VIsit Yucatan
Complete Guide
Visit Yucatan: Complete Itinerary & Travel Tips
Why visit Yucatan?
The Yucatán Peninsula offers a fascinating mix of Mayan heritage, stunning cenotes, and Caribbean beaches. This region perfectly blends culture, relaxation, and nature — all in a destination that’s easy to explore and especially popular among travelers.
If you’re planning to visit Yucatan, expect turquoise water, rich history, and plenty of unforgettable experiences.
Please note: the prices of the activities and accommodation mentioned in the article can vary greatly depending on the time of year (weekday vs weekend, holidays, etc.).
Plan your Road Trip in Mexico
To find all the information about our trip to Mexico in general: full itinerary, budget, safety, tips… check out our article about our road trip in Mexico!
Our Yucatan Itinerary
1. Mérida & Homún Cenotes (4 days)
"Cenotes, marquesitas, turquoise water… and the famous lovers’ swing"
The capital of Yucatán, Mérida is vibrant and full of life:
- Walking tour of the colonial center: this always helps you better understand the city’s history, and the guide can take the opportunity to give you tips on what to do (sightseeing, restaurants, shows…). Keep an eye out for the pretty street name signs!
- Music Museum: and Mexican music is so rich…
- Markets & local cuisine: yum, yum, the marquesitas…
- Stroll along the Paseo Montejo and its grand colonial villas, culminating at the Monument to the Fatherland…
We also spent one day in Homún to discover our very first cenotes (natural pools formed by underground water systems).
👉 The easiest way is to share a moto-taxi (~300 pesos for 3 people) if you want to explore cenotes that are spread out.
If you stay near the center or visit a cenote resort, you can also explore on foot.
With Raoul, our moto-taxi driver, we visited:
- Cenote Clotilde & Maní Chan (160 pesos/person — further away, camping possible + pool)
- 3 Oches (70 pesos/person)
- Tsachaboumtum (90 pesos/person or 175 pesos with camping)
We loved them — but honestly, it’s hard to say which are the best. There are so many!
👉 Either go with local recommendations or do some research beforehand.
Certains liens présents dans l’article sont des liens affiliés. Si vous passez par eux pour effectuer une réservation, on touchera une petite commission (sans impact sur le prix du séjour). C’est une façon simple de soutenir notre blog et notre travail, alors merci ❤️ Ps : Bien sûr, ces recommandations restent 100% indépendantes et basées sur notre expérience !
🔑 Where to stay in Merida
Accomodation
in Merida
Exentrike Hostal OR Artos Hostel:
(It must have changed its name, but who knows which is the newer one). Very nice hostel with:
- Dorm room with AC (curtain-separated beds) and shared bathroom
- Pool, Wi-Fi, hot water
- Possibility to use the microwave and fridge
- 10 minutes from the city center
- 3 minutes from the local market
⚠️ Neighborhood can feel a bit sketchy at night, but more local than touristy during the day
💰 ~€20 for 2
Book this hotel –> See availability!
🚌 Transport Tips
Visit Yucatan
We arrived at the ADO station (close to the center) but left from the Bus Norte station, closer to our hostel.
- Mérida → Homún: Collectivo south of the central market
💰 40 pesos/person | ⏱ ~1h30 - Mérida → Celestún: Oriente bus
💰 76 pesos/person | ⏱ ~3h - Mérida → Valladolid: Bus Norte (~3 min walk from Oriente station)
💰 193 pesos/person | ⏱ ~3h – (ADO also available, closer to tourist areas)
2. Celestún – Flamingos & Mangroves (3 days)
Vivre au rythme des pêcheurs du village
We originally planned to stay 1 night… and ended up staying 3. Some travelers had been there for months!
Yes, we found a little paradise — even if Celestún isn’t perfect.
Things to do:
- Discover wildlife on a boat trip: mangroves, flamingos, crocodiles and pink lakes if you’re lucky (the pink water is due to the presence of a crustacean in the lagoons)
- Bike around the area (hotel bikes weren’t amazing though)
- Enjoy the peaceful vibe of a fishing village, and buy fresh fish directly at the port
🔑 Where to stay in Celestun
Accomodation
in Celestun
Camping Dos Lunas ❤️ :
A true little paradise:
- Glamping-style tents (different sizes available)
- 2 steps from the beach
- 5 min walk to the port via the beach
- Super friendly staff & family vibe
- Shared kitchen and bathroom + affordable bar
💰 ~€25 for 2 (normal tent)
Book this hostel –> See availability!
🚌 Transport Tips
Visit Yucatan
- Celestún → Mérida: Same as arrival (Oriente bus)
💰 76 pesos/person | ⏱ ~3h – (Express options ~2h30). FOr Valladolid > see “Merida”.
3. Valladolid, Cenotes & Chichén Itzá (5 days)
A town with a cenote in it....
A charming colonial town with a relaxed vibe — perfect when you visit Yucatan.
Things to do in Valladolid:
- Explore the town:
- Local markets
- Wonderful cenote Zací in the city center (150 pesos)
- Street food in local loncherías
- Central park “La Mestiza”
- Calzada de los Frailes street (touristy but lovely) -❤️ Favorite restaurant: La Tía Lina
- Watch the mapping show at San Bernardino de Siena convent – (every evening, free, in English/Spanish)
- Visit Casa de los Venados – (incredible private Mexican art collection — ~€6/person)
Day trips from Valladolid:
🚲 CENOTES > Less than 1 hour by bike:
Rent a bike (~€6/day — check condition before!) and explore nearby cenotes:
- X-Keken and Samula (both ~€10 for 2)
- Oxman (south-west)
- Suytun (east) > didn’t visit!
🚌 About 1 hour by collectivo:
Visit Chichén Itzá
Collectivo (~€5 round trip)
The site is magnificent, but expensive (€30 per person without a guide) and very crowded. If you don’t feel like experiencing a Mayan Disneyland.
👉 Alternative: Ek Balam (north of Valladolid) — less crowded and apparently very impressive too.
⚠️ Go early to avoid crowds
💰 ~€30/person (without guide)
🔑 Where to saty in Valladolid
Accomodation
in Valladolid
Villa Lirios :
A small, simple but well equipped apartment in a large garden.
- With private bathroom
- 5 min southeast from Sisal park
- A little out of the way, but a quiet, local neighborhood that we really liked
💰 ~€21 for 2
Book this appartment —> See availability!
🚌 Transport Tips
Visit Yucatan
- Valladolid → Playa del Carmen: ADO bus
💰 ~€12 | ⏱ 3–4h (express or not). - Playa del Carmen → Cozumel: Ferry (~€12 one way/p).⚠️ Walk 5–10 minutes from bus station to ferry terminal.
👉 Buy tickets at the official counter (not from street sellers — often more expensive).
4. Isla Cozumel via Playa del Carmen (5 days)
Go there for the water... diving and snorkeling!
Let’s be honest: Cozumel is not the most “postcard-perfect” island in Mexico. Holbox or Isla Mujeres might win that category.
BUT:
- Cozumel is cheaper
- It’s AMAZING for diving 👉 And honestly, these were our best dives in Central America (Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica…). Of course we were maybe lucky too…
⚠️ Downside: The island is quite developed — especially the east coast with many private beach accesses (hotels/restaurants).
The west side is less built, but swimming can be difficult due to wind and waves.
Things to do:
- Diving & snorkeling
Awesome! We found some great snorkeling spots without having to pay for access, for example near the Money Bar Beach Club.
Marine life: nurse sharks, lobsters, crabs, rays, dolphins, turtles…
💰 ~€120 for 2 dives
- Scooter road trip around the island: Rent a scooter (~€20–25/24h) and explore:
- Southern nature park (Punta Sur ecopark, rasta restaurant…)
- Wild east coast
The roads are in good condition; Punta Sur Park is accessible via an unpaved track.
⚠️ Important: no gas stations on the east side → plan fuel carefully! We only had enough to complete the circuit, no more…
🔑 Where to stay in Isla Cozumel
Accomodation
in Cozumel
Small apartment on airbnb, a 10-minute walk from the port. Studio with bathroom and kitchen. Everything we needed, slightly off-center to the northeast. Rafael, the owner, is a kitesurfing instructor.
💰 ~€23 for 2
🚌 Transport Tips
Visit Yucatan
- Playa del Carmen → Bacalar: ADO bus
💰 ~€25 | ⏱ ~4h - Ferry back: see Transport Tips “Valladolid”
5. Bacalar – The Lagoon of 7 Colors (4 days)
50 shades of Blue
Our final stop before heading to Belize — and we LOVED it 💙 Only regret: not going further to Calakmul, but we knew more Mayan sites were coming (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras).
Things to do:
- Kayaking, paddleboarding, and/or a boat trip on the Lagoon of Seven Colors: Discover its cenotes, the Pirates’ Canal, Fort San Felipe… We opted for a short boat trip for €17 per person for a half-day, with the option to bring your own six-pack of beer (cooler available).
- Sunrise at the State Ecological Park (free before it opens) and sunset (well, not quite, but still…) on a public dock (ask for the “embarcadero gratuito,” there are 3 or 4 in town).
- Bike rentals are available for exploring at your own pace. In town, “Italia Pro Bike” has good bikes (€9 for a city bike, €12 for a mountain bike/day
- ❤️: Try the tacos at “Mr. Taco” or the refined cuisine at “Cheuinic“.
- ❤️Fun and relaxing day at “Los Rápidos”. Great spot to chill all day… not so fast, but sooooo beautiful….
💰 ~€10/person
🚲 We went by bike (1h one way)
🔒 Bring a lock for lockers if you’ve one (or rent one)
🔑 Where to stay in Bacalar
Accomodation
in Bacalar
Cabanas Alma Verde :
- Private room with shared kitchen & bathroom
- Super friendly hosts
- Daily fruit basket included 🍍
- Services: bike rental, laundry
💰 ~€23 for 2
📍 5 min walk from ADO station (a bit outside the center)
🚌 Transport Tips
Visit Yucatan
- Bacalar → Los Rápidos: Taxi or bike – but be prepared to cycle alongside cars, on roads and paths (~45 min / 1h one way).
- Bacalar → Belize (Orange Walk): ADO bus (to Belize City) – ⚠️ Bus stops at the border for immigration procedures but has a schedule to adhere to. 💰 ~€15 | ⏱ ~3h
Practical Tips to Visit Yucatan
The Yucatán is one of the most touristy regions in Mexico. 👉 To make the most of your trip when you visit Yucatan: Visit cenotes early in the morning to avoid crowds & Book popular activities in advance during high season.
There are over 8,000 cenotes in the Yucatan... everyone will have their own opinion, and naturally the most famous ones remain the most famous since they're easier to find and you're guaranteed to see a beautiful place... but expect to be part of the crowd!
Clearly, we discovered about fifteen out of 8,000, without going to Tulum, and we really enjoyed the ones we visited.
For our part, we found that the cenotes around Valladolid and Homún offer an excellent compromise between accessibility and authenticity (not too touristy but beautiful; we were often alone).
Certainly some magnificent places, but with "only" 7 weeks to visit 3 regions of Mexico, we preferred to avoid places that seemed too touristy (the crowds, the prices...).
Well, as always, it depends on tastes... Personally, we really liked the lagoon of 7 colors, the pirate canal, Los Rapidos... In any case, out of season it's a calm and peaceful place, and a magnificent natural site in Mexico.
Chichen Itza is a must-see, but very crowded. Even outside of peak season, holidays, and on weekdays, we found the site packed, even arriving very early. It's very large, which meant we didn't feel that way all day, but it's important to know.
We also heard great things about the Ek Balam Mayan site, smaller of course, but apparently quieter and very impressive.
Mexicans regions
This road trip in Mexico allowed us to discover an incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, and traditions.
To plan your trip step by step, check out our detailed guides for each region.
Oaxaca
Chiapas
