There are limitless adventures to have within the Yucatan. Right here’s a have a look at the very best issues to do within the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Few locations supply as a lot selection as Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. An enormous expanse of jungle, bordered by pristine white seashores, grows out of a singular and sophisticated ecosystem.
Your complete peninsula is porous limestone with caverns of contemporary water. Numerous sinkholes (known as cenotes) break the floor, offering vacationers with alternatives for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
And that’s simply nature. The Yucatan incorporates a mixture of three essential cultures: Mayan, Spanish colonial, and trendy Mexican.
You may immerse your self in all three in locations like Valladolid, close to Chichen Itza, with a go to to the well-known ruins within the morning, a cease at a Sixteenth-century convent within the afternoon, and a dinner of Yucatan specialties at a classy gastropub within the night.
There are such a lot of issues to do within the Yucatan that many vacationers return repeatedly. I’m one among them. Throughout my 10 years residing in Mexico, I visited the realm about every year, generally extra.
With so many locations to go to within the Yucatan, you’re positive to have a fantastic expertise it doesn’t matter what you’re on the lookout for!
Listed here are the highest 15 issues to see and do within the Yucatan, plus sensible tips about easy methods to profit from your journey.
1. Go to Playa del Carmen
Though Cancun is the first vacation spot that will come to thoughts, I like to recommend Playa del Carmen as a primary cease within the Mayan Riviera.
Cancun is okay if you wish to confine your journey to a giant beachside resort (or if you wish to tough it in low-cost inns in Cancun’s considerably rundown downtown space).
However if you wish to stroll barefoot out of your family-run lodge to the seaside for an early morning swim, Playa del Carmen is the place.
Though the seaside has suffered erosion and algae invasions in recent times, and there are bigger seashores in Tulum, Puerto Morelos, and Akumal, what provides Playa the sting over these different seaside cities is Quinta Avenida (fifth Avenue).
Conveniently beginning on the principal bus station and operating parallel to the seaside, Quinta Avenida is pedestrian-only for almost 2 kilometers.
It’s lined with small inns, memento retailers, and a variety of Mexican and international eating places. Exploring this bustling avenue is definitely one of many prime issues to do within the Yucatan.
Essentially the most genuine native meals, together with the most important nightclubs, are a block or two away, and also you’re most likely higher off on the lookout for a lodge elsewhere (due to noise). However there’s nothing fairly like wandering down Quinta Avenida, day or night time, taking in all of the sights, sounds, and smells.
Be certain to take a look at Calle 38 (simply off of fifth Ave.) and proceed taking fifth avenue north all the best way into Colosio.
2. Hit the Seaside Beneath the Ruins of Tulum
There are lots of of archeological websites within the Yucatan, starting from tiny (however attention-grabbing) iguana-filled San Miguelito in Cancun’s lodge zone to huge, world-famous Chichen Itza.
Tulum could have misplaced most of its appeal over the previous few years, however I like to recommend Tulum for a first-timer’s must-see within the Yucatan. The ruins and seaside listed below are fairly unbelievable.
About an hour south of Playa del Carmen, it’s straightforward to go to Tulum on a day journey even from Cancun (about two hours away). It has spectacular constructions and mixture of open grassy areas and paths by bushes.
The principle attraction of Tulum, nonetheless, is its location above the turquoise Caribbean.
It’s one of many prime locations to go to within the Yucatan for pictures. Better of all, a picket staircase results in a small seaside under, the place you may swim out within the water for a special view of the Tulum ruins.
A street from the south exit of the park goes to the principle seaside in Tulum, which is lengthy, large, and overflowing with powdery white sand. This mixture of ruins and seaside makes a visit to Tulum one other top-of-the-line issues to do within the Yucatan.
Learn how to go to the Tulum Ruins in our article, right here.
3. Mountain Bike within the Jungle at Punta Venado
Talking of good seashores in Mexico, there’s a beautiful and secluded one at Punta Venado (Deer Level) about fifteen minutes south of Playa del Carmen.
The Punta Venado Seaside Membership has good meals and cheap costs, and the quiet seaside is likely one of the greatest locations to go to within the Yucatan for some privateness.
As good because the seaside is, the true draw to Punta Venado is its mountain bike park. A big community of trails has been constructed by the rainforest, and one sandy path runs proper alongside the coast.
You’ll see many wild animals on the paths, together with iguanas, monkeys, and the raccoon-like tree mammal coati.
The paths have three ranges of issue. The intermediate and professional trails are lengthy, bumpy, and positive to fulfill professional cyclists used to large mountains. The newbie trails are a lot much less daunting, however anybody using them ought to be totally snug on a mountain bike.
You may lease good high quality, well-maintained mountain bikes on the store or carry your individual. And naturally, after your journey, you may spend the remainder of the day swimming within the sea or sipping margaritas on the seaside membership’s poolside bar.
4. Discover Isla Mujeres by Bicycle
If you wish to expertise the Yucatan on two wheels however aren’t up for decent and arduous mountain biking within the jungle, you continue to have loads of choices.
You may lease bicycles at almost each vacationer vacation spot within the Yucatan, corresponding to Tulum, Merida, and Playa del Carmen’s Quinta Avenida…and Isla Mujeres.
The most effective Yucatan actions is to cruise throughout Isla Mujeres by bicycle. The lengthy, slender island is positioned simply north of Cancun, and you’ll attain it by ferry from Cancun’s lodge zone or Puerto Juarez.
The ferries drop you off on the north finish of the island, the place the little village and the most important seashores are. Most guests by no means depart this space, and certainly may not even understand how rather more to the island there’s.
And truly, the best a part of the Yucatan is Punta Sur, a rocky lookout on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres. It’s a good looking spot, and strolling out to it is likely one of the prime issues to do within the Yucatan, and greatest locations to go to in Isla Mujeres.
Renting a cruiser bike within the village is a superb possibility for attending to Punta Sur, and you may make stops at different Yucatan points of interest on Isla Mujeres throughout your journey, corresponding to Garrafón Pure Reef Park.
Take a look at this enjoyable biking expertise across the island, which takes in lots of the sights and may be very reasonably priced.
5. Swim or Scuba Dive in a Cenote
The Yucatan has many dive websites, particularly the Mayan Riviera, the stretch of the Caribbean shoreline from Cancun to Tulum. Moreover reefs, there’s additionally an underwater museum, which is a sequence of submerged statues within the sea between Isla Mujeres and mainland Cancun.
This may sound unusual to scuba divers, however for me, the very best diving is reached by van, not by boat, and never within the deep open sea, however in slender caverns in only some meters of contemporary water.
I’m speaking about cenotes, the freshwater sinkholes that result in in depth networks of caves. Scuba diving in cenotes is one among my favourite adventures within the Yucatan, and every time I’m going, I go to a number of new ones.
Two fashionable cenotes are Dos Ojos and El Pit. They’re proper subsequent to one another, sharing an entrance and customer heart, they usually’re conveniently positioned off the freeway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
They make for a wonderful introduction to cenote diving each due to their location and likewise as a result of they’re very totally different.
Dos Ojos is a cavern dive with two routes that take you thru slender passages filled with stalagmites, stalactites, and tree roots dangling within the water.
El Pit, because the title suggests, is an enormous, deep chamber, the place vivid beams of sunshine slant by the blue-tinted water.
If you wish to go cenote diving, go to a dive store in Playa del Carmen or Tulum. They’ll focus on the choices with you, lease gear, and supply transportation.
Should you’re not a scuba diver, Dos Ojos remains to be a sensible choice for swimming in a cenote.
If you end up in a special a part of the Yucatan, corresponding to Merida, don’t fear, as a result of cenotes are all over the place, and every one gives one thing distinctive and attention-grabbing. Swimming of their cool contemporary water is likely one of the important issues to do within the Yucatan Peninsula.
6. Swing in a Hammock over Kaan Luum’s Sapphire Water
About quarter-hour south of Tulum city by automotive or public transportation is an entire different form of cenote. Kaan Luum is a big, roughly round lagoon of contemporary water surrounded by dense jungle.
It’s fairly shallow, about chest-high, till the middle of the lagoon, which incorporates a deep cenote. Right here the sky-blue hues of the clear water instantly go darkish. It’s roped off, so you may’t swim into it, however you may swim alongside and ponder its murky depths.
Kaan Luum is likely one of the greatest locations to go to within the Yucatan to calm down. Convey chilly drinks and snacks, and hang around on one of many lengthy piers all day.
It’s also possible to climb into one of many hammocks strung up over the water and swing the day away. Discover Kaan Luum on the map, right here.
7. Take a Boat Journey in Bacalar
For a multi-colored lake on a a lot grander scale than Kaan Luum, head south to Bacalar, the lake of seven colours, one of the crucial lovely locations to go to within the Yucatan.
For the complete Bacalar expertise, take a ship journey across the lake. As quickly as you strategy the principle dock, individuals will instantly strategy providing boat journeys. You may carry no matter you need on the boat, corresponding to a cooler filled with beer, and are available ready to swim.
The boat journey will take you throughout the lake, making stops at submerged cenotes and a shallow sandy space close to a canal as soon as utilized by pirates, the place you may soar in and funky off.
The information may also level out stromatolites, coral-like limestone rocks which are fashioned by an historic algae that’s one of many oldest types of life on Earth.
For a bit extra money, however a way more peaceable journey, head out on a sailboat as an alternative!
8. Escape the Crowds at Holbox
The 2 giant islands off of the Yucatan’s Caribbean coast, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, are inside straightforward attain by comparatively quick ferry journeys from Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
They’re glorious locations to go to within the Yucatan, with tons to do, particularly biking on Isla Mujeres, scuba diving off Cozumel, and hitting the seaside at each.
Considerably overshadowed by these two luminaries is the Yucatan Peninsula’s third main island, Holbox, positioned between the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
It’s considerably farther away, requiring an extended (however easy) drive or bus journey from Cancun or Merida earlier than you get on the ferry to the island.
It’s well worth the journey, and top-of-the-line locations to go to within the Yucatan to get away from all of it. Holbox has a cool village with pleasant, reasonably priced inns and a variety of eating places.
The seashores are astounding, and one part typically lights up with bioluminescence at night time. And for those who’re there between June and September, you may participate in one of many best possible Yucatan adventures — swimming with whale sharks.
9. Stroll the Tranquil Streets of Valladolid
Valladolid’s largest declare to fame could also be its proximity to Chichen Itza, one of many New Seven Wonders of the World. However the fairly small city is totally value a go to for its personal sake, and I counsel staying for a number of days if attainable.
Colourful, well-restored colonial buildings line cobblestone streets in a neatly deliberate grid, making for nice strolling and pictures.
Scattered amongst them are Yucatan points of interest like leafy parks, museums in colonial mansions, a 500-year-old convent, a cenote, and an genuine market with native specialties on the market.
There are quite a few issues to see and do in Valladolid to maintain you busy. Plus, there are some glorious eating places right here as properly.
Staying in Valladolid is smart earlier than or after a visit to Chichen Itza because you’ll be capable of go to the ruins proper after they open, earlier than the tour buses arrive.
10. Step Again in Time at Mayan Ruins
With quite a few archeological websites on the Yucatan Peninsula, you might spend a lifetime pursuing an adventurous Indiana Jones expertise, particularly in distant areas overgrown with vegetation like Calakmul, Coba, and Uxmal.
With its iconic pyramid, Chichen Itza attracts the crowds, and for good motive. The massive web site has a captivating number of constructions, detailed carvings, and distinctive sections.
It’s giant sufficient to spend the entire day in and be frequently stunned by one thing new — platforms filled with columns, paths by the jungle, and two cenotes.
It may not really feel as distant or mysterious as another Mayan ruins, however visiting Chichen Itza remains to be top-of-the-line issues to do within the Yucatan, despite all of the hype and vacationers. Then, in your subsequent journey, you may (and will) go to different historic Mayan cities.
11. Pattern Native Delicacies in Merida’s Public Market
Merida is the most important metropolis within the Yucatan and the capital of the Yucatan state. The peninsula includes three states, with Yucatan within the north and heart, Quintana Roo on the east aspect, and Campeche on the west aspect.
It doesn’t really feel like a metropolis, nonetheless, however extra like a residing museum of Spanish colonial structure. It’s top-of-the-line locations to go to within the Yucatan to wander round and take in some tradition.
And there’s no higher place to leap proper into the tradition than Merida’s sprawling market. A go to right here is likely one of the prime issues to do in Merida.
Positioned a number of blocks from the zocalo (heart sq.) in the midst of city, the market has a number of sections the place yow will discover produce, flowers, medication, souvenirs, and all types of family items.
The meals part is my favourite half. You may strive the numerous dishes of the Yucatan Peninsula’s distinctive delicacies at all kinds of small eating places and meals stalls, and you’ll’t beat the low costs.
Some tried-and-true favorites are cochinita pibil, shredded pork marinated in spicy ashiote sauce, which is commonly served in tacos or typical Yucatan finger meals corresponding to panuchos and salbutes.
Relleno negro, a black turkey soup, tastes nothing like the way it seems. Additionally, head to a juice stand to strive genuine chaya, a local leaf floor up and served as a refreshing drink.
12. Take the Horse-Drawn Practice to the Cuzuma Cenotes
Spending a day attending to the Cuzuma cenotes is likely one of the adventures within the Yucatan you’ll always remember.
Three cenotes are positioned in a former sugarcane plantation, and a small railroad passes by the positioning. It was previously used to move crops, and now it’s used to move guests to the cenotes.
Horses pull the prepare vehicles surprisingly rapidly from cenote to cenote. The cenotes themselves are incredible, with giant chambers and loads of room for swimming.
The doorway to 1 is only a shoulder-width gap within the floor with a picket staircase main down into the darkness.
From the city of Cuzuma, it’s straightforward to get details about discovering the prepare. To get to Cuzuma in public transportation, search for colectivos (passenger vans) leaving from close to Merida’s public market.
13. Marvel on the Pink Water of Las Coloradas
The pink lagoons of Las Coloradas, close to the small city of Rio Largartos, are a photographer’s dream. The world is used for salt manufacturing, which turns the water shades of crimson and pink each six months.
You’re not allowed to get within the water anymore, however you may nonetheless stroll round their shores, trying out the colours and organising nice photographs. Be certain to come back in March or in July and August to see the colours at their brightest.
Rio Lagartos is positioned on the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on the finish of a freeway coming from Valladolid. Moreover Las Coloradas, the realm additionally has gorgeous seashores and a big protected space filled with crocodiles and flamingos.
14. See the Flamingos on the Celestún Biosphere Reserve
Should you didn’t get sufficient flamingos in Rio Lagartos, then head west from Merida to the Celestún Biosphere Reserve, which has an infinite flamingo colony.
This large nature reserve takes up almost all the west coast of the peninsula north of Campeche, and top-of-the-line entry factors is the sleepy fishing village of Celestún. It’s also possible to take a look at the deserted and overgrown ruins of an previous hacienda close by.
You may see the flamingos proper on the seaside close to a city, or you may organize a ship journey by the mangroves, the place you’ll see plenty of different tropical birds and crocodiles.
You will get to Celestún by automotive or public transportation from Merida in about an hour and a half, and there’s no query {that a} day journey to this pristine space is likely one of the greatest issues to do within the Yucatan Peninsula to understand nature.
15. Be taught Some Historical past within the Colonial Gem of Campeche
Based in 1540, Campeche was an important Spanish outpost in colonial instances, and the town at the moment is a must-see within the Yucatan for historical past lovers.
The pastel-painted buildings of the historic district are nonetheless enclosed by the previous metropolis wall, making for a enjoyable day of sightseeing. And no journey to Campeche is full with out a go to to Fort San Miguel, now an archeological museum.
There are many issues to do in Campeche and some nice eating places, so ensure to provide your self a while right here. Should you plan on spending the night time, take a look at these prime Airbnbs in Campeche.
Additionally, due to its location within the west of the peninsula, Campeche can also be a logical cease for individuals on bigger journeys to Mexico. By automotive or bus, you may get to Ciudad del Carmen in three hours and Palenque in 5.
FAQ’s In regards to the Yucatan Peninsula
Listed here are some solutions to generally requested questions on this area of Mexico.
Sure, the Yucatan is mostly protected. As with anyplace you journey, particularly in Mexico, all the time take primary precautions. Don’t drink an excessive amount of, don’t settle for drinks from strangers, don’t depart your purse or backpack unattended on the seaside or on a restaurant chair, and don’t stroll down unfamiliar streets at night time.
In recent times there have been disturbing incidences of drug-related violence in seaside cities within the Mayan Riviera, corresponding to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and even usually peaceable Puerto Morelos. They’re nonetheless comparatively uncommon however are occurring extra incessantly.
Should you’re involved, look into staying in quieter locations that don’t have a lot of a celebration ambiance, corresponding to Akumal or Holbox, or focus your journey on inland areas, corresponding to Merida, which is likely one of the most secure locations to go to within the Yucatan and all of Mexico.
Be certain to have journey insurance coverage in your journey to the Yucatan Peninsula. SafetyWing is an effective possibility for travellers and digital nomads.
Coastal areas within the Yucatan are usually heat and breezy all 12 months, whereas inland locations (Merida, Valladolid, and so on.) get a lot hotter in the summertime months.
Rain is feasible at any time, though it often solely comes down laborious for about half an hour. Then the solar shines down laborious once more, drying off your garments.
Hurricane season is from June to October, so throughout these instances, the likelihood exists for harmful multi-day storms.
There’s not a lot you are able to do in regards to the climate, however you may make your time within the Yucatan a lot nicer by avoiding busy journey instances. Extra worldwide vacationers go to in December and January, particularly between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve.
Home vacationers additionally go to in giant numbers then, together with late July to early August (when many Mexicans have time without work work) and Semana Santa (Holy Week), the week earlier than Easter, when everybody has time without work work.
Keep away from Semana Santa in any respect prices. Lodges and flights shall be booked up, and seashores and vacationer locations shall be packed.
Automobile leases are low-cost within the Yucatan. All the same old corporations have places of work on the Cancun and Merida airports, the 2 principal airports within the area.
Should you’ll solely be staying in a single spot, you don’t must lease a automotive. Peninsula-wide, a number of varieties of public transportation run usually all day lengthy. Getting from Cancun to a different place on the coast, corresponding to Tulum, is fast and simple.
Should you plan to go to Isla Mujeres or Cozumel, merely stroll onto the ferry. Each are shut sufficient for day journeys, however you may see much more for those who keep a number of days.
For longer journeys, corresponding to from Cancun to Merida, you’ll take a bus. ADO is a first-class bus firm with stations all around the peninsula. Try their web site for choices, costs, and journey instances.
Second-class buses additionally depart from ADO stations, however they make plenty of stops and take oblique routes, and you’ll often solely get details about them and buy tickets on the station, not on-line.
Sure, the Yucatan is certainly value visiting! With all kinds of issues to see and do, you’ll by no means be bored. Whether or not you’re into pure magnificence or colonial cities, there’s one thing for everybody within the Yucatan Peninsula.
How a lot time you want relies on what you wish to do. Should you’re going to stay to 1 or two cities, then you may go to for a number of days. If you wish to see ruins, go to seashores, go to reserves and discover colonial cities, then give your self every week.
Now You Know What to Do in The Yucatan
Penning this publish actually makes me wish to return to take pleasure in the entire great locations to go to within the Yucatan.
I’ve had a good time over time experiencing all of those greatest issues to do within the Yucatan, and compiling them right here has me excited about my subsequent journey to this unbelievable area of Mexico.
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