In a nutshell
- Two weeks is the sweet spot for a Yucatán road trip — enough time to hit all the major highlights of the peninsula while still having plenty of time to swim at Caribbean beaches.
- A rental car is the best way to do this Yucatán itinerary — it gives you total flexibility. But don’t worry: the route works great by bus too.
- Below we share our full 2-week route through Yucatán, with honest hotel picks and practical tips for every stop along the way.
Our Suggested Route for a 2-Week Road Trip on the Yucatán
We think two weeks is perfect for an independent road trip on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. If you want to see more of Mexico, we recommend staying at least three weeks.
Also check out our tips for a 3-week road trip through Mexico
But now, on to the Yucatán road trip!
Our 2-Week Yucatán Route on a Map
Our suggested itinerary for an independent road trip:
- Day 1-2: Cancún & Isla Mujeres
- Day 3: Holbox
- Day 4: Valladolid
- Day 5: Chichén Itzá & Izamal
- Day 6: Mérida
- Day 7: Uxmal
- Day 8-9: Bacalar
- Day 10: Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
- Day 11-12: Tulum
- Day 13: Akumal
- Day 14: Playa del Carmen
To give you a better overview, we’ve marked all the stops on our road trip on a map.
Rental Car or Bus?
The best way to explore the highlights of the Yucatán is with a rental car. It gives you total flexibility and gets you from A to B the fastest. Since you arrive and depart at Cancún Airport, you can pick up and drop off your car right there.
Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
Note: The roads on the Yucatán are safe — driving here is really no problem at all. For navigation, your best bet is an eSIM for Mexico so you have Google Maps on the go.
That said, stick to driving during the day only. It’s better not to drive on deserted roads at night.
If you’d rather skip the rental car, you can also do a great trip by bus. Your best option is the ADO bus network. Tickets are available at bus terminals or online on the ADO website. If that doesn’t work, you can also book through ViajoMucho or Checkmybus.
Our Yucatán itinerary is primarily designed for self-drivers, but we’ll also explain how to get around by bus for every leg of the journey.
Day 1-2: Cancún & Isla Mujeres
Day 1: Arrival in Cancún
On Day 1, you’ll land at the airport in Cancún. Pick up your rental car there and head to your hotel. After the long flight, the best thing to do is simply relax on the beach.
Playa Delfines is the most beautiful public beach in Cancún. Alternatively, book a beachfront hotel and you’ll have a dream beach right at your doorstep.
Day 2: Day Trip to Isla Mujeres
Just off the coast of Cancún lies the Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres. You can take a ferry there in 30 minutes and spend the day at Playa Norte. Or book a boat tour.
Book a boat tour to Isla Mujeres
If you’re more in the mood for sightseeing than the beach, check out Cancún’s Underwater Museum. The museum consists of sculptures sitting on the ocean floor off Isla Mujeres — seriously cool!
Book a snorkeling tour at MUSA
Book a glass-bottom boat tour at MUSA
Where to Stay in Cancún?
You’ll find beachfront hotels in Cancún’s Zona Hotelera, though they tend to be pricey. More affordable options are in the downtown area. We’ve picked out hotels with free parking in both areas.
Our pick for a beachfront hotel: Hyatt Zilara
Our downtown hotel pick: The Quetzal
More tips on hotels and things to do in Cancún:
Day 3: Holbox
On Day 3, get an early start and drive to the town of Chiquilá. It’s a two-hour drive by car; by ADO bus it takes a bit longer.
At the port in Chiquilá, leave your car in the parking lot and take the ferry to Holbox. Ferries run hourly — it’s best to buy your tickets in advance on the Holboxexpress website.
Holbox has no paved roads and very little infrastructure, which makes the peninsula perfect for spending a day completely unplugged on one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico.
Where to Stay on Holbox?
There are plenty of cool, stylish hotels right on the beach on Holbox.
Our hotel pick: Palapas del Sol
Day 4: Valladolid
On Day 4, take a morning ferry back to Chiquilá after breakfast and continue on to Valladolid. It’s a two-hour drive by car or 2.5 hours by ADO bus.
By midday you’ll arrive in this beautiful colonial city, where you can explore the historic center at a leisurely pace and visit a cenote. Cenotes are limestone sinkholes where you can swim and take amazing photos.
Our top cenote picks near Valladolid: Cenote Suytun, Cenote Xkeken, Cenote Zaci, and Cenote Oxman.
Our Hotel Pick for Valladolid
Casa Tia Micha: Beautiful hotel in the center of Valladolid with free parking.
Check out all our tips for Valladolid and cenotes:
Day 5: Chichén Itzá & Izamal
Morning: Chichén Itzá
We recommend heading to the Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá early in the morning. The site opens at 8 AM and that’s when it’s at its least crowded. It’s just under 45 minutes by car.
For your visit, it’s really worth hiring a guide who can tell you more about the structures and the culture. Plan for a total of three to four hours at Chichén Itzá.
You can buy your ticket on-site.
Book a guide for Chichén Itzá (admission not included)
Read all our tips about Chichén Itzá
Afternoon: Izamal
From Chichén Itzá, it’s about an hour’s drive to the yellow city of Izamal. There you can visit the old monastery Convento de San Antonio and stroll through the yellow alleyways — yes, nearly all the buildings really are yellow. You can also climb the Pirámide Kinich Kakmó.
Note: You can’t get from Chichén Itzá to Izamal by ADO bus. In that case, head straight to Mérida and make a day trip to Izamal the following day.
Our Hotel Pick for Izamal
To avoid driving all the way to Mérida late in the evening, it’s best to spend the night in Izamal. Since not many travelers do this, most accommodations here are very affordable.
Hotel Quinta Izamal: Affordable place to stay in a yellow building with free parking.
Day 6: Mérida
From Izamal, it’s just under an hour to Mérida. Try to head out in the late morning.
In Mérida, go for a leisurely brunch and explore the city. Top highlights include the Cathedral, the Pasaje de la Revolución exhibition, and the boulevard Paseo de Montejo.
Our Hotel Pick for Mérida
Kuka y Naranjo: Centrally located hotel with free parking.
To all our tips for Mérida:
Day 7: Uxmal
On Day 7, drive one hour in the morning to the archaeological site of Uxmal. It’s a seriously underrated spot among the Maya temples of Mexico — you could easily spend a few hours marveling at the ancient ruins.
Our tip: Right next to the Maya site there’s a chocolate museum. Definitely worth a visit!
Don’t leave Uxmal too late around midday, because you still have a good four-hour drive ahead of you. You’ll be crossing the Yucatán Peninsula all the way to Bacalar. We’ll show you the best places to stay there in the next section.
If you’re traveling without a car, book a day trip to Uxmal from Mérida and take the ADO bus from Mérida to Bacalar the next day.
Day 8-9: Bacalar
Day 8: Laguna de Bacalar
The small town of Bacalar sits right on the Laguna de Bacalar — a paradise on earth, enormous and shimmering in a stunning turquoise blue. Be sure to take a boat tour on the lagoon or rent a stand-up paddleboard.
Book a boat tour on the Laguna de Bacalar
Day 9: Relax or Day Trip to Belize
So you’re not switching accommodations every single day, Bacalar is the perfect place to build in a second, low-key day and simply unwind.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also make a quick trip across the border to neighboring Belize. There’s always something exciting about a new country. The small coastal town of Corozal is only a 50-minute drive away.
Check the official government travel advice for your country for current entry requirements for Belize before you go.
Where to Stay in Bacalar?
It’s worth spending a little more here and staying right on the lagoon. More budget-friendly options are available in the center of Bacalar. Both of our hotel picks have free parking.
Our pick for a hotel on the lagoon: Khaban Bacalar Hotel Boutique
Our pick for a hotel in the center of Bacalar: Gran Jaguar Hotel
Day 10: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Morning: Sian Ka’an
On Day 10, you’ll continue toward Tulum. Before arriving there after about 2.5 hours of driving, make a stop at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Pull into the parking lot at the Muyil archaeological site.
We highly recommend taking a boat tour on Laguna Muyil — you can book it on-site. It’s absolutely worth it: you get to drift two kilometers along the so-called Maya Canal, which is a truly unique experience.
Afternoon: Continue to Tulum
It’s not far from Sian Ka’an to Tulum. Round out the day at one of the beaches in Tulum.
Note: If you’re traveling by bus, buy a ticket from Bacalar to Tulum and book a guided tour to Sian Ka’an on one of the following days.
Day 11-12: Tulum
Day 11: Maya Ruins and Playa Paraíso
The next morning, head to the Tulum Maya ruins. You can buy your ticket on-site, park your car right there, or arrive by bike. To get the most out of the ruins, it’s worth booking a guide who can bring the archaeological site to life.
Book a guide for the Tulum Maya ruins (admission not included)
From the Maya ruins, it’s about a 15-minute walk to Playa Paraíso — the most beautiful beach in Tulum. Settle in and enjoy.
More tips on the Tulum Maya ruins can be found here:
Day 12: Beach and Cenote
On Day 12, start with a relaxed morning at the beach. Then head over to Cenote Dos Ojos, which is right on the way to Akumal, where you’ll be spending the night.
Note: Across from the ADO terminal in Tulum, colectivos run to Playa del Carmen roughly every ten minutes. They stop at Cenote Dos Ojos and in Akumal.
Where to Stay in Tulum?
The nicest hotels in Tulum are in the Zona Hotelera. More affordable places to stay are in the downtown area. We have a pick in each area — parking is included at both.
Our pick for a beachfront hotel: Radhoo Tulum
Our pick for a downtown hotel: Casa Almendro
Read our tips on where to stay in Tulum:
Day 13: Akumal
Day 13 is spent at the beach in Akumal. Admission costs 120 MXN and includes lockers, showers, and restrooms.
At the beach you can swim with sea turtles, soak up the sun, or go for a long walk. In the afternoon, continue from Akumal to Playa del Carmen.
Without a car, catch a colectivo to Playa del Carmen at the same spot where you got off yesterday.
Where to Stay in Akumal?
Las Villas Akumal: Beautiful bungalows on the beach in Akumal. Parking is included, and if you stay here you won’t have to pay the beach admission fee.
Day 14: Playa del Carmen
On the last day of your Yucatán road trip, pick up some souvenirs along the 5th Avenue shopping strip in Playa del Carmen or take one last dip in the ocean.
Then it’s back to Cancún Airport, where you’ll return your rental car. From Playa del Carmen, it’s just under an hour’s drive to the airport.
Where to Stay in Playa del Carmen?
Most hotels in the center don’t have parking, so it’s best to stay just slightly outside the center — still close to all the action.
Riviera Maya Suites: Beautiful hotel on 5th Avenue with free parking.
Read our tips for Playa del Carmen too:
Our 3-Week Yucatán Road Trip
If you have three weeks for the Yucatán, even better. We recommend taking exactly the same route and simply giving yourself more time in certain places.
You can also add a few extra stops and day trips. Here are our suggestions:
- Take a day trip from Mérida to the Ria Celestún Biosphere Reserve. That’s where the flamingos live.
- Take the ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel Island. On the island, join a boat tour to stunning beaches with snorkeling.
- After your visit to Uxmal, head to the colonial city of Campeche and then on to the Calakmul Maya ruins. From there, continue to Bacalar.
- Visit one of the many theme parks on the Yucatán. Our pick is the famous Xcaret park near Playa del Carmen: get your ticket for Xcaret Park.
Practical Tips for Your Yucatán Road Trip
Finally, here are a few important things to know before you hit the road on the Yucatán.
Are There Toll Roads on the Yucatán?
Yes, but only a few roads are tolled. As far as we know, the only toll road on the Yucatán right now is the highway from Cancún to Mérida. On our road trip, you’ll only pay a toll on Day 3 — when you drive from Cancún to Holbox.
How Safe Is a Road Trip Through the Yucatán?
The Yucatán is one of the safest regions in Mexico. As long as you travel during the day and stick to tourist areas, you don’t have much to worry about. Driving on the Yucatán is no problem either — just avoid driving at night.
We’ll go into more detail on this topic in a separate article.
All our tips on safety in Mexico:
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Yucatán?
The best time to visit is during the dry season from November through April. Our favorite months are November and December. We explain more in a dedicated article. The climate in Cancún is representative of the Yucatán as a whole.
Our tips for the best time to visit Yucatán:
Where to Stay on the Yucatán?
Would you rather base yourself at one hotel and take day trips from there? Then check out our Yucatán accommodation guides.
