When you think of the Yucatan or even the Riviera Maya in Mexico, Cancun might first jump to your mind, however there is so much more to the Yucatan peninsula. From Mayan ruins, to lush jungles, to hidden cenotes, gorgeous beaches, to culture and authentic food, this region of Mexico has it all. We have created a 10 Day epic Yucatan, Mexico road trip to include some of the best highlights across this unique area of Mexico, many of which are lesser known or off-the-beaten-path!
Instead of sticking to all-inclusive, touristy resorts of Cancun and other places along the Riviera Maya, this itinerary will take you into the real heart of Mexico, where you will fall in love with the natural beauty, rich culture and people that make the Yucatan special. Trust us, this will be a trip you won’t forget!
Day 1: Cancun to Tulum
Since Cancun is the major international airport on the Yucatan, this is typically where you fly in/out of. Luckily you can often find cheap flights (especially from the States) on sites like Sky Scanner or Momondo, which is what we use to get the best deals.
Once you land and rent a car (we choose Booking.com), it’s a 2 hour drive south to Tulum where you will spend the next couple of days. If you are looking for more luxe accommodations (and Tulum would be the place to splurge), places like La Zebra Boutique Hotel or even Hotel Panacea are good choices with families, both situated on the beach.
For lower to mid-range hotels, our top picks would be Hotel Parasio (which lies in front of one of the prettiest beaches in Tulum), or for an apartment with fully equipped kitchen and other amenities, Casa KanKin.
Depending on what time of day you arrive, use this day to just relax at the hotel or go to the beach in Tulum (Playa Parasio is a fave of ours).
Day 2: Tulum ruins and beach
A visit to the the famous Mayan ruins of Tulum which were built thousands of years ago on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea are a MUST. Our biggest tip is to go EARLY. This is for two reasons: one, it is very hot and humid in the middle of the day, which make it a lot less fun walking around (especially with kids!) and two, you will have a lot less people to avoid.
How early do we recommend? Well, at the very latest, we would recommend arriving right before it opens at 8AM, but want to know a little insider tip? If you want to visit the ruins prior to opening (such as for sunrise), you can! All you do is pay a little extra (admission is $3-4 USD) and basically have the entire place to yourself, PLUS escape the heat. Sounds like a win-win. We did this and trust me, it’s 100% worth it.
perks to visiting these ruins before they open to the public.
You really only need a couple hours at the ruins, so if you get here early enough, you literally have the rest of the day to hit the beach. Speaking of beaches, our favorites in and around Tulum are Secret Beach and Playa Parasio. The beach right below the ruins is also beautiful. Make sure to check out our other top beach picks near Tulum.
You can also hire a boat for cheap to take you out to the reef (which isn’t too far from the beaches) to snorkel if you choose.
Day 3: Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve or cenotes
Sian Ka’an Biosphere is a lesser known gem and worth spending a day or part of a day at. Located just south of Tulum, Sian Ka’an bustles with serene lagoons, mangrove wetlands, cenotes, pristine beaches and tons of wildlife. We did a kayak tour with Yucatan Outdoors and it was such a treat to enjoy the lagoon all to ourselves while watching the sun set.
If you have time or would prefer not to kayak at Sian Ka’an, we would definitely recommend hitting a few cenotes near Tulum since some of the best in the entire Yucatan are located minutes away from the town center. See our top 18 cenotes for kids near Tulum for all the best ones!
Day 4: Tulum to Valladolid
After a few fun-filled days in Tulum, head west (about a 90 min drive) toward the heart of the Yucatan peninsula, Valladolid. This colonial town is very charming. In fact, we were so blown away by how picturesque it is! It reminded us of Antigua, Guatemala with the colorful buildings, beautiful architecture, quaint cobblestone streets, central park and historic old churches. A great place to stay in town is Casa Valladolid Boutique Hotel. We loved how convenient it was to everything and also super affordable ($25/night)!
We would suggest spending a day in Valladolid wandering the streets, tasting all the food (we loved getting churros from the street vendors in the main plaza), and even visiting some churches. The main church not to be missed is located in the central park, right in the center of town, Iglesia San Servacio. You can also do a walking or bike tour if you want to learn more about the culture and history of Valladolid. Many of these tours also include cenotes too.
If you are really into churches, you might want to pay a visit to the church in the small town of Uayma, about 15 minutes from Valladolid. This church is incredibly unique and definitely worth the short trip! It’s hard to miss too!
There is also a great cenote right in the middle of town called Cenote Zaci. This is the perfect swimming hole to cool off after a long day walking around Valladolid. It’s beautiful with spots for cliff jumping at various heights and plenty of shade too. The best way to end a hot day!
Day 5: Valladolid
You don’t come to Valladolid without seeing probably the best cenotes in all of the Yucatan. There are several that are note-worthy, however if you only have time to visit 2 or 3, we would suggest Cenote San Lorenzo-Oxman (go first thing in the morning when they open), Cenote Suytun (middle of the day is best for the famous sunbeam), and Cenote Agua Dulce (do this one last). Each of these is unique and beautiful. You can get more info and tips on visiting these cenotes by checking out 18 Top Cenotes for Kids in Mexico.
Day 6: Rio Lagartos
Once you depart from Valladolid, it’s about an 90 min drive north to the fishing village of Rio Lagartos. This is not your average touristy destination in the Yucatan (at least not yet), but it’s a great little spot that you should definitely add to your road trip agenda. Rio Lagartos is somewhat of a sleepy town where life is slow, but it’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
There aren’t a ton of options of places to stay in Rio Lagartos, but our top choice would be Hotel Rio Lagartos for the outdoor pool, lounge, and location. It’s also a great value! For other accommodation options, make sure to check out all 8 properties on Booking.com, our go-to resource for finding the best deals on hotels and lodging.
The two main attractions in Rio Lagartos are the Las Coloradas pink lake and UNESCO biosphere Reserve Rio Lagartos. You could essentially pack these into one day if you leave Valladolid early in the morning. Las Coloradas is pink due to its high concentration of salt which makes it a perfect breeding ground for algae which give the water the red color. It is located about 20 min from Rio Lagartos off a gravel road just before you reach the fishing village.
The fee is only 50 pesos and we wouldn’t recommend coming at sunset otherwise the pink color of the lake won’t be as obvious.
and the green water of Rio Lagartos
After you’ve gotten your fill of the pink lake, a trip to Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve is in order. This is the main attraction in the area and will be a highlight of your Yucatan road trip. With over 400 different species of birds–from herons to even flamingos (if you come in April and May), this is bird-lover paradise. There are also lots of crocodiles here too.
The best way to visit this incredible reserve is to go on a guided tour. When you are strolling around town along the waterfront, you will find several people offering tours to the Biosphere Reserve. The average price is about 300 pesos per person not including the 50 peso entrance fee into the park. You will learn a lot about this reserve, the wildlife and your boat captain will take you to some neat places you wouldn’t normally see on your own. Well worth the trip!
Day 7-8: El Cuyo
Only a short drive from Rio Lagartos, is El Cuyo, an up-and-coming beach town, world famous for kite surfing and pristine beaches. The best part? There are hardly any tourists, so chances are if you come here, you will not see many people. Like Rio Lagartos, there aren’t a ton of lodging choices, however there are still some great options without breaking the bank. We would recommend Casa Cuyo or Hotel Casa Cielo, both reasonably priced!
Besides kite surfing, there are some amazing beaches with green-blue water and white sand as far as the eye can see (less seaweed here too than many of the beaches between Cancun-Tulum too!). You can spend a day chilling and relaxing at the beach or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, take some kite surfing lessons with Extreme Control Adventures.
Don’t expect to be flying on a kite with a board strapped on your feet with just a lesson or two, but you will have fun learning how to control a kite on the beach, along with proper technique and safety. Trust us, it’s FUN and your kids will love it!
Day 9-10: Isla Holbox
The last stop on the 10 day epic Yucatan, Mexico road trip is to the island of Isla Holbox. Most people know Cozumel or even Isla Mujeres, but Isla Holbox is up-and-coming and is still a little off-the-beaten-path. This small island, about 6 miles off the mainland north of Cancun is mostly car-free and mainly occupied by protected Biosphere Reserve.
The best way to get around Holbox is by golf cart or bike and there are plenty of rental companies you can rent from for a day or two. *Tip: If you rent one off the main square, you can find rentals for $50-60/day opposed to $90/day. For a good budget conscious place to stay on Isla Holbox, we would recommend Hotel Casa Iguana or Hotel Villas Tiburon.
To get to Isla Holbox, you take a boat via 9 Hermanos or Holbox Express. Ticket prices are about $8 USD one way as of March 2019. There is a boat every 30 minutes between 6:00am and 9:40pm. Boats are never full and there is no need to buy a boat ticket from Chiquila to Isla Holbox in advance.
The best thing to do in Isla Holbox is go to the beach! The water is warm, incredibly blue and shallow and the sand is perfectly soft. There are also plenty of hammocks made for napping and relaxing! In addition, make sure to watch the sunset one night from Whaleshark Pier. It sounds like a simple thing but at the end of the day everyone gathers around the pier just two blocks away from the main square.
If you have another day on Isla Holbox, we would recommend a few things. One is to swim with whale sharks if you happen to be in the Yucatan between June-September. This is a bucketlist experience! You can also see bioluminescent plankton at night during this season too. Other options include the 3 island boat tour, kayking through mangroves, or walking the sand bank to Mosquito Point at low tide.
That concludes the 10 day epic Yucatan, Mexico road trip! With this itinerary you get a good taste of all the best things Mexico has to offer!