Yucatan, Mexico
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a vast coastal part brimming amongst tropical beaches, spectacular wildlife, ancient Mayan ruins, pocket-size villages, as well as outdoor gamble activities.
The Yucatan Peninsula is a house of emerald waters turning to turquoise waves crashing on perfectly white coral-sand beaches. Some of the best inwards Mexico!
It’s dwelling to lush light-green forests dotted amongst Mayan ruins, cool shades of colonial-era architecture, as well as sea-life ablaze amongst color – all nether Caribbean Area blueish skies.
Many people shorten “Yucatan Peninsula” to “Yucatan”. That’s genuinely misleading since the peninsula itself is made upwardly of 4 dissimilar states: Yucatan, Campeche, Quintana Roo, as well as Tabasco.
The peninsula separates the Caribbean Area Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, as well as everything tropical you lot associate amongst the discussion “Caribbean” is on total display along its shorelines. It’s ane of my favorite parts of Mexico!
Understandably, the Yucatan is an increasingly pop house to receive got a vacation, amongst cheap & slowly flights from many major cities to Mexico’s notorious political party town of Cancun.
But at that spot is sooooo much to a greater extent than to the Yucatan Peninsula than Cancun!
Yucatan Peninsula Highlights Map
How To Use This Map
Above you’ll notice a map of highlights inwards the Yucatan Peninsula. Click on the overstep left of the map to notice split layers marker the route as well as points of interest. You tin enshroud as well as present dissimilar layers, or click icons on the map to come across the names of places I advert inwards this locomote guide. “Star” the map to relieve it to your ain Google Maps, or opened upwardly the map inwards a novel window for a larger version. Enjoy!
Best Of The Yucatan Peninsula In 2019
1: Explore Chichen Itza
This UNESCO footing heritage site is a centerpiece of the Mayan archaeological scene inwards Mexico, as well as gets around 1.4 1000000 visitors a twelvemonth — the region’s 2d most pop Mayan ruins.
For over a chiliad years Chichen Itza was ane of the peachy cities of Central America – located hither because of proximity to deep cenotes amongst access to fresh water. The modern site covers five foursquare kilometers of exposed archæology as well as impressive stone buildings, surrounded yesteryear dense forest.
You’ve in all probability seen pictures of the temple of Kukulcan – also known as El Castillo – because it’s breathtakingly photogenic. However, a century’s worth of excavations way the balance of Chichen Itza is as cool.
2: Visit Las Coloradas
In a corner of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, nigh 3 hours from Cancun, you’ll notice a magical house where sea H2O turns vivid pinkish on an epic scale.
It’s all downward to tabular array salt production. The Las Coloradas pinkish lakes are used for industrial-scale sea-salt production. As the H2O evaporates, salinity causes an explosion inwards the increment of ruby algae, plankton as well as brine shrimp, tinting the H2O reddish-pink.
You tin take in the lakes (and pocket-size town yesteryear the same name) if you lot receive got a car, as well as walk along their shores taking surreal photos of the pinkish water. It’s a genuinely weird sight – and, curiously, the argue why flamingos are pink!
You may fifty-fifty spot some flamingos hanging out inwards the expanse too. Las Coloradas has acquire Instagram famous recently, as well as it’s no longer possible to acquire into the water, but you lot tin nevertheless receive got photos.
3: Snorkel With Sea Turtles
Who doesn’t desire to swim amongst sea turtles? Well you lot tin at Akumal beach, exactly thirty minutes South of Playa del Carmen. This shallow blue-green H2O is dwelling to 3 dissimilar kinds of sea turtles that you lot tin swim with.
For years you lot could exactly swim amongst the turtles at Akumal on your own, bringing your ain snorkeling gear. However, to aid save the area, they’ve implemented some novel rules inwards 2017.
A lifejacket is required (which you lot tin rent along amongst snorkel gear), as well as lifeguards patrol the H2O on paddleboards. Organized sea turtle snorkeling tours are also offered yesteryear locals.
4: Buy H5N1 Hammock In Merida
The working capital missive of the alphabet metropolis of Yucatan nation has colonial history is written into the architecture of most of the buildings inwards the beautiful, pedestrian-friendly metropolis center, as well as liberal role of white limestone has given Merida the nickname “the white city”.
It’s a cosmopolitan place, pregnant at that spot are enough of tourists – but wide streets as well as high rooftops never acquire inwards experience crowded or heavily populated. It’s a peachy house to base of operations yourself for exploring the balance of the peninsula.
There are some peachy Maya ruins located nearby, similar the site at Uxmal. Along amongst huge flocks of pinkish flamingos exactly 2 hours away at Celestun Biosphere.
Merida is also a perfect house to pick upwardly a locally made Mexican hammock. Hammock weaving inwards the Yucatan Peninsula is a 700-year-old tradition, producing some of the most beautiful hammocks inwards the world.
5: Whale Sharks At Isla Holbox
Whale sharks are the largest fish inwards the ocean, growing upwardly to xl feet long as well as weighing upwardly to 20,000 pounds. And, you tin swim amongst them! However you lot don’t receive got to worry nigh them eating you, as they prefer plankton.
Swimming adjacent to a 30-foot long sea creature, the size of a bus, was a wild experience. It’s a chip intimidating to go honest… they’re huge!
Whale shark snorkeling trips tin go organized from Cancun, but if you lot desire a existent adventure, I recommend doing it from Isla Holbox, a pocket-size sleepy isle paradise off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
6: Izamal The Yellow Town
Welcome to some other metropolis obsessed amongst a main color! Almost every major expanse of wall as well as edifice facade was painted a deep golden xanthous for a special take in from Pope John Paul II inwards 1993, as well as they exactly never changed it.
Izamal is built on a serial of hills that in ane trial housed Mayan pyramids (and much of the town nevertheless speaks the Mayan language). There is nevertheless ane large pyramid overlooking the town that you lot tin genuinely climb.
Like Merida, the town of Izamal is designed to go walkable (be certain to cheque out the enormous yellow-painted Franciscan monastery inwards the historic center) – but you lot tin also acquire around yesteryear hiring horse-drawn carriages.
7: Swimming In Cenotes
What’s a cenote you lot ask? It’s an underground cave filled amongst fresh water. The Yucatan Peninsula has tons of them — sinkholes that opened upwardly up into underground rivers amongst the clearest H2O 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 inwards to bring out underground rivers below.
There are around 2000 dissimilar cenotes across the Yucatan. I’ve visited many of them, but some of my favorites are Dzitnip, Azul, Dos Ojos, as well as La Noria.
For the to a greater extent than adventurous, scuba divers tin also explore these underwater caves if you’re a certified PADI diver. The Yucatan is ane of the world’s premier cave-diving destinations included inwards our yucatan locomote guide.
8: Mayan Food In Valladolid
Not to go confused amongst its Castilian counterpart, this sleepy colonial metropolis is also built on overstep of an ancient Mayan settlement. The primal plaza is total of classic Spanish-looking buildings, museums, as well as many wonderfully tasty traditional Maya restaurants as well as nutrient stalls!
Valladolid is some other goodness base of operations for exploring the Yucatan Peninsula amongst affordable accommodation, unopen proximity to Chichén Itzá (only 45 minutes away), as well as a bunch of dissimilar freshwater cenotes nearby.
The Yucatecan nutrient hither is awesome, as well as I highly recommend you lot travail some traditional favorites similar Cochinita Pibil (pulled pork) as well as Relleno Negro De Pavo (black turkey soup).
9: Party In Cancún!
A stone oil translation of the discussion Cancun inwards Mayan is “pot of snakes” – as well as this accurately describes how you lot mightiness experience nigh this riotous metropolis of hotels, bars as well as every variety of political party you lot tin dream up.
Cancun does receive got a lot going for it though, amongst all sorts of fun things to do. You tin swim amongst whale sharks, rent jet skis, relax on the beach, receive got a scuba diving course, race Lamborghinis, or canvass around at sunset amongst a drinkable inwards your hand.
Plus, of course, the awesome nightlife you’ll notice there.
Most people take in Cancun for the all-inclusive resorts as well as late-night debauchery, but if you lot skip the balance of the Yucatan Peninsula, you’re totally missing the best materials inwards my opinion!
10: Walk La Quinta Avenida
When it comes to Playa del Carmen, aka “Playa”, I’m a piddling biased – I spent over a twelvemonth living as well as working here. It’s ane 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, as well as the nightlife isn’t as crazy. It’s also pedestrian-friendly as well as set out inwards a grid, making exploring on human foot an absolute breeze.
Playa del Carmen’s highlight is a walking-street called La Quinta Avenida, lined amongst all vogue of shops, beach bars, as well as restaurants. For to a greater extent than details on what you lot tin create inwards Playa del Carmen, check out my dedicated weblog post.
11: Scuba Diving Around Cozumel
A brusque ferry ride away from Playa del Carmen, the isle of Cozumel runs at a completely dissimilar mensuration of life. This depression limestone isle is lined amongst scenic rocky beaches as well as jungle.
It’s also on the cruise ship route, as clearly seen from the total of gift shops nigh the docks at San Miguel, dwelling to most of the island’s population – but acquire away from town as well as the island’s rich emptiness reveals itself.
Unsurprisingly, Cozumel is a premier destination for scuba diving & snorkeling, catering to all science levels.
One of my favorite things to create is exactly rent a automobile or moped as well as drive around the island, stopping at pretty beaches as well as fun bars along the way (careful non to drinkable likewise much!).
12: Sunbathing & Yoga In Tulum
Tulum has the best beaches inwards the Yucatan Peninsula. The expanse originally served as a major port for the nearby Mayan jungle metropolis of Cobá – but these days it’s total of hippies, backpackers, as well as celebrities looking to unwind.
Strictly speaking, at that spot are 3 “Tulums.” There’s the pueblo (local town) where you lot tin notice affordable places to swallow as well as sleep. The Tulum Archaeological Site features Mayan ruins perched on the border of a sea cliff.
Lastly, Tulum’s playa is the stretch of coastline where you’ll notice fancy resorts, vegan restaurants, wellness spas, as well as yoga studios. Rent a beach cruiser wheel as well as cheque out all of Tulum’s peachy beaches!
Tulum has ample scuba diving, snorkeling, kite surfing, yoga, as well as cenote opportunities. You tin also caput a piddling out of town into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve for awesome mangrove & wild animals tours.
13: Kayaking Bacalar Lagoon
It’s difficult to imagine this sedate lakeside town existence overrun yesteryear pirates – but that’s the history inwards these parts. H5N1 lack of defensive ability inwards the 17th Century saw the arrival of Caribbean Area pirates, using natural waterways from the sea to assist their plundering.
Today it’s a quiet, relaxing house of 12,000 souls, well-preserved fishermen’s houses – as well as lots of boats. If you lot come upwardly to Bacalar as well as don’t rent a kayak for the day, you’re missing all the fun!
Paddling across the glowing blueish waters of the Lagoon of Seven Colors, you’ll notice how it gets its holler from the trial of dissimilar depths as well as contrasting footing soils upon sunlight, giving the lagoon a multi-hued appearance.
14: Mexico’s Adventure Theme Parks
Throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, specially along the Riviera Maya, you’ll notice a serial of outdoor gamble subject parks built to receive got wages of the natural landscape.
Some of the most pop ones are Xcaret, Xel Ha, Xplor as well as Rio Secreto. They’re similar organized adventures that volition receive got you lot zip-lining through the trees, swimming inwards caves, driving ATVs, or snorkeling amongst colorful fish.
A peachy way for families to pass a twenty-four hours inwards Mexico, but adults volition receive got a goodness fourth dimension at these subject parks too. I retrieve my favorite was Rio Secreto, because it feels a piddling to a greater extent than authentic as well as less touristy.
15: Calakmul Mayan Ruins
Calakmul is an ancient Mayan city located deep inside the jungle inwards Campeche nation nigh the border amongst Guatemala. Not many people acquire inwards out this way due to its remote location.
Surrounded yesteryear the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, it’s extremely remote, as well as a truthful gamble for those looking to acquire off the beaten tourist trail inwards the Yucatan Peninsula. You’re probable to come across exclusively a handful of other visitors.
Among the many interesting structures flora at this archeological site are 2 gigantic pyramids — amongst the largest ane reaching 55 meters high (165 feet). It’s the 2d highest pyramid inwards Mexico, as well as you lot tin nevertheless climb it!
Is The Yucatan Safe?
Despite Mexico’s troubled history amongst cartel violence, local governments inwards the Yucatan Peninsula receive got worked difficult to perish on their major tourist attractions crime-free.
It’s significantly safer for visitors than other parts of Mexico, making it a pop opor-garai finish for Mexicans as good as foreigners.
Petty criminal offense as well as common locomote scams tin go an number inwards to a greater extent than touristy towns similar Cancun & Playa del Carmen, but the to a greater extent than serious drug cartel-type violence commonly doesn’t target tourists.
Getting Around The Yucatan
If your budget tin stretch it, I commonly recommend renting a automobile – it’ll give you lot the liberty you lot want, as well as allow you lot to acquire to attractions early on inwards the morning time earlier crowds plow upwardly as well as the midday oestrus sets in.
The best site to mass your automobile is Discover Car Hire. They search both local as well as international automobile rental companies to aid you lot notice the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a automobile inwards the Yucatan.
Otherwise, you’ll go pretty good served yesteryear Mexico’s peachy ADO Bus System – apart from when you’re inwards the to a greater extent than out-the-way places.
You tin also hunt downward local colectivos, shared transportation, where you’ll go squeezing into cars amongst locals (this isn’t a peachy choice if you lot receive got a lot of luggage).
Where To Stay In The Yucatan
There are all kinds of options for accommodation inwards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. From budget backpacker hostels, to local guesthouses, to 5-star luxury resorts. Here are some suggestions for goodness places to remain during your trip to Mexico…
Best Accommodation In Cancun
Have you lot ever considered short-term plane rentals? It’s a peachy way to relieve money! Click here to larn how to acquire $35 off your inaugural off booking.
Best Time To Visit Mexico
If you’re from a relatively chilly business office of the U.S. or Europe, computer program to take in Yucatan betwixt the halt of Oct as well as the showtime of April. It’s when the skies are clearest as well as the temperature is the most bearable.
Busy flavor inwards the Yucatan Peninsula starts inwards Dec as well as goes on through March. Basically when all the snow-birds from the U.S. of A. as well as Canada wing downward to escape the wintertime snow. ★
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to aid you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upwardly a locomote backpack, photographic television camera gear, as well as other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to notice deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I notice the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a peachy site for comparison automobile prices to notice the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than nigh how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than nigh why you lot should e'er carry locomote insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan
Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples & Places
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My Budget Travel Guide For Mexico
Useful Travel Tips After nine Years Traveling
75 Best Travel Quotes Of All Time
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Have whatever questions nigh the Yucatan Peninsula? Are you lot planning a visit? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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