We have been road tripping through the Yucatan Peninsula for two whole months. And it was awesome! We´ll tell you all you need to know, where you should stay, and what you definitely should not miss on this loco adventure!
This travel guide is also a Top 10 of Things you can do on your epic trip to The Yucatan Peninsula. Bienvenidos amigo!
Get informed before you start
First things first, before you go to Mexico, you should be aware of some know-how about these unique states of the Yucatan Peninsula. You will be traveling through the states called Quintana Roo (where Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen are), and Yucatan (where Chichen Itza, Valladolid, and Merida lies). There live about 2.3 million people in the peninsula, and most of them speak mostly Spanish and some broken English. Some Maya-descendants still speak the Mayan language!
We wrote some informative articles to get you on your way, safe and prepared, to enjoy the region to the fullest!
The best time to visit Mexico – An overview per season >
Mexico for first-timers | 8 things you need to know >
Tips for booking and driving a rental car in Cancun, Mexico >
Our Yucatan road trip
We traveled across the country for about 8 weeks. We started in Cancun, then to Holbox, Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Tulum, to Playa del Carmen, and then back to Cancun. This wild, colorful, and exciting roundtrip will not soon be forgotten. Mexico has a special place in our stomach… hearts!
This is the exact route we drove with our rental car (a Chevrolet Beat, for 22 bucks a day including insurance). And we highly recommend you also consider a Yucatan road trip!
Cancun
Looking for a great spot to party till the late hours, sunbathe, wine and dine, and enjoy life to the fullest? Then the Zona Hotelera in Cancun is the place to be. See what I did there? I did not mention the town of Cancun, just the hotel zone. This is where the magic of Cancun happens, and it will cost you some good ol´ hard-earned money. But you will love every minute of your vacation here, as we did!
Check out our full Cancun report and top 10 with colorful pictures >>
Our top 3 must-visit in Cancun; Chac Mool Beach, Delphines Beach, and exploring everything Zona Hotelera has to offer.
Our atmospheric Instagram stories of Cancun >
Accommodations Cancun; Hotel – Hostel – Luxury hotel – Airbnb
Holbox
The highlight of our Yucatan road trip was without a doubt our two weeks on the unique island of Isla Holbox. This island felt like a social experiment. How would people behave if they would be locked away on a small hippie island with no cars, beautiful beaches surrounding them, and delicious food on every corner. Well…, they would become the most relaxed, cool, and fun people to be around with. Holbox is truly a paradise, and I mean not by the looks of it alone, but also because of that unique Holbox vibe.
Top 10 Things to do in Holbox, Mexico >
Our top 3 must-visit in Holbox; Lunches at Painappel, renting a golf cart and driving like a madman, and the delicious pizza with the black pepper sauce at Roots.
Our atmospheric Instagram stories of Holbox >
Accommodations Holbox; Hotel – Hostel – Luxury hotel – Airbnb
Chichen Itza
One of the 7 world wonders, Chichen Itza, lies right in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula. It´s a must-visit if you are in the region. Are you in Cancun for holiday? Go to Chichen Itza. Are you in Playa del Carmen as a digital nomad? Go to Chichen Itza. Are you influencing in Tulum? Go to Chichen Itza!
This ancient Maya city is a sight to behold. But, before you go, be sure to check out our practical tips for your visit to Chichen Itza.
Our atmospheric Instagram wallpost of Chichen Itza >
Inspired to see this world wonder? Get yourself a good rental car, check for hotels near Chichen Itza, and a tour guide is also worth considering. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so come prepared amigo!
Valladolid
The small but very characteristic colonial city of Valladolid is a feast for the eyes. These typical streets and houses are so colorful and vibrant! This town is a dream for photographers and influencers. There are so many cool shots to take. Valladolid is a perfect headquarters for you to stay in while in this area if you have cenotes and Chichen Itza on your to-go list. A solid 4-5 days is enough to discover the town and the surrounding bucket list locations.
Our top 3 must-visit in Valladolid; the buzzing city square and park, restaurant El Atrio, and cenote Zaki.
Our atmospheric Instagram stories of Valladolid >
Accommodations Valladolid; Hotel – Luxury hotel – Airbnb
Tulum
We did not like Tulum that much. Hard to believe, yes, but the hype on Instagram is only partly understandable. The beaches, the beach clubs, and the luxury hotels are stupendous. But the rest of Tulum kinda sucks… Don't get me wrong, Tulum is quite amazing, but only if you have a couple of thousand dollars to splurge with.
5 Things we did NOT like about Tulum, Mexico >
Don´t say we didn´t warn ya… (we got robbed there!)
And if you do go to Tulum, you might like to stay in a little slice of heaven…
Our top 3 must-visit in Tulum; The awesome wooden statue called Ahau, Playa Pescadores, and the dozens of amazing beach clubs and restaurants of the Zona Hotelera of Tulum.
Our atmospheric Instagram stories of Tulum >
Accommodations Tulum; Hotel – Luxury hotels – Airbnb
Playa del Carmen
It was our intention to just stay for about 4-5 days in Playa del Carmen. We stayed for 4 whole weeks! Playa del Carmen is not authentic or picturesque as in other pretty Mexican towns and villages, but it is very enjoyable! We understand why so many pensionados, ex-pats, and digital nomads come to Playa del Carmen. It´s a perfect coastal city to get some work done and also enjoy life!
Top 10 Things to do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico >
Our top 3 must-visit in Playa del Carmen; Punta Esmeralda Beach, Fifth Avenue with all its stores, bars, and restaurants, and beautiful Akumal Beach.
Our atmospheric Instagram stories of Playa del Carmen >
Accommodations Playa del Carmen; Hotels – Luxury hotels – Airbnb rentals
Isla Mujeres
Right across from Cancun, you´ll find a little paradise island called Isla Mujeres. Here, your mode of transportation is a golf cart. In your hands, you´ll find a delicious Pina Colada and a big sigar. And on your face is a big fat smile from ear to ear. Welcome to the island life amigo!
To us, Isla Mujeres felt like a more touristic XL version of Holbox. Although we liked Holbox even better, Isla Mujeres is also a dreamy picture-perfect paradise island you just have to visit when you are in Cancun or near the Riviera Maya-region.
Top 7 Things to Do on Isla Mujeres, Mexico >
Our top 3 must-visit in Isla Mujeres; Playa Norte, Punta Sur, and Playa Centro.
Our atmospheric Instagram stories of Isla Mujeres >
Accommodations Isla Mujeres; Hotel – Hostel – Luxury hotel – Airbnb >
Cenotes
The unique sinkholes/water caves in Mexico are a must-visit, especially on a hot summer's day. You will love these cenotes! They are very refreshing, affordable, and very cool-looking. It´s like you step back into time to where the jungle still rules the land. It´s like you step into an Indiana Jones movie set!
We have visited a couple of them and curated which ones are the very best.
The best 5 cenotes to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico >
Food food food!
Losing weight in Mexico is impossible. The food is just too good. The portions are quite big, it´s all very affordable, and you will never get tired of delicious Mexican meals like tlayudas, quesadillas, gringas, taco´s, and so much more. We ate more than we should, and now we have a beautiful round ´Taco Belly´.
We especially eat well in Holbox and Playa del Carmen, for which we wrote a special top 7 of restaurants and diners where you can eat. Probecio!
The 10 best places to eat in Playa del Carmen, Mexico >
The 7 best places to eat in Isla Holbox, Mexico >
And there is so much more!
If your schedule lets you be sure to also visit the atmospheric and very relaxed capital of the Yucatan state; Merida. And the beautiful lake-area of Bacalar is one of the top destinations in the country, but only when it hasn´t rained for a while. Otherwise, the lake is not that special (as was for us the case in January of 2021). The giant vacation-island of Cozumel is a must-visit if you love cool tours and snorkeling!
After two months of traveling, we can easily confirm that we just barely scratched the surface of what the Yucatan Peninsula (and Mexico!) has to offer. There is a lifetime of fun to explore here. Our recommendation is to at least take three whole weeks to see what we saw. We worked on our online businesses while we were on the road, so two months might be a bit too long when you´re doing a roadtrip-holiday.
Did we inspire you to explore Mexico? Great! So plan tomorrow’s adventure today. Book your flight with flexibility with Kiwi.com!
More travel inspiration: We got ROBBED in Mexico (Tulum): what happened and what did we do?!
