Yucatán has been a popular holiday destination in Mexico for many years. And for good reason, the region has beautiful, white sandy beaches, but also has plenty to offer for travelers looking for culture, adventure and good food. Because Mexico is large . You can never discover the whole country with 2 or 3 weeks of vacation. That is why many travelers choose to focus on the popular tourist region of Yucatán. This southern peninsula consists of the provinces of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche and is very accessible for making a tour by rental car or public transport. In this article we share an itinerary for a tour of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, where you discover the most beautiful sights, beaches and cultural highlights. Whether you are making a road trip to Yucatán with a rental car or backpacking with public transport, with these tips you will get the most out of your holiday in Mexico!
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT ON THIS YUCATÁN ROAD TRIP ITINERARY?
With this route you will explore the most important sights of Yucatán, such as the famous Mayan temples Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, you will stay in colorful colonial cities of Valladolid and Mérida and you will discover the most beautiful cenotes in Mexico. You can laze on the pearly white sand beaches in Quintana Roo near Tulum and Playa del Carmen, and take a refreshing dip in the turquoise Laguna Bacalar. Visit some of the most beautiful islands, such as Isla Holbox, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres and discover the impressive Mayan culture during your Yucatán tour. This road trip shows you the versatility of the Yucatán Peninsula. And we also share tips on how to expand your tour through Mexico with other provinces.
ABOUT THIS ITINERARY FOR A TOUR OF YUCATÁN AND QUINTANA ROO
You can do this travel route for Yucatán, Mexico on your own, but also with a travel organization that offers individual tours in Mexico.You can complete the route in about three weeks, but if you are short on time, you can also delete a number of places (such as the islands) from your route. Do you have enough time? Then you can also expand your Yucatán and Quintana Roo tour with a visit to the provinces of Oaxaca or Chiapas. For this you have to take a domestic flight. Would you rather dive deeper into the Mayan culture? Then it is nice to add Campeche and Palengue to your Yucatán itinerary. Here you will find a number of important Mayan temples and these places can be reached by bus or car.
ITINERARY FOR A SHORT TOUR OF YUCATÁN OF 2 WEEKS
It is possible to visit all places from the Mexico itinerary below if you make a 2-week tour of Yucatán. Keep in mind that you only have a short time everywhere. Especially if you have 10 days or less for your tour, you can’t visit everything. The great thing about Yucatán is that in 2 weeks or 10 days you get a very varied picture of Mexico with culture, nature and beach.
ROUTE FOR YOUR TOUR YUCATÁN IN 3 WEEKS (OR LONGER)
If you are making a 3-week tour of Yucatán, it is also possible to expand the itinerary below with, for example, Palenque or other parts of Chiapas. You could also continue to Oaxaca or Mexico City, but you would have to take a domestic flight. If you have 4 weeks or more to spare, these regions are certainly a good addition to your holiday in Mexico.
STARTING POINT OF YOUR YUCATÁN TOUR: CANCUN
If you want to make a tour through Yucatán and Quintana Roo, it is best to fly to Cancun. Cancun is the capital of Yucatán, but otherwise not very special as a city. The city is known for its all-inclusive resorts, which are largely populated by sunbathers who don’t venture beyond their beach beds. Therefore, do not stay in Cancun for more than one night. If your flight arrives on time, you can even travel straight to your first stop on your tour through this part of Mexico. From Cancun it is 1.5 hours by bus to Valladolid, or if you want to do this itinerary the other way around, 1.5 hours to Playa del Carmen.
HOTEL IN CANCÚN
Are you staying in Cancun for a night before you start your road trip through Yucatán? Then hotel Hacienda Adhora is a nice hotel to stay. This colorful hotel is a short 10-minute walk from the ADO bus station, and offers parking, a swimming pool and spacious rooms with a balcony. The breakfast here is also very good! Next to the hotel is a good taqueria (taco restaurant), where you can eat delicious Mexican food for little money. Nice to get in the mood right after arriving in Mexico!
CYCLING ALONG THE CENOTES OF VALLADOLID
Unlike Cancun, Valladolid is a place that you should not miss during your Yucatán tour. This atmospheric, colonial town is located in the heart of Yucatán and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful cenotes . It is also a good base for visiting the world-famous Chichén Itzá . Stroll through the colorful streets, have a coffee on one of the ‘ love seats ‘ in the main square and rent a bicycle to explore the cenotes in the area. Want to get to know traditional Mexican cuisine? Then go to Bazar Municipal . In this food hall you can order delicious Mexican dishes for little money. Valladolid’s most photogenic streetCalzada de Los Frailes . Here you will also find several shops with Mexican art and a number of restaurants.
THE CENOTES AROUND VALLADOLID, YUCATÁN
Cenotes are sink holeswater and major attractions in Yucatán. There are different types of cenotes: cenotes in a cave (often with a small opening in the ‘ceiling’ through which sunlight shines), but there are also open cenotes, where the roof has already collapsed. Around these open cenotes you will often find many trees whose roots have managed to dig their way into the depths in search of water. A beautiful face! By far the most cenotes in Mexico are found in Yucatán. When you are in Valladolid, you can discover some of them by bike. You can rent a bike from MexiGo tours and explore on your own. We recommend: Oxman, Saamal, Xkeken & Samula and Xlakas (can also be visited in this order on your bike ride). You can also visit cenote Suytun (7 km from Valladolid), this is perhaps the most photographed cenote in Mexico, but it is also very touristy. Xlakas is a relatively unknown cenote worth seeing. I myself visited cenote Tekom, but I didn’t find it that special compared to the other cenotes and you have to cycle a bit further for it. Oxman, Saamal, Xkeken and Samula are all relatively easy to reach by bike. Xkeken and Sumula even lie together. If you intend to cycle further, it is best to opt for a somewhat better rental bike. At MexiGo tours you can choose what kind of bike you rent. A basic bicycle is cheaper than a mountain bike and fine for short distances. But if you go a little further, a slightly better bike is nice. To visit a cenote in Yucatán, Mexico, you pay an entrance fee. This varies from 150 pesos (+/- 6 euros) to 30 pesos for the lesser known cenotes. Do you want to swim? Then a life jacket is mandatory, which you can rent at the cenotes
MAYAN CITY OF CHICHÉN ITZÁ AND YELLOW CITY OF IZAMAL
From Valladolid you can book a day trip to Chichen Itzá. This is a day trip to Chichen Itzá, Yokdzonot cenote and yellow city of Izamal.I did not go back to Valladolid, but took the bus to Mérida. This saves you a travel day! Moreover, it is a very nice tour with some nice sights in Yucatán. If you travel by car, you can of course also visit all of these on your own during your road trip through Yucatán. When you are backpacking and traveling by public transport, this tour is most ideal. The advantage of a tour is that you have a guide who can tell you more about the places you visit.
CHICHÉN ITZÁ, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS OF YUCATÁN
Mayan city of Chichen Itza is one of the main attractions of Yucatán and actually of all of Mexico. It is not the only Mayan city in Mexico, because Uxmal, Palengue and Becán are also worth a visit. Chichén Itzá is the most visited and for good reason. Upon entering you immediately come across the impressive, pyramid-shaped main temple Kukulkán, but the arena for an ancient ball sport and the observatory are also interesting. If you want to learn more about Chichén Itzá, it is advisable to book a tour with a guide, or ask a guide to show you around on site. To avoid the crowds, it is best to be there at opening. That is the advantage if you visit Chichén Itzá from Valladolid, because the large masses arrive a little later from the coastal towns. Moreover, it is not as hot in the morning as later in the day.
CENOTE YOKDZONOT
If, like me, you travel further from Chichén Itzá towards Mérida, you can make a lunch stop at cenote Yokdzonot. A beautiful, open cenote, surrounded by dense jungle. A refreshing dip is not a bad thing after a morning of strolling around Chichén Itzá in the sun. Lunch is simple, but good. There is also an opportunity to change and shower if you want to swim.
YELLOW CITY OF IZAMAL
From Yokdzonot you can continue your journey to the yellow city of Izamal. As this nickname suggests, all houses in Izamal are yellow. Yellow was an important color for the Maya. A color that represents the sun and corn, two things the Maya couldn’t live without. In Izamal, climb the temple Kinich Kakmó for a beautiful view of the surrounding jungle. Take a look at the church of Convento de St. Antonio and wander through the photogenic yellow streets. Also try a corn ice cream here, which is surprisingly tasty (probably due to the addition of vanilla).
Continue your Yucatan road trip: From Izamal you can take a local bus to Mérida. This is about an hour away. Izamal bus station is located in the center of the city.
MÉRIDA, A CITY IN THE HEART OF YUCATÁN, MEXICO
Personally, I don’t think Mérida is a very special city, but it is a perfect base for visiting a number of beautiful sights in Yucatán. For example, you can visit the Mayan city of Uxmal from Mérida, but you can also take a day trip to the Celestún bio reserve, which is located in the Gulf of Mexico and is known for the hundreds of flamingos that live there.
MAYAN CITY OF UXMAL
I myself made two tours through Yucatán. The first time I visited this region of Mexico, I chose to skip Chichén Itzá and visit Uxmal instead. A Mayan city that is at least as impressive as Chichén Itzá, but is avoided by large mass tourism. Nice about Uxmal is that you can also climb one of the temples (at least when I visited it in 2018, this may have changed by now). The view over the Maya city, surrounded by dense jungle, is phenomenal and that alone is worth a visit to this Maya city. I visited Uxmal with a day tour from Mérida and can definitely recommend it.
FLAMINGOS IN CELESTÚN BIORESERVE
Also one of the sights in Yucatán that you should not miss on your Mexico tour is the Celestún bio reserve. This reserve is home to hundreds (if not thousands) of flamingos. Especially between November and March you can see the bright pink birds here in large numbers. A beautiful face! To get to the flamingos, take a boat trip across the lake. To protect the animals, the boats are not allowed to come closer than 20 meters, so a good camera is useful if you want to capture the animals properly. But even without a camera it is a beautiful spectacle. The boat ride then takes you further to the mangrove forests of the bio reserve. Suddenly you find yourself in a completely different world! The landscape looks a bit fairytale and it is a true paradise for bird watchers.
How do you get to Celestun? You can visit the bioreserve on your own by car or collectivo.
Are you touring the Yucatan between April and October? Then you can choose to visit the lake Las Coloradas (Rio Lagartos) from Valladolid. You have a better chance to spot large groups of flamingos there. Incidentally, a tour to Las Coloradas should be recommended anyway.
CELESTUN BEACH
The nice thing about a tour to Celestún is that you can spend the afternoon on a beautiful white sand beach with the turquoise sea of the Gulf of Mexico in the background. Great after a few active days!
CONTINUE YOUR YUCATAN TOUR TO QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO
Would you like to see more Mayan temples during your Yucatan tour? Then you can travel from Mérida to Campeche and possibly even to Palengue, which is located in Chiapas. In this itinerary, however, we cross the Mexican peninsula from Mérida to Bacalar, at the tip of the province of Quintana Roo. There is a direct ADO bus from Mérida to Bacalar (this is the bus to Chetumal). This one takes 5 hours. If you are making a road trip through Yucatán by car, you can possibly make a stopover in Campeche near Calakmal.
CAMPING IN THE JUNGLE OF CALAKMAL, CAMPECHE
Calakmal is unfortunately only easily accessible if you travel through Yucatán by car, but when you do this it is certainly nice to add the national park to your itinerary. In this national park in the south of the province of Campeche you will find a number of Mayan ruins hidden in the jungle. From the last place to the beginning of the national park it is a 60 km drive and then another 60 km through the national park to the campsite. This means 120 km without facilities, so make sure you start with a full tank! You can spend the night at camping Yaax Che(reservations are recommended). It is basic, but there are tents with air mattresses and bedding, running water, toilet and a restaurant. From here you can visit the Mayan ruins. They may not be the most spectacular in Mexico, but the journey through the jungle alone is worth it. Especially if you want to escape the tourist areas in Yucatán, Calakmal is a nice stopover on your tour.
THE TURQUOISE LAKE OF BACALAR
Lugana Bacalar is known for its turquoise lake. The lake owes this color to the so-called cocalitos, flat round stones. However, the color depends on the weather. The first time I visited Bacalar it was bright turquoise, but the last time I was there with rain, Laguna Bacalar was a lot less blue. Watch the sunrise from the water in Bacalar with a supboard or kayak. Go sailing on the lake or visit the fast-flowing, turquoise river Rapidos. A full day in Bacalar is sufficient, but the turquoise lake is definitely one of the sights during your tour of Yucatán and Quintana Roo that you should not mis.
From Bacalar you travel in about three hours with the ADO bus to Tulum. For example, you can do this at the end of the afternoon, so that you still have the whole day in Bacalar.
THE WHITE SANDS OF TULUM
The coastal town of Tulum is arguably one of Mexico’s trendiest vacation spots in recent years. Unfortunately, this has also driven up prices considerably and it is quite busy in high season. Still, Tulum is definitely a nice stop on your tour of Yucatán and Quintana Roo. Here you will find beautiful white beaches, trendy eateries, boutique hotels, street art and a vibrant nightlife. Enjoy the beaches or visit the Mayan ruins on the coast. If you like to party, you can go to one of the trendy beach clubs, but you can also dance into the late hours in the center of Tulum. Also fun to do in Tulum, book a bike tour .
PLAYA DEL CARMEN AS A BASE TO DISCOVER THE YUCATÁN ATTRACTIONS
I myself stayed in Playa del Carmen for a number of months in 2018, because this is a hotspot for digital nomads. Playa del Carmen is a touristic coastal town in Quintana Roo, but also a good base to explore the area and enjoy the beach. It is a comfortable city to stay in and has a more pleasant atmosphere than, for example, Cancun. When you make a tour through Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and also stay in Tulum, you could skip Playa del Carmen. The beaches in Tulum are just a bit more beautiful. However, if you prefer to stay in a slightly larger town, Playa del Carmen is a good place for you. And even if you can’t find a suitable accommodation in Tulum, you can still go to Playa del Carmen. Beach, rooftop bars with swimming pool, going out, good food, dance lessons and live music, you will find it all in Playa del Carmen.
Don’t let the crowds on 5th Avenue drive you crazy, but dive into the side streets or have a nice dinner on 10th Av. You will also find many good restaurants outside the busy streets of the center. Renting a bicycle is therefore recommended, but taxis are also plentiful. Do you like fish? Then Chiltepin Marisquillos is highly recommended for the best fish tacos. But the range of good restaurants is huge. So go and discover for yourself!
SCUBA DIVING AT PLAYA DEL CARMEN
The beautiful cenote El Jardín is half an hour’s drive from Playa del Carmen. You can even dive in it. But be aware, the cenote is closed on Saturdays. The ferry also departs from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, an island that is half an hour from Playa del Carmen. Cozumel is a good place for those who want to dive or snorkel and a nice island to enjoy the sun, sea and beach. You can also choose to stay one or more nights on Cozumel, the island is definitely worth it.
ISLA MUJERES: BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN YUCATÁN
When you think of a holiday in Mexico, you often think of a beach holiday. A visit to one of the Yucatán islands is perfect for that. Isla Mujeres is a cozy island with beautiful beaches. A good place to end your tour of Yucatán and Quintana Roo. Does your flight only leave at the end of the day? Then you can easily travel from Isla Mujeres to Cancun on the same day. It is located just off the coast of Cancun. You can book tickets for ferry and bus to the airport on the island.
STREET ART ISLAND ISLA HOLBOX
Isla Mujeres is a nice holiday island, but Isla Holbox is perhaps the most beautiful island in Yucatán. This Mexican dream island is car-free and is colored by the most beautiful street art. The small island is completely walkable, but you can also rent a golf cart. The sunsets on the island are breathtaking, as are the white sand beaches that stand out against the turquoise sea water. Internet is quite limited on the island, so it is also the perfect place for a digital detox and to really relax. Spend a day lazing on the beach, drink a cocktail in one of the beach bars and look for the most beautiful street art on the island. Isla Holbox is also an excellent place to start your Yucatán tour.
EL CUYO
The island of Isla Holbox has become a popular beach destination in Mexico that many travelers add to their Yucatan road trip. Do you want to discover destinations off the beaten track on your Yucatan tour? Then visit the neighboring island of El Cuyo . This island is known among kite and windsurfers and an emerging destination among beachgoers. Like Isla Hoblox, El Cuyo has paradisiacal white beaches. It is small and there is not much to do, but you can rent a kayak and explore the turquoise waters. You can also take a day trip to Las Coloradas (Rio Lagartos), which is located nearby.
End of your Yucatán tour: The islands mentioned above are a perfect destination to end your Yucatán road trip. From here you can easily travel to the international airport in Cancún.
HOW TO TRAVEL THROUGH YUCATAN AND QUINTANA ROO?
The best way to get to Yucatan is to fly to Cancun. From here you can rent a car or travel by bus through Yucatán. Traveling through Mexico is very easy, because the roads are good. If you stay in Yucatán and Quintana Roo (and possibly Campeche), you can easily cover the distances by car or bus. If you also want to visit another part of Mexico during a tour, you can take a domestic flight from Cancun, possibly via Mexico City.
CAR RENTAL IN YUCATAN, MEXICO
Mexico, and the Yucatán Peninsula in particular, is a perfect destination for a road trip. Many hotels therefore offer parking. Traveling with a rental car makes it possible to discover just a few more places, off the beaten track. And you are free to come and go as you please. If you want to rent a car, we recommend Temco rental cars. You rent all-inclusive, so you will not be faced with unexpected extra costs. Your insurance is also included in the total price, ideal!
TRAVELING THROUGH YUCATÁN BY BUS
There are different types of buses that drive through Mexico. The buses from ADO* are the most comfortable. These luxury buses are the best choice for your tour through Yucatán and Quintana Roo. The seats are very spacious (your legs can stretch out and the seats are wide). They also have USB charging points, there is a toilet and WiFi on board and the buses do not make any stops for breaks along the way. The buses run from special ADO bus stations and you are assured of a seat (this is stated on your ticket). It is best to book tickets online(tip: download the ADO Móvil app), but you can also buy a ticket at the bus station itself. Within ADO you have several options. For long journeys you can choose the most luxurious, ADO GL. In places where no ADO buses run, you can travel with local buses (such as between Izamal and Mérida). These buses are also fine, but not as luxurious as ADO (though cheaper). The cheapest (and least comfortable) option is a collectivo, a minibus that leaves when it is full. Such a collectivo is a great option for short distances, such as between Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
*In other provinces in Mexico, other bus companies also operate luxury coaches, similar to ADO.
CHEAP FLIGHTS TO YUCATÁN, MEXICO
Do you want to go on holiday to Mexico and make a tour through Yucatan and Quintana Roo? Then it is best and cheapest to fly to Cancun. From Cancun you can take the ADO bus or rent a car for your road trip through Yucatan or surrounding provinces in Mexico. You can find cheap deals through Skyscanner .
Offer tip : You can also look at Tui flights for airline tickets to Cancun . Tui flies 3 times a week directly from Amsterdam to Cancun. These tickets are not listed on Skyscanner. You can, however, book these airline tickets separately, even without a package tour from Tui.