So, you’re thinking of spending two weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico? Well, if you’re the type of traveler who loves picture-perfect beaches and is keen to experience Mayan history – then, the Yucatán, as it’s also known is the place for you. And spending two weeks here is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of what this stunning region offers.
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has been on my travel bucket list for the longest time. I was, like many others, drawn to the area because of the postcard-worthy beaches. But, when I researched more about the region – I thought to myself, this is exactly the type of place I’d love. You see, the Yucatán is steeped in history (it’s home to the mighty Chichen Itza), and the food – oh boy, Mexican food is my absolute favorite.
FYI, this itinerary skips some popular destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula – places like Mérida and Campeche because you would just be too rushed trying to squeeze them in. We’re big fans of ‘slow travel’ and we like to spend a minimum of 3 nights in each place to really get a feel for it. And this two weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula allows for an average of three nights in each destination – which is ideal!
So, let’s take a look at how I’d spend two weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula …
What is the Yucatán Peninsula? This peninsula in the Southeast of Mexico stretches out into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It covers three Mexican states – Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo – and even dips into parts of Belize and Guatemala.
How did we spend two weeks in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico?
Full disclosure, we actually spent a month in Mexico but that included Palenque and cities like Mérida and Campeche. So, you can easily fit the top sights in the Yucatán into two weeks.
Anyway, if we had two weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula, we’d start it off with 2 nights in Cancun (as that’s where we’d fly into – Cancun International Airport). Next, we’d head to Isla Holbox for a relaxing 3 nights. Then, we’d venture back to the mainland and hit up the historic city of Valladolid for 3 nights – from here, we’d explore Chichen Itza (as the world wonder is just a 45-minute drive from the city).
From Valladolid, we’d journey to Laguna Bacalar (it’s so pretty here!). And our last two destinations would be Tulum and Playa del Carmen – two of the most popular tourist spots on the Yucatán.
“The Yucatan Peninsula is really worth the trip. The water is stunning and the beaches are true-white sand.” – Bridget Marquardt
This map will help you plan your trip –
Our Two Weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula Itinerary –
Cancun (2 nights)
Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico and it’s where we recommend kicking off your two weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula. That’s because there’s a large international airport here – Cancun International Airport is the second-busiest airport in Mexico and it accepts heaps of international flights daily. And you can get flights cheap if you do your research/ book in advance. We got a great deal from London.
Cancun is often referred to as the “Spring Break capital of the world!” But actually, there’s so much more to Cancun than all-inclusive resorts and drunk 20-something-year-olds. But, you can experience a different side of Cancun if you know who to ask (ahem, us!)
For example, we’re not partiers so we spent one full day in downtown Cancun wandering around Mercado 28 (a famed market here) and checking out Parque Las Palapas, a public square that’s popular with locals and has lots of yummy street food stalls. We preferred this than partying on a beach. But, that’s just us!
Our favorite things to do in Cancun:
- Go on a day trip to Isla Mujeres – This full-day guided tour from Cancun to nearby Isla Mujeres takes place on board a catamaran and includes snorkeling AND an open bar (unlimited drinks)! You’ll also get time to explore Isla Mujeres. It costs from $59 USD per person.
- Have a beach day – Cancun’s hotel zone is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, namely Playa Delfines and Playa San Miguelito.
- Party in Coco Bongo – This is Cancun’s (if not Mexico’s) most famous nightclub. It’s not a standard nightclub per se – instead of just drinking and dancing to a DJ, you’ll get to watch live performances like acrobatics shows, etc. It’s one big celebration.
Where we stayed in Cancun:
We stayed at the Real Inn in the hotel zone, it’s a 3-star hotel that’s fairly recently opened and the rooms seemed brand new and were very clean. There’s also a large outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, and access to the beach in front.
P.S. Mexico was the first stop on our 3 months in Central America tour – which included two weeks in Belize, El Salvador, and Guatemala!
Isla Holbox (3 nights)
We spent 3 nights at this chill-out island that’s nestled within the Yum Balam Nature Reserve. Holbox Island (pronounced Hol-Bosh) is home to perfect white-sand beaches and super clear turquoise waters. Cars aren’t allowed here because the streets are made of sand (literally), so you’ll need to walk everywhere or you could hire a golf cart or bike (like we did).
With its laid-back vibe, colorful street art, and tasty local eats, Holbox Island remains one of our favorite places in Mexico. I say, visit this sleepy island quick before it becomes over-run with tourists.
How did we get to Isla Holbox:
We took an ADO bus from Cancun to Chiquilá (this took around 1.5 hours) and from there we hopped on a ferry to Holbox, which takes about 45 minutes. Our total journey time was around 3 hours.
Alternatively, you could book a private transfer as far as Chiquilá – this is pricey at around $135 per taxi (that will fit up to 4 people).
We booked 4 nights at Holbox Dream Beach Front Hotel and it was a bit of a splurge, but still reasonably priced considering it’s right on the beach (we paid around $70 USD per night). It’s a 4-star hotel with a pool that looks onto the ocean and as I said is just steps away from the beach!
What did we get up to on Isla Holbox:
- Swim with whale sharks – Swimming with whale sharks is my top thing to do if you’re visiting the island between May and September. Imagine swimming with these huge creatures (they’re the largest fish in the world) on this full-day snorkeling with whale sharks tour that departs from near the Holbox sign. It costs from $150 USD per person but is a truly bucket-list-worthy experience.
- Check out the bioluminescence – You can see bioluminescent waters at night here on Holbox, a magical phenomenon that makes the ocean glow. The best place to see this wonder is at Punta Cocos on the western tip of the island.
- Go kayaking through the mangroves – Go kayaking through the mangroves on Holbox on this half-day small group tour. It’s a great way to see this unique ecosystem and you’ll likely see crocodiles, flamingos, rays, and pelicans as you paddle along. It costs from $51 USD per person.
Valladolid (3 nights)
The vibrant city of Valladolid (pronounced vai-uh-duh-lid) was our next stop. And although the city itself is a bit of a hidden gem it’s getting more and more popular because of how close it is to Chichen Itza.
Besides visiting Chichen Itza there are several cenotes here that are a must-see. Worth checking out are Cenote Suytun (the most popular and perhaps most photogenic cenote) and Cenote Samaal (this one has a waterfall, very cool!) There’s also a cenote right in the middle of town, called Cenote Zaci.
One of our favorite things we did while in Valladolid was checking out Casa de los Venados – a private home that contains the biggest private collection of Mexican folk and contemporary art in the world. It’s owned by John Venator, an American (from Chicago) – who bought the house around 20 years ago and filled it with over 3,000 pieces of art.
Every night in Valladolid there’s a parade of traditional dancers who dance through Parque Francisco Canton and the surrounding streets. It starts at around 5:30 pm and you won’t miss them as they’re dressed in so much color!
Where we stayed in Valladolid:
We booked Hotel Casa Bamboo on Calle 46 for 3 nights and we loved it. The rooms are decorated in a boho style and our room was light-filled and airy. There’s also a small outdoor pool in the central courtyard.
Chichen Itza
We visited Chichen Itza from Valladolid, we got an early ADO bus from the bus station in Valladolid which got us to the gates for 8:30 am. This worked perfectly for us as it meant we had around an hour to ourselves before the guided tours arrived.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the most important city on the Yucatán Peninsula thousands of years ago. It was home to around 30,000 people at one point and as you can imagine, the site is huge – approximately 3.2 square kilometers.
The iconic pyramid, El Castillo (pictured above) is the most famous structure here and once upon a time, it served as a temple to the god Kukulcán. It towers above the other buildings here, as it’s around 100 feet tall. And there are 365 steps to the top of the pyramid (one for each day of the year).
While here, also take the time to explore the Great Ball Court, the largest of its kind in Mesoamerica, where an ancient game that involved throwing a ball through a stone hoop was played. And the Temple of the Warriors – rows of carved columns is another must-see.
Finally, don’t miss the Sacred Cenote, a large natural sinkhole that served as a site for offerings and sacrifices, providing a glimpse into the spiritual practices of the time.
A ticket for Chichen Itza costs $35 USD (614 MXN) in total – this price includes two separate tickets (a federal tax ticket and a local government ticket). You will see both ticket booths at the entrance (it is well signposted). You can buy skip-the-line tickets for around $60 USD on the Chichen Itza website if you wish.
Best guided tour of Chichen Itza from Valladolid:
This guided tour from Valladolid is a small group tour (limited to 10 people)so it means you’ll get a more personalized experience. It includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle and a certified guide to take you around Chichen Itza. You’ll also get to visit Cenote Yokdzono and one of Mexico’s “Magical Towns,” the yellow city of Izamal. It costs from $179 USD per person.
Try to see the Chichen Itza Night Show:
Instead of visiting Chichen Itza in the morning (like we did), you can visit it after dark to watch the Chichen Itza Night Show or Noches de Kukulkan. I wish we’d known about this before we went as it sounds amazing!
You’ll get around an hour to walk around Chichen Itza – which looks breathtaking under the stars. Then, you’ll be seated in front of the Temple of Kukulkan for a light show that’s projected onto El Castillo, accompanied by music and storytelling (in Spanish).
Although we didn’t know about this when we were here, it sounds like an amazing, bucket-list activity. The show runs from Wednesday to Sunday and tickets cost from 755 MXN (around $39 USD)
Laguna Bacalar (2 nights)
We then traveled by bus from Valladolid to Laguna Bacalar, or Bacalar for short.
It’s also often referred to as the “Lagoon of Seven Colors,” because of its strikingly clear and vibrant hues of blue, which range from deep navy to turquoise. This natural wonder occurs thanks to its white limestone bottom and varying depths.
We had such a peaceful time here kayaking and swimming, our accommodation (Casita Carolina) was located right on the lake and we were able to dive off and launch our kayak off the hotel’s jetty.
We also spent a few hours exploring the nearby Fort of San Felipe, which provides insights into the area’s intriguing pirate history and we spent another afternoon at Cenote Esmeralda. Which boasts amazing emerald-green waters and is full of colorful fish and cool rock formations.
Where we stayed in Laguna Bacalar:
As I said, we stayed at Casita Carolina for 3 nights and we highly recommend it. It’s a quirky place to stay (we stayed in a small wooden cabin with a private bathroom) and it’s right on the lakefront with its own private wooden jetty!
Tulum (2 nights)
The next spot is probably super-familiar to you – Tulum is one of the most visited beach towns in Mexico and for good reason. Sitting pretty on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Tulum is famous for its gorgeous beaches, with soft white sand and bright turquoise water, and its hippy atmosphere.
Tulum is very different from its neighbor Cancun and in place of all-inclusive resorts and nightclubs in Tulum, you will find small, boutique hotels and beach bars.
We had a lovely, relaxing time here – sunbathing on the beach, swimming in Cenote Calavera, and exploring the Tulum Ruins. We also dined out in the downtown area as the prices here were better than the beachfront restaurants. And really enjoyed our dinner at La Negra Tomasa!
I should also add that the distance from Tulum Town (Tulum Centro) to the beach (called Tulum Playa) is around 3 km – so, you will likely need to get a taxi between the two.
Visiting the Tulum Ruins (a must-do):
The Tulum Ruins are the cherry on top of the tourism crown here in Tulum. They are situated right on the cliffs, offering amazing views of the Caribbean Sea. And unlike other Mayan sites, Tulum is one of the few walled cities of the Mayan World. The structures here are very well-preserved, especially the iconic El Castillo (the one perched on the cliff).
We paid around 500 MXN ($20 USD) to explore the ruins.
There’s also a glorious beach (Playa Ruinas) right below the ruins, perfect for a swim after all the wandering around in the hot sun.
Where to stay in Tulum:
We chose to stay in Tulum Centro as opposed to at the beach and we’re glad we did as there are more restaurant and Cafe options in the town. We stayed at Hotel Boutique Pacha Tulum which is just 500 meters from the town center. It’s a cute, boutique hotel with an outdoor pool and our room was furnished with local furniture and artwork. It’s reasonably priced too, we paid around $25 USD per night.
Playa del Carmen (3 nights)
You’ll end your two weeks in the European-esque Playa del Carmen. Which is only an hour from Cancun, and people often compare these two spots. If Cancun is the crazy younger sister, then, Playa del Carmen is the cool, older sister.
And I have to say we much preferred Playa del Carmen to Cancun. As I said, it reminded me of a beach resort in Europe, especially Fifth Avenue (the main street in town), which is full of trendy cafes, boutiques, and a variety of places to eat.
What did we do in Playa del Carmen:
To be honest, we were pretty exhausted having spent almost 3 months in Central America (including 3 weeks in El Salvador) at this stage so we were keen to just chill out when we landed in Playa del Carmen. And we did exactly that, we spent a lot of time at the Public Beach (the main beach in Playa del Carmen, close to Fifth Avenue) and one day we went to our favorite beach Playa Punta Esmeralda.
There are also two cenotes really close to town if you wish to check them out – Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino.
We were also really impressed with the restaurants in Playa del Carmen, particularly – Nicoletta Playa del Carmen on Fifth Avenue and El Fogón on Avenida Norte.
We got a shuttle from Playa del Carmen to Cancun International Airport (the distance is 53 km) for our flight home. Ending our amazing month in Mexico!
Where to stay in Playa del Carmen:
We stayed at La Pasion Boutique Hotel on Calle 10 Norte, just a few blocks from the public beach. It had a lovely, small rooftop pool and hot tub and it was spacious and light-filled. It was also really close to one of our favorite restaurants in Playa del Carmen – El Fogón. Our double ensuite room cost us around $35 USD per night.
Why travel insurance is important in Mexico:
We don’t recommend traveling to Mexico without travel insurance! Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you’re traveling – be it theft, illness, etc. And having insurance means that you have a safety net in place.
Travel insurance will provide you with coverage for a range of situations in Mexico, including flight delays, canceled flights, injuries, illnesses, etc. Depending on your policy, you could be reimbursed for hospital stays, meals, hotel stays, transportation, or even the entire cost of your trip to Mexico.
This is how we find the best travel insurance for our trip, it’s a search engine for travel insurance companies so you can find the best travel insurance for your trip. On their site, you can compare the plans side by side so you can get the best insurance for your particular trip! As I always say, no trip is the same so your travel insurance shouldn’t be too!
Booking Your Trip Soon? These are my go-to booking sites!
Below you will find a list of the sites we always use when booking our trips. By booking via the below links you can support my writing at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much!
1. Flights
I use Cheapoair to find the best flights. It allows you to compare and book flights on over 500 airlines from across the globe.
2. Hotels
I use Booking.com for all of our hotel stays. And if we’re traveling on a budget, I like to use Hostelworld to book a hostel.
3. Renting a Car
We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
4. Tours
I use Viator or Get Your Guide to book any guided tours we plan on doing. I find Viator particularly good for the USA, Canada & New Zealand, and Get Your Guide is great for Europe.
5. Travel Sim Card
An eSIM is a great idea if you’re coming to a place for more than a week. As that way, you won’t need to change your number or remove the physical SIM from your phone. They are so handy and cheap, too. Obviously make sure your phone is compatible with an eSIM first. We always use Saily for our eSIM’s.
6. Airport Pick-Ups
Instead of cabs, we book with welcome pickup to get from the airport to our hotel. Why did we do that? The drivers from Welcome Pickups are English speaking and you’ll pay a flat rate. So, you know exactly how much you’re paying before hopping in.
Our two weeks in the Yucatán Peninsula itinerary – final words!
If you didn’t already guess we absolutely loved our time on the Yucatán Peninsula. This itinerary had everything we wanted – stunning beaches, vibrant cities, and Mayan sights. Visiting Mexico is a bucket list ticket for most people so planning the right itinerary is absolutely essential!
I’d love to hear what you thought of my guide to two weeks on the Yucatán Peninsula in the comment section below! Did I miss anything really cool?
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Last Updated on June 12, 2025 by snaphappytravel