourists you’ll see in other beach-destinations in Mexico. Apart from the beach and going snorkeling there’s not much more to do in Mahahual. Check before going if there’s seaweed at the moment or not. It’s not worth the trip if the water and the beach are full of stinky seaweed.

Is Mahahual safe?

Yes, it’s a small village, quiet and miles away from the cartels and other problems Mexico is facing.

Is Mahahual family-friendly? budget-friendly?

Mahahual is more of a backpacker destination where you’ll find cheap hostels, cheap food, and cheap beer. There are a couple of hotels more adapted to families and the vibe is relaxed, so even if not per-say, a family destination, you still can go with children, but apart from the beach, there’s not more to do for children so they might get bored easily.

How long to stay in Mahahual

If you’re on a tight schedule, you can just spend a night there. If you have more time and like to relax at the beach, you can stay a few days longer.

From Tulum you can catch a bus to Bacalar, ADO buses are the most comfortable but also the most expensive. There are other companies doing the trip, but check how long they take to reach Bacalar as sometimes they stop in every village. There are not that many buses making the trip so check the schedule and maybe book it the day before.

From Mahahual, there are two daily ADO buses heading to Bacalar.

What to do in Bacalar

Bacalar is my favorite place in Mexico. The lagoon is stunning, there are not many places like this in the world. try to find a hotel with access to the lagoon so you can enjoy it fully.

There are plenty of things to do in Bacalar , and most activities revolve around the lagoon. Most entrances are private and you’ll need to pay a small fee. Some are better than others. For a public and free one, type “ Acceso Publico a La Laguna ” in Google Maps, it’s near the main plaza. If you want a place with a bit of “beach”, go to “ Parque Ecologico Laguna Bacalar “, you’ll have to pay an entrance fee but the place is nice and quiet.

You can also go on a boat tour to visit more of the lagoon. There are a couple of nice spots as well as a cenote. You should also rent a bike and head to Cenote Azul , stopping along the way.

Is Bacalar safe?

During the day yes, after 9 PM avoid going out, especially alone.

Is Bacalar family-friendly?

All the activities there are kid-friendly, but it’s more of a backpacker town. You can find a couple of higher-end hotels and a few guesthouses that are great for families though.

Is Bacalar budget-friendly?

Yes, you can easily rent a tent for less than 10 US a night. The tours on the lagoon are also usually cheap, and you can find plenty of cheap food options.

How long to stay in Bacalar?

I would recommend staying at least 3 days to fully enjoy the place, but you also just spend a day, doing the boat tour or just hanging out at the lagoon.

Bacalar-Merida is the longest distance in this itinerary, it takes around 5 hours. Take an ADO bus, the others take way more time. Book your ticket at least a day before.

What to do in Merida

A stunning colonial city full of beautiful sights, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Merida . There, you can visit the historic center , don’t miss the cathedral and the city’s main plaza . There, you can visit the Fernando García Ponce Museum showcasing contemporary art in a colonial building, and the Casa Montejo Museum , a cultural museum set in a historical house.

From there, head to the Parque Santa Lucia then the Parque de Santa Ana . Both are great places at night, with some of the best restaurants in Merida and traditional Maya dance performances. Then stroll around the Paseo de Montejo , said to resemble the Champs Elysées in Paris. There are two House-Museums you can visit on the avenue.

If you’re interested in the Maya culture, you can visit the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya in the northern part of the city (you can take an Uber to it).

There are also a lot of things to do around Merida. A couple of Mayan sites you can visit include Mayapan , Uxmal (UNESCO) and the Ruta Puuc . You can reach Mayapan and Uxmal via public transportation, and every Sunday, ADO has a bus doing a tour of Uxmal and the four sites along the Ruta Puuc.

You shouldn’t miss Izamal , also known as the yellow city. There, you can stroll around the golden streets, visit the convent and climb Yucatan’s widest Maya pyramid.

Related article – Izamal Complete Travel Guide

You can also spend a day in Homun , a municipality home to no more than 30 visitable cenotes. You can take a collectivo to Homun then hire a type of tuktuk to take you to the cenotes.

Progresso and Sisal are two nearby beaches you can visit as a day trip from Merida. It’s the Gulf of Mexico so it’s not as nice as the Caribbeans. If you have to choose one, I would advise going to Sisal. It’s more of a village vibe as Progresso is more touristy, and the beach in Sisal is wilder.

If you have more time, you can make a detour to Celestun . You’ll have to spend at least a night there. There you should take a boat tour to the Celestun Biosphere Reserve to see birds and the mangrove.

Is Merida safe?

Yes, Merida is the safest city in Mexico, you can walk around drunk at 2 am and nothing will happen to you.

Is Merida family-friendly?

Yes, Merida is probably the most family-friendly destination in this itinerary. Apart from being super safe, there are tons of family-friendly hotels. Kids will love visiting the old colonial houses and the Maya sites.

Is Merida budget-friendly?

Merida can definitely be a good place for budget-traveler. There are many hostels within the Historic Center as well as a couple of cheap guesthouses. Eating in the “nice” restaurants can be a bit pricey, but you’ll find a lot of street food and cheap eateries, even in the center.

How long to stay in Merida

You can spend a day visiting the city, then another one in Uxmal (and the Ruta Puuk if you have a car or are there on a Sunday). On the third day, don’t miss Izamal, Yucatan’s cutest town. If you’re not tired yet of cenotes, you can spend a fourth day visiting Homun. If you have more than 2 weeks to visit the Yucatan Peninsula, do take two days to visit Celestun.

Getting to Valladolid from Merida is simple and fast. You can take an ADO bus from Merida bus station (CAME) in the city center that will leave you in Valladoli’s city center. Be careful when booking your ticket to and from Merida as there are at least 10 ADO bus stations within the city. The one you want is either CAME or TAME, both are right next to each other and close to the historic center.

If you’re traveling light, on your way to Valladolid, you can stop to visit Chichen Itza, so you don’t have to come back later.

What to do in Valladolid

The historic center is pretty small, and you can visit everything on foot. From the main plaza head to the San Bernardino de Siena Convent , and you will have seen everything. At night, during weekends and holidays, they organize a light show at the convent, it’s in Spanish but it’s worth seeing even if you don’t understand.

Valladolid is also famous for its many cenotes. You can rent a bike (or a cab) to visit them. Among the nicest ones are Cenote Zaci (right in the city center), Cenote Suytun , and Oxman Cenote .

Related article – Valladolid most beautiful cenotes.

Chichen Itza is the main attraction in the area. It was the first Maya site I visited, so I loved it, but I’ve talked to many people you were disappointed. Because it’s so touristy, you cannot climb the pyramid anymore (you can in most other sites), and it’s full of souvenir vendors harassing you. I think it’s still a must-see as it’s so famous.

Another nearby Maya site, less frequented is Ek Balam . You can easily reach it from Valladolid taking a shared cab. Apart from the ruins, there’s also a cenote you can go to ( Xcanch ). The ruins are well preserved with several pyramids. On the main one, spectacular carvings and breathtaking views of the surrounding jungle.

If you have a car, after visiting Ek Balam, you can drive all the way to Las Coloradas to see the pink lakes (the lakes are not always pink, depending on the weather and season, so make sure to ask before heading there to avoid being disappointed).

Is Valladolid safe?

Yucatan State is usually way safer than its neighbor, Quintana Roo. Valladolid is a small city, quiet and safe. You can walk around at night and don’t have to be over-cautious all the time.

Is Valladolid family-friendly?

Yes, you can find plenty of nice hotels, and again the kids will love the cenotes, the ruins, and the light show at the convent.

Is Valladolid budget-friendly?

Yes, there are plenty of hostels and cheap hotels, as well as cheap restaurants. You can easily get everywhere via public transportation. The only “expensive” things would be the entrance to Chichen Itza and to Ek Balam (around 20 US each).

How long to stay in Valladolid?

Staying three days would be perfect but if you are short on time you can squeeze most of it in 2 days. You can visit Chichen Itza on the first day and stroll around the city when you get back. On the second day, you can visit Ek Balam in the morning and one or two cenotes in the afternoon.

Holbox Island

From Valladolid, you can take a bus to Chiquila then a ferry. If you have rented a car, you can leave it in one of the many parking in Chiquila.

What to do in Holbox

Holbox will be the highlight of your trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. There are tons of things to do there. The island is big but only a small part is inhabited, the rest is mostly mangrove and is part of the Yum Balam Protected Area . Holbox is a small village with no concrete roads and hence no cars. The vibe is laid back and authentic.

There you can rent a bike or a gulf cart to go to Punta Coco , the island’s most beautiful beach. In the other direction, you can trek to Punta Mosquito . At night, you can go on a tour to swim with bioluminescent plankton (don’t trust the photos you’ll see, it’s photoshopped, the sea won’t look like a sky full of stars, the plankton is only luminescent upon contact).

You can also take a boat or kayak tour to the reserve, which is stunning. If the boat tour, you’ll go snorkeling to see rays and turtles, and you might also see dolphins (and crocodiles).

Related article – Epic things to do in Holbox

Is Holbox safe?

Yes, it is. The only thing you have to be careful about is cash, there’s only one ATM on the island, and it’s often empty. Most places don’t accept credit cards.

Is Holbox family-friendly?

Yes, you’ll find all sorts of hotel options. The kids will love the boat ride through the reserve, swimming with plankton, and the sea is quiet, so they can swim safely.

Is Holbox budget-friendly?

Yes, you can find a bed in a dorm with air-con for less than 10 US and a hotel around for around 15 US. Because it’s an island food is a bit more expensive but shop at the grocery and cook. In the evening, in the main square, you’ll find plenty of cheap street food.

How long to stay in Holbox

To be worth it, I’ll advise staying at least three full days. You can go to Coco Beach and Punta Mosquito the first day, take a tour of the reserve the second and on the third go island hopping, or spend a day relaxing at the beach.

When you’re done in Holbox, head back to Cancun, where you’ll take your flight home.

Recommended Yucatan Peninsula itineraries

2-week sample itinerary – see the main highlights.

Playa del Carmen – 2D/3N Tulum – 3D/2N Bacalar – 2D/3N Merida – 4D/4N Valladolid – 2D/2N

From Cancun, head directly to Playa del Carmen, where you’ll have two full days. On the third, in the morning head to Tulum, where you’ll spend three days. On the evening on the third day, head to Bacalar. After Bacalar, go to Merida, you’ll lose a day in transportation, so you’ll have 3 full days to explore the city and its surroundings. Spend your last 2 days in Valladolid.

You can also skip Playa del Carmen, head directly to Tulum and finish your trip in Holbox.

4-week sample itinerary – See everything

Cancun – 1D/2N Playa del Carmen – 2D/2N Tulum – 4D/3N Mahahual – 2D/3N Bacalar – 3D/3N Merida – 4D/4N Celestun – 2D/2N Valladolid – 4D/4N Holbox – 4D/4N Cancun – 1N

Travel tips for traveling in the Yucatan Peninsula

What to pack.

• Reef safe sunscreen (most cenotes and beaches don’t allow sunscreen unless it’s biodegradable and reef-safe).
• Mosquito repellent : a natural one for the cenotes and a stronger one for other occasions (FYI the OFF!, the orange one, is forbidden in the European Union because it’s cancerogenic). You can also soak your clothes with a special repellent before leaving home.
• Beach attire (if you have space, snorkeling gear).
• A classy outfit to go out at night.
• Covering but light clothing.
• At night, it can be chilly, so bring a light jacket. (the ADO buses are also crazy-cold)
• You don’t have to overpack with clothes, you’ll find plenty of places that can wash your clothes within the day.
• An action camera or a waterproof case for your phone.
• Good walking shoes and a pair of sandals.
• Something for the rain.

Weather and best time to go

Theoretically, there’s a rainy season and a dry season, but climate change is completely messing this up. You could be there during the rainy season and not get a drop of rain or be there during the dry season and have rain every day. The most popular times to go are in December or July., but you can really visit the Yucatan Peninsula year-round.

The only thing worth checking is the seaweed situation, there’s some type of seasonality but it’s hard to predict. You can check if you plan your vacation last minute, but if you book it in advance its a gamble. You can usually still find beaches without seaweed and you might have to focus your vacation less on beaches and more on Maya sites and cenotes.

You’ll always find cheap accommodations and food. You can further save on these using Couchsurfing and cooking (read how I traveled for 2 months in Mexico with only 650 US ).

What is going to cost you are transportation and tours. For transportation, avoid the ADO buses, and take the slowest, cheapest buses. Another option is to hitchhike, which is fine if you’re a group. Alternatively, you can check out BlablaCar, a carpooling app, where prices are usually half the price of the bus.

As for the tours, most of the places, you can visit on your own, but others you won’t have a choice but to take a tour. Don’t hesitate to ask the price to different tour operators, and try to find people to go with you, the more you are, the cheaper it gets per person.

Renting a car and driving tips

• If you’re going to rent a car, pick an international franchise. Check the vehicle well and take photos before leaving with it.
• Make sure your accommodation has fenced parking spots.
• Roads are good just beware of speed bumps. There are tons of them, sometimes even in the middle of the highway.
• The toll route from Merida to Cancun is crazy-expensive.
• Beware of the municipal police trying to get a bribe out of you. If they ever stop you and ask for money call the state police (911) or the Tourist Police.

Like it? Save it for later:

Related posts:

The Complete Yucatan Travel Guide

Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of those links, I may earn a commission at zero cost for you. Please see my disclaimer policy here, and my privacy policy here.

LOCATION | WHEN TO TRAVEL | GETTING THERE | TOP PLACES | THINGS TO DO | TOP TOURS | SAFETY

If you’re heading to Yucatan Mexico, this complete Yucatan Travel Guide will help you plan your trip and decide what to see and how to move around, whether you are traveling solo or with friends.

Before diving into the Yucatan guide, I would like to clarify what is the difference between the Yucatan and Yucatan Peninsula, because they are two very different areas.

So Yucatan is one of the Mexican states, and it’s exactly what this post is about, while The Yucatan Peninsula is the geographical region that includes the states of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo.

Quintana Roo is home to Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. I will cover those in another article.

So now that we have clarified this important detail, let’s cut to the chase.

Yucatan Travel Guide: Know Before You Go

Here are the top things to know before booking your trip to the Yucatan: 

✔️ Currency: Mexican Pesos

✔️ Language : Spanish

✔️ Airports : Merida (MID) is the largest airport in Yucatan along with small regional airports. It’s an international airport where you can fly from some cities in the US. However, for more flight options and better rates, you may want to fly into Cancun and get a transfer to Merida .

✔️ Sim Card : Telcel has the best service in the Yucatan, Sim cards can be bought at all airports and in large cities or you can buy them online to avoid wasting time when you land.

✔️ Visas: Many nationalities can enter Mexico without a visa while others need to apply for a tourist permit. Make sure to check your country’s requirements ahead of time. 

✔️ Electric Socket: Mexico uses Type A and Type B plugs. Make sure to get a travel adapter if you need one. If you are coming from the US you won’t need one.

👉🏽 Where is the Yucatan Peninsula located?

The Yucatan Peninsula is in Mexico on the easternmost side of the country. It separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea.

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico as it has cities like Cancun and Playa del Carmen. 

Yucatan map

When is the best time to visit the Yucatan Peninsula?

Since the Yucatan Peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches and great water activities, you want to make sure you’re visiting in the dry season which is from December to April. 

However, keep in mind that the dry season is also the high season, which means higher rates and bigger crowds.

If you want to save some bucks you should consider traveling between the week after Easter and mid-June before the schools close.

During this time of the year, you should still have sunny days and clear skies but lower prices and smaller crowds. Basically, you’ll have the best of both worlds.

🌧️ What is the rainy season in the Yucatan?

The rainy season in the Yucatan is from June to October. It can rain some during the months of May and November as well, but these months are not as wet. 

☀️ What is the hottest month in Yucatan?

March to May are the hottest months in the Yucatan, even though the peninsula experiences hot weather all year round. 

During these three months, there are many days when the temperatures reach 40 °C (104 °F).

When it’s hot in Yucatan it’s unbearable, unless you are close to the water. That is a good time to visit cenotes and check out the beaches because cities such as Merida, Valladolid, and Izamal are extremely hot.

🌀 What is hurricane season in the Yucatan Peninsula?

Hurricane season in the Yucatan is from June to mid-October. Make sure you pay attention to the weather during these months in case there are tropical storms or hurricane warnings. 

The best places to visit in Yucatan 

If you’re heading to the Yucatan, you might not be sure of the best places to go. Merida and Valladolid are the main places people visit while in Yucatan State. 

Here are the top places to visit to experience each of these amazing towns. 

Merida is a historical city surrounded by cenotes and jungles. It also has an amazing food scene. You can dine in at fancy restaurants or you can grab some tacos from a local street food vendor. 

Here is a quick list of the best things to do in Merida :

👉🏽 Visit the Plaza Grande. This part of the city is more than 500 years old. You can see colonial architecture and wander down some of the side streets to immerse yourself in culture and history. 

👉🏽 Eat. Eating local food is a must anywhere in Mexico but especially in Merida. Head to the Mercado Lucas de Galvez where you can find fresh produce and small stalls selling some of the best Yucatan food.

👉🏽 Swim in a cenote. There are many cenotes around Merida but the most famous one is Cenote Noh Mozon. 

👉🏽 See a few Mayan ruins. There are many ruins to visit near Merida including Uxmal and Mayapan. 

✔️ Valladolid

Valladolid is quickly becoming more popular for travelers and with good reason! Here are some of the things not to miss while in Valladolid:

👉🏽 Tour the Convent of San Bernardo. The outside and inside of this convent are stunning. You can walk around the inside and then visit the small museum on the grounds as well. 

👉🏽 Eat in the square. In the historical square, there are many great restaurants to try. Las Campanas is known as the best, but don’t be afraid to try others as they are all fantastic. 

👉🏽 Go on a walking or biking tour. Valladolid is not very big, so it’s easy to explore some of the best sites by walking or cycling. 

👉🏽 Take a day trip. From Valladolid, you can easily get to many cenotes like Cenote Suytun. Chichen Itza is also only about 45 minutes away. 

Things to do in Yucatan

With so many things to do and see, it can be hard to decide what to put on your Yucatan bucket list. No matter how much time you have, make sure to visit a few of these places below!

🏖️ Best Yucatan beaches

➡️ Playa Norte Celestun is a breathtaking beach in Merida . It’s great for snorkeling and scuba diving. 

➡️ Puerto Progreso is about 30-45 minutes from Merida and is well worth the drive. It’s usually not very crowded, so you’ll have the chance to relax and swim without too many people. 

➡️ El Cuyo is a nice weekend trip from Merida with some of the best beaches. It’s a popular place for kite surfing with plenty of rental gear shops nearby in case you don’t have your own. You can also sign up for a class if you’re a beginner. 

➡️ Playa Norte and Playa Sur are both beautiful beaches in Celestun. Playa Norte has more amenities as well as more options for restaurants and bars. 

➡️ San Benito is one of the beaches to visit if you want seclusion and quiet. It’s not very far from Progreso, you can always head there if you want more choices for food and nightlife. 

🌊 Best Yucatan cenotes

👉🏻 Cenote Zaci-Ha: This is one of the largest cenotes near Valladolid . It’s open-air and perfect for swimming. 

👉🏻 Cenote X’Canche: Make sure to visit this cenote after coming from Ek Balam as they are just adjacent to each other.

👉🏻 Cenote Oxman is near Valladolid. They have a few different ticket options for entry. You can pay more if you want access to the pool and restaurant while the lower ticket prices only give entrance to the cenote. 

👉🏻 Cenote Suytun is another cenote near Valladolid. It’s huge with clear blue water. The stalactites at the top of the cave also make for a great photo op. 

👍🏼 Best Yucatan ruins

You can’t travel to the Yucatan without visiting a few Mayan ruins . Here are the best ones not to miss. 

🔸 Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá is the most visited Mayan ruin site in the Yucatan. The ruins are more than 740 acres. During the tour, you’ll be able to see many of the Mayan temples and learn about the Spanish conquest of the area. 

🔸 Uxmal 

Behind Chichén Itzá, Uxmal is the second most visited Mayan ruin site in the Yucatan. It’s a four-hour drive from Cancun making it a great weekend trip.

The stonework is intricate and detailed with many different temples and other ancient buildings to tour. 

🔸 Ruta Puuc

This is the best Mayan ruin site to visit if you’re in Merida as it’s not very far away.

Since it’s not as famous as other Mayan ruins in the state, you can experience the site peacefully without fighting crowds. You can also get some amazing photos. 

🦩 Where to see flamingos in Yucatan

Yucatan is famous for having an abundance of pink flamingoes as well as many other birds. Here are the best places to spot these magnificent creatures:

🗸 Rio Lagartos is famous for its flamingoes and its beautiful pink lakes. The best place to see the flamingoes is Parque Natural Ria Lagartos. 

🗸 Celestun has the largest pink flamingoes. You can take a day trip from Merida here and enjoy the lagoons and birds. 

🗸 El Cuyo is a great city to see flamingoes. They are easily spotted just outside the town center in the nearby lagoons. There are over 20,000 flamingoes in El Cuyo. 

👍🏼 Yucatan Pueblos Mágicos

Pueblos Mágicos are towns in rural areas of Mexico. Even though they see less tourism than larger cities, they often have more to offer with beautiful sites and unspoiled attractions. 

📍 Valladolid

Valladolid is not as well known as other places in Yucatan, but it’s quickly becoming more of a tourist town. It’s a great place to witness the authentic Mexican lifestyle. It also has an abundance of cenotes to visit. 

If you want to visit the most photogenic town in Mexico, come to see these amazing things in Izamal . Known as the “Yellow City,” almost every building in Izamal is painted a bright yellow. There are many great places to visit here including Mayan ruins and the Convento San Antonio de Padua. 

Sisal is a small seaport town. It’s only an hour from Merida. It has quiet beaches, small local bars, and freshly caught seafood in almost every restaurant.

🏆 Best Yucatan Tours

While you can explore the Yucatan on your own, booking a tour is a great way to learn about local culture and meet new friends as you travel. 

🌮 Mexican cooking class

If you’re itching to learn to make your favorite Mexican dishes while in the Yucatan, taking a cooking class is a great tour to book. Every cooking class is different, but the best ones include how to make fresh tortillas along with popular dishes. 

The best Mexican cooking classes also include a trip to the local market and an introduction to the history of food in the Yucatan. 

🦩 Las Coloradas pink lake

Las Coloradas are in the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Along with seeing the stunning pink lakes, you also get a chance to see flamingoes, crocodiles, and hundreds of different species of birds. 

💎 Yucatan hidden gems

A tour of Yucatan’s hidden gems will take you to all the less visited places within the region. Some of the best-hidden gems include the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve and Ek Balam. 

Since the Yucatan is a huge region, endless hidden gems exist to find and explore. 

Where to stay in Yucatan

The Yucatan is full of amazing places to stay including small haciendas and 5-star resorts. There is the perfect accommodation for everyone. 

🏆 Best Haciendas in Yucatan

🏨 Hacienda Xcanatun by Angsana is about 25 minutes from downtown Merida. It’s a beautiful boutique hotel that is on more than four acres of gardens. They also have a small restaurant and cocktail bar on site. 

🏨 Hacienda Santa Cruz Hotel & Spa is super close to downtown Merida. They have tons of amazing amenities, large rooms, a spa, private gardens, and several outdoor pools. 

🏆 Best Hotels in the Yucatan

🛏 Casa Tia Micha : Nice place to stay in Valladolid when you travel to Yucatan. The rooms are beautiful and it’s close to the city center. 

🛏 Hotel Tabasco Rio : One of the best hotels in the center of Rios Lagartos. They have free WIFI and air conditioning. It’s right in the city center so you can walk everywhere. 

🛏 Casa BreMar 3097: If you’re in Celestun, make sure to book a night here. They have comfortable rooms including air conditioning. You can also swim in the pool, take a walk on the private beach, or dine in the outdoor pavilion. 

🏆 Best Yucatan Resorts

🏝 Chablé Yucatán : Perfect place to be if you want to be near Merida but have more peace and quiet. The resort is in a secluded area near many cenotes around the region. They offer basic rooms, suites, and villas. 

🏝 Hotel Reef Yucatan : Right on the Gulf of Mexico, this resort is perfect if you want to spend most of your time on the beach. It’s all-inclusive so your meals and drinks are included. The terraces in the rooms are the best part as they have views of the ocean. 

🏝 Chichen Resort : If you want to be close to Chichen Itza, this is one of the best places. They have a restaurant, outdoor pool, and spa on-site. You can book a room or a small cottage. 

Is Yucatan safe?

The Yucatan is one of the safest regions to visit in Mexico. The crime rates are low compared to other parts of Mexico, especially the rates for violent crimes. It’s also the region in Mexico with the lowest number of kidnappings, homicides, and vehicle thefts. 

Petty theft is common though. You can avoid this by never walking alone at night, keeping your bag close to you, and not flashing money or jewelry. 

Some other safety tips to follow include:

✔️ Put money and other valuables in the hotel safe before heading out 

✔️ Make sure to only drink at  reputable bars/hotels and don’t let strangers buy you drinks 

✔️ Never leave your drinks unattended

✔️ Only use taxis that are metered 

By following the above tips, you can have a safe and enjoyable time while in Yucatan . 

How many days do you need in Yucatan?

Trips in the Yucatan shouldn’t be less than 5 days, but spending a week or two is ideal so you can see more of this beautiful region. 

Here are some sample itineraries so you can plan your time accordingly. 

✔️ 1-week Yucatan itinerary

👉🏽 Day 1: After landing in Cancun, head straight to Valladolid

👉🏽 Day 2: Spend the day exploring Valladolid

👉🏽 Day 3: Head to Ek Balam (You can also go to Chichen Itza if you have time)

👉🏽 Day 4 and 5: Spend two days exploring Merida (or use one day to swim in a nearby cenote)

👉🏽 Day 6: Take a day trip to Rio Lagartos

👉🏽 Day 7: Tour the Mayan ruins of Uxmal before heading to the airport 

If you’re flying out of Cancun rather than Merida, you might have to skip the last-day trip and drive back to Cancun. 

✔️ 10-day Yucatan itinerary

👉🏽 Day 1: Fly into Cancun and then drive to Valladolid 

👉🏽 Day 3: Take a day trip to Chichen Itza (and go to Cenote Ik Kil since it’s nearby!)

👉🏽 Day 4: Tour Ek Balam 

👉🏽 Day 5: Take a day trip to El Cuyo

👉🏽 Day 6: Start driving to Merida, but spend the night in Izamel

👉🏽 Day 7: Tour Izamel and then finish the drive to Merida 

👉🏽 Day 8 and 9: Spend two days exploring Merida

👉🏽 Day 9: Drive to Uxmal or Celestun for a day trip

👉🏽 Day 10: Drive back to Cancun and prepare to fly back home (if flying out of Merida you can take another day trip or have an extra day exploring the city)

✔️ 2-week Yucatan itinerary

👉🏽 Day 1: Fly into Cancun and then drive to Valladolid

👉🏽 Day 2 and 3: Spend a couple of days exploring Valladolid 

👉🏽 Day 4: Take a day trip to Chichen Itza 

👉🏽 Day 5: Drive to Rio Lagartos and see the flamingoes

👉🏽 Day 6: Drive to Izamal and spend one day exploring 

👉🏽 Day 7 and 9: Head to Merida and spend the next two days touring the city 

👉🏽 Day 10: Take a day trip to Ek Balam or Uxmal 

👉🏽 Day 11: Drive to Progreso and spend the day lounging on the beach

👉🏽 Day 12: Head to Celestun to explore the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve 

👉🏽 Day 13: Visit Sisal 

👉🏽 Day 14: Drive to Cancun and fly home 

How to get around Yucatan

There are many ways to get around Yucatan depending on your budget and how many places you plan to go to. If you’re going to many different cities, the easiest and best way to get around is by car. 

You can rent a car from one of the many car rental agencies in Yucatan. You can also rent a car from many airports including Cancun International. 

If you’re nervous to drive or can’t drive, booking private shuttles is another great way to get around. They are less expensive than taxis as you will often share a shuttle with a few other people that are going to the same destination. 

Most areas of the Yucatan are easily accessible by ADO Bus , the official bus network in Mexico. Buses are extremely cost-effective and are the best way to get around for those backpacking Yucatan. 

If you are not a budget and prefer to take taxis, you can also do so. Taxis are an efficient (but expensive) way to get around. 

🚙 Yucatan Road Trip

Taking a road trip through the Yucatan is a great way to see the area. Most road trippers visiting Yucatan start in Cancun as this is usually the cheapest airport to fly into and there are ample car rental options once you clear customs. 

From Cancun, you can head straight to Valladolid where you can visit Chichen Itza and explore the various beaches and cenotes. 

From Valladolid make sure to go to Merida to see the beautiful city center, swim in a few more cenotes, and eat some good food. From Merida, you have plenty of day trip options including Rio Lagartos, Izamel, and Celestun. 

You can then fly out of the international airport in Merida or head back to Cancun if the flights back to your home are cheaper from there. 

👉 Do you need a car in Yucatan?

You don’t have to rent a car while in the Yucatan, but having a car is definitely the best way to road trip. Otherwise, you can get taxis, shuttles, or take the local bus to get to your destination. 

👉 Is it safe to drive in the Yucatan Peninsula?

Yes! You just need to make sure you follow all local driving laws and pay attention to signs and traffic lights. Petty theft is common though, so make sure you don’t leave money or valuables visible in the car when parked. 

Most roads in the Yucatan are very well-marked so you shouldn’t have a problem getting lost. 

🚌 Yucatan by bus

Using ADO buses while in the Yucatan (or pretty much anywhere in Mexico) is a fast and cheap way to get around. You can purchase bus tickets at any bus terminal in any city. Prices for bus tickets can range in price depending on where you are coming from and where you are going. 

There are also a few other bus companies that run long-distance routes. These include Primera Plus and Omnibuses de Mexico. 

ADO buses are the most well-known though. At the bus terminals, you’ll find posted bus routes and times making it easy to travel back and forth between cities. 

🌊 Yucatan tours

Many people choose to book tours while in Yucatan. This is a great way to get around the area without needing to work on booking transportation for yourself. 

When you book a tour, they will usually pick you up from your hotel. So all you need to do is get ready! After the excursion, they will then drop you back off at the hotel. 

Most transportation costs are included in the payment you give to the tour company. While you can books tours for virtually everything, the most common tours include day trips to cenotes and Mayan ruins. 

Some tours also combine several different attractions making it easy to see many of the best sites in one day. 

Planning a trip to Yucatan

💰 is the yucatan peninsula expensive.

Most of Mexico is very affordable . You’ll find that hotels and food are cheaper than what you might be used to paying at home. 

However, expect the Yucatan Peninsula to be a little more expensive compared to other places you might have traveled to in Mexico. 

Many cities and regions in the Yucatan are well-known and are common tourist destinations. So, the popularity is what makes it more expensive. 

You can still have a very affordable vacation though especially if you choose to eat at local establishments and not stay in large all-inclusive resorts. 

🧳 Do I need a travel adapter for Yucatan?

If you are from the USA or Canada, you will not need a travel adapter for the Yucatan because the plugs in Mexico are the same as in the rest of North America. 

If you’re from another part of the world, you will need to get an adapter to charge your devices in Mexico. Make sure you have the adapter that is two flat parallel pins (Type A). Mexico also has plugs with two flat pins along with a round pin (Type B). 

Universal Travel Power Adapter- EPICKA All in One Worldwide International Wall Charger AC Plug Adaptor

✔️ with Smart Power USB for USA EU UK AUS ✔️ Cell Phone Laptop (4 USB + Type C – White + Grey) ✔️ Suitable for Hair Dryer, Headphone, MP3 players, digital cameras, mobile phones, GPS, PDAs, travel speakers, etc

📝 Do I need travel insurance for Yucatan? 

Travel insurance is not required to visit the Yucatan, but it’s never a bad idea to buy insurance when visiting a foreign country. 

The best travel insurance plans include trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical expenses, medical evacuation, and trip delay. 

➢ Do I need travel insurance in Mexico? Yes, you do! I can never stress enough what a lifesaver it can be in unexpected situations. Although I hope I never need it, it gives me peace of mind to know that whatever happens, I am covered. I have been using   Safety Wing , and I find it quite fair, covering a lot for its pricing level. Depending on your needs or you can compare different insurance companies on this useful site, TRAVEL INSURANCE MASTER . Make sure you read carefully what’s included before making the purchase. If you are undecided yet, you can read my post on the best travel insurance for Mexico for more clarity.

📚 Do they speak English in Yucatan?

The main language of the Yucatan is Spanish. When you’re in rural areas or smaller towns, it can be hard to find any local people that speak English. You might want to learn some basic Spanish phrases before heading to the Yucatan. 

In larger resorts and common tourist attractions, many of the workers will speak English. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is merida yucatan worth visiting.

Although Merida is not as well known as Cancun , taking a trip to Merida is a must.

It has beautiful cenotes, several Mayan ruin sites, great markets for food, and a famous historical city center. 

Are Yucatan beaches worth visiting?

Yes! The Yucatan beaches have turquoise water teeming with marine life.

The sand is also soft and white making it a great place to relax, get a tan, or read a book.

You won’t regret experiencing the beaches of the Yucatan. 

Is Chichen Itza worth the trip?

Chichen Itza is one of the most visited Mayan ruins in Mexico. It’s closest to the cities of Cancun and Tulum making it a common attraction for visitors in those places. 

Seeing the pyramids and the Temple of Kulkulkan is a must for anyone wanting to learn the history of the Mayans and their life in the Yucatan Peninsula. 

There are many Mayan ruins in the Yucatan though, so you can always visit another one if you don’t have time to get to Chichen Itza. 

What language do they speak in the Yucatan?

The most common and widely spoken language in the Yucatan is Spanish. Like other regions of Mexico, you can communicate with everyone by speaking Spanish.

In the Yucatan, you might also hear people speaking Yucatec Maya to each other. This is an ancient Mayan language. 

Is the Yucatan Peninsula worth visiting?

Yes! The Yucatan is home to some of the most-visited regions in Mexico including Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. 

The Yucatan Peninsula is worth visiting for all travelers that want to see breathtaking beaches, experience some of the best diving reefs in the world, and go swimming in a cenote. 

What is Yucatan best known for?

The Yucatan is best known for being home to cenotes, beautiful beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins. Many people also come here for snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Does Yucatan have nice beaches?

Since most tourists and travelers come to the Yucatan just for the beaches, you can be sure they are nice.

The best part about the beaches in Yucatan is they all have different things to offer. 

The beaches near Valladolid and Merida are much quieter compared to the beaches you’ll find in Quintana Roo State.

The beaches are not as well known so you can lay in the sand and go swimming without as many people around. 

What food is Yucatan known for?

Mexican food might be well-known all over the world, but some of the dishes unique to the Yucatan are not as famous. That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth trying though. 

Huevos Motulenos is the perfect breakfast dish with fried tortillas, eggs, red onion, bacon, cheese, refried beans, and spicy salsa. 

Make sure to also try Papaszules which are very similar to enchiladas. Other famous dishes include Sopa de Lima, Queso Relleno, and Dulce de Papaya.

Final Thoughts: Complete Yucatan Travel Guide

While there are many regions to visit in Mexico, coming to the Yucatan is one of the best places for experiencing Mexican culture. Home to amazing beaches, cenotes, and Mayan ruins; the Yucatan is a perfect destination for adventure seekers. 

The Yucatan is very large making it a great destination for road trippers or others who are planning to spend a few weeks in Mexico. 

No matter how much time you choose to spend in the Yucatan, you’re sure to have a vacation you’ll never forget. 

Isabella is traveler and animal lover, a former tourism professional with an multinational background that lead her to Mexico, that she can proudly call home. After seven years in Cancun where she's still a resident, she took a bold leap, leaving her fancy job to embrace a nomadic lifestyle. She traveled all over Mexico, from Baja California to Ciudad Juarez, Oaxaca, Chiapas Hidalgo exploring and living like a local. Isabella founded Let's Travel to Mexico to help travelers plan their own trip on and off the beaten path in this beautiful land that she loves so dearly.

Yucatan peninsula travel guide

Everything you need to know about the yucatan peninsula mexico.

One of the most visited regions of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula attracts millions of visitors, from backpackers to curious explorers, style-conscious travelers, luxury escape seekers, and nature lovers.

In this essential Yucatan Peninsula Travel Guide I will share all the essential information that you will need to travel and have an amazing and worry-free journey.

With  countless amazing things to do in Yucatan Peninsula , it’s the favorite destination of many different types of travelers, from family trips to couples’ romantic escapes, or solo travelers.

The land of the famous  Cenotes , the  Caribbean turquoise water , delicious  cuisine ,  kite surfer  paradise, and the magical  Mayan archaeological sites,  a witness of a millenary culture and ancient wisdom.

On this page, I will offer you a complete guide to the Yucatan Peninsula, with everything you need to know about this amazing region to help you plan for your trip.

WHERE IS YUCATAN PENINSULA MEXICO?

Before moving forward on the fun part, I believe a clarification on the geographical location of the Yucatan Peninsula and on the ancient population is due.

• We call  Yucatan Peninsula  the entire region that includes the Mexican states of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo.
• Merida  is the capital city of Yucatan
• Campeche  (city) is the capital city of Campeche (State)
• Chetumal  is the capital city of Quintana Roo.
• Quintana Roo  is mostly known for its very popular tourist destinations of  Cancun  and the  Riviera Maya  than as a state itself.
• The  Riviera Maya  is the Caribbean coast of Mexico that goes from Puerto Morelos down to Punta Allen, right past Tulum all along with the Carretera Federal, the Federal Highway.

PLANNING A TRIP IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

Yucatan peninsula practical tips .

CURRENCY : Mexican Pesos 1 USD = 19 MXN (approx)

WHERE TO EXCHANGE MONEY:  Avoid exchanging your currency at the airport or in your hotel. The best place to do it is a bank or an exchange bureau. There are many commercial plazas in the main cities.

ELECTRIC SOCKET:  In Mexico, there are two associated  plug  types, types A and B.  Plug  type A is the  plug  that has two flat parallel pins and  plug  type B is the  plug  that has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. 

Mexico  operates on a 127V supply  voltage  and 60Hz. Make sure to pack a  universal travel adapter  so you can still use all your electronic devices.

MEXICO VISA:  You need to apply for a visa if your passport is from the country listed  on this page .  If your country is not on the list you can enter  Mexico with your valid passport and get a 3 to 6 months tourist permit. If you want to stay longer than 6 months you will need to go out and then go back in. However if a few months ago it was very easy to do it now they are a little more strict on letting you back in in such a short time. 

Working in Mexico is more complicated and you should put yourself in the hands of a good lawyer that can look after all the paperwork for you and spare you all the hustle and headaches.

If your intention is to move to and work in Mexico, you can check this  interview with a lawyer  for more detailed information.

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA?

The Yucatan peninsula is generally very safe to travel to, and the State of Yucatan is the safest of all of Mexico.

Cancun has recently been in the news for some dreadful episodes that can’t be ignored.

However, tourists and travelers are not targets for an organized crime unless they are personally involved in drug-related matters.

I would always use lots of common sense and a vigilant eye but wouldn’t let the facts prevent me from traveling.

I put together a very detailed guide on how to  stay safe while traveling in Mexico  which will offer great guidelines on being smart when you travel here, besides some helpful Spanish vocabulary.

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE ?

Yes, you do. I always recommend it and I always have one. I am explaining the multiple reasons why you need travel insurance in my detailed post.

I have recently discovered also  SafetyWing   as it’s been specifically recommended by different travel companies and professional travelers, especially for its user-friendly website and fast response.

Safetywing has many advantages, especially for nomads, one of which is being able to pay on a monthly basis and cancel at any time. 

You can check out my complete review on SafetyWing as well and compare the two companies to choose what works best for you.

WHAT LANGUAGE DO THEY SPEAK

 The official language is Spanish, or better said, “Castellano”. Most people, especially those who work in tour activities and hotels will speak good English. If you are like me and love to explore rural areas, there are chances that you will encounter people who don’t speak English at all. Worry not!

In some rural areas, some people don’t even speak Spanish. They only speak the Mayan language, as it is still commonly used in villages and thought at school.

Mexican people are very hospitable and warm and with a smile and gestures you will be able to get along very well with locals and it’s the best way to get to know them.

Smiles and a fun game of charades is a great ways to get to know the locals. In any case, it’s always good to know a few words.

I n my article on how to stay safe in Mexico, you will find some Mexican vocabulary that will turn out helpful

Knowing a few words and having a basic understanding of the language is always helpful, especially in unwanted circumstances.

YUCATAN PENINSULA BY DESTINATON

Read the detailed guides I wrote for each destination in the Yucatan Peninsula

• Cancun Travel Guide
• Tulum Travel Guides
• Things to do in the Riviera Maya
• Things to do in Yucatan
• Discover Campeche

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

Despite in Cancun you have 2 seasons, winter and summer, the climate is very similar, warm and sunny most of the time all year round. However, there are a couple of things to consider:

•   Summers  are much hotter and humid
• In  August through October,  you are more likely to find a rainy day and a better chance to see a hurricane
• December through March is the high season for the milder temperature and lower humidity and less chance of rain
• Towns like Valladolid, Izamal, Merida are  extremely hot in the summer .
• The above information cannot be 100% reliable because it can rain a lot in February and not one drop of rain in September

Having said that I wouldn’t really bother and I would travel in the season that is most convenient for you.

GETTING TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

Cancun International Airport is one of the most important international hubs in Mexico with flights connecting from all over the world making it easy and much cheaper to travel to Cancun and the entire Yucatan Peninsula, including the Riviera Maya.

It’s very easy to find cheap flights to take you there, what’s tricky is coming out of the airport, which can become a hassle if you are not prepared. I wrote a detailed guide on all the steps you will go through. It’s nothing to worry about but it’s better to know before you get there.

In my post on  What to do when you arrive at Cancun Airport,  you will also find information on the best way to get to your hotel from Cancun Airport and how not to get scammed by airport vendors.

HOW TO MOVE AROUND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

You can rent a car, and you will find a lot of car rental agencies around, but you should be careful of the very low rates that are advertised but will inflate significantly when you need to add insurance and all the extras, which you will need. 

Unfortunately, your credit card insurance is not valid when you rent a car in Mexico. More on  Driving in Mexico  in this post.

Also Read:  The honest truth about Renting a Car in Mexico 

BOOK YOUR CAR RENTAL WITH DISCOVER CARS

Discover Cars is an aggregator, which means that it shows you different car rental deals filtered according to your request, either by car, price, reviews, or other features of your choice. It offers:

✔︎ Best Prices ✔︎ Full Coverage Option ✔︎ 48 hrs Cancellation policy ✔︎ 24/7 Multilingual Customer Service ✔︎ No hidden fees

From Cancun to anywhere by bus

If you wish to travel around Mexico from Cancun by bus, it’s super easy as Cancun is connected to the most important city and tourist locations in the Yucatan Peninsula and outside. 

At the  ADO  bus terminal, you will find buses to anywhere including   Tulum ,  Valladolid ,  Merida , Playa del Carmen, and  Chiquila’ (Holbox ), Chichen-Iza,  Uxmal . You can even get to San Cristobal de las Casas or Mexico city by bus. It is a little long way but certainly an experience.

What to pack for traveling to Yucatan

I have written a complete guide on what to pack for your trip to Cancun.

However, as a quick overview, a few of my must-bring items when you travel to Cancun are:

• travel water bottle  
• Beach towel  (you will get beach towels in your all-inclusive hotel, but it’s useful if you go visit other beaches, and you should)
• RFID travel wallet
• plug  adapter  (if you are coming from US you won’t need it as the sockets are the same)
• good pair of travel sandals  that are fancy and comfortable at the same time depending on the kind of trip you want to have.

THINGS TO DO IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

1. bask in the sun on one of the amazing beaches.

The Yucatan Peninsula is surrounded by spectacular beaches that you must explore, from the more popular Cancun Beaches to the secluded bays of the Riviera Maya , to the lesser-known, and yet worth visiting El Cuyo , there is a beach for every need. You can party in one of the Tulum Beach club, kitesurf at El Cuyo or bask in the tranquil white sand of Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres.

2. TAKE A DIP IN A CENOTE

You cannot travel to the Yucatan Peninsula without swimming in one of the cenotes, a natural landmark of the region. Check out all my guides to the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula to familiarize with these amazing natural wonders and choose the best one for you to visit.

3. SWIM WITH THE WHALE SHARKS

Summer is the season for swimming with whale sharks in Cancun . Tours are actually available from Cancun, Holbox, and Isla Mujeres.

And of course, if you are in Tulum or Playa del Carmen you can easily get to Cancun to join one of the tours available.

In my post linked above, you can read more.

4.VISIT THE FLAMINGOES IN RIO LAGARTOS

Rio Lagartos is one of the most incredible natural reserves in the Yucatan. I hired a local guide which is also a biologist and photographer and most of all, he’s from there and passionate about showing you around in his own hometown.

Check out my guide about Visiting Rio Lagartos and the best boat tour in the natural reserve .

5. GET YOUR INSTAGRAM SHOT AT LAS COLORADAS

While in Rio Lagartos, make sure to take a detour to visit the pink lakes of Las Coloradas, an impressive salt mine that is also very Insta-worthy. You can also explore hidden beaches close by.

6. EXPLORE THE SIAN KA’AN LAGOON AND THE FLOATING RIVER

The Sian Ka’an Lagoon is quite popular now and totally worth visiting but a few know about the nearby floating river in Muyl.

I will tell you all about it in my post “ A day between Muyil archeological site and Muyil lagoon “

7. VISIT VALLADOLID, THE GETAWAY OF THE COLONIAL YUCATAN

Valladolid is the first colonial town that you will find if you are driving from the Riviera Maya. It’s a pretty town with colorful homes and delicious restaurants besides a delightful historical feel.

Valladolid is brimming with places to visit and things to do, including exploring the amazing cave cenotes around the city. I talk about it in my Travel guide to Valladolid .

8. VISIT ISLA MUJERES

You can’t travel to Cancun and skip a visit to Isla Mujeres . Although it’s become very touristy and crowded, it’s still a charming little island with spectacular beaches, and breathtaking sunsets among the exciting things to do.

Or you can just enjoy the beach life from your amazing apartment . Make sure you rent a cart , at least for one day, and drive around the Island.

9. MARVEL AT THE VIEW OF THE 7 SHADES OF BLUE IN BACALAR

Known as the lagoon of the seven colors, Bacalar is a huge blue lake where you can relax and enjoy the views or try out all the available watersports, including sailing, kayaking, or paddleboarding.

The pretty laid-back town is not suitable for party lovers but mostly for seekers of tranquillity and peace. Be careful because you may not want to leave.

Check out my Bacalar Travel Guide for more detailed information.

10. LIVE THE TULUM LIFE

Tulum is one of the trendiest beach destinations in Mexico that you must visit at least once if you are in the area. If you do, get ready for a spectacular.

Tulum beach , a vibrant party life, the amazing Tulum ruins over the ocean, and world-class cuisine, but also, overpriced hotels, fake-eco-everything, and scammy taxi drivers. To learn more about Tulum, check out my Tulum Travel Guides .

11. VISIT CAMPECHE

At about 3 hour’s drive from Merida , there lays the colorful colonial city of Campeche, sometimes underrated, probably because it is quite off the beaten path, but certainly worth a visit, for the quaint and safe city and its beautiful surroundings. You can read more about it in my Campeche guide .

12. SPLURGE IN ONE OF THE LUXURY BEACH HOTELS IN CANCUN

If you are ready to splurge, Cancun offers spectacular Luxury hotels catering to adults or families alike. Everything for every need. In my post on the top 5 luxury hotels in Cancun , I share my favorite ones.

13. SPEND A WEEKEND IN MERIDA, THE WHITE CITY

A few days in Merida are due if you are on a road trip around the Yucatan Peninsula, which you should.

The so-called white city is actually brimming with colorful buildings and an interesting cultural heritage which you can learn about during a free walking tour, the best way to get familiar with the most important landmarks of the city.

Merida is also close to some beautiful beaches on the gulf of Mexico and spectacular cenotes .

If you are planning to visit Merida keep in mind that summers are outrageously hot.

14. DISCOVER THE YELLOW TOWN OF IZAMAL

One of the most beautiful Pueblos Magicos, Izamal is called the yellow town because the entire historical center is painted in yellow. It’s a gem that you would want to visit if you are in the area. It’s located between Merida and Valladolid.

15. LEARN HOW TO KITESURF AT EL CUYO

Deserted beaches, almost Sargasso-free, pristine waters, perfect wind for kite lovers, unpaved roads, small boutique hotels, nice cafes, and good vibes. That’s what you will find at El Cuyo , a tiny village on the underrated Yucatan coast.

16. VISIT ISLA HOLBOX

Isla Holbox is one of the quaintest destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula for those who love nature and a laid-back and hip ambiance surrounded by nature and positive vibes.

There is so much to do in Holbox with quite a choice of water-related activities if you get bored of basking in the sun on the beautiful white-sand beaches. Read my guide to the u nmissable things to do in Holbox island .

ORGANIZED TOURS TO HOLBOX ISLAND

• Book your tour from Playa del Carmen here
• Book your tour from Cancun to Holbox here

17. VISIT THE SPECTACULAR ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF CALAKMUL

Situated in the State of Campeche right at the door of the Yucatan Peninsula, bordering with the Peten Region in Guatemala, the Calakmul biosphere reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Mexico.

The area counts many species of flora and fauna and it’s a paradise for photographers, bird watchers, and animal lovers in general.

Inside the biosphere, it is located one of the most precious and biggest Mayan archaeological site and the most popular in the region.

I spent a week exploring the entire area and you should know that although it is popular for the magnificent Calakmul national park, the region has much much more to offer. I wrote about it in my guide on how to visit the Calakmul Mayan Ruins and biosphere .

18. DISCOVER THE MYSTERY OF UXMAL AND THE RUTA PUC, THE MOST UNDERRATED MAYAN SITEs

Although  Chichen-Itza remains the must-see archeological site and one of the world’s seven wonders, you should consider including Uxmal in your Yucatan road trip .

Uxmal is located a 1-hour drive from Merida and surrounded by small authentic local towns, and cenotes, besides being at the beginning of the  Ruta Puuc  a complex of 4 small and yet very interesting Mayan archeological sites.

You can check out my guide on how to visit Uxmal Mayan ruins and I would suggest you stay in one of the amazing haciendas near Uxmal .

19. HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE COBA PYRAMID

The Coba archaeological site is one of the most interesting among the Mayan Pre-hispanic cities and one of the most popular. Located in the Mayan jungle makes it a popular attraction for many tourists. And yet, is not even close to the crowd you would find in Chichen Itza.

Not many people know though that there is much more to see in Coba , where you can in fact explore 3 hidden cave cenotes a few miles from the Coba site .

20. VISIT THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOHUNLICH

If you are visiting Calakmul, you should consider a stop at Kohunlich Mayan Ruins, a spectacular Mayan city in the middle of the Jungle, more isolated than the others and therefore less crowded and more mystical. It’s just a few hours’ detours from the road to Calakmul.

TRAVEL ITINERARIES IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

Renting a car is always something I would suggest to do if you are an insatiable explorer like me and want to reach to more secluded places, where local buses don’t go, but also if you don’t like to join groups and already made itineraries.

The Yucatan Peninsula is a very easy place to drive around. You can stop by a cenote along the way, stay at a prestigious Hacienda, a luxury hotel in the middle of the jungle, and discover the lesser-known ancient Mayan sites driving through small villages and salt flats, spotting a flamingo or maybe a Jaguar. Oh well, that won’t happen although I had wished.

If you have plenty of time this  3 weeks itinerary around the Yucatan peninsula  will help you find your way around and build your own itinerary.

If you have just a few days, you can follow my  2 days itinerary  that I have made up when my parents came to see me. I have included the highlights of Yucatan, what I considered the unmissable spots.

PLACES TO STAY IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

Stay in one of the magical haciendas.

Old farms, which looked like little villages with the owner’s mansion and the worker’s huts, storage rooms, and offices. They belonged to the Spanish landlords during colonial times. 

They have now been turned into  amazing properties , usually located far from the sea, but deeply immersed in the thick jungle or in small towns in the middle of nowhere, scattered throughout the state of Yucatan, in southeast Mexico; the majority however, are located in the outskirts of Merida. 

THE BEST HOTELS IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

I have written my personal review based on my experience with the hotels I have visited and the opinion that I gather from fellow travelers and friends.

I normally use  VRBO   if I want an apartment or a cheap private room, always with a private bathroom. If I want to choose a hotel I always use  Booking.com  because they always have great deals and I love their interface and system. Or you could check also Expedia for travel packages.

Here below my hotel reviews and suggestions by destinations.

• The top 5 luxury hotels in Cancun
• Where to stay in Tulum
• Where to stay in Coba
• The best hotels of the Riviera Maya
• Where to stay at El Cuyo
• The best Airbnb in Tulum
• The best Airbnb in Playa del Carmen
• Where to stay in Uxmal
• Where to stay in Calakmul
• Where to stay in Bacalar
• Where to stay in Valladolid
• The best Luxury Haciendas in Yucatan
• Where to stay in Isla Mujeres
• Cancun best Airbnb

WHAT AND WHERE TO EAT IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

The cuisine in Mexico, you know is among the most savoury in the world. I believe a Mexican chef just won an international price, and with a reason. You just can’t get enough.

Although tacos, and Guacamole are the most popular dishes, there is so much more than that. So much to taste and try.  Here is my small guides on the Restaurants that I have explored so far. More will come:

• T he best Restaurants in Tulum
• The best Restaurants in Cancun 
• Where to eat in Valladolid
• Where to eat in Bacalar 
• Where to eat at El Cuyo

Planning a trip soon? Here are My Recommended Travel Resources .

• TRAVEL INSURANCE –   Safety Wing or TRAVEL INSURANCE MASTER
• BOOK FLIGHTS –   Expedia ,   Going.com (former Scott Cheap flights) , and always remember to compare
• BOOK TOURS –   GetYourGuide or Viator . Some of their tours are refundable up to 24h in advance.
• HOTELS & HOMES – Booking.com – Expedia –   VRBO
• CAR RENTALS:  Discover Car Rentals

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Destinations

This Mexican State Offers Powdery Beaches, Mayan Ruins, and a Stunning Flamingo Preserve

From the beautiful beaches to the ancient ruins, here's why you should plan a visit to Mexico's Yucatan state.

This could have been a story about anywhere. What I mean by that is that this love affair had little to do with the place itself, but more of what it represented. That's how it goes with many first loves, doesn't it? It really could have been anyone, but there's always something about someone who was a "first."

I first visited the state of Yucatan as a 20-something on a solo backpacking trip around Mexico . The four-month adventure was built around discovering wild, windswept beaches, filling my belly with salsa-drenched street food late at night underneath fluorescent lights, plunging into thick jungles to climb centuries-old ruins, and meeting other digital nomads over strong mezcal and swapped stories. So, yes, this could have been a story about anywhere as I took these first steps into falling in love with Mexico. Fortunately, for me, it started in Yucatan.

I hopped the bus from Playa del Carmen, where I had just attended the BPM music festival (the last one held in Playa del Carmen, actually, after a tragic shooting at the Blue Parrot nightclub shuttered the event in its home base forever. You can still see the abandoned skeleton of the club, which stands in the city.)

As a travel writer with a focus on Mexico, I had experienced Cancun and Playa del Carmen dozens of times. The all-inclusive resorts , trendy restaurants, and complete lack of need for any Spanish language were old hat to me. This bus journey marked my first foray into the unknown. How could I say I was a haughtily self-proclaimed "Mexpert" if all I did was stick to the tourist trail? So, I headed north to the city of Mérida , the capital of the Yucatan state. Back in 2017, Mérida was beyond a rising destination, but it was a far cry from the popularity of places like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.

Mérida is the doorway to the Yucatan. This centuries-old colonial city was an important stronghold for the Mayan people, as well as the Spanish, who built over that history and started their own. Dating back between 1562 and 1599, the Catedral de Mérida, the oldest church in the continental Americas, was built here. It sits just off the Plaza Grande. But the Yucatan's history stretches back even further — millions of years — as it was just off the shores of the peninsula where the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs struck .

Today, Mérida is a vibrant, dynamic destination peppered with plazas and veined with broad, tree-lined boulevards like Paseo de Montejo. A trip to Mérida should begin here, as it's one of the most prominent and important avenues in the city. Inspired by the Champs-Elysees, it features several roundabouts and is flanked by ornately decorated 19th-century mansions. Some of the city's best museums , including the Museum of Anthropology and Casa Museo Quinta Montes Molina, can be found here. And many of the homes are open for history tours as well.

My first trip to Mérida took me to a hostel on Calle 60, another important artery in the city, tucked behind Paseo de Montejo in the Centro Historico. Back then, the area was lively with backpackers. But after returning in November 2021, the city was showing signs of digital nomad gentrification. The quiet Mercado 60 that I discovered five years prior was redone as a bustling outdoor food park, with stalls selling everything from traditional Yucatecan fare and steak to pizza, burgers, and wings. Weekly live music and events, like beer yoga, pulled in both locals and visitors, signaling Mérida's rising class of young, wealthy professionals.

The restaurant game in Mérida is exceptional. It was for this very reason, in 2017, that I decided to extend my stay in the city. Initially, it was supposed to be a two-night visit before I set off west toward Campeche. But I ended up staying for five nights, thanks to the food. I discovered a small breakfast spot, called El Barrio . My first morning in Mérida, I showed up and was the only person in the restaurant. I tucked into a decadent huevos rancheros, bathed in salsa ranchera and topped with spicy sausage, queso fresco, and avocado. One bite and I was hooked with a feverish need to return every morning to try everything else on the menu. The restaurant is still there today, but the menu looks different from what I remember. A changeover in original ownership is the reason for that, but I have no doubt the quality is exactly the same.

Beyond El Barrio, restaurants like the one at charming Rosas y Xocolate Boutique Hotel raise the bar on haute Yucatecan fare. Others, like Salon Gallos , blend Mexican flavors with Lebanese ingredients. In fact, Lebanese traditions are important in Yucatecan food, like kibbeh cooked with minced beef and onion, taquitos made with grape leaves, and tacos arabe, which uses pita instead of tortillas. Why? The Lebanese immigrated to Yucatan's Puerto Progreso as they fled the Ottoman occupation of Lebanon.

But you'll also find the typical street carts and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that may come to mind when you think of Mexico. These spots sling regional delicacies, like the famed cochinita pibil, sopa de lima, panuchos de pavo, and huevos motuleños. Many of these specialities can trace their lineage back to the Maya. So, yes, you will eat well in Mérida — and in Yucatan, in general.

Beyond the beauty of Mérida's cobblestone streets, 16th-century Spanish architecture, and one-story buildings splashed in colors like lime, turquoise, and ochre, there's much more.

Let's take the beaches, for example. Yucatan has a northern coast that rims the Gulf of Mexico. Those same sun-bleached beaches and warm, translucent waters that draw you to the Riviera Maya? They're in Yucatan, only far more subdued. Don't expect a slew of all-inclusive resorts — the coast here keeps things boutique, eco-friendly, and sustainable.

But bear in mind that the main coastal city, Puerto Progreso, is very much a burgeoning cruise destination, so the crowds may follow. But, for now, surrounding villages like Celestún and Sisal keep the vibe sleepy, the aesthetic palm-fringed, and the pace slow. If your idea of a perfect Mexico beach vacation involves kicking off your shoes underneath a thatched palapa with an icy beer and a plate heaped high with fresh ceviche, the Yucatan coast may be the place for you.

You can even negotiate with local water taxis to take you off into the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve to see the thousands of pink flamingos. In fact, the coast of Yucatan can be broken down into a turquoise and pink color scheme, especially if you plan to visit Las Coloradas. Chances are, you've seen it on Instagram — these bubble-gum pink lakes are the result of man-made salt production, but people flock from all over to see the contrast of the candy-colored pools against the neighboring turquoise sea.

Then, there are the ruins of Yucatan. Chichen Itza — one of Mexico's most famous landmarks — is located in the state, and though it's indeed spectacular, it's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to archeological treasures buried deep in the jungle.

Back in 2017, I hopped on a bus for a day trip from Merida to Uxmal. This ancient Mayan city, one of the lesser-visited ruins in the country, is a UNESCO World Heritage site . It has some of the best examples of Mayan architecture, represented by the towering Pyramid of the Magician. Yucatan may very well be the gateway to other massive ruins in the region, like Calakmul in neighboring Campeche and Palenque in the state of Chiapas .

If you're interested in cenotes , some of the most beautiful can be found in Yucatan. The peninsula has about 3,000 known cenotes; these underground caves and river systems were vital to the Mayan tradition, as they were thought to be entrances to the underworld. Today, they're pristine, preserved examples of how the peninsula's fragile ecosystem operates. It's possible to swim, snorkel, and scuba dive in many of them, and the turquoise pools, surrounded by dangling vines and flooded with beams of sunlight, are any amateur photographer's dream.

But while Yucatan may still be somewhat undiscovered by most mainstream travel standards, it's not immune to development and change. In the fall of 2021, the destination held one of the largest tourism conferences in the world, which drew significant media attention. Developments are in the works as we speak. Merida will be an important train hub upon the fast-approaching unveiling of the new Tren Maya, a high-speed rail service that will connect many important sites across the states within the Yucatan Peninsula. And Grupo Xcaret , which owns many theme parks and hotels in the state of Quintana Roo , developed one of its branded theme parks not far from Chichen Itza, called Xibalba , which created a manicured tourism circuit through a series of underground cenotes.

That's not to say this is a bad thing. Progress is inevitable and (hopefully) beneficial to the locals of Yucatan. But it will certainly be different. And while it's my job to shed light on the under-the-radar travel destinations around the world, it often feels like a little piece of me gets lost when I do. To see the places that helped shape me as a traveler — and lover of Mexico — plastered across Instagram is bittersweet, like looking at an old boyfriend who has found someone new to love their own things about him.

This is all to say that I probably would have fallen hard for any place in Mexico where I took these first steps. It has happened before. I fell for Mexico when I first discovered Puerto Vallarta in 2013. But Yucatan marked a shift in me as a writer, a traveler, and a person. It was, and continues to be, one of the many loves of my life.

Related Articles

21 Best Places To Visit in Yucatan Peninsula in 2024

Are you planning your trip to Yucatan and wondering what are the best places to see? I visited the Yucatan Peninsula many times and stayed in total a couple months. It took me a couple years to visit all the tourist attractions and highlights in the Yucatan Peninsula.

In this list you will find the best places to visit and coolest things to do, but don't worry you don't need a couple months the see the best places. But if you want to see the main tourist attractions you will need a couple days, preferably somewhere around 2 weeks.

The best way to explore and travel the Yucatan Peninsula is by car. Renting a car in for example Cancun or Playa del Carmen is very cheap and totally worth it. Is it safe? YES!

After my list of the best places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula I will show you the ultimate itinerary and below you can also find a map of where to find all these amazing places in the Yucatan Peninsula.

This Yucatan travel blog is more than just a list of amazing places and an itinerary. You will also find tips for a road trip, things to do and everything else you need to know about traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula.

At the end I tell you all about my adventures road tripping in Yucatan.

you may also like...

Traveling to Mexico? Make sure to get a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card. Here is a guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Mexico in 2024  or make it yourself easy and order an e-sim card for Mexico on the internet. Check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for Mexico on the internet in 2024 .

When you are ready to see more of Mexico I recommend you to check out my article with the 20 Amazing Places to Visit in Mexico .

1. Cancun (A)

If you feel like you need a day to rest from your flight to Cancun there are endless amazing Cancun hotels on the hotel strip. This is also where you will find the best beaches in Yucatan. Most of them are privately owned by the hotels though. Cancun is the best base for your Yucatan itinerary.

Car rentals are cheap and busses go in all directions from either Cancun Airport or downtown. From here it is easy to get to all the amazing places to visit in Yucatan. A cool day trip from Cancun is Rio Secreto, an underground river tour .

2. Isla Holbox (B)

In case you are jet legged this is where you want to get rid of it. If you travel to Isla Holbox you will understand why, because here it is all about that slow paced island life. The Caribbean vibes are all over this car-free island. Bike around the sandy streets until you find your perfect spot on a deserted beach or find a lounge bed in one of the beach clubs.

Don’t forget to got to Punta Coco to swing in a hammock for sunset, it was one of my favorite things to do in Yucatan Peninsula. Find all my Isla Holbox tips in the link. Isla Holbox is like one big resort for people backpacking Yucatan. Oh yeah and here is where you can swim with whalesharks a couple months a year.

3. Valladolid (C)

Soak up some real authentic Mexican lifestyle in this charming city. This is where you will find hidden haciendas, colorful houses, instagram spots, lovely restaurants and boutique shops. Valladolid is a small city with a lot of soul and most famous for its spectacular cenotes around Valladolid .

This is Cenote Suytun , one of the most famous cenotes in Yucatan and a famous Instagram photo spot. Make sure to visit the cenote at the right time of day or get disappointed. Check out my tips in the link above. Exploring the cenotes by bike is one of the great things to do on your Yucatan trip. Click here for my list of 22 Valladolid Mexico travel tips .

4. Ek Balam (D)

Meet the Mayas for the first time on your Yucatan itinerary. The little brother of Chichen Itza is close to Valladolid and can be done on a day trip or on your way to Rio Lagartos. Here you will also find Cenote Xcanche to cool off on a hot day. The best thing about Ek Balam is that you are still allowed to climb the pyramids and therefore one of the best places to visit in Yucatan Peninsula.

5. Rio Lagartos (E)

My trip to Rio Lagartos turned out to be one of my favorite things to do in Yucatan Peninsula. I had zero expectations and for less than $15 I got a 3 hour boat trip, including bird watching, mud bath, flamingos, crocodiles, a mangroves tour and got to see Las Coloradas Pink Lake.

When you travel to Yucatan Peninsula make sure you visit Rio Lagartos! Add this place in your itinerary, it is worth it. Click here for all my Rio Lagartos travel tips .

6. Chichen Itza (F)

There is no Yucatan travel guide that doesn’t include Chichen Itza, but on my last Yucatan trip in March 2019 I didn’t go. I went to visit Chichen Itza 11 years ago and of course it blew my mind. I heard that nowadays it got extremely touristy, but for a reason. This is one of the 7 World Wonders and a must visit in Yucatan Peninsula. If you are backpacking Yucatan be aware that the entrance fee since 2019 is raised to 480 Pesos ($25). Secret Yucatan Peninsula travel tip is to download a tour guide app for Chichen Itza for $1 to save money on an expensive guide.

I bet after you visit Chichen Itza you want to take a refreshing dip in one of the most beautiful cenotes in Yucatan Peninsula: cenote Ik Kil, just 5 minutes away from Chichen Itza. Click on the link to see my vlog about and a complete blog post with 25 things to know about this Chichen Itza cenote .

7. Izamal (G)

A little detour on your way from Chichen Itza to Merida there is the yellow city of Izamal, definitely worth a stop on your Yucatan itinerary. It is a Maya pilgrimage for a sun god so it made sense to paint your house yellow but when in 1993 the Pope visited Izamal they all went bonanza painting their houses yellow. It is a unique place to see in Yucatan Peninsula.

8. Merida (H)

The capital of the Yucatan State and the most authentic city on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is considered the oldest city in the Americas and of course full of history. This is where you go dancing in charming bars at night and escape the daily heat by swimming in cenotes. The Merida nightlife is the best place to soak up some latin vibes. Merida is a peaceful city with amazingly friendly people and a vibrant vibe. Plan you Yucatan Peninsula itinerary so that you visit Merida on a Sunday. There are street markets and live music everywhere around the city. It was one of the best experiences on my Yucatan road trip. Click here for all my Merida Mexico travel tips .

9. Celestun (I)

Visiting Celestun is kind of the same as a trip to Rio Lagartos. Depending on the month of your Yucatan Peninsula trip this is where you will find much bigger groups of flamingos though. They can be found with hundreds together here in Celestun. Find also plenty bird life, crocodiles, boat trips and a peaceful fishing village. Visiting Celestun is best to be done on a day trip from Merida.

10. Uxmal (J)

The very impressive Uxmal ruins deserve a spot in this list of amazing places to visit in Yucatan Peninsula. Great thing about the Uxmal ruins is that you can still climb one of the big pyramids and it offers great jungle views. Uxmal can also be visited as a day trip from Merida or on your way to Chetumal or Bacalar.

11. Chetumal (K)

I honestly wasn’t really impressed by the capital of the Quintana Roo state and one night is enough here to rest from your long drive from Uxmal ruins. Chetumal is the border town with Belize and hasn’t really any tourist attractions. It is great if you are backpacking Yucatan as it is really cheap. You won’t often find it in any Yucatan Peninsula travel guide, although some Costa Maya ruins are nearby: Kohunlich, Dzibanche and Kinichna. These ruins are totally off the beaten path and you will have them all for yourself. You could visit them on your way from Uxmal to Bacalar. If you decide to skip Chetumal on your Yucatan peninsula itinerary I would totally understand.

12. Bacalar (L)

One of the newest Yucatan Peninsula highlights is Bacalar. Located on an utterly stunning lake renown for its shades of blue it is now named in every Yucatan travel blog. The town is struggling with its popularity though and good value accommodation is hard to find. Go kayaking on the lake or hop on a boat to the Pirates channel and enjoy the day in this absolutely amazing lagoon. There are also several ‘beach’ clubs located along the lake and tubing or kayaking tours are among the best things to do here. For amazing food go to the Vegan restaurant Mango y Chile.

13. Mahahual, Costa Maya (M)

The Yucatan Peninsula is full of amazing tourist destinations and another favorite of mine was  Mahahual Costa Maya Costa Maya . This sleepy fishing village quickly changed into a tourist hotspot when they constructed the Costa Maya cruise port in Mahahual.

Although on cruise days the town can get busy it still is one of the coolest places to visit in Yucatan. The best thing to do in Costa Maya is to grab a beer and swing in a sea hammock.

14. Sian Ka’an (N)

The only place I have not been on this ultimate Yucatan itinerary. It surely is an off the beaten path tourist destination in Yucatan Peninsula as it is hard to get to. When you are on a road trip it makes things easier. Sian Ka’an is popular for day trips from Playa del Carmen and Tulum as here you can snorkel with manatees, sea turtles, dolphins and even see crocodiles all in one boat trip. All this wildlife makes a Sian Ka’an boat trip one of the best things to do in Yucatan Peninsula.

15. Tulum (O)

The Tulum beaches, cenotes and Maya ruins have been the main reasons to visit Tulum, but over the last years this city gained popularity through Instagram as a real hipster place.

Co-working spaces, lovely coffee cafe’s, vegan restaurants and yoga workshops are well present in Tulum. A great place for many digital nomads boosting an inspiring vibe. There are no high-rise hotels to be found in Tulum which makes it a much more relaxing place to visit in Yucatan Peninsula.

16. Coba (P)

When thinking about visiting Maya Ruins in Quintana Roo then Coba is your best bid. It can easily be done on a day trip from Playa del Carmen and Tulum. There is no need to stay overnight at Coba unless you want to be the first one in and climb the pyramid without any other tourists around. Still not sure where to go then read my Coba vs. Tulum Ruins article.

17. Akumal (Q)

Once a super small village and one of the best kept Yucatan Peninsula travel tips. There is a stunning beach with a reef just offshore full of sea turtles and stingrays. Apparently the marine wildlife can still be seen, but nowadays Akumal beach is not public anymore. To protect the ecosystem you will now have to pay 100 Pesos ($5) for beach access, but snorkeling with sea turtles is still possible. I stayed overnight in Akumal, but it can easily be done on a day trip from Playa del Carmen or Tulum as well.

18. Playa del Carmen (R)

No need to introduce one of the most popular places to visit in Yucatan Peninsula. The notorious Playa del Carmen is a super touristy destination, great for those looking to party. For miles there are many big all inclusive resorts lined up along the beach and there is a party to be found everywhere around the famous 5th Avenue. From Playa del Carmen there are many day trips to be found like Selvatica Canopy adventure , Tulum and Coba tour , etc.

19. Cozumel (S)

Towards the end of your Yucatan Peninsula itinerary it is time for some island vibes again. Cozumel is a very popular cruise destination in the Yucatan Peninsula. A day trip to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen is an option but then you will miss the amazing sunsets. Rent a scooter on Cozumel and drive around the island.

Beach clubs, deserted beaches, snorkeling and even surfing can be found here. If you have more time and are a scuba dive lover then you will love a trip to Cozumel.

20. Puerto Morelos (T)

Want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Riviera Maya than make sure you include Puerto Morelos on your Yucatan road trip. A super chilled beach town right in the middle of Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Snorkeling in amazing here read more about it in my Puerto Morelos travel blog .

21. Isla Mujeres (U)

The best way to end your Yucatan itinerary is by soaking up some final beach vibes before you get back in the plane. Isla Mujeres is just a stone throw away from Cancun and offers one of the best beaches in the Yucatan Peninsula. Although touristy there are still places to escape the crowds and when the day trips from Cancun leave Im sure you will find this the best place to end your Yucatan trip. Check out this article for the best things to do in Isla Mujeres in 2024 .

I am pretty sure when you would tick off all the above cool things to do and amazing places to visit in Yucatan Peninsula it is going to be the trip of your lifetime!

Ultimate Yucatan Peninsula road trip itinerary

Day 1: cancun (a), day 2-4: isla holbox (b) - island life, day 5-6: valladolid (c) - cenotes, day 7: ek balam (d) - maya ruins, day 8-9: rio lagartos (e) - wildlife, day 10: chichen itza (f) - maya ruins, day 11: izamal (g) - picturesque town, day 12-13: merida  (h) - authentic city life, cenotes, day 14: celestun (i)- wildlife, day 15: uxmal (j) - maya ruins, day 16: chetumal (k) - maya ruins, day 17-18: bacalar (l) - lake/lagoon, day 19-20: mahahual costa maya (m) - beaches, day 21: sian ka’an (n) - wildlife, day 22-23: tulum (o) - beaches, cenotes, day 24: coba (p) - maya ruins, day 24: akumal (q) - beaches/snorkeling, day 24-26: playa del carmen (r) - party, day 27: cozumel (s) - scooter adventure, day 28: puerto morelos (t) - beach town, day 29-30: isla mujeres (u) - beaches.

As you can see the above Yucatan Itinerary is pretty damn packed full of cool places to see and things to do. Loads of ancient Maya ruins, sunsets, sea hammocks, ancient cities, snorkeling with turtles, beach destinations, cenotes, beautiful lakes, crocodiles, pelicans and a pink lake. Doesn’t this sound like a dream trip?

I will first give you some more Yucatan peninsula travel tips and then will tell a little bit about all the listed places to visit in Yucatan Peninsula.

Is a Yucatan Peninsula road trip safe?

Yes, yes, yes, yes! A road trip in the Yucatan is most probably safer than driving around your home country. Yucatan tourism did a lot to make this a safe place for tourists and it clearly has paid off. When I did a Yucatan road trip 11 years ago I saw loads of road blocks and military presence. This is all gone nowadays. Not a single moment on my Yucatan trip in March 2019 I felt unsafe, nor did I see anything suspicious. People around the Yucatan peninsula are extremely helpful. May you ever get lost, just ask for directions. These people don’t bite!

Make sure to always stay connected to the internet by buying a Telcel sim card. In my article the best sim card for tourists in Mexico in 2024  I found out that Telcel is the only mobile operator with decent network coverage all over Yucatan Peninsula.

There are reports of people getting stopped by the police for bribes, but all the Yucatan police did when they saw me was smiling and waving. Honestly I had not encountered any problems on my way, but literally just when I was about to gas up my car before bringing it back to the rental company they tried to scam me.

Be aware as this is a well known scam apparently! They try to scam you at gas stations. While writing about it I still get furious about how I got scammed. I sweared a lot in my best Spanish and made them all a fool in front of everyone. Basically 1 Liter gas costs 20 Pesos ($1), so a full tank is max 600 Pesos, half a tank max 300 Pesos, but the idiots asked me 700 Pesos for half a tank. So stupid! They tried it with the wrong person! Always look on the gas meter and see how many Liters approximately go in or just tell them for how many Pesos you want to gas up. The scam happened in a Pemex gas station in Playa del Carmen, the rest of the gas stations around Yucatan Peninsula were totally fine and very friendly people.

How is it to drive around Yucatan Peninsula?

The roads to the best places to visit in Yucatan are in a very good state. Almost all things to do in Yucatan are accessible by car, apart from some cenotes around Valladolid and Merida. There are only two toll roads in Yucatan Peninsula. One is Highway 180 from Cancun to Valladolid and the other one is highway 305D from Playa del Carmen to Valladolid. The rest of the roads are free of charge. On both toll roads they charge 233 Pesos ($12) for a normal car.

In Yucatan, Mexico they drive on the right side of the road. Apart from the 180(D) Highway from East to West and the 307 North to South you will be driving on single roads so be aware that there is upcoming traffic.

The most dangerous thing about a Yucatan road trip are the speed bumps. Very often there is no road sign for them and they are huge! Be aware that the speed limit often is not more than 90 km/h (60 mph). Just always drive within limits and the police won’t have a reason to stop you in the first place.

Is it expensive to rent a car in Yucatan Peninsula?

You would be surprised if I tell you that a Yucatan road trip is very affordable. Renting a car in Yucatan Peninsula is super cheap. For less than $10 per day you can already find a small car with unlimited kilometers/miles. I chose to get full coverage and therefore I paid another $12 extra per day. In total I paid a little over $20 per day for renting a car to complete most of my Yucatan itinerary.

I rented my car at MEX Rent a Car in Playa del Carmen . The employee that helped me was Carolina and she did a great job. It was smooth, fast and upon returning there was no issue. 

As I said gas costs only 20 Pesos ($1) per Liter and there are hardly any toll roads. A full tank for a small car is 30 Liters. One full tank will last for 500 kilometer (310 miles).

Backpacking Yucatan

Of course it is not necessary to rent a car to complete this ultimate Yucatan itinerary. I only rented a car for about two weeks, the rest I traveled around Yucatan peninsula by bus. The public transport in the Yucatan is very well organized and there is an extensive bus transportation system. The best bus company and of course also the most expensive is ADO. They have good, clean tourist class busses.

Because all the busses from Cancun to Isla Holbox were full I one time had to go with Oriente. Trust me if there is a choice, always pay the couple dollars extra for an ADO bus. Oriente overbooked the bus and an Italian guy had to sit in the isle for 3 hours.

If you want to backpack Yucatan in style then there also is the ADO premium class. This luxury bus is like traveling in business class. Worth the experience, but it is double as expensive.

A standard ADO bus ticket cost about $4 per hour. If you book in advance they claim to give you discounts, but I tried it myself and the prices stay the same. Therefore I would never really book in advance.

I wrote a complete guide for backpacking Yucatan with 22 travel tips, check it out in the link.

Best time to visit Yucatan Peninsula

Weather wise the best time to travel to Yucatan Peninsula is November to February when temperatures are the coolest. March, April and May it can get really hot and humid and from June till October is the official rainy season. High season is from December till April and therefore the best month to visit Yucatan Peninsula is November.

How much does it cost to visit Yucatan Peninsula

It all depends on what kind of traveler you are but there are a million ways to save money on a road trip in Yucatan. Accommodation doesn’t have to be expensive it just comes down how much privacy you are willing to sacrifice. There are great hostels around for those backpacking Yucatan, but Airbnb is a great option too. Food in the supermarket is much cheaper than back home and you can already eat breakfast, lunch and dinner for $5 per day if you prepare your meals yourself. Local food can easily be found for less than $5 per meal as well. Beers in Yucatan are cheap and at most local places you pay around $1 for a beer. Backpacking Yucatan can easily be done for less than $40 per day!

My experience traveling in Yucatan

In total I traveled, played, partied, explored, road tripped, chilled and toured around the Yucatan Peninsula for more than 2 months. Of those two months I rented a car for about 2 weeks and went to Rio Lagartos , Valladolid, Bacalar, Mahahual and back to Playa del Carmen. I stayed 5 days in Cozumel , decided to go to Holbox for a little bit and spent a week in Cancun and Isla Mujeres . Also traveled in and between Playa del Carmen and Tulum for some days before I moved to Merida  for almost two weeks. From here I visited Celestun, Uxmal and Izamal. Then I slowly traveled back and crashed again in Valladolid and through Playa del Carmen and Tulum I ended up in Cancun again and ended my Yucatan Peninsula trip in Isla Mujeres.

As you can see my road trip itinerary wasn’t really planned out very well and most of the Riviera Maya places I visited twice. But as a digital nomad and professional travel blogger I had all the time in the world to visit Yucatan Peninsula the way I wanted. Most of the times I traveled around by bus and as I said that is very comfortable.

Distances aren’t actually that long as the longest bus ride was from Cancun to Merida, which was less than 4 hours. A place where I really enjoyed having a car was around Merida. But that was also because I visited almost 15 cenotes around that area. There is no need for you to tick them all off, but I wanted to write an extensive travel blog about the Valladolid cenotes .

Where to stay in Yucatan Peninsula?

There are a ton of cheap places to be found in every city. Mostly I booked my hotels while on the road. Make sure you get a prepaid sim card for Mexico sim card  or an e-sim card for Mexico to be always connected to the internet and save on high roaming costs.

Staying longer than 3 nights in the same place then I recommend looking at Airbnb as they are mostly cheaper for long term rent. In general check out both and find your preferred one. I never made a reservation in advanced, always on the spot.

May you have any additional questions then leave me a comment below and Im happy to help.

Let my Instagram account @traveltomtom fuel you with wanderlust. As I am trying to visit every country in the world you might see places you never heard of before. As of January 2024 I have been to more than 155 countries.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

I sincerely hope all this info and these tips about traveling to Yucatan Peninsula were helpful for planning your trip. If you feel like helping me then please share the link of this article somewhere on the internet.

Every share on Facebook is amazing and much appreciated and so is a tweet on X or a pin on Pinterest. Thanks you very much in advance for helping me in return.

Enjoy your trip to the Yucatan Peninsula!

• rio lagartos
• isla holbox
• playa del carmen
• puerto morelos
• riviera maya
• yucatan peninsula
• isla mujeres
• chichen itza
• sian ka'an

Travel the Yucatán Peninsula for less: Deals in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum

With miles of crystal clear waters, white sand beaches and a culture that's steeped in history, it comes as no surprise that the Yucatán Peninsula is home to top travel destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

The area that separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea consistently captivates globe trotters -- ranking in Google's top 10 summer destinations year after year -- and now "Good Morning America" has taken the trip for less, finding all the best deals and ways to save for Bucket List on a Budget.

Flights to Cancún

Roundtrip airfare from Houston to Cancún typically costs around $200 on airlines like Frontier or Spirit this time of year, but you'll pay extra for baggage.

Budget Travel Tip : Be sure to set a tracker on Google Flights to keep an eye out for the best times to travel for less, and especially if you can be flexible on the dates.

All-inclusive resorts to help save on your stay

Mexico is home to a bevy of beautiful properties, but the best bang for your buck when it comes to accommodations are all-inclusive resorts.

"All-inclusive hotels can be extremely affordable. And the best part is they allow families especially to budget," The Points Guy founder, Brian Kelly, told "GMA."

To make sure you're getting the best deal, he suggested "comparison shop online using online travel agencies, but when you hone in on the one you want, contact them directly and negotiate for an even better rate and extra perks like airport pickups."

"Choose the right resort, whether that's kid friendly or adults-only," Kelly said, "making the right choice is critical to your experience."

"Finally, take advantage of everything there is to offer," he said. "Go to the orientation and pay attention. You'd be shocked at some of the free, valuable activities you can get as part of your stay."

In Playa del Carmen, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort offers up to 55% off the best available rate all summer, plus two kids stay free.

Like many all-inclusives food and drinks are bundled into the price at Sandos Caracol, but so are the activities from pools with waterslides to bike tours.

This region of Mexico is also home to beautiful ancient Mayan ruins and cenotes -- which translates to well -- and the all-natural cavernous pit makes a perfect place for swimming, diving and snorkeling.

Activities to enjoy the area like a local

Book off-site excursions during your stay, whether directly through the resort with any affiliated companies or going directly to an excursion company and ask for any potential discounts.

Tours of Tulum reveal ancient history

Nestled on the cliffs of Tulum lie ancient Mayan ruins that overlook the Caribbean Sea.

Tour services will take visitors through the area to fully experience the ancient Mexican culture, like ruins built over 800 years ago that served as a major port between Mexico and Central America.

Parks and pleasantries in Playa del Carmen

Take a trip to Parque Los Fundadores -- Founding Fathers Park -- in Playa Del Carmen to see free vibrant performances such as the Danza de Los Voladores -- the dance of the flyers.

From there, enjoy some local shopping along Fifth Avenue, but remember to bring cash and make money conversions at a local bank from home before the trip to save on foreign transaction fees.

Learn at least basic Mexican phrases and pleasantries to help make shopping less intimidating, plus being respectful and kind always pays off and it could even potentially help you haggle on prices.

Indulge in Mexican street food

While there's unlimited free food at an all inclusive resort, don't miss the chance to eat like a local and explore some cheap eats from taco stands and street vendors.

Like tacos for under $2 each from El Fogon in Cancún or dessert stands like Fresas Aline in Playa del Carmen that sells fresh strawberries with cream for just $4.

Family fun entertainment aboard a pirate ship

The Captain Hook Pirate Show in Cancún, complete with dancing, sword fights and pirate battles, has deals for up to 20% off advance bookings and kids ages 2-11 go for free.

Plus, all of the dinner options come with a buffet and some of the main dishes are part of a two for the price of one deal.

GMA Travel Picks

By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave Goodmorningamerica.com . These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than Goodmorningamerica.com . ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Influencers may receive a commission or have business relationships with a recommended brand. SOME PRICES ARE DYNAMIC AND MAY CHANGE FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. Have questions about ordering or a purchase? Click here .

Pink Platinum Girls' Rash Guard Shirt - 2 Pack UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Quick Dry Swim Shirt (Size: 4-16)

iXtreme Boys' Rash Guard Shirts Long Sleeve - 2 Pack UPF 50+ Quick Dry Sun Protection Swim Shirts - (5-18)

Crown Vintage Poseidon Water Shoe - Kids'

Owala Flip Kids Vacuum Water Bottle - 14 fl. oz.

Bicycle Standard Playing Cards - Red or Blue

Crayola Classic Crayons, Assorted Colors, Back to School, 24 Count

Sorry! Diced Game, Easy to Learn Game, Quick Game, Portable Travel Game

Weveel Magnetic Four in a Row Tin Game - Birthday Party Favors

Magnetic Tic Tac Toe Tin Game by WeVeel - Ages 3+ - Birthday Party Favors

Gamie Magnetic Travel Board Game Set - 12 Retro Games - Compact - Best for Travel - Kids 6+

Old Maid Jumbo Kids' Deck by Cartamundi

25pcs Frosted Zipper Bags, Plastic Shirt Bags

Dolfino Youth Tinted Swim Goggles with Silicone Strap and UV Protection for Children, Multi-Color (3 Pack)

Thinksport Clear Zinc SPF 50 Sunscreen

Badger Aloe Vera After Sun Gel - 4 fl. oz.

Quitch Bug Bite Relief Stickers

WOLFANG Action Camera 4K 24MP WiFi Vlogging Camera Underwater 40M with Remote Control IP68 Waterproof Case

Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan (Travel Guide) Paperback

Collapsible Beach Toys for Kids Toddlers, Sand Bucket and Shovels Set with Mesh Bag

TravelSuds Laundry Detergent Sink Packets (20 pack)

JBL Clip 3, River Teal - Waterproof, Durable & Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Up to 10 Hours of Play - Includes Noise-Cancelling Speakerphone & Wireless Streaming

Up next in travel—.

Royal Caribbean launches industry-first loyalty status match program for cruises

2 new giant pandas coming to the National Zoo from China

Private rides bookable this summer from Paris to Champagne with tastings, more Olympics-timed deals

Shop editors picks, sponsored content by taboola.

• Privacy Policy — 
• Your US State Privacy Rights — 
• Children's Online Privacy Policy — 
• Interest-Based Ads — 
• Terms of Use — 
• Do Not Sell My Info — 
• Contact Us — 

© 2024 ABC News

In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a hidden underground world is under threat by the Maya Train

A KTUN TUYUL CAVE SYSTEM, Mexico (AP) — Rays of sunlight slice through pools of crystal water as clusters of fish cast shadows on the limestone below. Arching over the emerald basin are walls of stalactites dripping down the cavern ceiling, which opens to a dense jungle.

These glowing sinkhole lakes — known as cenotes — are a part of one of Mexico’s natural wonders: A fragile system of an estimated 10,000 subterranean caverns, rivers and lakes that wind almost surreptitiously beneath Mexico’s southern Yucatan peninsula.

Now, construction of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s crown jewel project — the Maya Train — is rapidly destroying part of that hidden underground world, already under threat by development and mass tourism. As the caverns are thrust into the spotlight in the lead-up to the country’s presidential elections, scientists and environmentalists warn that the train will mean long-term environmental ruin.

Deep in the jungle, the roar of heavy machinery cuts through the cave’s gentle “drip, drip, drip.” Just a few meters above, construction of the train line is in full swing. The caverns rumble as government workers use massive metal drills that bore into limestone, embedding an estimated 15,000 steel pillars into the caverns.

Engineer Guillermo D. Christy looks upon the once immaculate cave, now coated with a layer of concrete and broken stalactites, icicle-shaped rock formations normally hanging from the roof of the cave. A mix of grief and anger is painted upon the face of D. Christy, who has long studied the waters running through the caves.

“Pouring concrete into a cavern, directly into the aquifer, without any concern or care,” D. Christy said. “That’s total ecocide.”

For nearly a thousand miles, (1,460 kilometers) the high-speed Maya Train will wind its way around Mexico’s southern Yucatan Peninsula. When it’s completed, it’ll connect tourist hubs like Cancun and Playa del Carmen to dense jungle, remote communities and archaeological sites, drawing development and money into long-neglected rural swathes of the country.

The more than $30 billion train is among the keystone projects of Mexico’s outgoing President López Obrador, who has spent his six years in office portraying himself as a champion of the country’s long-forgotten poor.

“The Maya Train will be our legacy of development for the southeast of Mexico,” the president wrote in a post on the social platform X last year.

With elections on Sunday, the future of the train, and López Obrador’s legacy, is uncertain. Both leading candidates to replace him have made promises for a green agenda, but also supported the economic promises the train brings.

At issue is the path the train takes.

It was originally planned to run along the region’s highway in more urban areas. But after waves of complaints by hotel owners, the government moved one of the final sections of the line deeper into the jungle, atop the most important cave system in the country. It’s plowed down millions of trees, a chunk of the largest tropical forest in the Americas after the Amazon.

The caves contain one of the biggest aquifers in Mexico and act as the region’s main water source, crucial at a time when the nation faces a deepening water crisis. In 2022, archaeologists also discovered some of the oldest human remains in North America within the caverns.

The area was once a reef nestled beneath the Caribbean Sea, but changing sea levels pushed Mexico’s southern peninsula out of the ocean as a mass of limestone. Water sculpted the porous stone into caves over millions of years.

It produced the open-face freshwater caverns, “cenotes," and underground rivers that are in equal parts awe-inspiring and delicate, explained Emiliano Monroy-Ríos, a geologist at Northwestern University studying the region.

“These ecosystems are very, very fragile,” Monroy-Ríos said. “They are building upon a land that is like Gruyere cheese, full of caves and cavities of different sizes and at different depths.”

López Obrador promised his government would prevent damage to the Great Mayan Aquifer by elevating the sections of the train on thousands of hefty steel pillars buried deep into the ground.

But the populist leader was met with an uproar in late January when environmentalists and scientists posted videos showing government drills carving tunnels into the tops of caverns, implanting rows of 6-foot-wide (2-meter-wide) steel pillars.

López Obrador responded angrily to the videos, calling them “staged” by his political enemies.

“These pseudo-environmentalists are liars,” López Obrador said in a news briefing. “Don’t watch those videos because they’re specialists in staging.”

Associated Press journalists traveled to construction sites along the Maya Train route where López Obrador denied causing any environmental damage. What they saw directly contradicted the president’s claims.

D. Christy treks through dense rainforest and clicks on his headlight as he climbs into a split in a rock.

The engineer and hydrological expert has spent 25 years roving the intricate cave system, tracking the quality of the waters. Like many of the people studying the mysteries of the ancient cave system, his once tame job was inadvertently turned turbulent with the rise of the train project.

Today, he wanders into a small section of the caverns known as Aktun Tuyul, less than an hour from the tourist city of Playa del Carmen. As the 58-year-old Mexican walks past layers of stalactites and steel pillars burrowing into the rock formations, the cave’s darkness is broken by wagon wheel-sized holes drilled into the roof of the cave, where even more pillars will be implanted.

D. Christy wades through waist-deep water, now turned a murky brown by corroded metal from the pillars, and pushes his body through a narrow passage in the rock.

Sitting next to one of more than a dozen pillars embedded into this cavern, he pulls out a series of syringes and bottles, taking a sample of the water next to the metal.

“It clearly has a color characteristic of iron contamination,” he said, holding up a syringe of foggy yellow water. “We’re going to take a sample.”

D. Christy pours the water into a glass vial, mixing it with a chemical that turns it a deep blue, indicating the water contains traces of iron from the poles. Next to other pillars, he presses his ear to the metal, listening to globs of concrete pour into the hollow tube.

Across the cave system, stalactites broken off by vibrations from train construction litter the ground like rubble following an earthquake. In other caverns, the concrete filling the pillars has spilled out to coat the limestone ground.

While the long-term environmental consequences of the construction are unknown, what is certain is that it is transforming the entire ecosystem, said geologist Monroy-Ríos.

“Just by drilling, before you even put in the pillars, you are killing an entire ecosystem that was in those caves” he said. “Why? Because now light is coming in, the gasses within have changed, and there are very sensitive species that live in total darkness. They have already killed hundreds of millions” of organisms.

But the geologist’s greatest concern continues to be that the morphing limestone upon which the train is built and caves underneath the pillars could cause a collapse of the line. Scientists have long warned of the risks of building on soluble rock like limestone.

Already, sections of highway in the Yucatan have warped or caved in , and the Maya Train has been marred by a series of accidents, including a March train derailment, which government officials blamed on a loose clamp set by contractors.

Further damage to the limestone could lead to another accident that could be deadly. If a cargo train derailed, it could cause an oil spill that could permanently devastate the aquifer, Monroy-Ríos said.

Not everyone is opposed to the train running through the remote communities. Some see an unprecedented economic opportunity, a chance to help poor families earn money.

Maria Norma de los Angeles and her family have long lived off a modest flow of tourists in their community of Jacinto Pat, tucked in a stretch of jungle in the southern coastal state, Quintana Roo.

They offer temazcal baths, traditional Mayan steam rooms meant to purify and relax the body, and charge visiting foreigners to swim in a nearby cenote.

The family, like many along the train’s path, was originally opposed of the project because they worried it would destroy the cenotes drawing tourists.

But their feelings about the train began to change when government officials contracted local people to build the track, De los Angeles said. They also promised to bring communities electricity, a sewage system and running water, and agreed to pay more for the land the train would pass over.

“It has its pros and its cons,” De los Angeles said as her family gathered to kill a pig to eat for her father’s birthday. “But there will be a moment when we see an economic spillover … I know that it will benefit us all.”

That’s the mentality of many Mexicans toward both the train and López Obrador. Many are willing to overlook the controversies of the populist and his train, in favor of his charisma and the strong economy seen during his presidency.

The 70-year-old leader has connected with Mexico’s long-invisible working class in a way few leaders have in recent history . López Obrador’s government has raised the minimum wage and provided cash handouts to older Mexicans and students. The government says more than 5 million people have been pulled out of poverty while López Obrador was president.

Luruama de la Cruz, a California resident whose family comes from the local town of Leona Vicario, said she bought her father tickets to the train for his birthday because it was a dream of his.

“A dream made reality,” De la Cruz says as she rode the train and took a video on her phone, meandering past passengers wearing “Maya Train” T-shirts and watching an interview between López Obrador and Russian state media.

“Whenever you build something, something else is destroyed,” she said, adding that family members worked on train construction. “This is for the good of the people.”

López Obrador has fast-tracked construction of the train to try to keep promises to complete it before June elections, something that has appeared all but impossible . The moves he’s made have only deepened his ongoing clashes with the country’s judiciary, further fueling criticisms that his government is undermining democratic institutions.

In a violation of Mexican law, the government didn’t carry out a comprehensive study to assess the potential environmental impacts before starting construction. That’s led to blindly plowing into caverns with no clue what’s being damaged, scientists and independent lawyers say.

“Our president has little respect for the law. He’s in a sort of tug of war for power and he does what he wants,” said Claudia Aguilar, a lawyer at Mexico’s Free School of Law.

When a judge ordered construction of the line be suspended until an adequate report of how the train would affect the caves was carried out, López Obrador ignored the ruling, and the work continued.

At the same time, much of the project has been cloaked in secrecy as López Obrador has charged Mexico’s military with construction and blocked the release of information in the name of “national security."

While Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional, López Obrador disregarded that ruling, too, saying it was to protect his project from “corrupt” critics.

When the AP requested an interview with leadership of the Maya Train project, spokesperson Mariana Galicia said they were “ordered that we cannot give interviews” but could respond to questions sent over email to “better control” the information shared. They did not respond to questions sent by email.

Meanwhile, thousands of passengers are already riding sections of the train that have been built. The atmosphere above is far-removed from the conflicts playing out around the caverns.

Hotels and clubs host raves and even music festivals in some of the cenotes, with one club boasting it “takes the relaxation and wellness experience to another level. Let yourself be enveloped by this sacred, timeless place.”

Luxurious beach hotels and booming clubs packed with drunk, khaki-clad tourists dominate the coastal tourist city of Playa del Carmen. Once a Mayan settlement, the city is among many in the Yucatan Peninsula that in recent decades have been converted into a party hub for vacationing foreigners.

In the caves below, biologist Roberto Rojo paddles through a sea of trash.

Under the arching cavern roof, Rojo and a group of volunteers push a green kayak through a cenote, filling bulking bags of glass beer bottles, plastic tubes, metal grating, plastic Coca-Cola bottles, rotten wooden planks and even a printer.

“You don’t even want to know what many of those things are,” Rojo said.

It’s a fate Rojo and many others worry may await hundreds of cenotes, caves and underground lakes and rivers along the new Maya Train line.

“It’s not just the train, but everything the train brings with it – urban developments, hotel developments,” said water expert D. Christy. “Rather than solving a problem, they’re coming in and making a big problem worse.”

Millions of tourists a year flock to the region, affecting the entire underground as the industry guzzles water and sewage seeps through the earth and into the caves, killing fish and other wildlife. In 2022, authorities found that the water of more than a dozen of the caverns near the tourist city of Tulum was tainted with E. Coli bacteria .

Last year, the environmental organization Va Por La Tierra estimated that approximately 95% of the cenotes in Yucatan state — where the Maya Train cuts through — were already contaminated due to the lack of a sufficient sewage system. Scuba diving master Bernardette Carrión even told the AP that tourists admiring the splendor of the caves “are swimming in poop.”

The underground system is connected to the sea, so waste trickles out to the ocean, where scientists say it feeds seaweed-like algae piling up on Caribbean coastlines, spurring on a slate of other environmental and health hazards .

Rojo and other volunteers created the organization known as “Urban Cenotes” in Playa del Carmen to clean the water system, cave by cave.

“We’re trying to return the dignity that these spaces have had for thousands of years, that are now being turned into landfills, sewers and drains,” Rojo said.

But it’s an uphill battle for the hundreds of volunteers, and something they worry will become impossible as pollution expands into rural areas with the Maya Train, deepening ongoing pollution caused by pig farms and massive soy plantations.

Looking forward, they’re uncertain about what will come as June elections loom, with López Obrador leaving office in the coming months. The leader will likely be replaced by either race front-runner and ally Claudia Sheinbaum or rival ex-senator Xóchitl Gálvez.

Sheinbaum, an environmental scientist who leads the race by a comfortable margin, has portrayed herself as a champion for the environment, but has supported López Obrador’s fossil-fuel agenda and made few remarks about the environmental damage the train has wrought.

Little more than a week before the presidential election, Sheinbaum said she was meeting with leaders of neighboring Guatemala and Belize in talks to extend the Maya Train to Central America.

Gálvez, a López Obrador opponent, has taken advantage of the controversy to tear into her adversaries , calling the train’s damage “irreversible” and a “consequence of the negligence of the government because they didn’t do any environmental impact studies.” Months earlier, though, she said she would also continue with plans to extend the train.

Meanwhile, groups like Rojo’s do everything they can to salvage an ecosystem that took millennia to form. They worry they might not have all that much time left.

“I’m not going to sit quietly and wait for the government to solve things,” Rojo said. “The people who live in the Yucatan peninsula are on the verge of a water crisis."

• Cancun Tourism
• Cancun Hotels
• Cancun Bed and Breakfast
• Cancun Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Cancun
• Cancun Restaurants
• Things to Do in Cancun
• Cancun Travel Forum
• Cancun Photos
• All Cancun Hotels
• Cancun Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Cancun
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Visitax update - Cancun Forum

• Mexico    
• Yucatan Peninsula    
• Quintana Roo    
• Cancun    

Visitax update

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Quintana Roo forums
• Cancun forum

Anyone know if this has been enforced now? Tks :)

Payment is still not enforced, and still no repercussions for not paying.

• Best luxury resort 3:17 pm
• Secrets Playa Blanca or Secrets Moxche? 2:16 pm
• Family resort 1:28 pm
• Beach Comparison 7:56 am
• Visitax update 7:55 am
• Alcohol restrictions during upcoming election yesterday
• Fast track yesterday
• Uber to Cancun Airport yesterday
• Maria Tepoztlan Chocolate at the Cancun Airport yesterday
• Isla Mujeres..Ferry or group excursion Jun 01, 2024
• Family Trip to Riu Palace Peninsula vs Riu Palace CM Jun 01, 2024
• Beach Palace updating Jun 01, 2024
• Hotel Dos Playas Faranda Cancun OR Flamingo Cancun Resort? May 31, 2024
• Baby Club at Grand Palladium Colonial May 31, 2024
• THE best all inclusive ?? 16 replies
• Secrets The Vine Cancun 254 replies
• Best Time of Year to Visit Cancun...?? 14 replies
• New RIU Palace Peninsula 469 replies
• Party resorts for 20-30 years old? 26 replies
• December weather? 11 replies
• cancun airport transfers 11 replies
• Best time of the year to go Mexico?? 18 replies
• How is the weather in Cancun in August? 7 replies
• Best All Adult Singles All Inclusive Resorts in Cancun? 19 replies

Cancun Hotels and Places to Stay

• Safety, Advice, Tips, and Hurricanes -
• Maps of Area Resorts
• Cancun Restaurant Trip Advisor Listing and Ratings
• Dollars or Pesos: What should I use?
• Weather: What will it be like in ...
• Bus, Taxi or Private Driver: Getting around Cancun
• Private/public ground transfer options:
• Online Tourist Card
• Airport Arrival, immigration limits,and hotel tranportation
• Best way to get to Isla and what to do
• Replacing a lost immigration form (tourist card)
• Avoid immigration jail. Verify your FMM visit duration.
• AA Meetings in Cancun and Nearby
• Departure Tax: Do I have to pay to leave Cancun?
• Travelling to Cancun/Riviera Maya with a criminal record
• WEATHER & June thru November - Hurricane Season Information
• How Do I Go by Bus from Cancun to Merida

Travel the Yucatán Peninsula for less: Deals in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum

"GMA" Bucket List on a Budget is headed to Mexico!

With miles of crystal clear waters, white sand beaches and a culture that's steeped in history, it comes as no surprise that the Yucatán Peninsula is home to top travel destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

The area that separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea consistently captivates globe trotters -- ranking in Google's top 10 summer destinations year after year -- and now "Good Morning America" has taken the trip for less, finding all the best deals and ways to save for Bucket List on a Budget.

Flights to Cancún

Roundtrip airfare from Houston to Cancún typically costs around $200 on airlines like Frontier or Spirit this time of year, but you'll pay extra for baggage.

Budget Travel Tip : Be sure to set a tracker on Google Flights to keep an eye out for the best times to travel for less, and especially if you can be flexible on the dates.

All-inclusive resorts to help save on your stay

Mexico is home to a bevy of beautiful properties, but the best bang for your buck when it comes to accommodations are all-inclusive resorts.

"All-inclusive hotels can be extremely affordable. And the best part is they allow families especially to budget," The Points Guy founder, Brian Kelly, told "GMA."

To make sure you're getting the best deal, he suggested "comparison shop online using online travel agencies, but when you hone in on the one you want, contact them directly and negotiate for an even better rate and extra perks like airport pickups."

"Choose the right resort, whether that's kid friendly or adults-only," Kelly said, "making the right choice is critical to your experience."

"Finally, take advantage of everything there is to offer," he said. "Go to the orientation and pay attention. You'd be shocked at some of the free, valuable activities you can get as part of your stay."

In Playa del Carmen, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort offers up to 55% off the best available rate all summer, plus two kids stay free.

Like many all-inclusives food and drinks are bundled into the price at Sandos Caracol, but so are the activities from pools with waterslides to bike tours.

This region of Mexico is also home to beautiful ancient Mayan ruins and cenotes -- which translates to well -- and the all-natural cavernous pit makes a perfect place for swimming, diving and snorkeling.

Activities to enjoy the area like a local

Book off-site excursions during your stay, whether directly through the resort with any affiliated companies or going directly to an excursion company and ask for any potential discounts.

Tours of Tulum reveal ancient history

Nestled on the cliffs of Tulum lie ancient Mayan ruins that overlook the Caribbean Sea.

Tour services will take visitors through the area to fully experience the ancient Mexican culture, like ruins built over 800 years ago that served as a major port between Mexico and Central America.

Parks and pleasantries in Playa del Carmen

Take a trip to Parque Los Fundadores -- Founding Fathers Park -- in Playa Del Carmen to see free vibrant performances such as the Danza de Los Voladores -- the dance of the flyers.

From there, enjoy some local shopping along Fifth Avenue, but remember to bring cash and make money conversions at a local bank from home before the trip to save on foreign transaction fees.

Learn at least basic Mexican phrases and pleasantries to help make shopping less intimidating, plus being respectful and kind always pays off and it could even potentially help you haggle on prices.

Indulge in Mexican street food

While there's unlimited free food at an all inclusive resort, don't miss the chance to eat like a local and explore some cheap eats from taco stands and street vendors.

Popular Reads

CEOs got hefty pay raises in 2023

• Jun 3, 7:22 AM

Music Review: Willie Nelson takes it back to Texas, with notes of Mexico, on 'The Border'

• May 31, 9:19 AM

From his Montana ranch, a retired lawmaker is angling for a comeback in a crowded House race

• Jun 1, 12:08 AM

Like tacos for under $2 each from El Fogon in Cancún or dessert stands like Fresas Aline in Playa del Carmen that sells fresh strawberries with cream for just $4.

Family fun entertainment aboard a pirate ship

The Captain Hook Pirate Show in Cancún, complete with dancing, sword fights and pirate battles, has deals for up to 20% off advance bookings and kids ages 2-11 go for free.

Plus, all of the dinner options come with a buffet and some of the main dishes are part of a two for the price of one deal.

GMA Travel Picks

By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave Goodmorningamerica.com . These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than Goodmorningamerica.com . ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Influencers may receive a commission or have business relationships with a recommended brand. SOME PRICES ARE DYNAMIC AND MAY CHANGE FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. Have questions about ordering or a purchase? Click here .

Pink Platinum Girls' Rash Guard Shirt - 2 Pack UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Quick Dry Swim Shirt (Size: 4-16)

iXtreme Boys' Rash Guard Shirts Long Sleeve - 2 Pack UPF 50+ Quick Dry Sun Protection Swim Shirts - (5-18)

Crown Vintage Poseidon Water Shoe - Kids'

Owala Flip Kids Vacuum Water Bottle - 14 fl. oz.

Bicycle Standard Playing Cards - Red or Blue

Crayola Classic Crayons, Assorted Colors, Back to School, 24 Count

Sorry! Diced Game, Easy to Learn Game, Quick Game, Portable Travel Game

Weveel Magnetic Four in a Row Tin Game - Birthday Party Favors

Magnetic Tic Tac Toe Tin Game by WeVeel - Ages 3+ - Birthday Party Favors

Gamie Magnetic Travel Board Game Set - 12 Retro Games - Compact - Best for Travel - Kids 6+

Old Maid Jumbo Kids' Deck by Cartamundi

25pcs Frosted Zipper Bags, Plastic Shirt Bags

Dolfino Youth Tinted Swim Goggles with Silicone Strap and UV Protection for Children, Multi-Color (3 Pack)

Thinksport Clear Zinc SPF 50 Sunscreen

Badger Aloe Vera After Sun Gel - 4 fl. oz.

Quitch Bug Bite Relief Stickers

WOLFANG Action Camera 4K 24MP WiFi Vlogging Camera Underwater 40M with Remote Control IP68 Waterproof Case

Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan (Travel Guide) Paperback

Collapsible Beach Toys for Kids Toddlers, Sand Bucket and Shovels Set with Mesh Bag

TravelSuds Laundry Detergent Sink Packets (20 pack)

JBL Clip 3, River Teal - Waterproof, Durable & Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Up to 10 Hours of Play - Includes Noise-Cancelling Speakerphone & Wireless Streaming

Cucumbers recalled in 14 states over salmonella

• Jun 3, 8:49 AM

Pat Sajak talks 'Wheel of Fortune' on final week

• Jun 3, 7:50 AM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events