Mexico Travel Itinerary

This Mexico Travel Itinerary is based in the Yucatan and Quintana Roo areas. They make such a great trip for any amount of time, from 1 week to 4 or more! We spent 4 weeks running around Mexico and loved every second, here is what you need to do!

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Mexico Travel FAQs

These are the questions I am most regularly asked about Mexico:

What currency for Mexico?

The Mexican Peso is used in most places in Mexico although there were some places that we saw menus and store pricing in USD. This is usually the case where there are cruise ships at port.

What time of year is best for Mexico?

The best time of year to visit the Yucatan and Quintana Roo is during the dry season. The winter months of Dec-April are the high season when skies are calmer and clear. You will have calmer seas which makes swimming, snorkelling, fishing and diving better.

Is Mexico safe?

Yes, at not time did we feel uncomfortable or concerned. Like every country there is low level crime such as pick pockets etc. We found the local people in each location to be so welcoming and friendly. I think it really depends on how you act. If you are aware of your surroundings and generally pleasant there is no real issue. This itinerary takes you to very well visited places, nowhere out of the way or desolate.

Is Mexico Expensive?

Not really, Mexico like anywhere has luxury options and expensive restaurants. You can also find extremely cheap food stalls and rooms. We usually go on what food sells for in supermarkets as this gives an insight on what the local people are paying and it was very well priced.

Best way to get around Mexico?

Hiring a car would be great as this area has good roads that are easy to navigate. Accommodation options quite often have parking areas and you can get to lots of out of the way locations more easily. But it is not absolutely necessary! The buss system is really good in this area. We used the ADO Buses to get around and it was incredibly easy. They are really well organised and generally run perfectly to time. You can prebook your bus online to make sure your preferred time is reserved.

Mexico Travel Itinerary Details

You can lengthen or shorten the days ion each place, I have just listed a rough guide to my preferred minimum amount of time in each location. I could easily have stayed longer at them all!

Day 1 – 5: Cancun Airport to Isla Holbox

How to get to Isla Holbox

Flying in to Cancun to start this itinerary is perfect as you can jump on a shuttle straight to our first destination of Isla Holbox. Don’t worry about seeing Playa del Carmen or Cancun, you can add some days on at the end for that if you want. The Holbox Shuttle is the easiest and fastest way to get started on this itinerary. It will pick you up Cancun Aiport Terminal 2 Domestic To Chiquila Ferry dock for Isla Holbox. Highly recommend this!

Isla Holbox Ferry

There are two Isla Hollox ferry options. Both are as good as each other and leave almost at the same time, generally you buy a return ticket if you know when you are leaving. You can purchase online or at the port. When you arrive at the port the bus will pull in right where they sell the tickets and both companies will be calling out to you to purchase tickets. If you already have them online just walk down to the end of the pier and head to the left hand side for 9Hermanos or the right for Holbox Express.

Line up there and when the boat is ready they will scan your ticket, if your luggage is big it will be placed up the front for you. Head inside to find a seat or upstairs to sit outside and take in the views. The ferry takes about 45 minutes and adult tickets are 300MXN.

Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is the best place to experience the island life. We loved this cute little island that really is a total vibe. There’s no pretence, everyone is there to lie back in the sun and enjoy. Walk the sandy streets, soak up the sun and great beaches as well as all the cool activities you can do. Check out all things to do at Isla Holbox on our dedicated blog.

Best Isla Holbox Hotels

Villas HM Palapas del Mar Isla Holbox

Villas hm palapas del mar Isla holbox is one of the most popular hotels on Isla Holbox. It has a great location, excellent rooms with breakfast included.

El Corazón Boutique Hotel

El Corazón Boutique Hotel – Adults Only with Beach Club’s pass included it is a boho chic design with breakfast included.

Hostel Isla Holbox

If you are happy to stay in a tent there are some great cheap deals on Isla Holbox. These are the best we found.

Kin Hostal and Camping and La Aldea Holbox Cabañas y Camping– Really cheap tent accommodation.

Midrange Hotels Isla Holbox

Holbox by Xaloc– excellent location, beach club. Great rooms, clean. A really popular choice.

Casa Iguana Holbox – Beachfront Hotel, clean comfortable, incredible location.

Isla Holbox luxury accommodation:

Palapas del Sol – clean airy rooms, excellent service, private beach, near to Punta Mosquito

Hotel Villas Flamingos – an easy 20min walk or bike to the centre of Holbox. Very beautiful in a quiet location. Private beach and breakfast included.

walking out to Playa Mosquito Isla Holbox Mexico

Day 6 – 9: Valladolid

Valladolid was one of our favourite places in the Yucatan! We loved the small town feel but there was so much to do and see here as well. It makes an excellent base to experience the region as well. You can be at a beautiful cenote one day, climbing the ancient Mayan ruins or walking the colourful streets the next. Check out all the details in our Valladolid Yucatan blog!

Hotels in Valladolid Mexico

Best hostels in Valladolid Mexico

These are our picks of the best hostels in Valladolid Mexico. They are all well rated, clean and comfortable. They are all in good but different locations around Valladolid and prices are cheap for dorms.

Hostal Guacamayas, Ariché Valladolid Hotel & Hostal, Hostal Tunich Naj & Hotel, Hostel Candelaria, Hostel Valladolid 48, Hostal Ixchel

Boutique Hotels Valladolid Mexico

Hotel Boutique Refugio 41 – beautiful interior, quiet and peaceful

Hotel Colonial Zaci by GuruHotel – really beautiful and quiet, walking distance to ADO bus station

Casa Palagui Colonial – family run, stay in a hacienda!

Luxury Hotel Valladolid Mexico

Coqui Coqui Hotel Valladolid Mexico – Coqui Coqui Meson de Malleville – This is my favourite hotel in all of Valladolid! It is part of the beautiful Coqui Coqui Perfumery. The hotel is small and just as luxurious as the perfumery. Impeccably decorated and serene, this is my top pick for a luxury hotel in Valladolid Mexico!

Hotel Posada San Juan Valladolid Mexico – superb. Breakfast included, beautiful experince

Le Muuch Hotel Boutique – central, beautiful, breakfast included

Hotel Zentik Project & Saline Cave – Truly unique cave pools, very cool hotel, breakfast included

Day 10 – 14 Merida

Merida is a great city! There is just so much to see here, it is a cultural hub where you can really get an understanding of the history and culture of the area. We loved all the free activities and our incredible stay! Try to time your visit so you are there over the weekend to get to all the free shows that Merida city puts on. Read all the details of the best things to do in Merida in our blog.

Hotels in Merida Mexico?

Best hotel in Merida Mexico:

Before I get into the accommodation options I really have to tell you about the best hotel in Merida Mexico! We stayed at the incredibly perfect Villa Merida Boutique Hotel and honestly it was my dream stay. The hotel is in a hacienda that has been renovated beautifully and the pool area is so dreamy! This is our review on Villa Merida, we couldn’t recommend it more! If you want to go ahead and book it this is the link.

Budget hotels in Merida:

Hostal La Ermita – really popular with breakfast included

Midrange hotels in Merida:

T´úubul K´iin Bed & Breakfast – spacious, clean and good breakfast

Hotel La Catedral Mérida – Incredibly central, value, clean

Luxury hotels in Merida Mexico:

Mansión Mérida Boutique Hotel – Restaurant – the most stunning, luxurious hotel in Merida. It is completely flawless and the epitome of a luxury experience. Grandeur beyond the imagination.

Resorts in Merida Mexico:

Villa Mercedes Curio Collection By Hilton – very beautiful, clean, spacious, pool and friendly staff

Casa Lecanda Boutique Hotel – beautiful, stunning grounds and rooms, great staff, luxurious

Villa Merida the best place to stay in Merida

Day 15 – 19: Bacalar

We LOVED Bacalar. It is really easy to see why it is referred to as the Maldives of Mexico. The stunning Lagoon of 7 Colours is incredible, we could have swum there all day. The town is really small and cute, it comes alive in the evenings and weekends. Check everything to do here out on our Bacalar blog, make sure to get to all the incredible cenotes as they are truly different to any other in the area!

Hotels in Bacalar Mexico

Bacalar Mexico Resorts

Bacalar Habitas

This is a stunning resort right on the lagoon at Bacalar. It is the most perfect stay, the rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable. There are classes to take part in and breakfast is included. Highly recommended.

Hotel Casa Bakal

Stunning accommodation right on the Bacalar lagoon. The rooms are beautiful, comfortable and clean with breakfast included. ‘Like being in a travel magazine!’

Midrange Bacalar Hotels

Hostal & Suites Pata de Perro – clean comfortable with cute rustic vibes. Great location

The Yak Lake House – excellent location, great rooms, really good stay

Budget accommodation in Bacalar-

We stayed at Lura Bacalar – it was great! Incredibly central location and there was a tree growing in our room! It was so unique and we would recommend it.

Hakuna Matata Glamping – basic little huts that are really cute. Great location and nice outdoor space.

Mike swimming in the Bacalar Lagoon of 7 colours Bacalar Mexico

Days 20 – 23: Mahahual

Mahahual is not the easiest to get to but it is so SO worth it! It really is a tiny town. It is a simple street that runs from the cruise port all the way along the beach front. While many people think it is a place for cruises to dock it is so much more than that. The best time to visit is on the weekend when the boats are not in the port as it will be its quietest then. We visited during the week and honestly having cruise guests around wasn’t a problem for us, they really brought a fun vibe to the beach! You will find the prettiest little beach and town here. Check out what you need to know and why you should go on our Mahahual Mexico blog with all the details!

Snorkelling with Mar Adentro Diving Mahahual Mexico Costa Maya

Day 24 – 28: Tulum

Tulum is an absolute must visit! It is the ultimate in boho chic and really lives up to its reputation. When we were talking to a local about it they said it best “Tulum is its own world, you have to visit to understand it!” They were right. Spend a few nights at a beach hotel and soak up the incredible beach, then move to the town to live it up and get some cultural experiences. Check out our Things to do in Tulum blog for everything you have to do and see!

Tulum Town Accommodation:

Cheap Tulum Hotels:

Castillo Tulum – great pricing, big rooms, nicely decorated.

Howlita Tulum – Adult Only friendly staff, comfortable rooms, great decor and pool. Breakfast included.

Midrange Tulum Town accommodation:

BAU Tulum – Great breakfast included, great location, lovely staff

Botånica Tulum – cool vibes, great decor, pool and breakfast included.

Luxury Tulum Town accommodation:

Zenses Wellness and Yoga Resort – Adults Only – superb stays, hidden gem. Beautiful rooms and different package options.

Hotel Milam – impeccable. The perfect Tulum expereince.

Tulum Beach Accommodation:

Budget Tulum Beach accommodation:

GlampIKAL – stunning location, glamping style with cool decor.

Chancabañita Tulum – great breakfast included, beachfront location, lovely stay

Midrange Tulum Beach accommodation:

La Conchita Tulum – Really lovely hotel, right on beach but at a more midrange price (for Tulum!)

Los Arrecifes – excellent staff, great rooms with lovely ambiance and breakfast included.

Luxury Tulum Beach accommodation:

Papaya Playa Project – stunning property and rooms, beachfront location. Great breakfast included.

Our Habitas Tulum – really beautiful location, breakfast included and activities available

Azulik – incredible location, very cool beautiful decor, ultimate Tulum vibes

All Inclusive Tulum Accommodation

Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club – Adults Only – All Inclusive – cool design, excellent rooms and meals, great beach club.

Day 29 – 30: Playa del Carmen or Cancun

You can save a couple of days for Playa del Carmen or Cancun at the end of your trip to see the difference between a main touristic town and the places you visited! It really was a shock walking into Playa del Carmen for us after being in smaller towns. There is a lot here on offer, tons of restaurants, clubs, day trips and hotels. For the end of this Mexico travel itinerary fly out of Cancun Airport!