Recently spent about a week traveling through the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and had an amazing time. I started in Cancún, then did a day trip to Chichén Itzá, Valladolid, and a cenote, spent a day exploring Isla Mujeres, and later solo traveled to Mérida.
It ended up being a great mix of beaches, Mayan ruins, cenotes, and incredible food.
Day 1 – Cancún
Spent the first day relaxing around the beach and exploring the area. The Caribbean water really is that bright turquoise blue you see in photos. Just walking along the beach and watching people swim was the perfect easy start to the trip.
Day 2 – Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and Cenote
Did a full day tour booked through Viator. It was a very long day, about 14 hours total, mostly because it’s around a three hour drive each way from Cancún into the Yucatán interior. It was extremely hot that day, around 34°C (93°F), but swimming in the cenote afterward made everything worth it. The water was this unreal turquoise color and honestly the cenote ended up being the highlight of the entire trip.
Day 3 – Isla Mujeres
Took the ferry from Cancún in the morning and came back in the evening. We rented a golf cart and drove around the island from north to south and back. The cliffs and water there are stunning and the ocean color changes between deep blue and bright turquoise depending on where you are.
Day 4 – Travel to Mérida
Solo traveled from Cancún to Mérida using the ADO bus, which took about 4.5 hours. The buses were very comfortable, air conditioned, and felt very safe. I arrived on a Monday and the historic center was lively. That evening there was a traditional dance performance in the main square which was really nice to see.
Day 5 – Haciendas and Cenotes
Did a tour through Airbnb Experiences visiting old haciendas and cenotes outside the city. The haciendas are beautiful and a bit haunting in places, and the cenotes in this region are incredible.
Day 6 – Mérida Food Tour
Ended the trip with a food tour called Eating with Carmen, which was about 1.5 hours and a great way to try local Yucatán dishes.
Overall the region felt very easy to travel around, even solo. Amazing food, beautiful cenotes, and a lot of history packed into a relatively small area.