Situated in the southeastern corner of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula is a dream destination. Blessed with spectacular natural beauty, incredible history, and wonderful cuisine, this is a destination that you’ll want to keep coming back to. From the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza and Coba to the beautiful cenotes (limestone sinkholes) that dot the landscape, the Yucatan Peninsula offers some spectacular sights you won’t find anywhere else. The area is also home to the picture postcard white sand beaches you would expect, along with a great selection of hotels and resorts to accommodate all tastes and budgets.
Our itinerary for the Yucatan Peninsula suggests taking in one or more of the beach resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. It then deviates into Central Mexico to visit the majestic ruins of Palenque and the colonial town of San Cristobal de Las Casas. The return leg takes in the underrated town of Valladolid and the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. The route can be completed in 2 weeks or less if you omit the leg to Palenque and San Cristobal de Las Casas. You’ll want to make time for some rest and relaxation in this beautiful setting, so allow for longer if you can.
Cancun is the largest resort in the Yucatan and the closest to the airport, just 20 km away. The town is split between the downtown area with its numerous independent shops, bars, and restaurants, and the Zona Hotelera, by the beach. The Zona Hotelera comprises numerous large, upmarket hotels and resorts, while downtown is home to various cheaper options and guesthouses.
The main reason to come to Cancun is either as a convenient layover on your way to or from the airport or to visit and stay along the gorgeous beaches at the Zona Hotelera. If larger resorts aren’t for you, you’ll be better off staying in Playa del Carmen or Tulum, further along the coast.
Playa del Carmen is an excellent alternative to Cancun and is just an hour from the airport. While still busy and developed, it’s on a much smaller scale than Cancun and without the high-rise skyline. It still has all the amenities and range of accommodation you’d expect but all within a more compact area.
The town is set aside a long stretch of white sand beach with most of the accommodation and restaurants within a few blocks of the sea. This makes navigating the area much easier than Cancun or Tulum, which are spread out over a larger area. Playa del Carmen is also the departure point for the island of Cozumel and the numerous reefs surrounding it. This area offers world-class diving and snorkeling, and both are must-do activities for young and old alike.
A further 60 km south of Playa del Carmen is the small town of Tulum. It’s our pick of the beach resorts in the Yucatan, and you’ll find a long stretch of beautiful beach with plenty of beachside accommodation. Far more rustic than the resorts of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, this is the place to kick back and relax. At the northern end of the beach are some Mayan ruins, which are well worth a visit, albeit more for the location than the ruins themselves. Tulum also offers excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities to those who want to explore the warm, clear waters offshore.
The ancient Mayan city of Coba is 50 km from Tulum and is one of the archaeological gems of the Yucatan Peninsula. Its remote location ensures the site is visited far less frequently than other major sites in the Yucatan. The size and scale of the city (believed to have been home to 50,000 residents at its peak) ensures plenty of ruins to explore. The limited excavation undertaken on this massive site, plus its jungle location, gives the distinct feeling you’re discovering a lost world. It’s well worth spending half a day or more here, exploring the site and taking in the serene setting.
Situated close to the border with Belize, the city of Chetumal contrasts with the razzmatazz of the beach resorts further north and offers an authentic glimpse into Mexican life. The city is also a good stop off on the way to Palenque to break up the journey and to help you brush up on your Mayan history. The Museo de la Cultura Maya is widely considered to be the best museum for Mayan history in the whole of the Yucatan Peninsula. The local Mayan archaeological sites of Zona Arqueológica de Dzibanché – Kinichná and Zona Arqueológica Kohunlich are also well worth visiting as part of your stay. These smaller and less well-known sites offer a more intimate and atmospheric experience than many of the larger, better-known sites.
It’s 500 km and a 7-hour drive from Chetumal to Palenque. You might ask yourself, is it worth the effort? The answer is a resounding yes! This is probably the greatest Mayan ruin in the country, with over 500 buildings and a site spanning almost 15 square kilometers. Situated a few kilometers outside of the present-day town of Palenque, the historic site dates back to the 1st century BC and was occupied for almost a millennium before being sacked and abandoned in the 10th century. It spent centuries lost to the jungle before being rediscovered in the 18th century. It’s highly recommended to take your time to explore the whole site, which takes the best part of a day.
For those looking to spend more than just a day in the area, there’s plenty of jungle and waterfalls to explore in the surrounding area. For those venturing further afield, the Mayan ruins at Bonampak and Yaxchilan are also well worth a visit.
A 200km and 4-hour drive from Palenque gets you to the beautiful colonial and hillside town of San Cristobal de Las Casas. Featuring beautiful cobbled streets, numerous churches and and hacienda style housing, this is another place to kick back for a few days and enjoy the lifestyle. There are multiple museums and historical buildings to visit and revel in their architectural splendor. For those looking to learn and immerse themselves in the culture, there are also numerous language and culinary schools. In the evening, San Cristobal de Las Casas comes to life with numerous bars, restaurant and theatres. If you’re looking to venture outside of the town, you’ll find countless welcoming and attractive Mayan villages dotted across the surrounding hills.
The leg back to the Yucatan Peninsula is a grueling 900 kilometers and 11-hour drive from San Cristobal de Las Casas. Fortunately, the town of Valladolid is one of the nicest and most underrated destinations in the entire region. The colorful streets of this fantastic city combined with the colonial architecture give it real character. This character is reinforced by a range of unique culinary dishes and fine dining options, plus a vibrant art scene, including daily Mayan dances in Valladolid’s main square.
The city is also an excellent base for visiting some of the surrounding areas and attractions, such as the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza or the numerous cenotes in the area, which are some of the best in the Yucatan Peninsula. Amongst the best of Valladolid’s cenotes are Cenote Suytun, Cenote Chukum and Cenote Saamal.
Located 40 km to the east of Valladolid and 200 km west of Cancun, the ancient Mayan site of Chichen Itza is a mind-blowing destination. Besides the incredible pyramids and stunning architecture, there are graphic, breathtaking art and stories that will send a chill down your spine! This rich history has seen Chichen Itza named one of the seven new wonders of the world. Such recognition comes at a cost, and as you would expect, the site is inundated with tourists daily. However, if you can visit early or late in the day, you’ll manage to avoid the worst of the crowds, and the destination is worth the effort.
It’s 200 km back to Cancun from Chichen Itza or 240 km from Valladolid, completing your loop of the Yucatan. After all that adventuring, why not take a few extra days to rejuvenate at Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum before heading home?
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Yucatan trip guide. Why not try some of our other guides for North America or perhaps other intrepid travel destinations?
You can drive to Morocco from the neighboring countries of Spain and Mauritania, but not Algeria, despite a nearly 2000 km long border between the two countries. Travel between Morocco and any of its neighbors comes with its fair share of challenges. At first glance, you could be mistaken for
If you love solitude, amazing landscapes, and vast open spaces, you’re going to love Western Australia. This amazing land, and the northwest in particular, is often referred to as the ‘Last Frontier’. It’s a land of endless remote possibilities and nowhere showcases this better than the amazing array of national
The Albanian port city of Vlore is one of Albania’s spectacular coastal highlights. Situated at the northern end of the Albanian Riviera and overlooking the beautiful Bay of Vlore, the city is blessed with a wealth of attractions. The home of Albanian independence and the gateway to the Riviera, the
You can drive to remote Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean using the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, also known as the “Mackenzie Highway” or “Tuk Highway.” The road provides access to Tuktoyaktuk from Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. Inuvik is accessible from mainland Canada by using the Dempster Highway, which runs all the
It’s possible to drive to beautiful Gasparilla Island from the nearby Florida mainland using a bridge known as the Boca Grande Causeway. The causeway connects the unincorporated community of Placida on the mainland to the northern tip of Gasparilla Island, allowing vehicles to access the island. There’s a $6 round
You can drive to Guyana but only from one of the three South American countries with a common land border. The border crossing with neighboring Brazil in the southwest of Guyana is currently the only open crossing. However, it is located in a very remote region. There are currently no
