Yucatán Road Trip: Hidden Gems & Attractions

Strolling through the colorful and vibrant alleys of charming colonial towns, taking a leap into the refreshingly cold and crystal-clear waters of sparkling cenotes, enjoying the Caribbean feeling on pristine white beaches, and sampling the incredibly delicious Mexican cuisine - a road trip across the Yucatán Peninsula is vibrant, fills you with joy, and has the potential to become a true favorite vacation. With a diverse mix of enchanting towns, lesser-known Mayan temples, inviting places, and islands for swimming, I want to inspire you now for your very own unforgettable Yucatán road trip!

Flights from the United States typically arrive at the international airport in Cancún. While there are certainly interesting spots in the city itself, I would recommend skipping this very busy town with its tourist hotel zone, as there are countless more worthwhile places hidden across the peninsula. To reach the less centrally located spots, I suggest renting a car for your Yucatán road trip, which you can pick up directly at the airport. Detailed information on this can be found at the end of the article.

Since most flights arrive in Cancún late in the afternoon, and it gets dark there by 6 PM, an initial overnight stay near the airport is highly beneficial. Driving in the dark, especially when tired from a long flight, is not fun here. I can recommend the small town of Puerto Morelos with its numerous cenotes along the Ruta de los Cenotes. Right in the jungle lies the charming boutique hotel Hokhmah Eco-Lodge, an ideal starting point for visiting the cenotes.

My favorite cenote is Cenote 7 Bocas with its mystical underground cave, where you can swim in an extraordinary atmosphere.

Visiting at least one colonial town is essential for a successful Yucatán road trip. I would like to recommend the colorful Valladolid for this, as it is simply a Yucatán small town that looks like it is out of a picture book. Here, time ticks a little slower than in the bustling and much larger Mérida, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed. Additionally, several very worthwhile excursion destinations await right near the city limits.

In Valladolid, a large portion of carefree Mexican life awaits you, which you can best experience with a relaxed stroll through the colorful streets. Order yourself a serving of the tasty tacos with spicy chicken and pink onions at the street stand El Tigrillo, or just as delicious, enjoy ice cream at Wabi Gelato. Sit down with the locals at Parque Principal Francisco Cantón Rosado, the vibrant main square of the town, and admire the majestic Cathedral Templo de San Servacio. A wonderful restaurant with a beautiful garden and exceptionally delicious cuisine is IX CAT IK Tradicional Cocina Maya where traditional dishes from Mayan culture are served as promised by the name.

Valladolid also offers a very unusual attraction, namely the Cenote Zaci located right in the city center. Swimming in the underground lake gives you the surreal feeling of being in the jungle, but certainly not in the middle of a city. Currently, the cenote is closed for renovation but should reopen in Spring 2023. With its rich history and historic buildings, the Convento de San Bernardino de Siena is also worth a visit. Perhaps you'll even visit in the evening at 9 PM, when the daily light show illuminates the monastery's facade in vibrant colors.

If you want to stay longer ...

For a cozy exploration of the city center of Valladolid, including some of the (incredibly many) cenotes in the surrounding area, as well as the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam and Izamal, I would recommend spending 3 to 4 nights on-site. Style and warmth surround you in every corner of the lovely boutique hotel Colonte Origen, which also treats you to a charming courtyard, a small pool, and a central location.

Just a 30-minute drive from Valladolid, the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam slumber in breathtaking scenery. This site is much smaller than, for example, the world wonder Chichén Itzá, but it is also not overcrowded. Furthermore, you are allowed to climb the individual temples in Ek Balam, which is no longer possible at many other sites. From the top of the approximately 30-meter-high acropolis, you can enjoy an unparalleled view over the dense jungle that caresses Ek Balam from all sides. A tip I got from a local: The nearby Cenote Xcan ché is beautiful and not too crowded!

Are you completely enchanted by the charm of Valladolid, and do you have the desire and time to explore another colonial town during your Yucatán road trip? The charming Izamal can be perfectly discovered on a day trip. The special feature? All houses and buildings are painted in a cheerful, bright sunny yellow!

One of the most charming and surreal places in the entire Yucatán Peninsula is likely Las Coloradas. Here, numerous lakes shine in various shades of pink and rose. Depending on the time of day and weather, they can sometimes be intensely bright, and at other times more pastel-like. For the most intense pink, and thus the best photos, you should visit Las Coloradas around noon. These are artificial ponds used for salt production, which you can also see from the huge white salt mountains right nearby. The extraordinary color of the water comes from beta-carotene, produced by the algae, microorganisms, and small crustaceans that live there to survive in the extremely salty water.

While many travelers only target Las Coloradas for a day trip, I recommend staying one or perhaps even two nights on site. Not only can you then admire the salt lakes extensively, but Playa Cancunito, a beautiful unspoiled sandy beach, also invites you for a swim.

Have you ever seen flamingos up close? In the nearby Río Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, you can admire these vividly colored creatures, along with numerous different water birds and crocodiles, during tours in small boats through the mangrove forests. For this trip, I recommend the photographer and nature guide William Canto, who makes every tour a personal and unforgettable experience. It's unforgettable not least because you receive the incredibly beautiful photos he takes during the tour with his professional camera as keepsakes!

My Accommodation Tip

A truly charming place to stay in Las Coloradas is the Piña Coloradas Ecolodge. The many details in pink and rose create a connection to the salt lakes, and many natural materials were used in the design of this small establishment.

As wonderfully and intensely as the salt lakes of Las Coloradas shine in pink, the lagoon of Bacalar shimmers enchantingly in all shades from blue to turquoise. Living up to its nickname 'Lagoon of Seven Colors,' this freshwater lake, originally formed from seven cenotes, truly honors it. Splashing in the warm water, paddling on a SUP on the shimmering surface in the Caribbean sun, and being awed by the incredible turquoise blue are the goals of a successful day in Bacalar. Good news for early risers: The sunrises over the lagoon are legendary!

The lagoon of seven colors can also be wonderfully explored on a private sailing tour, for example with VeleroBacalar, which takes you to various cenotes and the Canal de los Piratas. If your budget allows, I recommend a hotel by the lagoon with direct water access. The more affordable options in the village (where there are great street art works and the San Felipe fortress to discover) are often located in less peaceful areas and you would unfortunately have to make do with public swimming spots. I fell in love with the beautiful atmosphere of the hotel Casa Bakal from the first moment. The long dock extending into the lagoon is a dream, and the food at Restaurant Balik is truly delicious.

My Tip: About a 40-minute drive from Bacalar, the Mayan ruins of Chacchoben are hidden in the dense jungle. If there are no cruise ships docked in nearby Mahahual, and you arrive right at opening at 9 AM, you might even have the temples all to yourself. The sounds of howler monkeys from the surrounding forests are truly impressive!

Isla Mujeres

Incredibly vibrant, the lively Isla Mujeres lies just a few kilometers off the coast of Cancún in the turquoise sea. From the ferry terminal Puerto Juarez in Cancún, the super fast Ultramar ferry takes you to the island in only 30 minutes. Alongside Puerto Juarez, there are two other departure points in Cancún.

You best discover Isla Mujeres by circling the island in a golf cart. You can rent such a vehicle spontaneously along the main road just behind Playa Centro, for example at Prisma Golf Cart Rentals. Be sure not to miss Punta Sur, the southernmost and highest point of the island. There, not only is there a breathtaking view over the rugged cliffs and deep blue sea, but also a small lighthouse, as well as a park with numerous statues and a small Maya temple devoted to the fertility goddess Ixchel.

A hidden gem is the cemetery on the eastern side of Isla Mujeres, which, with its brightly painted graves and colorful flag decorations, looks completely different from our resting places at home. I also found all the colorful street art around the island very beautiful, which you often pass by automatically. After sightseeing and enjoying a delicious snack at the Coco Snack Beach Bar, you can wonderfully relax on the soft sand of Playa Norte or Playa Centro.

Isla Holbox

My heart has been stolen by the small Isla Holbox, which you can reach by the passenger ferry Holbox Express from the port of Chiquilá west of Cancún. You can leave your rental car in the parking lot directly at the ferry terminal for the duration of your stay. The only little village on the island also bears the name Holbox and invites you to stroll around. Small colorful cafes and traditional restaurants serving the fresh catch of the day line the sandy streets. Colorful and often truly spectacular street art adorns the walls of houses. Gloom and bad moods have no chance on this island.

You won't find classic attractions on the island. It's simply the very relaxed vibe, the many colors, and the stunning beaches that you should enjoy. However, there are some very special places and activities on Holbox, for example, Punta Cocos, where on dark nights and with some luck you can observe the phenomenon of bioluminescence. At Punta Mosquito, a long sandbank in the turquoise water, you can sometimes spot flamingos.

A boat trip to Yalahau Cenote is also worthwhile, where you can swim in freshwater amidst the jungle atmosphere, or a visit to the Island Animal Shelter, where you can 'borrow' a cute four-legged friend for your next beach walk. From June to September, it is also possible to snorkel with whale sharks off the coast of Holbox.

My Tip

You can visit all the islands on a day trip as well, for which I warmly recommend the fantastic and absolutely friendly team of Loseana Private Tours, led by Steffi and Andres. In small groups and in German, you are guaranteed to experience unforgettable island moments!

The vibrant Pueblo Mágico on the Caribbean coast of Yucatán enchants its visitors especially with its beautiful white sandy beaches, countless cenotes in the jungle, and the fairytale-like Laguna de Kaan Luum. The fantastic Sian Ka'an National Park is also just a stone's throw from Tulum. On a boat tour, you can explore the mangrove forests and coral reefs there and, with some luck, observe crocodiles, manatees, and dolphins.

One place you absolutely must not miss in Tulum is the Maya ruins, which lie spectacularly and picturesque along the coast, some even perched directly on the cliffs above the turquoise sea. For me, the archaeological zone of Tulum ranks among the most beautiful Maya sites in all of Yucatán. But be sure to arrive early at 8 AM, as just one or two hours later, when the buses with hundreds of visitors arrive, the site becomes quite crowded.

Tulum is also known throughout Yucatán for its high density of highly recommended and especially trendy restaurants and cafes. You can devour incredibly good tacos, for instance, at La Taqueria in the Hotel Zone, while the beautifully designed Raw Love Café serves you the most imaginative creations from raw food cuisine. The various smoothie bowls are particularly delicious!

Do you need a rental car? Although the Yucatán Peninsula has a very well-developed network of bus routes, and you can reach all the larger towns with the buses from ADO or Noreste, I would still recommend a rental car. Especially if you want to visit places like Las Coloradas, Chacchoben, or some more remote cenotes, you will find it difficult with buses. I had very good experiences with my rental car from Sunny Cars, as every booking includes a fully honest all-inclusive package, and you do not have to worry about additional costs. By the way, you do not need an international driver's license for the Yucatán Peninsula.

When is the best time to travel to the Yucatán Peninsula? The months from November to May are perfect for a road trip. It is usually dry and not as hot as in the rainy high summer. You might want to avoid the months from July to October, during which the risk of tropical storms is significantly higher than at other times of the year.

What currency is used in Yucatán? In Mexico, you pay with the Mexican Peso. 1 Euro currently equals about 20.23 MXN (as of December 2022).