Yucatan Backpacker Route

Backpacking the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico is an unimaginable expertise. From white sand seashores and swimming with whale sharks to the ruins of Chichen Itza and watching Mayan ball video games, there’s a lot for a backpacker to do in a single journey.

Whereas backpacking the Yucatan peninsula gives an out-of-this-world journey expertise, it’s value noting that it prices extra to journey right here than it will to backpack in Vietnam, Thailand or different Asian nations.

The Yucatan can be far more costly than central Mexico. However backpacking the Yucatan could be executed on a finances and it’s properly value it in the event you ask us.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Backpacking Route Map

The place you select to journey Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula will rely on how a lot time you will have and what actions you’re most focused on. We’re gradual travellers and we spent two months travelling within the Yucatan. Nonetheless, we predict you could possibly backpack the Yucatan in 3-4 weeks.

The place to Journey when Backpacking the Yucatan Peninsula

Cancun

For almost all of backpackers, Cancun would be the greatest place to start out a backpacking journey across the Yucatan Peninsula. We landed in Cancun and spent two nights in Cancun downtown at an Airbnb with an area household and took a day-trip to the laid-back Playa Morellos deciding that Cancun seaside didn’t actually sound like our scene.

What you’ve in all probability already heard about Cancun is its popularity for having very touristy seashores and resort complexes. Many backpackers select to go straight by to Playa del Carmen or Tulum for that reason. We’ve heard blended evaluations from different travellers and Mexicans about Cancun. Some folks say the seashores are out of this world; others say it’s a loud vacationer lure.

The place to remain in Cancun: Eco-Resort El Rey Del Caribe. We stayed in an Airbnb when in Cancun, however on reflection we might have stayed in a resort so we may get our bearings higher once we arrived in Mexico. This eco-hotel set in a tropical backyard courtyard has nice evaluations, features a freshly cooked breakfast each morning and is away from the busy, vacationer strip that Cancun is notorious for. Would undoubtedly advocate making an attempt this resort out.

Isla Holbox

In the event you’re backpacking within the Yucatan, then don’t miss Isla Holbox. This little island to the north-east of Cancun is exclusive. It’s inhabited by Italian immigrants who’ve introduced scrumptious Spanish tortillas, focaccias and good espresso to the dusty island.

The city itself may be very arty due to the Worldwide Public Artwork Competition (IPAF) avenue artwork venture. However don’t anticipate the identical beautiful seashores right here as you can see elsewhere within the Yucatan. Holbox’s seashores are small sandy spits, although the sunsets are superb.

The actual draw of Isla Holbox although is to swim with whale sharks. There are solely two islands from which you’ll be able to swim with whale sharks within the Yucatan – the very touristy Isla Mujeres, and the lesser-known Isla Holbox. Positively attempt to arrive in Isla Holbox throughout whale shark season from Could to September.

The place to remain in Isla Holbox: Tribu Hostel. Enjoyable and pleasant hostel on the seaside and near city. We stayed in a 4-bed dorm room for a number of nights and loved lounging in hammocks, getting sandy on the seaside and cooking meals on the hostel. Rooms are clear and vibrant. Non-public double rooms can be found too.

: Out on the boats in Isla Holbox

: Avenue artwork in Isla Holbox

: Swim with whale sharks in Isla Holbox

Valladolid

Usually referred to as one of the vital authentically Mexican cities within the Yucatan, Valladolid definitely has small city allure. Valladolid is a superb place for backpackers as a result of it’s the proper stopping off-point to see Chichen Itza and swim within the Yucatan’s well-known cenotes.

Nice issues concerning the city embrace the fixed stream of occasions hosted in the primary sq. together with dancing, the San Bernardino Convent and cenote Zaci.

The place to remain in Valladolid: Hostel Candelaria. We will’t advocate Hostel Candelaria sufficient! This was our favorite hostel within the Yucatan. The hostel is ready shiny and clear with a big backyard. The wifi is nice, although generally is a gradual when a lot of persons are utilizing it (as with all hostels). We stayed in a personal double room which was very moderately priced. A beautiful breakfast int he backyard is included.

Chichen Itza

Each backpacker within the Yucatan will need to see Chichen Itza. The ruins are a straightforward day-trip from Valladolid. We’d advocate taking the primary bus to Chichen Itza so that you just arrive on the ruins as quickly as they open.

Once we arrived at 7am, the temperature was nonetheless delicate and there was hardly anybody else there. We purchased a ticket and walked straight by the doorway into the ruins. Once we have been leaving the ruins at 11am, the doorway was crowded with folks and the ticket line was lengthy. To not point out the solar was overhead and it was uncomfortably sizzling to be strolling round Chichen Itza the place there may be little or no shade.

Merida

Merida is an actual cultural gem within the Yucatan. Like Valladolid, there’s a very conventional Mexican really feel to the place and an enormous quantity of cultural actions occurring. Whereas we have been staying within the metropolis, was noticed a reenactment of a standard Mayan ball recreation, went to native markets together with the natural gradual meals market, ate at a superb variety of vegetarian eating places in Merida and visited historic websites within the metropolis. In the event you’re backpacking the Yucatan and love cultural locations, then Merida is unquestionably definitely worth the journey.

The place to remain in Merida: Luz En Yucatan. We home sat in Merida, however we heard that Luz En Yucatan was the perfect place to remain on the town. It’s a small, boutique resort with a standard Mexican type and a swimming pool. You’ll undoubtedly want a swimming pool in Merida as a result of the temperatures get so sizzling!

: Merida cathedral

: Sluggish meals market in Merida

: Mayan ball recreation in Merida

Izamal

The city of Izamal is one in every of Mexico’s pueblo magicos (magic cities) and makes for a superb day-trip from Merida. Izamal is a yellow-painted city with fairly homes and a convent. You possibly can climb to the highest of the close by hill to see some small ruins and get a view of the city.

Playa del Carmen

The subsequent city down the coast from Cancun is Playa del Carmen. It’s a really metropolitan place the place you’ll discover Starbucks, H&M and all of the excessive avenue manufacturers you’re used to seeing at residence. The seaside is gorgeous, although busy the nearer to city you might be.

Our favorite a part of Playa del Carmen was proper on the finish of the vacationer strip. Preserve strolling away from the centre of city and shortly retailers disappear, the cafes get a little bit extra hipster, there’s some cool avenue artwork, the seaside will get quieter and yow will discover a number of native eateries.

The place to remain in Playa del Carmen: Resort Labnah or Resort Kinbe. Each are inexpensive choices close to to the seaside and with swimming swimming pools.

: Playa del Carmen seaside

: Quiet facet of the primary avenue in Playa del Carmen

: Avenue artwork in Playa del Carmen

Tulum

Tulum has two distinct areas: the city and the seaside. They’re a couple of 15-minute cycle experience from each other down a well-maintained cycle path. Backpackers have a tendency to remain on the town the place there’s a extra hippie vibe and the lodging is cheaper. There are additionally extra choices for locations to eat and drink.

The seaside space of Tulum is a strip of resort inns, although once we have been there they appeared largely empty. The white sand seashores are a number of the greatest seashores in Mexico. In the event you take a left when biking from city in direction of the seaside, you’ll ultimately attain Tulum ruins which sit on a cliffside above the seaside.

The place to remain in Tulum: Mama’s House. That is the hostel everybody desires to remain at in Tulum! Mama cooks up a do-it-yourself breakfast on a regular basis and makes positive visitors are at all times snug. Mama’s House is in Tulum city, so cheaper than the seaside entrance resorts and with a way more welcoming vibe. It’s a straightforward cycle all the way down to the seaside from right here.

: Tulum seaside

: Seashore-front resort in Tulum

: Charly’s Vegan Tacos (the perfect vegan meals in Mexico!)

Bacalar

Backpackers within the Yucatan come to Bacalar to hang around on the lakeside and swim within the unimaginable aquamarine waters. Apart from spending the day swimming round or taking a ship journey out on the lake, there’s little else to do in Bacalar. But it surely’s a pleasant place to chill out for a day or two! The city is small although there are a number of good cafes and a scrumptious taco stand.

The place to remain in Bacalar: Hostal Pata de Perro. We stayed down the street in Chetumal however once we noticed lovely Bacalar we wished we spent an evening there and loved a while enjoyable! We ate at a cute taco stand outdoors and noticed this attractive wanting hostel. Solely a brief stroll from the lake. If you would like a resort proper on the lakeside, try The Yak Lake Home (personal and dorm rooms accessible).

Chetumal

Simply half an hour drive from Bacalar is the town of Chetumal. We really stayed in Chetumal and visited Bacalar for the day for worry that the wifi connection in Bacalar wouldn’t be ok for our work.

Chetumal is a really handy stopping level near the border in the event you’re planning to complete backpacking the Yucatan and cross into Belize. The town itself is kind of unremarkable other than an fascinating museum. We took a speedboat throughout from Chetumal to Caye Caulker island, however taking the bus could be a less expensive choice.

The place to remain in Chetumal: Framfor Inn within reason priced and properly reviewed.

The way to Journey Across the Yucatan

Travelling round Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is comparatively simple. You possibly can journey by bus between the entire cities listed on this Yucatan journey route. There are bus stations in each city and buses run often. The buses are moderately priced for backpackers, however the longer the journey, the costlier the bus (as you would possibly anticipate). Non-public buses and shuttles are costlier than in Central American nations like Guatemala, so public transport is really helpful.

Reserving Flights to the Yucatan

For backpackers coming from the UK, Cancun would be the greatest place to start out. There are sometimes low-cost offers on direct flights from London to Cancun, and that’s the place we began our personal backpacking journey in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. We paid £100 for a one-way flight from London to Cancun.

For backpackers coming from America, it’s seemingly that flying to Cancun can even be the most suitable choice for finances travellers. Nonetheless, many US travellers do additionally fly to Merida, the largest metropolis within the Yucatan.

Backpackers shouldn’t be afraid to take a look at bundle offers to Mexico. Package deal holidays to Cancun have develop into so low-cost that I’ve heard many backpackers have discovered it was cheaper to e book a bundle deal for the primary leg of the journey than to e book flights and lodging individually. Many backpackers merely fly out to Cancun, keep within the resort as a part of the bundle deal, then don’t take the return flight and as a substitute proceed on their backpacking route of the Yucatan.