On this Yucatan road trip you will experience Mexico’s pure enjoyment of life, explore the endless nature of the Mayan jungle and dive deep into the mystic world of the Maya.
Your Yucatan round trip begins with your arrival in Cancun. From there you continue to picturesque Tulum. On a bike tour you will explore the ruins of Tulum, try delicious Mexican street food and jump into the refreshing water of a cenote. You will then be amazed by the Bacalar Lagoon before continuing to the still largely unexplored Mayan site of Calakmul in the deepest Mayan jungle. After this adventure you will drive to the colorful pirate town of Campeche. The temple complex of Uxmal and its chocolate museum are very close to Campeche. Your next stop is Merida. See hundreds of free-roaming pink flamingos on a day trip to nearby Celestun. Of course, a stop at the world-famous ruins of Chichen Itza should not be missing on a Yucatan road trip. Your trip ends with a beach holiday on the dream island of Holbox or on the Riviera Maya.
This Yucatan round trip is just right for you if you love the flexibility of a rental car trip and want to delve deep into the world of the Maya and their untouched nature.
The trip is 100% customizable and will be adapted to your personal wishes.
Welcome to Mexico! Arriving at Cancun airport, pick up your rental car and drive to Tulum.
Meals: none
Today you have time to recover from the long journey. Relax on Tulum’s beach or explore the surrounding area. Enjoy the delicious Mexican food and let yourself be pampered.
Alternatively, you are welcome to book a day tour on the Riviera Maya with us.
Meals: breakfast
Today’s half-day Tulum bike tour is the perfect combination of exercise, culture, water fun, and delicious street food!
The tour starts early in the morning to visit the ruins of Tulum together with your guide before the big tourist crowds. The Tulum temple complex is one of the most photographed cultural sites in the world thanks to its gorgeous location on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.
Afterwards, you enjoy a delicious breakfast at Tulum’s best street food stalls. Now you are ready to discover the town of Tulum and its surroundings by bike. Next, you make a stop at the Melipona Maya Bee Foundation. We all know how important and worthy of protection bees are for our planet. There you will learn everything you need to know about Mexican bees and local honey production.
After your bike tour you have the opportunity to refresh yourself in one of the more than 4000 cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula. Jump into the cool water and enjoy the crystal clear water. For the Maya these cenotes were and are sacred.
Later, you drive with your rental car to the beautiful lagoon of Bacalar, which is also called the “lagoon of the 7 colors”. You stay the night there.
Meals: breakfast
Enjoy your breakfast overlooking the stunning Bacalar Lagoon. Rent a kayak, SUP or bike to explore the lagoon more closely.
Alternatively, you are welcome to book a sailing boat tour with us.
In the afternoon you drive to your next adventure in the deep Mayan jungle. Arriving in the small town of Xpujil, you will enjoy this evening surrounded by green, untouched nature and sounds of the jungle.
Meals: breakfast
Today you wake up to the pleasant sounds of the rainforest and set off to the largely unexplored Mayan site of Calakmul. Calakmul was one of the most important centers of power for the Maya and is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered, along with Tikal and El Mirador.
After this adventure you drive back to your hotel and recover from an amazing day.
Meals: breakfast
Enjoy another breakfast in the middle of the rainforest today before continuing to colorful Campeche.
The port city is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Campeche was one of the most important ports for the Spanish crown at the time of the conquista. From there, raw materials such as wood, salt and sisal were shipped to Europe. As the city grew in wealth, it became a victim of many pirate raids. To this day, there are numerous stories and anecdotes about the picturesque pirate town.
Pst, our insider tip for you: On the way to Campeche, take a break on the beautiful beaches of Campeche, e.g. Seybaplaya, and enjoy excellent, fresh seafood.
Meals: breakfast
Today you dive deep into the world of the Maya. After a delicious breakfast you head to Uxmal. If you feel like it, you can take a short break on the way and visit the smaller ruins of Kabah.
Your hotel in Uxmal is directly opposite the famous temple complex. Formerly an important Mayan city, Uxmal is located in the historic Puuc region. Thanks to the very good condition and some restorations of the ruins, Uxmal gives you a particularly good insight into the life of the Maya in Mexico in the past. The most outstanding temples are the Governor’s Palace and the Pyramid of the Magician.
Afterwards, we recommend a visit to the Uxmal Chocolate Museum (Uxmal Choco-Story). Chocolate was a special commodity for the ancient Maya. It was temporarily used as a means of payment and is still considered the drink of the gods today.
Psst, another insider tip for you: watch the evening light and sound show in Uxmal.
Meals: breakfast
After breakfast you continue to Merida – the capital of the state of Yucatan. Merida has remained one of the safest cities in Mexico and even Latin America for years. Many of the beautiful buildings in central Merida are white. Therefore, Merida is also called “white city” and it is considered the gateway to the world of the Maya (Puerta al Mundo Maya).
Use today’s free day to explore the city on your own. Life mainly takes place in and around the Plaza de la Independencia. From there you can easily reach the cathedral, the former palace Casa de Montejo and the Palacio Municipal (city hall).
Psst, another insider tip for you: Every Sunday the street festival “Merida on Sunday” (Merida en Domingo) takes place on the Plaza de la Independencia with performances, street food and live music.
Meals: breakfast
After so much culture and history, today is the time to discover the still untouched nature of Mexico. Leave early this morning to see the pink flamingos of Celestun. Hundreds to thousands of flamingo colonies live in the Celestun Biosphere Reserve (depending on the season). They get their natural pink color thanks to the specific species of crabs and mussels that live in these shallow waters and serve as a food source for the flamingos. This natural spectacle is really worth a trip!
Afterwards, we recommend enjoying delicious, fresh seafood in one of the numerous restaurants and relaxing for a while on the beach of Celestun. Then you head back to Merida.
Meals: breakfast
Today, after breakfast, set off in the direction of Chichen Itza. The world-famous temple complex is one of the 7 new wonders of the world and should not be missed on a Yucatan trip.
We recommend that you check into your Chichen Itza hotel around noon. The hacienda is a beautiful retreat to recover from the previous trip, e.g. at the pool or in the spacious garden. If you are interested, the staff will be happy to give you an insight into the history of the hacienda, where archaeologists used to live and work. Enjoy delicious Yucatecan food from the hotel’s organic garden and a superb cocktail or two.
Psst, another insider tip for you: Watch the evening light and sound show at Chichen Itza here as well.
Meals: breakfast
Take advantage of the excellent location of your hotel and enter the Chichen Itza ruins through the hotel’s own private entrance before all other tourists arrive. We recommend that you visit Chichen Itza at sunrise for exclusive pictures and a unique, mystical atmosphere before the crowds begin.
Chichen Itza is the most important temple complex in Mexico after Teotihuacán near Mexico City. The ancient city was the most important capital of the Maya during the classical period (AD 600-750). Many of the city’s ancient ruins still stand today – including the famous El Castillo, or Temple of Kukulcán, a massive step pyramid that dominates the city center. The impressive Chichen Itza ruins were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Take enough time to also visit the planetarium and the sacred cenote.
Your Yucatan round trip ends here and we hope you had an unforgettable dream trip and take many beautiful memories home with you.
Depending on your flight departure, you will drive to Cancun Airport or to your chosen beach hotel, e.g. on Holbox or in the Riviera Maya. We would be happy to help you organize your beach holiday in Mexico.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Mexico soon. ¡Hasta pronto!
Your On Secret Trails team
Meals: breakfast
