Mexico: the land of sun, sea, beach, tequila, tacos, historic Mayan temples, cenotes and much more. Mexico offers a perfect mix of activities and opportunities to relax during your vacation. In addition, Mexicans are very friendly & helpful in showing you all the beauty their country has to offer.
Get well prepared for your trip to Yucatan, Mexico with the experiences I had during my 3-week trip. Use it as inspiration to plan your trip and send me a message if you have any further questions!
Is it safe to go on a vacation to Mexico?
A common question that I have heard several times from my surroundings. The answer for me is a yes: Mexico is safe to go on vacation! Use your common sense, for example do not walk the streets in the middle of the night after, do not show off your designer clothes / luxury jewellery and ask the host / hostess of your accommodation for tips if necessary. I have never felt unsafe and I have experienced the Mexicans as very friendly and helpful.
Preparing for your trip to Mexico
Because I was traveling in a quieter period (April-May), I only booked 4 nights in advance: 1 in Cancún for the day of arrival and 3 in Valladolid, my first stop.
Documentation & practical information
As a tourist with a Dutch nationality you are allowed to stay in Mexico for a maximum of 180 days (+/- 6 months) without a visa. So for a few weeks vacation or a few months backpacking you don't need a visa. Good to know is that your passport has to be valid for at least 6 months when you leave Mexico. Quick double check, otherwise you will not get on the plane.
Apply for a passport in time if you don't already have one, and don't make the same mistake as I did: forgetting to have passport photos taken up to 1 day before applying :)
By rental car of public transport?
Will you choose public transport (ADO bus) or would you rather rent a car? I chose to rent a car, simply because I wanted to get on the road early and it made it easier for me to get from place A to place B. You don't need an international driver's license to rent a car, but most companies do require a credit card. Would you rather take the ADO bus? Download the ADO app on your smartphone to book tickets.
Arrival Cancun + pick up rental car + buy sim card
The trip started in Cancún where, after a flight of about 11 hours, I set foot on the ground at 17:00 local time. During the flight I received the Mexico Tourist Card (FMM - Forma Migratoria Múltiple), fill it out and keep the bottom piece of paper that the customs gives you back. This is needed to leave Mexico.
After picking up the rental car (Volkswagen Vento) I got a SIM card at the OXXO. I chose the Amigo Sin Limite (5GB + unlimited socials) package for € 25. After checking in at Nomads Enigmatic Hostel, it was time for tacos at El Socio Naiz Taqueria.
Depending on your expected arrival time at Cancun Airport, you can always choose to continue your trip to destination 1 on the same day.
Destination 1. Valladolid
Jet lag? Fortunately, I didn't suffer from it, so I was able to head towards my first stop Valladolid refreshed, and ready to go. A 2 hours drive brings you from Cancun to Valladolid, where I stayed at Hostal Tunich Naj.
Things to do in Valladolid?
Chichen Itza & Cenote Ik kil
You just cannot skip the Chichén Itzá when you're visiting Valladolid. The ruins are a World Heritage Site and are among the seven new wonders of the world. Go as early as possible to get ahead of the heat and the crowds with tour operators. Travel by yourself by rental car or book a taxi/organized tour. Depending on your interest in the temple and its history, you can also book a guide on location. The entrance fee is € 25, -
After your visit to Chichen Itza you'll leave the Mayan city and head towards Cenote Ik Kil. This cenote is characterised by the lianas around it and is the ideal place to cool down a bit. The entrance fee is 300 peros (about € 7.50). After Cenote Ik Kil you can drive towards Uayma, where you will find a beautiful church.
Most beautiful cenotes in the Valladolid area
The Yucatan region has more than 7,000 Cenotes, each with a unique character. The most beautiful cenotes around Valladolid I found:
- Cenote Suytun (above) will surely look familiar to you from Instagram. The unique platform in the water is an excellent photo spot. Be aware that the sunlight is only at its best for a photo around 12-13 pm, but at this time you certainly won't be the only one.
- Cenote Ek Kam is indicated several times on the route towards Chichén Itzá. Upon arrival, you can choose to drive yourself (4KM) through forest trails or go by Quad. I can recommend you to go for the Quad, since you avoid scratches ( stones) on your rental car and you are also a lot faster. When I was there I had the cenote for myself for over 30 minutes! That meant one thing: Drone time!
- Other recommendations include Cenote X'Keken, Cenote Oxman and Cenote Samula.
Day trip: Ek' Balam & Cenote Xchanche
At 28 KM from Valladolid, you'll find the Ek' Balam temples. Unlike at the Chichén Itzá, you can still climb this temple (April 2022). The entrance fee is around € 20. Go here as early as possible to avoid the crowds, although these temples are not as popular as the Chichén Itzá. After all those stairs it is time to cool off in the adjacent Cenote X'Canche. You can cool down, but also swing into the water with a rope or zipline over the Cenote.
Downtown Valladolid
A pleasant square with a diverse range of street food, the local church and for a picturesque street you can go to Calzada de los Frailes. You'll find several nice restaurants and bars to enjoy a nice snack and drink.
Destination 2. Rio Lagartos
1.5 hours away of Valladolid is the fishing village of Rio Lagartos. You can also visit this place as a day trip from Valladolid, it just depends on what you prefer. Get yourself a boat tour across the lake in your search for crocodiles and flamingos. Furthermore, about 30 minutes from Rio Lagartos you have the pink (salt) lakes of Las Coloradas.
Here you can book a tour, but I found it better to get up early and photograph the lakes from the air. Along the way, you'll also pass beautiful deserted spots on a dirt road! The beauty of a road trip!
Rio Lagartos is only a small village, so I don't recommend staying there for more than one night.
Rio Lagartos
Las Coloradas
Destination 3. Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche, also known as Campeche is an ideal stopover for traveling further inland. Of course, you can also stop earlier in Merida, stroll through the city center there and visit Izamal (the yellow town).
In San Francisco de Campeche you can stroll through the colorful streets of the center and get a breath of fresh air along the sea. Perfect for a stopover!
Destination 4. Palenque
From Campeche it is about a 5 hour drive to Palenque. In Palenque you can visit the Ruins (possibly with a guide through the jungle), the waterfalls Roberto Barrios, Agua Azul and Misol Ha.
To visit the waterfalls you must take the famous 199 route through the mountains. Because of the rainfall the trees are beautifully green, Hawaii vibes all over the place!
Along the way you may encounter roadblocks. They put a rope in front of your car and ask for a small contribution after which you can continue your journey. I was lucky and only encountered one, but I have heard people who have encountered several.
Don't feel comfortable enough to go into the mountains by yourself with the rental car? Then you can always book a tour. Hopefully it hasn't rained hard a few days before your visit to the waterfalls, otherwise they will not be as beautiful as shown on the internet.
Palenque center is not necessarily special, but nice to have walked through once.
Cascadas de Agua 'Azul'
Bacalar is a small village, but has so much to offer. The lake of seven colors (Laguna de los siete Colores) is the place for a boat or sailing trip, renting a kayak or paddleboard. The name (seven colors) is not a lie, because the color difference is nicely visible due to the different depths of the water.
The lake is in total 42 KM long and has Los Rápidos Bacalar, Laguna Bonanza, Cenote Cocalitos & Cenote Azul as other must-see highlights. Bluer water is something you won't see anytime soon during your visit to Yucatán!
Jetties: Enjoying sunrise or sunset at the lake? There are public jetties at Calle 14, 16, 18 and 32. All other jetties are hidden behind rental agencies, restaurants or hotels/hostels. Note that at the public jetties, you are often not the only one.
Hungry? You'll find the best burritos in Bacalar at Mi Burrito Bacalar, prepared in a very small, cosy food truck.
Cenote Los Cocalitos
Laguna Bonanza
Los Rápidos Bacalar
Laguna de los 7 Colores
Destination 6. Tulum
Much has been said and written about Tulum. It just depends on your own preferences. In the old town you notice less of the tourism and all the 'Instagram spots' compared to the (newly built) hotel zone at the beach. Are you going to the center for a drink in a local pub? Guaranteed more locals and affordable prices. Luckily, Tulum is more than just the center and beach. Explore the nearby cenotes, the Laguna Kaan Luum and the beautiful Sian Ka'an national park.
I was there in May, when unfortunately the coastline was full of seaweed. A problem that, according to the locals, is getting worse. The heavenly white coastline with palm trees is less paradisiacal and the sea is no fun to swim in. Fortunately, in the cenotes or the Laguna Kaan Luum there is still the possibility to cool off!
From Chiquila (if you're travelling with your rental car, there are more than enough parking places for 100 pesos a day), hop on the ferry to the island (+ / - 20 minutes) and once on the island there is plenty to do.
Due to its favourable location in relation to the ocean, the beaches here are free of seaweed. Experience the wonderful island vibe with golf carts as the most common means of transport.
- Explore the street art
- Rent a bike or golf cart to explore the island, with a little bit of luck you manage to get yourself a private beach at for example Casa Blanca
- Enjoy the sunset at Playa Punta Cocos
- ‘Beach walk’ at the huge sandbank (Punta Mosquito)
- Eat the signature dish of the island: Lobster pizza (€€€)
- Swimming with whale sharks.
Destination 8. Cancún – Isla Mujeres
Back in Cancún and still have a day to spare? Get up early and take the ferry to Isla Mujeres. Get yourself a return ticket at Jetway (Puerto Juarez) for € 20 and hop on for 30 minutes, before setting foot at the island. A convenient transport method is renting a bike (€ 10).
Explore the island from Playa Norte to Punta Sur and don't forget to stop along the way for some tasty tacos at a street food stall. Relaxing on one of the many white beaches is of course not to be missed!
Unlike Isla Holbox, there are cars here, but there is certainly no lack of Americans in golf carts.
22 days in Mexico
That's it: 22 days in Mexico (Yucatan)! I hope this blog has inspired you for your next trip and if you have any further questions, feel free to send me a message.
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