The ideal itinerary for two weeks in Yucatan
Posted on December 18, 2022
Planning to visit Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula? In this blog we give you the ideal itinerary for two weeks Yucatan. A varied trip with nature, culture, good food and beach! The ultimate ingredients to enjoy this region.
Before departure
Preparation is key, also for a trip to Yucatan. We list our best tips.
– Determine your ideal travel time. Basically, the best travel time to visit Mexico is between November and March. Between August and October, there is a chance of tropical storms and hurricanes. The other months there is slightly more chance of rain but the sun shows itself a lot more. We ourselves visited the region in mid-July.
– Search on the internet for cheap flight tickets and pay close attention when flying via America. Always make sure you have valid vaccination certificates (COVID-19) and an ESTA. In addition, don’t forget to keep the immigration paper you get on arrival, as you may be asked for this when you leave.
– Decide in advance whether you want to travel by rental car or by bus. We opted for a rental car which we rented through Flexways. Upon arrival at the airport, we were picked up and taken to our rental car. The car gave us a lot of flexibility. Do you choose to travel by bus? Then check out the website of the local bus company ADO. They run between all the bigger cities. The advantage of the buses, is that they are relatively cheaper than renting a car.
– The peninsula has become touristy in recent years but, nevertheless, it is useful to learn a little Spanish so that you can make yourself understood in certain cases!
– Last but not least, prepare for the fact that tipping is common. Both unsolicited (already included on the receipt) and at least the usual 10-15%.
Itinerary
During our July 2022 trip, we kept the following itinerary. For some destinations, we wrote a mini-guide. Click on the destination to open it. Curious about the restaurants where we ate nut-free carefree? Then check out this article.
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Day 1: Arrival in Cancun in the evening
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Day 2: Cancun
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Day 3: Travel to Isla Holbox via Chiquilá
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Day 4 & 5: Isla Holbox
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Day 6: Travel to Valladolid
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Day 7 & 8: Valladolid
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Day 9: Travel to Bacalar
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Day 10: Bacalar
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Day 11: Travel to Tulum
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Day 12 to 14: Tulum
Cancun
For many people, this city is the starting point for their trip through Yucatan! Why. You can fly to Cancun outside the high season for as little as a few hundred euros. The airport is about a half-hour drive from the city centre. The city doesn’t have very special sights but is the perfect place to land and get used to the time difference. Unfortunately, our suitcases had not arrived (did not arrive again until we were in the Netherlands) and we mainly used our time in Cancun to buy new clothes. So we can say from experience that there are at least plenty of international chain shops to replenish your wardrobe.
Accommodation
Our Airbnb was located near Cancun’s Lagoon. The apartment complex is gated and guarded 24/7. There is a nice swimming pool on the grounds, as well as a jetty from which you can enjoy all the boats passing by and peer into the mangrove to spot crocodiles! We stayed at Depa23 for two nights.
Isla Holbox
Isla Holbox is a paradise island off the north coast of Yucatan. From Cancun it is about a two-hour drive to Chiquilá. This is the place where the ADO bus drops you off or where you leave your rental car, as Isla Holbox is car-free. Parking in Chiquilá costs five euros per day. A boat leaves from Chiquilá every half hour to Isla Holbox. On Isla Holbox you can enjoy beautiful beaches, street art, swimming with whale sharks and of course delicious food. View our mini-guide here .
Accommodation
We stayed for four nights at Holbox Deluxe Apartments . From the harbor you can easily take a golf cart to the accommodation. A nice experience. The apartment complex has a swimming pool, bicycles and a (breakfast) bar. An ideal base!
Valladolid
Once back in Chiquilá it is a two and a half hour drive to the next destination: Valladolid. The city was founded in 1545 on the site of a former Mayan city of Zaci-Val. A historically rich place, where you can wander around and enjoy the diverse architecture. In addition, Valladolid is the perfect base for trips to Chichén Itzá, Izamal, various cenotes and Rio Largatos.
Accommodation
We stayed for three nights in this beautiful Airbnb in the center of Valladolid. The Airbnb is well closed off from the street by a large fence, which gives a safe feeling. In addition, there is space for a car and a small plunge pool in the garden. In our opinion, highly recommended.
Bacalar
After more than three days in Valladolid we continued our way to Bacalar (three and a half hours drive). The lake of the same name is located in Bacalar. A beautiful clear lake, with more shades of blue than you have ever seen. We enjoyed the silence on the various jetties, were amazed while kayaking and of course had a delicious meal at various beach clubs.
Accommodation
We stayed two nights at the El Roble Nature Hotel & Lagoon , just outside the center of Bacalar. The hotel has a private jetty and two kayaks to take you out onto the lake! Keep in mind that it is useful to have a rental car at this accommodation, given that it is still a short drive to the center. In addition, the quality of the hotel rooms varies.
Bacalar
After more than three days in Valladolid we continued our way to Bacalar (three and a half hours drive). The lake of the same name is located in Bacalar. A beautiful clear lake, with more shades of blue than you have ever seen. We enjoyed the silence on the various jetties, were amazed while kayaking and of course had a delicious meal at various beach clubs.
Accommodation
We stayed two nights at the El Roble Nature Hotel & Lagoon , just outside the center of Bacalar. The hotel has a private jetty and two kayaks to take you out onto the lake! Keep in mind that it is useful to have a rental car at this accommodation, given that it is still a short drive to the center. In addition, the quality of the hotel rooms varies.
