Just a short plane ride from the United States, the Yucatan Penninsula offers gorgeous beaches, excellent snorkeling, Mayan Ruins, breathtaking cenotes, and a glimpse into Mexican culture. We were incredibly impressed with our time on this Yucatan Itinerary and are so happy we chose to spend the entire time outside of Cancun.
This area is easy and completely enjoyable to visit and road trip as long as you follow general precautions when driving. You can also create your own itinerary and stay in one place and do many of the best Yucatan activities as day trips or on guided tours.
In this post we’ll share exactly what we did during our visit to the Yucatan. It’s important to note that this itinerary is best if you are looking for explore this part of Mexico without spending time in Cancun.
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Quick Look at a 1-Week Yucatan Itinerary
The Yucatan Penninsula juts out of Mexico to the Northeast and divides the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Mostly flat and made of limestone, the Yucatan was home to the Mayan people before being conquered by the Spanish.
The main draws to the Yucatan Penninsula are the stunning natural features including the cenotes, beaches, and reefs. A series of Mayan ruins offer a glimpse into the past of Mayan culture.
Driving around the Yucatan Peninsula is generally easy. The major roads are well maintained and it’s easy to get to the most popular sites. You should take care driving at night and be aware of scams at gas stations.
This itinerary starts at the Cancun Airport. We were able to get inexpensive direct flights from Boston. See the list below for a quick look at our Yucatan road trip:
- We spent the first few nights near Valladolid – we visited Mayan ruins, swam in Cenotes, and explored the town. (Days 1-3)
- Next, we headed to Tulum for more ruins and delicious food along the breathtaking beach. (Day 3-4)
- We spent the final days in Akumal for snorkeling and some more beach time before heading back to the airport in Cancun. (Days 5-7)
Map of Yucatan Road Trip: 7 days
Complete Details of our 1 Week Yucatan Itinerary
You can often find good deals to fly into Cancun International Airport. We flew Jet Blue from Boston after finding a good deal. This itinerary assumes that you are renting a car, so you will want to pick up your car at the airport. This was relatively quick and easy.
Make sure you take a video of your rental car so you don’t get charged for damage you didn’t do (we do this every time we rent a car). To read more about our experience renting a car in Mexico scroll down to Thing to Know at the bottom of this article.
DAY 1
From the airport, you will drive to the Vallodolid area. It takes about 2 hours but is a generally easy drive. We stayed a bit outside of town at Genesis Eco-Oasis. This is a great location and we loved the natural setting, the pool and the meals. It truly feels like a little oasis in the jungle.
There are really many excellent options for places to stay in the Valladolid area. You can find a range of lodging types from hostels to hotels.
Travel Tip: We had a little trouble getting cash out at the local ATM, so if possible, try to get cash out just after you leave the airport.
Day 2-3 Explore Valladolid
Spend time exploring the area around Valladolid. There is SO MUCH to do in this area and you could also plan a longer day trip to Merida or the north coast of the Yucatan. We spent time visiting local several local cenotes, the Mayan archaeological sites at Ek’ Balam, visiting Chichen Itza, and exploring the town of Valladolid. Since it can be hot in the Yucatan, try to plan your activities in the early part of the day and then find a pool or cenote to cool off at the end of the day.
Things to do in Valladolid
Ek Balam Ruins: One of the reasons we stayed in Ek Balam was to be close to these ruins. These were probably our favorite ruins during our visit, mostly because it is less popular and you have a better opportunity to get closer to many of the different sites. The site was originally inhabited around 300 BCE and was once home to roughly 20,000 people. Today a small part of the city has been excavated, including the El Torre pyramid.
To get into the site, there is a relatively expensive fee of around $22 USD. You can buy water and snacks on-site if needed, but make sure you have cash.
We arrived early in the morning and were one of the only people there. Many of the tour groups will show up mid-morning, so try to arrive early or come late in the day. You will need a few hours to explore the ruins, then make sure to visit the stunning Cenote X’canche (sometimes called the Ek Balam Cenote).
See more about: Exploring the Ek Balam Ruins and Cenote X’Canche.
Cenote X’canche – Ek Balam Cenote: The cenote is located right next to the ruins and is a beautiful cenote with plants clinging to the limestone walls, wines hanging down, and gorgeous water. We easily spent an hour here before it started to get crowded and we continued on our way. You will need to shower before entering and there are storage lockers you can rent.
Explore Valladolid: This colonial city is colorful and a wonderful place to explore. We spent time walking around the city and grabbing some lunch. Make sure to see the Convent of San Bernardo, Cenote Zaci, the Main Square, and check out some of the excellent, small, local restaurants.
Visit more local cenotes (including Cenote Suytun): There are many nearby cenotes but the most photographed is Cenote Suytun. This beautiful underground cenote can get crowded, but is well worth the visit!
Chichen Itza: From Valladolid, the famous ruins of Chichen Izta are just 40 minutes away. Considered one of the 7 wonders of the world, this is a large and very popular site (over 2.5 million visitors/year). The site is open daily from 8-5 and you can purchase tickets online. Many people select to do this as a tour which is a good way to learn more about Mayan history.
Visit Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas: About 1.5 hours north of Valladolid, Rio Lagartos is actually a lagoon that is home to many bird species and crocodiles. You will find wild-colored water and the famous flamingoes on the northern coast of the Yucatan.
Visit the Town of Merida: 2 hours to the west of Valladolid, the colonial town of Merida is a colorful combination of old and new. A bit less touristy than other parts of the Maya Riviera, this is a fun town to visit.
Day 3-4 Drive to Tulum on Your Yucatan Itinerary
With gorgeous beaches, Mayan ruins perched on coastal cliffs, and a fun vibe, Tulum is a wonderful place to spend a few days. We stayed a bit outside of the town and spent a full day exploring the beaches and ruins. While Tulum is more expensive than it used to be, you can still find plenty of reasonable options. On our way to the hotel, we stopped at the Coba Ruins and Cenote Zacil-Ha and enjoyed a more local swimming spot.
We stayed at Casa Mango. This was such a fun stop for our family with unique lodging. Our youngest daughter, Freja, spent time playing with the owner’s little girl and we loved walking around the property and the peace. You can also find a number of listings on booking.com.
Things to do in Tulum
Tulum Archaeological Site: This is a gorgeous site right on the cliffs overlooking the sea. You can wander through the ruins and even descend to a small beach. Visit the Templo Dios del Viento (Temple of the God of the Wind), Pyramid El Castillo, Temple of the Descending God, and the Temple of the Frescoes. This is a popular site that can be crowded, so try to go early or late in the day.
Go to the Beach: The beaches in Tulum are beautiful white sand and are some of the best Yucatan beaches. Access to the beaches is free, but some hotels will charge for chairs. Here are a few of the best local beaches:
- Playa Paraisao: beach bars, palm trees, and lovely shallow water
- Playa Ruinas: A lovely little beach amid the Tulum Ruins.
- Ziggy Beach: there is a fee to enter but you do get a lounge chair
- Santa Fe Beach: North of Playa Paraisao this is a nice beach with lots of places to eat.
Tulum Centro: there are actually 3 different parts of town – the beach, Tulum town (more local with grocery store etc) and the ruins. All 3 have plenty of places to each and shops to check out.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere: South of Tulum, this UNESCO world heritage site is home to countless animals and birds as well as many archaeological sites. The best way to see this area is on a tour that includes time on the water. This half-day tour from Tulum takes you on a boat ride between lagoons into the heart of the ancient Mayan Civilization.
Local Cenotes: Swim or scuba dive in some of the local cenotes. Here are a few options to check out: Gran Cenote, Casa Cenote, Dos Ojos Cenote, Carwash, and Cenote Taak Bi Ha
Coba Ruins: The best time to stop at the Coba ruins is on your drive from Valladolid to Tulum as it is right on your way. You can also visit from Tulum (it’s about a 45 min drive). The Coba ruins are large and you can actually climb the largest pyramid which isn’t allowed in many other sites. The Coba Ruins feel like walking through something from Indiana Jones!
The best way to get around the large Coba ruins is to rent a bicycle. You can do this right on arrival and bike between the different sites. This was an easy and fun way to get around! You can also book a tour of the Coba Ruins that includes transportation or book a tour at the site.
Day 5-7 of your Mexico Itinerary: Akumal
Finishing up our stay in Tulum we headed just a short drive north along the coast to the slightly quieter town of Akumal. We were looking for a place to stay right on the beach and finished up our week itinerary in the Yucatan with snorkeling and beach days. Akumal has several areas- we stayed in Half Moon Bay.
We loved our spot, and I would say that the only drawback was that we visited during a period when the seaweed Sargassum washed up on the beaches so the beaches were covered in seaweed. This happens occasionally and can last for months depending on the currents. It’s worth checking reviews before you visit, but you still may not know before you go if there will be piles of seaweed on the beaches. You can find many places to stay in Akumal right on the beach.
We enjoyed a few of the nearby beaches, snorkeling in Half Moon Bay and Yal-Ku Lagoon, and swimming in Cenote Azul.
Things to do near Akumal
Snorkel: We stayed in Half Moon Bay specifically so we could snorkel. The snorkeling here was good but a bit murky. We decided to also visit Yal-Ku Lagoon for a half-day and were really impressed with the snorkeling here and the amount of fish. It’s also really amazing to go from fresh to salt water and we could actually see the difference in the water and fish. We loved Yal-Ku Lagoon!
Akumal Area Beaches: The entire coastline here is dotted with beaches. We spent time in Half Moon Bay, but also visited Playa Akumal, Playa Chemuyil and Bahia Soliman. We also ate every meal right on the beach and enjoyed walking to La Buena Vida!
Check out the Local Cenotes: There are several cenotes nearby. We spent some time at Cenote Azul – which is more like a lagoon and a cave. The kids loved the fish nibbling at their feet and jumping into the water here. Also check out Dos Ojos Cenote, Cenotes Sac Actun, and Cenote Abierto.
Day 7: Drive to the airport
If you have an early morning flight, you may want to consider staying at a nearby hotel instead of driving early in the morning. We had an early morning flight and decided to drive early to the airport. In retrospect it would have been better to stay at the airport – the drive in the dark was stressful as police sometimes pull over rental cars for no reason and cause you to miss your flight. We did not get pulled over, but saw several people pulled over.
Things to Know About Planning a Yucatan Road Trip
General Things to Know About Your Maya Riviera Itinerary
The Yucatan Peninsula is flat, hot, and a generally easy place to visit. See the general information below about things to know for planning your Yucatan Itinerary.
- Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in many places
- There is so much to see outside of Cancun! Make sure to get out and explore
- There are 3 states in the Yucatan Peninsula: States of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche.
- The Mexican currency is the Peso
- It’s possible to do this Yucatan Itinerary without driving a car and taking a bus, but you will need additional time and will need to pay for some of the tours instead of self-driving to sites.
Best Time to Visit the Yucatan Penninsula
It’s possible to visit the Yucatan Peninsula all year long. The busy season is typically December-April, and you should also be aware that hurricane season is June-October,
Renting a Car for your Yucatan Road Trip
Renting a car is relatively inexpensive and easy to do in Mexico. There are a few things to be careful of. Always take a video or photos of your car when you pick it up so you don’t get accused of damage. You should also be aware that driving at night outside of tourist towns is not recommended. Police have been known to pull over rental cars and insist on payment on the spot (especially when you are on the way to the airport).
You should also be aware that gas stations may try to scam you and claim that you haven’t paid even after you just paid. We had someone do this at the gas station near the airport. I handed the man a 50 and he switched it in his hand to a 5 and claimed I hadn’t paid enough. We were firm and clear that we paid and left.
How Many Days for the Perfect Yucatan Itinerary?
This Yucatan itinerary outlines how to spend a week in the Yucatan. In general, 1 week is a good amount of time to spend on a road trip here, but you can easily adjust this to a full 10 day road trip and take in a few additional sites (specifically along the northern coast). An example of a 10 day Yucatan Itinerary might look like this:
- Day 1-3 Drive Valladolid and explore the area
- Day 3-4 Visit the Rio Lagartos Area and stay in Merida
- Day 5-7 Drive to Tulum, stop at Coba Ruins, explore Tulum
- Day 8-10 Akumal and finish in Cancun
If you are looking to shorten this itinerary, you can easily make this into a 6 day Yucatan Itinerary (or even 5 days) by either staying just in Valladolid and Tulum and skipping Akumal. with just 5 or 6 days I would visit 1 of the Mayan Ruins, a few Cenotes, and some beaches. This would give you a good balance without too much on any one thing.
If you have less than 5 days, you will want to make a decision about what you want to see and consider just booking in one location and doing a day trip to the other sites on your list.
Is the Yucatan Safe?
In general, Mexico is safe, and the Yucatan is the safest state in Mexico. There are still problems in highly touristy areas and you should stay vigilant. That said, besides the drive and gas station on our last day, we never felt unsafe.
Update: Since we visited this area has become less safe. It is important to do you own reasearch about the current safety conditions.
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