Yucatan, Mexico
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a vast coastal region brimming with tropical beaches, spectacular wildlife, ancient Mayan ruins, small villages, and adventure activities.
The Yucatan Peninsula is a place of emerald waters turning to turquoise waves crashing on perfectly white coral-sand beaches. It’s home to Mexico’s famous Riviera Maya.
You’ll also find lush green forests dotted with Mayan ruins, colonial-era architecture, and sea life ablaze with color – all under Caribbean blue skies.
Many people shorten “Yucatan Peninsula” to “Yucatan”. That’s actually misleading since the peninsula itself is made up of four different states: Yucatan, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco.
The peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, and everything tropical you associate with the word “Caribbean” is on full display along its shorelines. It’s one of my favorite parts of Mexico!
Understandably, the Yucatan is an increasingly popular place to take a vacation, with from many major cities to Mexico’s notorious party & resort town of Cancun.
But there is sooooo much more to the Yucatan Peninsula than Cancun!
My Yucatan itinerary is completely free! I’ve worked hard putting it together for you. If you find it useful, please use my affiliate links when you book hotels, rental cars or activities. I’ll get paid a small commission, at no extra cost to you! Thanks.
Table Of Contents
- Yucatan Peninsula Highlights Map
- Best Of The Yucatan Peninsula
- 1: Explore Chichen Itza
- 2: Visit Las Coloradas
- 3: Snorkel With Sea Turtles
- 4: Buy A Hammock In Merida
- 5: Whale Sharks At Isla Holbox
- 6: Izamal The Yellow Town
- 7: Swimming In Cenotes
- 8: Mayan Food In Valladolid
- 9: Party In Cancún!
- 10: Walk La Quinta Avenida
- 11: Scuba Diving Around Cozumel
- 13: Kayaking Bacalar Lagoon
- 14: Mexico's Adventure Theme Parks
- 15: Calakmul Mayan Ruins
- Is The Yucatan Safe?
- Getting Around The Yucatan
- Where To Stay In The Yucatan
- Best Time To Visit Mexico
Hi, I’m Matthew Karsten
I’ve been traveling the world for 10+ years as a professional photographer & writer. I hope you enjoy my Yucatan Peninsula tips! If you find them useful, using my affiliate links will give me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
About The Author
Yucatan Peninsula Highlights Map
HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you’ll find a map of highlights of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!
Best Of The Yucatan Peninsula
1: Explore Chichen Itza
This UNESCO world heritage site is a centerpiece of the Mayan archaeological scene in Mexico, and gets around 1.4 million visitors a year — the region’s 2nd most popular Mayan ruins.
For over a thousand years Chichen Itza was one of the great cities of Central America – located here because of proximity to deep cenotes with access to fresh water. The modern site covers 5 square kilometers of exposed archaeology and impressive stone buildings, surrounded by dense forest.
You’ve probably seen pictures of the temple of Kukulcan – also known as El Castillo – because it’s breathtakingly photogenic. However, a century’s worth of excavations means the rest of Chichen Itza is equally cool.
➜ Read My Chichen Itza Travel Guide Here
Chichen Itza Tour
Skip the line at Mexico’s most famous archaeological site, visit a colonial town, and swim in a cenote.
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2: Visit Las Coloradas
In a corner of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, about 3 hours from Cancun, you’ll find a magical place where sea water turns bright pink on an epic scale.
It’s all down to salt production. The Las Coloradas pink lakes are used for industrial-scale sea-salt production. As the water evaporates, salinity causes an explosion in the growth of red algae, plankton and brine shrimp, tinting the water reddish-pink.
You can visit the lakes (and small town by the same name) if you have a car, and walk along their shores taking surreal photos of the pink water. It’s a really weird sight – and, curiously, the reason why flamingos are pink!
You may even spot some flamingos hanging out in the area too. Las Coloradas has become Instagram famous recently, and it’s no longer possible to get into the water, but you can still take photos.
➜ Read My Las Coloradas Travel Guide Here
Visit The Pink Lake
Cruise Rio Lagartos looking for crocodiles, visit the pink salt lakes, and marvel at Mexico’s flamingo population.
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3: Snorkel With Sea Turtles
Who doesn’t want to swim with sea turtles? Well you can at Akumal beach, just 30 minutes South of Playa del Carmen. This shallow blue-green water is home to 3 different kinds of sea turtles that you can swim with.
For years you could simply swim with the turtles at Akumal on your own, bringing your own snorkeling gear. However, to help preserve the area, they’ve implemented some new rules.
A lifejacket is required (which you can rent along with snorkel gear), and lifeguards patrol the water on paddle-boards. Organized sea turtle snorkeling tours are also offered by locals.
Sea Turtle Snorkeling Trip
Snorkel with sea turtles off the coast of Mexico. Jump in and see these creatures in their natural environment.
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4: Buy A Hammock In Merida
The capital city of Yucatan state has colonial history is written into the architecture of most of the buildings in the beautiful, pedestrian-friendly city center, and liberal use of white limestone has given Merida the nickname “the white city”.
It’s a cosmopolitan place, meaning there are plenty of tourists – but broad streets and high rooftops never make it feel crowded or heavily populated. It’s a great place to base yourself for exploring the rest of the peninsula.
There are some great Maya ruins located nearby, like the site at Uxmal. Along with huge flocks of pink flamingos just 2 hours away at Celestun Biosphere.
Merida is also a perfect place to pick up a locally made Mexican hammock. Hammock weaving in the Yucatan Peninsula is a 700-year-old tradition, producing some of the most beautiful hammocks in the world.
5: Whale Sharks At Isla Holbox
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, growing up to 40 feet long and weighing up to 20,000 pounds. And, you can swim with them! However you don’t have to worry about them eating you, as they prefer plankton.
Swimming next to a 30-foot long sea creature, the size of a bus, was a wild experience. It’s a bit intimidating to be honest… they’re huge!
Whale shark snorkeling trips can be organized from Cancun, but if you want a real adventure, I recommend doing it from Isla Holbox, a small sleepy island paradise off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Mexican Whale Shark Trip
Snorkel with whale sharks in the Mexican Riviera from Cancun. Jump in and see these gentle giants in their own environment.
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6: Izamal The Yellow Town
Welcome to another city obsessed with a primary color! Almost every major expanse of wall and building facade was painted a deep golden yellow for a special visit from Pope John Paul II in 1993, and they just never changed it.
Izamal is built on a series of hills that once housed Mayan pyramids (and much of the town still speaks the Mayan language). There is still one big pyramid overlooking the town that you can actually climb.
Like Merida, the town of Izamal is designed to be walkable (be sure to check out the enormous yellow-painted Franciscan monastery in the historic center) – but you can also get around by hiring horse-drawn carriages.
7: Swimming In Cenotes
What’s a cenote you ask? It’s an underground cave filled with fresh water. The Yucatan Peninsula has tons of them — sinkholes that open up into underground rivers with the clearest water you’ve ever seen.
Cenotes are the perfect way to cool off on a hot day, Mexico’s natural swimming holes created when the limestone bedrock caved in to reveal underground rivers below.
There are around 6000 different cenotes across the Yucatan. I’ve visited many of them, but some of my favorites are Dzitnip, Azul, Dos Ojos, and La Noria.
For the more adventurous, scuba divers can also explore these underwater caves if you’re a certified PADI diver. The Yucatan is one of the world’s premier cave-diving destinations included in our yucatan travel guide.
➜ Read My Guide To Mexico’s Best Cenotes
Cenote Adventure Tour
Visit 4 different cenotes on a guided tour from Cancun. Includes kayaking, zip-lining, rappelling, and more!
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8: Mayan Food In Valladolid
Not to be confused with its Spanish counterpart, this sleepy colonial city is also built on top of an ancient Mayan settlement. The central plaza is full of classic Spanish-looking buildings, museums, and many wonderfully tasty traditional Maya restaurants and food stalls!
Valladolid is another good base for exploring the Yucatan Peninsula with affordable accommodation, close proximity to Chichén Itzá (only 45 minutes away), and a bunch of different freshwater cenotes nearby.
The Yucatecan food here is awesome, and I highly recommend you try some traditional favorites like Cochinita Pibil (pulled pork) and Relleno Negro De Pavo (black turkey soup).
9: Party In Cancún!
A rough translation of the word Cancun in Mayan is “pot of snakes” – and this accurately describes how you might feel about this riotous city of hotels, bars and every kind of party you can dream up.
Cancun does have a lot going for it though, with all sorts of fun things to do. You can swim with whale sharks, rent jet skis, relax on the beach, take a scuba diving course, race Lamborghinis, or sail around at sunset with a drink in your hand.
Plus, of course, the awesome nightlife you’ll find there.
Most people visit Cancun for the all-inclusive resorts and late-night debauchery, but if you skip the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula, you’re totally missing the best stuff in my opinion!
➜ Read My Cancun Travel Guide Here
10: Walk La Quinta Avenida
When it comes to Playa del Carmen, aka “Playa”, I’m a little biased – I spent over a year living and working here. It’s one of the major tourist spots along the Riviera Maya, an impressive stretch of coastline from Cancun to Tulum.
Despite its popularity, the town is a lot less party-oriented than its neighbors, and the nightlife isn’t as crazy. It’s also pedestrian-friendly and laid out in a grid, making exploring on foot an absolute breeze.
Playa del Carmen’s highlight is a walking-street called La Quinta Avenida, lined with all manner of shops, beach bars, and restaurants. For more details on what you can do in Playa del Carmen, check out my dedicated blog post.
11: Scuba Diving Around Cozumel
A short ferry ride away from Playa del Carmen, the island of Cozumel runs at a completely different pace of life. This low limestone island is lined with scenic rocky beaches and jungle.
It’s also on the cruise ship route, as clearly seen from the amount of gift shops near the docks at San Miguel, home to most of the island’s population – but get away from town and the island’s rich emptiness reveals itself.
Unsurprisingly, Cozumel is a premier destination for scuba diving & snorkeling, catering to all skill levels.
One of my favorite things to do is just rent a car or moped and drive around the island, stopping at pretty beaches and fun bars along the way (careful not to drink too much!).
12: Sunbathing & Yoga In Tulum
Tulum has the best beaches in the Yucatan Peninsula. The area originally served as a major port for the nearby Mayan jungle city of Cobá – but these days it’s full of hippies, backpackers, and celebrities looking to unwind.
Strictly speaking, there are three “Tulums.” There’s the pueblo (local town) where you can find affordable places to eat and sleep. The Tulum Archaeological Site features Mayan ruins perched on the edge of a sea cliff.
Lastly, Tulum’s playa is the stretch of coastline where you’ll find fancy resorts, vegan restaurants, health spas, and yoga studios. Rent a beach cruiser bicycle and check out all of Tulum’s great beaches!
Tulum has ample scuba diving, snorkeling, kite surfing, yoga, and cenote opportunities. You can also head a little out of town into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve for awesome mangrove & wildlife tours.
Classic Tulum Bike Tour
Visit the Tulum’s ruins via bicycle, cruise around town, try some fresh tacos, and hop into a refreshing cenote.
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13: Kayaking Bacalar Lagoon
It’s hard to imagine this sedate lakeside town being overrun by pirates – but that’s the history in these parts. A lack of defensive power in the 17th Century saw the arrival of Caribbean pirates, using natural waterways from the sea to aid their plundering.
Today it’s a quiet, relaxing place of 12,000 souls, well-preserved fishermen’s houses – and lots of boats. If you come to Bacalar and don’t rent a kayak for the day, you’re missing all the fun!
Paddling across the glowing blue waters of the Lagoon of Seven Colors, you’ll notice how it gets its name from the effect of different depths and contrasting ground soils upon sunlight, giving the lagoon a multi-hued appearance.
14: Mexico’s Adventure Theme Parks
Throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, especially along the Riviera Maya, you’ll find a series of outdoor adventure theme parks built to take advantage of the natural landscape.
Some of the most popular ones are Xcaret, Xel Ha, Xplor and Rio Secreto. They’re like organized adventures that will take you zip-lining through the trees, swimming in caves, driving ATVs, or snorkeling with colorful fish.
A great way for families to spend a day in Mexico, but adults will have a good time at these theme parks too. I think my favorite was Rio Secreto, because it feels a little more authentic and less touristy.
15: Calakmul Mayan Ruins
Calakmul is an ancient Mayan city located deep within the jungle in Campeche state near the border with Guatemala. Not many people make it out this way due to its remote location.
Surrounded by the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, it’s extremely remote, and a true adventure for those looking to get off the beaten tourist trail in the Yucatan Peninsula. You’re likely to see only a handful of other visitors.
Among the many interesting structures found at this archeological site are two gigantic pyramids — with the largest one reaching 55 meters high (165 feet). It’s the 2nd highest pyramid in Mexico, and you can still climb it!
➜ Read My Calakmul Travel Guide Here
Is The Yucatan Safe?
Despite Mexico’s troubled history with cartel violence, local governments in the Yucatan Peninsula have worked hard to keep their major tourist attractions crime-free.
It’s significantly safer for visitors than other parts of Mexico, making it a popular vacation destination for Mexicans as well as foreigners.
Petty crime and common travel scams can be an issue in more touristy towns like Cancun & Playa del Carmen, but the more serious drug cartel-type violence usually doesn’t target tourists.
Getting Around The Yucatan
Rental Car
The best site to book a rental car in Mexico is Discover Cars. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car in the Yucatan.
Renting a car offers the best flexibility for exploring and visiting some of the more remote attractions in the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s my favorite way to get around! You can use my Yucatan Peninsula map at the top of this article to help you find all the top highlights.
Local Bus
Otherwise, you’ll be pretty well served by Mexico’s great ADO Bus System – apart from when you’re in the more out-the-way places.
You can also hunt down local colectivos, shared transportation, where you’ll be squeezing into cars with locals (this isn’t a great option if you have a lot of luggage).
Where To Stay In The Yucatan
There are all kinds of options for accommodation in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. From budget backpacker hostels, to local guesthouses, to 5-star luxury resorts. Here are some suggestions for good places to stay during your trip to Mexico…
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN CANCUN
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN TULUM
Best Time To Visit Mexico
If you’re from a relatively chilly part of the United States or Europe, plan to visit the Yucatan Peninsula between the end of October and the beginning of April. It’s when the skies are clearest and the temperature is the most bearable.
Busy season in the Yucatan Peninsula starts in December and goes on through March. Basically when all the snow-birds from the US and Canada fly down to escape the winter snow. ★
| Travel Planning Resources For The Yucatan |
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| Packing Guide Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Book Your Flight Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights. Rent A Car Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal. Cheap Accommodation Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments. Protect Your Trip Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance. |
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READ MORE MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my guide on what to do in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
- Scuba Diving Dos Ojos Cenote
- Things To Do In Playa Del Carmen
- Running With The Tarahumara
- The Ultimate Mexico Travel Guide
- Beautiful Cenotes Around Tulum
Have any questions about the Yucatan Peninsula? Are you planning a visit? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!
