7 Destinations You Must Explore in the Yucatan, Mexico

The Yucatan Peninsular is one of the most popular regions for tourists in all of Mexico. Comprised primarily of the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo (and also Campeche, though I didn’t get there), this region of Mexico has attracted international acclaim since its luxury, all-inclusive resorts burst onto the scene. While there’s no doubt that you could spend days relaxing in one of those resorts, there’s so much more that the Yucatan has to offer, if you’re willing to hit the road and explore. With Mayan temples surrounded by thick jungle, towns filled with colonial architecture and the pristine beaches of the Riviera Maya, there truly is something for everyone in the Yucatan. Having spent just under a week in this beautiful part of Mexico, in this post I’m going to cover 7 places that you’ll want to visit if you’re heading to the region.

Things to Know About the Yucatan

The Yucatan is the south-eastern peninsular of Mexico on the country’s Caribbean coast, with the Gulf of Mexico to the north. It is serviced by two major airports – Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Manuel Crescencio Rejon International Airport (MIR) in Merida. Both serve as entry points from international destinations, though the vast majority of beach seeking tourists will fly into Cancun. Most western tourists don’t need a visa to enter Mexico, but as always, you should check international travel requirements before your trip.

Many people wonder if Mexico is a safe destination. Honestly, yes! I loved the time I spent in Mexico, and while you have to use normal common sense (as in any destination), if you’re sticking to the tourist areas, you really shouldn’t find yourself in any trouble. The Yucatan Peninsular is often regarded the safest region in all of Mexico, with the local government actively working to keep major tourist sites free from crime syndicates that operate throughout the country.

The best way to get around the Yucatan is to rent a car. There’s a number of local and international providers making pricing competitive. While you may be hesitant, the major roads are well maintained, with a major tollway linking Cancun and Merida. Just be aware that drives can be long between tourist destinations. Alternatively, there are numerous day trips from the main resort areas that will get you out and about. The ADO bus service also links many of the primary Yucatan destinations.

7 Places to Visit in the Yucatan, Mexico

With so many towns, beaches and ruins in the Yucatan, this is by no means a comprehensive guide to the region. I had less than a week to spend in the Yucatan, and in that amount of time, you’re just not going to see everything. Here are 7 places that I definitely recommend, which will hopefully help you plan your itinerary.

Cancun

Okay hear me out. Its crowded, its touristy, and you’ll feel like you could just as well be on the main strip of Waikiki, but you can’t overlook the fact that Cancun is the gateway to the Yucatan Peninsular for most travellers. I based myself in Cancun for the majority of my stay. In hindsight I wish I had cut back on that time and gotten further out into the region, but for convenience, affordable luxury and pristine beaches, any post about the region would be remiss without mentioning this resort hub.

Cancun actually started out a small fishing village. That all changed in the 1960s when its tourist industry really took off, and it now attracts over 1.2 million (mostly international) visitors each year. Most of its resorts are spread along the major strip that runs through the Zona Hotelera, the 23 kilometre island connected to the mainland by two bridges. I personally stayed at the Cyan Canun Hotel & Spa, which was a bit isolated for my taste, but no doubt a beautiful spot for those seeking a more secluded beach vacation.

Further up the strip, you’ll find many of Cancun’s best beaches, including the breathtaking Playa Delfines, which is right by the famous Cancun block letter sign. Other popular beaches include Playa Tortugas and Playa Forum. If you have some spare time in Cancun, you might also want to check out the small El Rey archeological site. Its nowhere as impressive as some of the Mayan ruins throughout the region, but its readily accessible, and dates back to 1200 AD. For even more culture, I highly recommend the excellent Museo Maya de Cancun, containing 400 Mayan relics from around the peninsular.

Playa del Carmen

South of Cancun is the Riviera Maya, a beautiful stretch of Caribbean coastline speckled by beachside towns. One of the most popular is Playa del Carmen, which is about an hour’s drive from Cancun. While its still the second largest resort town on the coast, Playa del Carmen is considerably more low-key, making it a great place to wind down. When you’re not on the beach, you’ll be wandering down Quinta Avenida, the town’s main street, which is filled with small shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Did I mention that Mexican food is DELICIOUS?

While the beaches may not be as pristine in Playa del Carmen as those you’ll find in Cancun, they’re still nothing to stick up your nose at. Playa Punta Esmeralda in particular is popular with locals and even has a beachside cenote!

While in Playa del Carmen, you can also take the 40 minute ferry ride to Isla Cozumel. While I didn’t get there, this island is known for snorkelling expeditions in the world’s second largest coral reef. Just bear in mind that the island is a popular stop on Caribbean cruises, so you might want to check if there’s any ships in port when you’re planning to head across.

Tulum Ruins

Another hour south from Playa del Carmen, you’ll reach Tulum. While Tulum is another popular coastal town, with beaches, markets and more, the highlight is its set of Mayan ruins, which are right on the waterfront. The Tulum Ruins are some of the most picturesque Mayan sites in the entire Yucatan Peninsular. While the actual ruins are not as large as some of the Yucatan’s other popular archeological sites, Tulum remains highly popular for its location Where else will you see Mayan ruins on cliffs overlooking the spectacular Caribbean Sea? Tulum was actually one of the more powerful Mayan settlements in the 13th and 14th centuries, right before Spanish colonisation. At its height, it is thought to have been called Zama, which translates to “dawn”, a fitting name given the way the settlement would see the sun rise over the sea each day.

The ruins are open daily from 8.00am-5.00pm, and admission costs $90 MXN. Unlike many Maya sites in the region, visitors to Tulum follow a prescribed route through the archeological zone, but on that route you’ll see all the key structures such as the Casa de Cenote, Templo del Dios del Viento, El Palacio and El Castillo. The El Castillo (castle) is the most prominent structure on the site and is thought to have served as a landmark to seafaring traders in the region.

Valladolid

Crossing west into Yucatan state, the colonial town of Valladolid sits in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsular. Far less touristed than Cancun and Merida, you may be surprised to discover its the third largest town in the region. I think its the best place to really get an authentic feel for Yucatan culture and absolutely loved the time I spent in this near 500 year old town, built atop the earlier Mayan settlement of Zaci. Its a long road to Valladolid, taking around two hours to drive here from Cancun or the Riviera Maya, but once you step into its Zocalo main square, the journey will have been worth it.

This lively part of town is often filled with markets, snack stalls and Mayan entertainers, all spread around a central fountain. Lining the square are tons of colonial buildings and authentic Mayan restaurants. Valladolid is also an excellent place to shop for tequila, and some of the shops around the town centre will offer tastings.

The city’s most notable landmark has to be the Catedral de San Servacio, a church overlooking the main square and dating back to 1545 (although the original facade was demolished and rebuilt in the early 18th century). The Palacio Nacional (City Hall) is also worth checking out for its painted panels depicting tales of Mayan history.

Owing to its central location, Valladolid makes for a great place to stay a few nights and branch out on day trips throughout the Yucatan. There’s a number of excellent cenotes where you can stop off for a swim nearby, and its also within driving distance from our next destination.

• Cenote Suytun is a popular cenote just outside of Valladolid. Read about it HERE.

Chichen Itza

One destination that has to be on any Yucatan itinerary is Chichen Itza. The most famous of the Mayan sites in Mexico, this incredible complex is recognised as one of the Modern Seven Wonders of the World. If that doesn’t say it all, what can? Its thought to date back to the 11th century AD, and is an extremely impressive sight. The moment you step out of the jungle clearing in front of the Castillo pyramid, you’ll be in awe. The 24 metre high structure towers over the surrounding ruins and pays tribute to the Mayan god Kukulchan (their version of Quetzalcoatl).

The Chichen Itza complex is also contains massive 160 metre long court, on which Mayans played their traditional ball game. While such courts can be seen throughout the Maya world, this one is the longest to have been discovered in all of Mesoamerica. You could actually spend hours wandering around the various ruins that make up the Chichen Itza site, all while trekking through jungle paths and perusing the wares of local merchants.

• Want to know more about Chichen Itza? I’ve written about some of the most spectacular ruins that I saw on my trip (as well as everything else you should know) HERE.

Chichen Itza is about 45 minutes drive west of Valladolid. Its EXTREMELY popular. If possible, I strongly recommend getting there for opening at 8.00am. By 10.00am the site is flooded with tour buses from all over the Yucatan Peninsular.

• Guests often combine a trip to Chichen Itza with the nearby Cenote Ik-Kil. You can read about this extremely popular cenote HERE.

Merida

I didn’t make it to Merida on my Yucatan trip, but its a place I really hope to experience next time I’m in the area. The capital of Yucatan state, Merida dates back to 1542, and like many colonial settlements in the region, was built atop of an existing Mayan settlement. The so-called “White City” has a grid layout, built around a Plaza Mayor, and has received awards for being the Capital of Culture of the Americas on multiple occasions.

Merida is filled with vibrant colours, impressive buildings, excellent Mayan cuisine and entertaining cultural performances. Every Monday night, the Vaqueria ceremony takes place in the Plaza Mayor, with dancers dressed in traditional costumes attracting both tourists and locals alike. Some of the best museums in the region can also be found in Merida. In particular, the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is an essential visit. This collection of over 1,100 relics and artefacts is contained in a distinct tree shaped building, depicting the Mayan connection between the living and the underworld. The museum is just north of downtown and costs around $150 MXN to enter.

Uxmal

An often overlooked Mayan site, Uxmal is a fascinating set of ruins located about an hour south of Merida. The ruins here are thought to date all the way back to the 6th to 10th centuries, at which time Uxmal was a dominant power in the region, with a population at its height of around 25,000 people. The towering Pyramid of the Magician (Casa del Advino) stands majestically over the site. Not only notable for being Uxmal’s tallest structure at 35 metres in height, the pyramid has an unusually round base. In reality, the pyramid is actually 5 different temples built on top of one another throughout different eras of the settlement, with each new temple obscuring that which came before.

The Mayan God of Rain, Chaac is depicted all over the site. Water would have been scarce at Uxmal, with its lack of cenotes and other obvious sources of water, unlike many other Mayan sites. Some of the more obvious characterisations of Chaac can be found on the Palacio del Gobernador (Governor’s Palace).

Uxmal’s ruins are open daily from 8.00am to 5.00pm. Admission will set you back $465 MXN, assuming you’re not a Mexican citizen. As with most Mayan sites in the Yucatan, you want to get here early to beat the crowds, though its nowhere near as packed as Chichen Itza.

With so much to do in the Yucatan region of Mexico, the above list is just a starting point. If you’ve got any tips or hidden gems that you think people should visit in the region, let me know! Whats your favourite set of ruins? Whats the best beach? Where’s the best food? Your answers to these and so many more questions can only be found by exploring the Yucatan.