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12-Day Yucatán Peninsula Road Trip

Customisable Itinerary
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Trip Overview

This 12-day adventure offers lovers of diversity to travel to the Yucatan Peninsula with the freedom to set your own pace.

This Yucatan road trip will guide you from Mayan ruins to heavenly beaches. You will visit the must-see historical sites of the peninsula, which will leave you with a full understanding of the impressive cultures that called this area home hundreds of years ago. You'll also understand why they selected the Yucatan while relaxing on its amazing beaches of the Caribbean Sea.

There will be stops to dip in the picturesque cenotes and "pueblos magicos", which will show you the true culture of the Mexican people. The Yucatan peninsula will surprise you with its cultural richness and natural beauty, and you will be able to see it all from the privacy of your own vehicle.
Outdoors & Nature
Culture & Arts
Sightseeing

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Itinerary

Day 1

Bienvenidos a Mexico!

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Bienvenidos a Mexico!

Welcome to Mexico! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll meet with your English-speaking guide who will assist you in collecting your vehicle at the rental company's counter. You'll then drive to your hotel and settle down for the evening, ready to start your Yucatan road trip in the mañana! Whether you want to spend the afternoon relaxing on the white sand of the beach or head downtown to do some serious shopping, you'll be highly entertained.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Margaritas Cancun2 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    CancunOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Cancun International Airport to Las Margaritas

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cancún

Day 2

Discover the Pyramid of the Black Jaguar in Ek Balam

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Discover the Pyramid of the Black Jaguar in Ek Balam

Today, you'll check out and leave Cancun behind, ready for your next adventure. First, you'll explore the hidden ruins of Ek Balam. This recently explored site remains a major discovery in Mayan archaeology at the end of the twentieth century. You can climb the pyramid of the "Black Jaguar"! After lunch, you'll go for a swim in the sacred Cenote X’canche or be adventurous and go on a zip-line or do some rappelling. In the evening, you'll arrive in the small colonial city of Valladolid.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    El Mesón del Marqués5 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ek Balam

    Cenote X-Canche

    Valladolid

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Cancún to Ek Balam

    Self-Driving from Ek Balam to Valladolid

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cancún

    Yucatan

    Valladolid

Day 3

Natural Wonders of Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos

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Natural Wonders of Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos

Today after breakfast, you'll head out to do some exploring. Getting the day off to a great start, you'll visit Las Coloradas where you'll be amazed by the colours of the lagoons; from emerald green to turquoise, pink and orange. Then, you'll take a boat tour of Rio Lagartos, a biosphere reserve on the north coast of the peninsula where you can find the largest colony of pink flamingos in Mexico! It is an amazing sight. You'll then return to land where you'll drive back to Valladolid.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    El Mesón del Marqués5 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Las Coloradas

    Rio Lagartos

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Valladolid to The Yucatan Coloradas

    Self-Driving from The Yucatan Coloradas to Río Lagartos

    Boat from Río Lagartos to Río Lagartos

    Self-Driving from Río Lagartos to Valladolid

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Valladolid

    The Coloradas

    Río Lagartos

Day 4

The Mayan Wonder of Chichen Itza

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The Mayan Wonder of Chichen Itza

Today, you'll explore the wonder of Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The site, which at its height was the most important religious centre of the Yucatan Peninsula, is the largest archaeological site in Yucatan. Cool down after this visit in a cenote, an underground magical pool which is unique to this part of the world. In the afternoon, you'll journey to the gorgeous colonial town of Izamal, entirely painted in yellow, before continuing to Merida.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ko'ox Art 57 Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Chichén Itzá

    Yokdzonot Cenote

    Yellow Town of Izamal

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Valladolid to Chichén-Itzá

    Self-Driving from Chichén-Itzá to Yokdzonot

    Self-Driving from Yokdzonot to Izamal

    Self-Driving from Izamal to Mérida

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Valladolid

    Yucatan

    Yokdzonot

    Izamal

    Mérida

Day 5

Conquer the City of Uxmal

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Conquer the City of Uxmal

This morning, you'll take some time to explore two cenotes and take a refreshing swim in the forest. Cenotes are natural pools of fresh and crystalline water where the sun's rays create spectacular lighting effects. Cenotes are unique to this region due to the soft earth created when a meteor struck millions of years ago. Each cenote is different - look out for the toh bird with their beautiful blue feathers. Then, go to Uxmal, an archaeological site peaceful and not widely visited by tourists.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ko'ox Art 57 Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cenote Tour to Abalá

    Uxmal

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Mérida to Abalá

    Self-Driving from Abalá to Uxmal

    Self-Driving from Uxmal to Mérida

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mérida

    Abalá

    Uxmal

Day 6

The Haciendas and Yucatan’s Green Gold

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The Haciendas and Yucatan’s Green Gold

This morning, you'll visit the Hacienda Sotuta de Peón where you will learn about the production process of henequen from the 1900s. A true living museum, Sotuta de Peon is the last Mexican hacienda where henequen (or Sisal) is still produced. You'll visit the fields on a small trolley pulled by a horse. After, you'll go swimming in a cenote on the property of the hacienda. You'll arrive in the colourful town of Campeche at the end of the day.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel López Campeche3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hacienda Sotuta de Peón

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Mérida to Hacienda Sotuta De Peon

    Self-Driving from Hacienda Sotuta De Peon to Campeche

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mérida

    Yucatan

    Campeche

Day 7

Road to Calakmul

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Road to Calakmul

Today, after breakfast, you'll depart early for the journey to the archaeological site of Calakmul. The road is long but enchanting and you'll arrive in Calakmul in the afternoon and relax in the ecological retreat Puerta Calakmul which is hidden away in the jungle. It is a very special place where resting, relaxing and totally disconnecting from your daily routine is natural and that's what you shall be doing this afternoon.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Puerta Calakmul

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Campeche to Calakmul

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Campeche

Day 8

Ruins of Calakmul

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Ruins of Calakmul

This morning, you'll visit the archaeological site of Calakmul, located in the state of Campeche, at the heart of a biosphere reserve, home to numerous Jaguars. This still quite unknown site is one of the jewels of the Mayan culture and was, at its peak, the direct rival of Tikal (Guatemala). Like in Tikal a few years ago, it's possible to observe wildlife wandering freely on the site (toucans, monkeys and oco pheasants). You'll arrive in Bacalar at the end of the day.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rancho Encantado

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Calakmul

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Chicanná to Calakmul

    Self-Driving from Calakmul to Bacalar

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Campeche

    Quintana Roo

Day 9

Boat Tour on the Bacalar Lagoon

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Boat Tour on the Bacalar Lagoon

This morning, after breakfast at your eco-resort, you'll take a trip on a small boat and discover the Lagoon of Bacalar, as well as the canal which was used by the pirates as access to the lagoon and the town during their repeated assaults to plunder Bacalar. You can swim all morning in the multi-coloured water and even a cenote, which is an underground collection of water. You'll then spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rancho Encantado

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Laguna Bacalar

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Boat from Bacalar to Bacalar

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quintana Roo

Day 10

Morning of Leisure at the Laguna Bacalar

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Morning of Leisure at the Laguna Bacalar

Spend your morning at leisure around the lagoon at Bacalar before heading to the white beaches of Tulum in the afternoon. Tulum is a small 'Magic Town' with amazing beaches, an archaeological site with views of the Caribbean and a really laid back vibe. Upon arrival, you'll have the rest of the day free to spend as you wish. You may want to go swimming in Cenote Sac Actun, or perhaps snorkelling with turtles or alternatively, visit the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka'an.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Don Diego de la Selva3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in TulumOptional Activity

    Sian Ka'anOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Bacalar to Tulum

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quintana Roo

    Tulum

Day 11

White Sand and Turquoise Sea

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White Sand and Turquoise Sea

Spend the day in the Magic Town of Tulum, either shopping in the small boutiques, strolling up the central street, relaxing on the white sand, swimming in the crystal clear blue, Caribbean waters or sampling some local seafood. Don't forget to visit the archaeological site. This World Heritage Site sits on a cliff edge facing the Caribbean sea and witnessed the arrival of the first colonists. Visit this ancient harbour built in 1200 and which disappeared at the end of the sixteenth century.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Don Diego de la Selva3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tulum Archaeological Site

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Tulum to Pyramid El Castillo (The Castle)

    Self-Driving from Pyramid El Castillo (The Castle) to Tulum

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

    Quintana Roo

Day 12

Hasta Luego, México!

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Hasta Luego, México!

Your Yucatan road trip has come to an end! Depart from the hotel to travel to Cancun Airport at least three hours before your flight is due to take off. Come back soon!

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Tulum to Cancún

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

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What’s included?

  • 11 nights accommodation
  • 14 activities
  • 12 breakfasts
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

What’s not included?

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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