The Yucatan peninsula is the eastern part of Mexico that is surrounded by both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Infused with Mayan indigenous culture, vibrant food, and cheerful hospitality, it’s a perfect place to travel. Which is exactly what I did. From Cancun’s hotel zone to Bacalar’s turquoise fresh water, I’ll walk you through my travels through the Yucatan area including how to get there, tips I’ve picked up and what you can expect to eat.

In this guide:

• Cancun
• Playa del Carmen
• Isla Cozumel
• Tulum
• Bacalar
• Merida
• Isla Holbox
• Campeche
• Valladolid

Cancun: Your first stop

You’ll likely fly into Cancun airport to start your journey. Upon arrival, you will walk down a long hallway to immigration where you’ll wait in line to be asked what you’re doing here and then get your passport stamp. Then, collect your luggage to be sent through an x-ray. Once you’ve gone through the x-ray, press a button to see if you get randomly searched. It’s silly, but that’s their system. Cancun has a large “hotel zone” along the beach with turquoise waters. If you want an Americanized, easy lay-by-the-beach vacation, stay at a resort Cancun.

Playa Del Carmen

Travel south by taxi to get to Playa Del Carmen, a beach town that draws tourists in for its walkable Fifth Avenue. PDC is a tourist town, but it’s a good stop before heading over top Cozumel or on to Tulum. Personally, I like doing a live/work situation (we’ve done it three years in a row) in Playa Del Carmen. Eat lots of fresh seafood here!

Isla Cozumel

A short ferry ride from Playa Del Carmen, you’ll find a small island that’s known for snorkeling and diving.

Tulum: A Boho Beach With Expensive Taste (And A Small Mexican Town)

Tulum is split up into two parts: the beach area with restaurants, shops, and clubs; and the town. If you’re looking for the full Tulum experience by the beach, it will be expensive, but it’s where all the action is. Along the beach strip, we stayed at Maria Del Mar that has access to a secluded beach. It was so quiet at night at Maria Del Mar that all we could hear was the sound of the ocean waves crashing, a rarity in this area.

If you are looking for a more affordable place to stay in Tulum, look for a place in town. It’s a bit further from the vibey, Tulum beach, but there’s plenty of restaurants in town (and it’s a little more authentic Mexico). In town, we stayed at The Waves, which has a cenote on the property, lush landscaping, and two pools. If you’re looking for a more “live like a local” travel experience or if you’re looking to be in Tulum for an extended time, I would recommend staying in town.

Taxi drivers continuously talked about how much the area has changed in the last 10 years. Hopefully they like the economic boom, but all that money also takes away some of the authentic charm of a slow beach town before tourism.

Bacalar: The Lagoon Of Seven Colors

Two hours south of Tulum (by bus or taxi), you’ll find yourself inland along a lagoon that meets the jungle. 

The white rocks are fossilized microbialites, known as stromatolites, are the oldest evidence of life on Earth, dating back to 3.7 billion years ago.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1N7XFTN2c6/?igsh=NmNhaThuYnFmdXpy

Bacalar was quiet and local. There are boutique and luxury hotels, and I’m sure there will be more coming soon.

I was there in 2021 and 2022 when it was still undeveloped. Now that the Maya Train is open, it’ll be interesting to see how it changes the lagoon and the surrounding area. Yes, I’m already planning my next trip.