YUCATAN & QUINTANA ROO : 2 WEEKS ITINERARY
2 WEEKS IN YUCATAN & QUINTANA ROO
We traveled the Caribbean coast of Mexico. We departed from Cancún and visited Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Valladolid, and Holbox. This is a 2-week itinerary. We used the ADO bus to move between cities and rented a scooter or a bike to move around in each city.
Day 1: Cancún to Playa del Carmen
We arrived around midday in Cancún. From the airport, we took the ADO bus to go to Playa del Carmen. We arrived around 2 pm at Selina Playa del Carmen. We walked along 5th Avenue, did some shopping, and ate something. We advise you to stop at Chapultepec. It’s a chain restaurant in Mexico; beers are cheap, and they have cheap finger food. Playa del Carmen is also known for its parties, so you can also go out.
Day 2: Cenote Azul and beach
We woke up early this morning to discover our first cenote. We chose to go to Cenote Azul, which is a 20-minute drive away. The cheaper option is to take a minibus that travels the Playa del Carmen/Tulum route. They are under the bridge at the corner of 50 Avenida Sur and Avenida Benito Juárez; it was around 40 MXN. And the entrance fee is around 120 MXN. We advise you to go early in the morning; after 10 am, it gets super crowded. You can jump from the rock, and the colors are just incredible.
We came back to Playa del Carmen before lunch. We ate at a street food stand – a super good sandwich behind Parque Portal Maya, really on the street of Selina Hostel. Super good and super cheap.
In the afternoon, we went to the beach. We advise you to go to the Playacar side; the beach is nicer there. We also took our masks and saw some fish.
For the night, we went to Soundset Beach Club for dinner. It’s always super crowded; we advise you to book beforehand or come early. Nice music, nice spot, and the food was really good. Before going back to the hotel, we stopped at a street food stand called marquesitas – perfect for dessert!
Day 3: Isla Cozumel
You take the first ferry towards Isla Cozumel. Please don’t listen to any street sellers; just go to the official ticket selling point next to the ferry and buy it there. Go in advance because everyone wants to take the first ferry ;)
There, we rented a scooter with "España Rental." He was super nice, and he gave us the best price! We drove all around the island, starting on the east coast and going south. The east coast is the wild one, with not many people on the road and no one on the beach. Then, we planned to go to Punta Sur Eco Park, but it was closed… so don’t go on a Sunday.
Next, we went to Playa Palancar. It’s a beach club, but they offer snorkeling tours from there. We negotiated the price a bit and waited for other people to join. We discovered 3 different snorkeling spots. One was called "El Cielo" (the sky), and it was full of starfish. We also discovered corals, fish, and turtles. It was just amazing! Definitely our best snorkeling spot! You can also dive there; it should be amazing too.
Back at the beach club, we had lunch and a beer – it was perfect. This whole west coast is full of beach clubs; we stopped to see others, but this one was the best. Around 5 pm, we returned the scooter, walked in the cute city center, and took the ferry back to Playa del Carmen.
Day 4: Tulum: Cenote Taak Bi Ha and beach
We took a minibus (under the bridge at the corner of 50 Avenida Sur and Avenida Benito Juárez) towards Tulum. We took an early one, left our stuff at the hotel, and picked up a scooter that we rented at "The Glad's Bike Rental."
And then towards Cenote Taak Bi Ha. This cenote is underground. It costs 300 MXN. The water was super clear, and it was nice because it wasn’t that crowded.
After the cenote, we went back to the hotel. We chose a hotel on the beach; it’s a bit more expensive but so worth it! We went to Selina. In the afternoon, we relaxed and enjoyed the pool and the beach.
That night, we went to eat somewhere that didn’t cost an arm and a leg in the area. We chose Tulumunchies; it’s a place with different food trucks, and the pizza was super good.
Day 5: Tulum: Gran Cenote, Zona Arqueológica of Tulum, and Laguna Kaan Luum
At opening time, we went to Gran Cenote. We also wanted to go to Calavera, but since COVID, prices doubled! So, we decided to do only one. It was 300 MXN. In Gran Cenote, there are little turtles in the water. It’s a beautiful cenote, but it was too crowded, the staff weren't super friendly, and it was too commercial, so we were disappointed and didn’t stay long.
Then, we went to the Zona Arqueológica of Tulum. There are 2 entrances; we advise you to take the one that is next to the beach – much fewer people. You also need to enter before 10 am because after that, it starts to get crowded. And don’t listen to any sellers around. You don’t need a VIP entrance; the regular entrance is quick, there was no queue, and it costs only 80 MXN. The site is beautiful, and the landscape too. It was breathtaking; we really loved it! Sadly, since COVID, the beach below is closed… So, when we went out, we went to the beach that is just at the entrance to refresh ourselves!
Then, we drove to the city center for lunch. We ate at Sabor de Mar. It was super good and fresh! Highly recommended!
Then, we went to Laguna Kaan Luum. The entrance fee is 300 MXN. It’s a really nice place and not as crowded as the cenotes. Not many tourists, mainly Mexicans. We really liked it because it was a real change from the cenotes and the beach.
Day 6: Sian Ka'an
Sian Ka'an is a huge natural reserve. Usually, they offer one tour more inland and another tour on the coast. We chose the second one because we wanted to see more animals. They picked us up in Tulum and drove us to the point where you can take the boat. Before taking the boat, we saw a crocodile, then we went through the mangrove, saw dolphins and an island with lots of birds. Then, we changed boats to go to the sea, where we saw a turtle and did some snorkeling. We finally ate in Punta Allen and visited the village. The tour is a bit expensive but so worth it!
Day 7: Bacalar: Laguna de los 7 Colores
We woke up early and took an ADO bus to Bacalar. It’s about a 3-hour bus ride. We booked a super hotel called "Casa Umay." The room was super nice; you have a kitchen, and it’s well located.
Then, we walked towards the laguna. We saw the main square and the fort, and just down from the fort, there’s a guy who sells boat tours on the Laguna for only 250 MXN. We waited for others to join, and we discovered this beautiful Laguna. The color of the water is just incredible. We saw different cenotes, stopped to swim and have a beer, and finished with the Canal de los Piratas. It was a really nice tour.
Day 8: Bacalar: Los Rápidos & Laguna de los 7 Colores
Los Rápidos only opens at 10 am, but be there a bit before because there was a queue in front of the door. Last night, we rented a scooter to go there this morning, and we could pass in front of all the cars and arrive first to take photos. The entrance fee is 150 MXN. The landscape is just incredible; you can let yourself float down the river. We also rented a kayak for an hour to see a bit further; it was really nice. There is a restaurant there, so we ate there.
At the end of the day, we went to a restaurant on the Laguna to enjoy a beer at sunset and a good meal with this beautiful view.
Day 9: Valladolid
We took a morning ADO bus towards Valladolid. We had to change in Tulum; it took us 4 to 5 hours by bus. We had lunch in Tulum next to the station.
We arrived around 1 pm in Valladolid. We went to the hotel and walked around the city in the afternoon. It’s a really cute town. You should see the Parque Principal and walk through the street that goes to Parque Sisal. You can also go to Cenote Zací, which is in the center, but it was closed when we were there.
That night, we ate at a typical and popular restaurant! It was simple, cheap, and super good! Highly recommended if you are looking for something authentic. It’s called Restaurant La Terazza. And you absolutely need to visit the girls' toilets ;)
Day 10: Chichén Itzá - Cenote Ik Kil
We rented a scooter with "Experiencias Yucatán" – super nice, and they gave us the best price! We had to drive an hour to get to Chichén Itzá. You absolutely need to go at opening time. After 10 am, all the tourist buses start arriving! The entrance fee for Chichén Itzá is a bit expensive, but it’s a must-do.
Then, we stopped at Cenote Ik Kil, which is only 15 minutes from Chichén Itzá. It’s a beautiful cenote, but it was a bit crowded at that time.
In the afternoon, we relaxed and walked around the city.
That night, we ate at a food court next to Parque Principal. We advise you to take a sharing platter at the restaurant Zaci Hual. It was super good!
Day 11: Cenote Oxman, Cenote Suytun, and direction Holbox
We woke up early to arrive first at Cenote Oxman. We were there before 8 am, and we had the cenote to ourselves for a few minutes – it was really nice. We really love Cenote Oxman. You have a kind of Tarzan swing to jump into the water – it’s amazing. The place is also super cute with this beautiful yellow hacienda! Definitely one of our favorite cenotes. The entrance fee was 150 MXN.
Then, we went to the famous Cenote Suytun. The cenote that you see everywhere on Instagram, and there is a queue to take THE photo on the platform. If it weren’t to take a photo, it’s not a cenote we would have gone to. The photo taken is just incredible, but the cenote itself isn't incredible. The entrance fee cost 150 MXN.
Then, we needed to be at the ADO bus station by 1 pm to take the bus to Chiquilá. From Chiquilá, we took a ferry to Holbox. The ferry runs every 30 minutes, and it costs 220 MXN per person.
We arrived in Holbox, checked into our cute hotel called Chujuk, and went for a beer on the beach to watch the sunset! Then, we ate a sandwich at one of the little stands around the main square.
Day 12: Holbox: Punta Coco & Punta Mosquito
Early morning, we went by bike (that we rented yesterday) to Punta Coco, hoping to see flamingos, but apparently, it wasn’t the season. But it was mosquito season; we could feel them well.
Then, we decided to go to the other side to Punta Mosquito, where we walked on a large sandbar in the middle of the sea. It was really nice.
We came back next to the main square for lunch. It was really good.
In the afternoon, we relaxed and enjoyed the pool and the beach.
For sunset, we went to the beach restaurant La Playa De Ñaña. We had a beer, some sushi, an amazing view, and good music! Highly recommended!
Time to go back to Cancún. Around 10 am, we took the ferry to Chiquilá and then the ADO bus to Cancún.
We checked into Selina Cancún.
In the afternoon, we went to the Zona Hotelera of Cancún. Except for the mall where Morgane enjoyed doing some shopping, we didn’t really enjoy all those big resorts in front of the beach. The beach is nice, with white sand and turquoise water, but those big resorts break all the charm…
Day 14: Isla Mujeres
Early morning, we went to take the ferry to Isla Mujeres. It was the end of the trip, so our budget was tight. This time, we rented bikes and not a scooter to do the round trip of the island. It wasn't easy, but possible; we could do it!
We first started with the beaches on the North Side! So pretty! And there was no one there in the morning, so it was perfect.
Then, we went down to the south of the island along the east coast. Beautiful landscapes, a bit hot on the bike, but when we arrived at Punta Sur, it was worth it.
At Punta Sur, there is a free part and a part you have to pay for. We stayed in the free part, and we could enjoy the view. We even saw dolphins – it was amazing. The color of the water on the west side was incredible. We wanted to swim in it, but it was hard to find a way down.
We finally found a little path to go down to the beach (without going through a beach club). We enjoyed a big part of the afternoon there.
Then, we biked back to the ferry along the west coast. We got lost at one point, but we finally found the way.
Day 15: Cancún airport
That’s it; it's the end of our Mexican trip! Time to take the bus towards the airport!
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