The 10 Most Beautiful Sights on the Yucatán Peninsula

The Top 10 Sights on the Yucatán Peninsula on a Map

Yucatán is a peninsula located mostly in Mexico. But parts of Belize and Guatemala also belong to it. This article covers only the Mexican part.

The Yucatán Peninsula is home to three Mexican states: Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatán.

To help you get your bearings for your trip to Yucatán, we’ve created a map of Yucatán with all our top picks already marked on it.

The Most Impressive Maya Ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula

Yucatán is a fantastic mix of culture and nature. The real standout is the sheer number of Maya temples scattered all across the peninsula — and they’re absolutely a must-see when you’re here.

There are so many that you simply can’t see them all. That’s why we’re sharing only our top three most beautiful Maya ruins.

All our tips for the most beautiful Maya ruins in Mexico

Chichén Itzá

What do you need to know? Chichén Itzá is the most famous Maya ruin in the world. It was once the capital of the Maya civilization, and today it’s the number-one attraction on Yucatán — one of the most famous places in the world and one of the seven new wonders of the world, alongside the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Colosseum in Rome. You can buy tickets at the entrance.

What is there to see at Chichén Itzá? The most iconic structure is the Kukulcán Pyramid — but the grounds are vast and there’s so much more to explore. We really recommend going with a guide to get the most out of the site.

Where to stay? The nearest larger city to Chichén Itzá is Valladolid. Our hotel pick is Casa Tia Micha. If you’d rather stay right next to the ruins, we recommend La Casa de la Luna in Pisté.

Book a guide for Chichén Itzá (entrance not included)

Maya Ruins Tulum

What do you need to know? The Maya ruins of Tulum aren’t quite as grand as other sites on Yucatán, but the oceanfront setting gives them an absolutely unbeatable backdrop. Tickets are available at the entrance, and we’d suggest booking a guide in advance to really understand what you’re looking at.

Where to stay? The ruins are close to both Tulum’s town center and the Zona Hotelera, so you can easily reach them from anywhere in town. Our hotel pick: Casa Almendro.

Book a guide for the Maya ruins of Tulum (entrance not included)

Uxmal

What do you need to know? Uxmal is our under-the-radar pick for Yucatán things to do. The structures are at least as impressive as Chichén Itzá — and on top of that, it’s far less crowded. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Where to stay? Uxmal is located south of Mérida, which makes the city the best base for a visit. Our hotel recommendation: Kuka y Naranjo.

Guided tour to Uxmal from Mérida

The Most Beautiful Natural Highlights on the Yucatán Peninsula

Beyond the Maya temples, Yucatán is especially famous for its stunning beaches — but those are far from the only natural highlights here. Here’s a look at all the incredible natural sights the peninsula has to offer.

Caribbean Beaches

What do you need to know? We honestly can’t pick just one beach as the top sight on Yucatán — there are simply too many dream beaches to choose from. So instead, here are the most beautiful beach towns and beaches the peninsula has to offer.

The Most Beautiful Beach Towns on Yucatán

• Tulum: our Tulum tips
• Playa del Carmen: our Playa del Carmen tips
• Cancún: our Cancún tips
• Cozumel
• Isla Mujeres
• Holbox

The Most Beautiful Beaches on Yucatán

• Playa Paraíso, Tulum
• Playa Holbox, Holbox
• Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
• Playa Akumal, Akumal
• Playa Playacar, Playa del Carmen
• Playa Delfínes, Cancún

Cenotes

What do you need to know? Cenotes are natural sinkholes filled with fresh water — and there are several thousand of them across Yucatán. They’re seriously photogenic, you can swim in them, and at some you can even go diving. Don’t miss them.

Our top three cenotes on Yucatán: Cenote Dos Ojos, Cenote Ik-Kil, Cenote Xkeken.

Where to stay? Valladolid and Tulum are both great bases for exploring the cenotes.

Laguna Bacalar

What do you need to know? The water in the Laguna de Bacalar is just as turquoise as the Caribbean coast — but it’s far less touristy and completely wave-free. It’s the perfect spot to slow down and just relax.

Where to stay? Book accommodation right on the lagoon for the full experience. Our hotel recommendation: Khaban Bacalar Hotel Boutique.

Book a boat tour on the Laguna de Bacalar

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

What do you need to know? The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is where you experience the wild side of Yucatán — exotic wildlife, mangroves, lagoons, and beaches all in one place. The boat tours through the lagoons are a real highlight, especially if you want a chance to spot crocodiles up close.

Where to stay? The reserve is located south of Tulum. Our hotel recommendation: Radhoo Tulum.

Guided tour to Sian Ka’an with boat ride and lunch

The Most Beautiful Cities on the Yucatán Peninsula

The sheer variety of things to do in Yucatán is what makes it such a popular destination. And of course, beautiful cities are a big part of that.

Mérida

What do you need to know? Mérida is the largest city on Yucatán and is also known as the White City — most of its buildings are painted in light, cheerful colors that give the whole place a really welcoming feel. It’s also considered the sunniest and safest city in Mexico, which makes it a great base for exploring the region.

Top points of interest in Mérida: The Cathedral of Mérida, the Pasaje de la Revolucion exhibition, and the Paseo de Montejo.

Our hotel recommendation: Kuka y Naranjo

Valladolid

What do you need to know? Valladolid is a charming colonial town right in the heart of Yucatán. It’s the ideal base for visiting Chichén Itzá and other Maya ruins like Ek Balam — and there are also countless cenotes to discover in the surrounding area.

Top highlights in Valladolid: Cenote Zaci, the cathedral, and the Calzada de los Frailes street.

Our hotel recommendation: Casa Tia Micha

Campeche

What do you need to know? Campeche is our local favorite on Yucatán — and honestly, it’s our favorite city on the entire peninsula. The colorful building facades and alleyways are unlike anything else we’ve seen in Mexico. Add to that a beautiful waterfront location with a lovely promenade to stroll along, and you’ve got a seriously underrated gem.

Top attractions in Campeche: Plaza de la Independencia, the alleyways of the historic center, and the Malecón.

Our hotel recommendation: Hotel Casa Piedad

Practical Tips for Yucatán

To wrap things up, here are a few practical pointers for your trip to Yucatán.

#1 Is Yucatán safe?

Yucatán is one of the safest regions in Mexico. As long as you follow a few basic guidelines, you can have a fantastic vacation here. We explain more about this in another article.

#2 Getting to Yucatán

The international airport of Cancún is located on Yucatán and is one of the largest airports in Mexico. Many transatlantic flights connect directly to Cancún. We always search for flights through Skyscanner.

Search for flights on Skyscanner

#3 Getting around Yucatán

We recommend doing a road trip around Yucatán with a rental car. You can easily use Google Maps for navigation if you have an eSIM for Mexico.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars

The peninsula also has an excellent bus network. The bus company ADO connects the most important towns and sights across Yucatán.

#4 Best time to visit

The best time to visit Yucatán is during the dry season from November to April. That said, since it’s warm year-round and even the rainy season rarely means days of non-stop rain, you can travel to Yucatán at any time of year.

#5 Where to stay on Yucatán

If you’re still looking for inspiration for great places to stay on Yucatán, check out our hotel articles for the peninsula: