Our 4-week Mexico travel itinerary

01.03.2022 | Mexico, Travel

Our 4-week Mexico travel itinerary

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If you are searching for a country with completely diverse landscapes, tropical weather, blue water for snorkeling or surfing, Maya architecture and cenotes, than Mexico is the place for you! Mexico is not only the touristic Tulum at the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico is a big country! It still offers very remote places like Sian Ka’an National Park, the pyramids in Calakmul, remote viewpoints in La Paz and empty beaches in Puerto Escondido. Especially if you are a diver or snorkeler, this country is great to see whale sharks, the biggest fish on earth, or turtles, sea lions, dolphins and many more. Let us show you our places we’ve visited:

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Take a flight to Cancun ✓

Get your rental car in Cancun and drive to Tulum (2 hours) ✓

Or: ADO Bus Cancun airport to Tulum (2 hours – 12USD) & get a rental car in Tulum (cheaper) ✓

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1. Visit crazy Tulum, Day 1-6

Well, Tulum is very touristic, the stories are true. We would definitely skip staying in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. But we would still recommend to stay a few nights in Tulum. Although there are lots of expensive hotels, there is also a really nice city center, incredible healthy restaurants and cafés and fascinating cenotes to explore. These are the three main “zones” in Tulum:
1. Downtown, it’s actually 7km away from the beach and offers affordable hotels. The best way to get to the beach is by renting a bike, since taxis are pretty expensive here (200 MXN for small distances).
2. Hotel Zone, there are extremely expensive hotels located, as well as many restaurants and shops. A lot of the beaches are only accessible if you stay in the hotel or buy a day pass for the beach club. However there are some free entries like Playa Ahau Tulum.
3. Public Beaches: At Playa Paraiso and Playa Maya there is no fee to use these beaches. There are the locals, too. Also Playa Paraiso has a nice palm tree to climb on.

What to do?

Where to eat?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more: What to do in crazy Tulum?

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Drive from Tulum to Sian Ka’an National Park with your rental car (start early!, 2.5 – 3 hours) ✓

or book a tour from Tulum to Sian Ka’an National Park ✓

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2. Explore the remote Sian Ka’an National Park near Tulum, Day 6-8

Since 1987 the Reserva de la Biósfera is under protection of the Unesco. You will find tropical jungle, palm trees, endless wild beaches, mangrove sump and a 110km long coral reef here. If you are lucky you can spot sea cows, jaguar, turtles and crocodiles. From the North of Tulum you have to drive 60km on the Camino Boca Paila trail until you reach the tip Punta Allen. It’s a small headland, framed by the ocean on one side and the Laguna Campechén on the other. We did the trip with the smallest rental car, a Nissan March, however a 2×4 might be more comfortable. The gravel road through the National Park is extremely bumpy, it’s exhausting and you have to be careful to not touch down with one side of your car. At the National Park entrance building, we payed 180 MXN for two people and a car.

What to do?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more: Explore the remote National Park Sian Ka’an

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Drive from Sian Ka’an National Park to Bacalar (4.5 hours) ✓

or take the ADO bus from Tulum to Bacalar ✓

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3. A must visit, the Maldives of Mexico: Bacalar, Day 8-10

Yep, this place is not for nothing called the Maldives of Mexico. The water of the “Lagoon of Seven Colors” really comes in all different crystal clear blue tones you can imagine. It contains scant organic material, but also a lot of microorganisms. Therefore the lagoon puts on a spectacular display in the sunlight. We highly recommend to do a sailing trip here to explore the area from the water. Also you should not miss Los Rapidos, the place where the small clear blue river has such a strong current.

What to do?

Where to stay?

Where to eat?

↠ Read more: The Maldives of Mexico – Bacalar

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Drive from Bacalar to Calakmul (3.5 hours) ✓

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4. Do a day trip to the remote Mayan archeological sites Calakmul and Becán, Day 10

For everyone who is disappointed that there is a fence around the famous Chichen Itza and that you cannot climb it, this is for you! We highly recommend to go here! Sure, it’s a longer drive, but while hundreds of tourists visit Chichen Itza in one day, in Calakmul there are only a few people. The best thing is, that you can climb all three Mayan pyramids and you will be surrounded only by the jungle. After the entrance building to the National Park, and after paying 150 MXN per person for the National Park and 80 MXN per person for the ruins (only cash), you have to drive a 60km long small road through the jungle. There are even signs to be careful with pumas, monkeys, tapir and toucans. When you reach the site, you are only 35 kilometers away from the Guatemalan border! We climbed on every three of the pyramids and it was an incredible feeling when the howler monkeys started to roar below us in the jungle. On your way back to Bacalar or Valladolid, stop at the smaller Mayan site Becán (60 MXN per person, only cash). There was nobody when we’ve been there and it offered a great view, too!

What to do?

↠ Read more: Day trip to the Maya archeological sites Calakmul & Becán

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Drive from Becán to Valladolid (5.25 hours) ✓

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5. Get to know the colorful city Valladolid and Mayan site Chichen Itza, Day 11-14

When you visit the Yucatan Peninsula, you should definitely not miss the beautiful city Valladolid with all the colorful walls and entries! There is a lot to do around this city. First of all it’s the starting point for the famous Mayan archeological site Chichen Itza, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. But there are also a lot of really nice cenotes around. Our favorite cenote was the less known Cenote Secreto Maya, for one hour we’ve been the only people there while jumping from a rope into the water! Cenote Suytun with a platform in the middle of the cave is more touristic, but still very cool!

What to do?

Where to eat?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more: Explore Valladolid, Chichen Itza and Cenotes

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Drive from Valladolid to Chiquilá (2.5 hours) and leave your car in a guarded parking space ✓

Take the ferry from Chiquilá to Isla Holbox (25 minutes, goes every 30 minutes, 220 MXN) ✓

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6. Relax on Isla Holbox, Day 14-17

Now it’s time to relax for some days. There is no better place like Isla Holbox, a very chilled island north of Cancun, 42km long but only 2km wide. We’ve stayed here for New Year’s Eve. There are no cars allowed, the common means of transport are bikes or tuctucs. In the center you have to search for the nice graffitis at the walls. On this island you can find a main beach zone with many beach bars, as well as several remote beaches and really tasty healthy restaurants. We highly recommend to visit the Refugio Animal Shelter, you can just walk in, cuddle the dogs or walk one dog to the beach. It’s such a nice and easy way to give back something and the animals there are really peaceful!

What to do?

Where to eat?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more:

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Take the ferry from Holbox back to Chiquilá (25 minutes) ✓

More time left? Add the yellow city Izamal and Mérida to your itinerary!

Drive from Chiquilá back to Cancun (2.25 hours) ✓

Give back your rental car ✓

Take the ferry from Cancun harbor to Isla Mujeres (Ultramar, 20 minutes) ✓

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7. Get your PADI Open Water Diver on Isla Mujeres, Day 17-20

The main reason we visited Isla Mujeres is to finally do our PADI Open Water Diver. We found this really good dive school Carey Dive Center directly located at a Selina hostel with a beautiful pool under palm trees used for the lessons. Furthermore we had the perfect airbnb – big recommendation! The airbnb Casa Samar has beautifully designed rooms, a nice patio, a big kitchen to cook for yourself and really nice owners. If you arrive with the Ultramar ferry at the island, it’s best to rent a bike close to the ferry station to get around.

What to do?

Where to eat?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more:

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Get the ferry back to Cancun ferry port (20 minutes) ✓

Share a taxi to Cancun airport with some people from the ferry (just ask them) ✓

Take a flight from Cancun to La Paz (most flights stop in Mexico City) ✓

Get a taxi from La Paz airport to the city (regulated prices) ✓

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8. Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz, Day 20-23

We wanted to swim with whale sharks, the biggest fish on earth, for such a long time, then we heard it’s possible to be with them in the water in Mexico. However, in Dezember and January it was not the season to see them on the Yucatan Peninsula, there was only one place for these months: La Paz at the Baja California Sur, the Pacific. This place got much less dangerous the last years, so we decided last minute to go there to swim with whale sharks. And we were lucky, there were at least 5 whale sharks around us in the water, 2 of them 8 meters long. What an incredible feeling, these animals are so big but still so peaceful! But there are also really nice beaches and viewpoint to explore!

What to do?

Where to eat?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more:

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Get a taxi to the airport ✓

More time left? Visit Puerto San Carlos or Loreto…

Take a flight from La Paz to Puerto Escondido (flight stop in Mexico City) ✓

Get a taxi to Puerto Escondido center ✓

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9. Go surfing in Puerto Escondido or just enjoy the beach vibes, Day 23-28

For the last days we wanted to explore Puerto Escondido at the Pacific coast, so we got another flight via Mexico City to this relaxed but trendy backpacker hotspot. With 28-30 degree every day and no rain, we really had an incredible time at the ocean. We rented a scooter at this place called Optimus Renta (350 MXN per day) and explored all the beaches in the area with the scooter. The other part of our day we went surfing or tested some fantastic cafés and restaurants at La Punta Zicatela Beach. Zicatela Beach is known for it’s surf contest and the monster waves. However, in January the waves were small, but it was still very crowded with surfers on the water. Puerto Escondido has also a really good organisation to release turtles at Bacocha beach.

What to do?

Where to eat?

Where to stay?

↠ Read more:

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Get a taxi to the airport ✓

More time left? Visit Oaxaca and the Monte Alban pyramids….

Take a flight from Puerto Escondido back home ✓

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Best time to visit Mexico?

December to April – dry season
These are the best months to visit especially the Yucatan Peninsula, since there is less seagrass in the water. Keep in mind that March and April are spring break season.
May and June – in between
It’s quiter then. But still good!
June to November – Hurricane season
These are the month where strong storms and rain hit the country. In the peak months September and October sometimes places has to be evacuated.

Whale Shark season – when and where?

June to September: Caribbean

Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Isla Holbox, Cancun, Isla Contoy (but also hurricane season from July – October with peak September and October)

Oktober to April: Pacific

La Paz (less touristic, more regulated, water visibility is “okay”, only snorkeling allowed, no diving)

Did it feel save in Mexico?

Yes, absolutely! We researched a lot before booking the flights. Since there were several really bad shootings in the touristic areas, the military started to patrol through Tulum in the whole area from the town to the beaches. Therefore corrupt police get viewed by independent military members and since these patrols started, nothing bad happened anymore for tourists. However, there is a lot of criminality, happening in the street blocks further away from the beaches, but mostly amongst locals. The main problem is, that a lot of tourists in Tulum want to consume drugs, therefore drug cartels fight against each other to get the exclusive leadership over the regions. If you want to feel save, stay away from drugs, don’t go out in the middle of the night and stay at the main streets.
There is one more thing which still happens quite often: a lot of people get stopped with their rental cars by the police. They will tell you, you drove too fast or that you drove without light, although this might not be the truth. Then they will tell you, you have to pay like 50-80 USD, because at the police station it would be much more expensive. It’s illegal, but there is nothing you can do against these corrupt police. We didn’t experienced such a thing, maybe because of the extensive military presence. But we heard that it’s best to pretend not to understand anything, no Spanish, no English. Sometimes they give up. In case you still have to pay, it’s best to have a second wallet with you. Then can show the police officer that you sadly have only this 20-30 USD with you…worked for a lot of people.

Is it expensive in Mexico?

Yes and no. In the touristic places like Tulum, there are extremely expensive hotels and restaurants. But there are also cheaper airbnbs or food trucks with tacos in this city. However, the further away you are from the touristic famous spots, the cheaper it gets. In Valladolid for example, we found really cheap airbnbs, as well as in Puerto Escondido.

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Where we would love to go next time in Mexico:

Mexico is such a big country and even in 4 weeks you definitely cannot see everything. Look at all the places listed above and below and decide which is best for you. For example if you are not a diver or snorkeler you can skip Isla Mujeres or La Paz and explore one of the waterfalls in the middle of the country, like the incredible Cascada El Chiflón. It was really hard to decide for us, too.

From Bacalar we first wanted to hop over the border to Belize for some more diving and sailing trips. Also we wanted to get over the border to Guatemala to see the Tikal pyramids and Flores Island. Normally it’s pretty easy and cheap to explore these three countries together via ADO busses, but with Covid they made it really complicated. When we’ve been there, you could have only take a “certified” taxi (which was very very expensive) and only a “certified” hotel for 3 nights (at least 80 USD per night). Also you needed a PCR test at the border (50 USD). Therefore we decided to explore these countries another time and to save our money for the next trip.

Yucatan Peninsula:

Around Baja California Sur:

Around Oaxaca:

Other really cool places in Mexico:

Border hopping to Belize:

Border hopping to Guatemala:

Anzeige / ad: Most of the hotels, restaurants and companies we mentioned above didn’t sponsor us. All our recommendations are always based on our own opinion.

Mayan architecture, cenotes, blue oceans, cactus and so much more...

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