The town of Bacalar is located on the west shore of the lake and adds coziness to this marvel of nature. We recommend spending a day or two exploring the Bacalar area. We prefer to relax whenever we visit the lagoon, but there’s a ton to do here as well.

Start with spending time in a unique hotel facing the lagoon and watching how those shades of blue are changing throughout the day. Then hop on a half-day boat tour and visit some remote features of the lagoon.

And of course, stroll through the authentic town and get some food. We also encourage you to visit Bacalar while it’s still considered off the beaten path compared to Tulum or Valladolid. Its nature is still untouched, and the town feels much more authentic.

Bacalar Town

Cenote Azul is a natural swimming hole just outside of Bacalar town. The cenote is known for its crystal-clear blue waters, which are surrounded by lush vegetation and towering trees. The water is also quite deep, making it a great spot for diving and snorkeling.

One unique feature of Cenote Azul is that it is actually part of a larger system of underground rivers and caves that run throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. The cenote is connected to several other nearby cenotes, which means that you can explore the entire network of underground waterways if you are an experienced diver and feeling adventurous.

You can access the cenote via a series of wooden platforms and stairs that lead down to the water's edge. There are also several small restaurants and food stands nearby where visitors can grab a bite to eat or a refreshing drink.

Cenote Azul

Bacalar Lagoon is a unique, crystal-clear freshwater lake with all kinds of hues of blue – from dark turquoise to sandy-clear blue, similar to those you can find in the Maldives. Some even call this lagoon the “Maldives of Mexico”.

You can swim, snorkel, kayak, and paddleboard in the lagoon, but we recommend taking a boat tour to truly appreciate the beauty of this place by exploring its various channels and also learning about its history and ecology. Check out our vetted recommendations in the links section.

Sailboat tour

Boat tour

Kayak rentals

Laguna Bacalar

Holbox Island is a small, secluded, car-free island that offers pristine beaches, clear turquoise waters, a laid-back atmosphere, and amazing stays, making it a great option for a peaceful and relaxing escape.

If you are exploring the entire peninsula, we recommend spending a relaxing day here, maybe even staying overnight before heading back to Cancun Airport. Isla Holbox is also a great, off-the-beaten-path option for a dedicated long-weekend escape.

The island's beautiful beaches offer opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. The island is also home to a small fishing village, where you can experience local culture and cuisine. There are a variety of restaurants and cafes on the island serving fresh seafood and other local specialties.

And if you are looking for adventure, there are opportunities for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and even swimming with whale sharks during certain times of the year. You can also take a boat tour to see the island's famous bioluminescent plankton, which glows in the dark and create a stunning visual display in the water.

Overall, Holbox Island is a unique and beautiful destination that offers a little something for everyone.

Holbox Island

Izamal is known as the "Yellow City" because most of its buildings are painted a distinctive shade of yellow. The city has a rich cultural heritage with many historic sites and buildings, and is on the list of Mexico’s 132 magic towns, making it a great stop on your way to Mérida.

One of the most impressive attractions in Izamal is the Kinich Kak Moo Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of the Sun. This ancient Mayan structure is believed to have been built around 500 AD and is one of the largest pyramids in Mexico. You can climb to the top for a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.

Other notable sites in Izamal include the Convent of San Francisco, which was built in the 16th century and is now a museum, and the former residence of the famous Mexican writer, Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The city also has a lively artisan market where you can purchase traditional handicrafts such as pottery, textiles, and woodcarvings.

Izamal

The Merida Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the historic center of Merida. The cathedral was built between 1561 and 1598 on the site of a former Mayan temple. It is a mix of architectural styles, with Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque, and Moorish influences.

The cathedral is known for its impressive facade, which features three entrances and several intricate carvings and sculptures. The interior is also striking, with a high ceiling and intricate details, including a carved wooden pulpit and several chapels with religious art. The cathedral has undergone several renovations over the years, including a major restoration in the 1990s.

The Merida Cathedral is an important religious and cultural landmark in the city, and it is well worth the visit.

Official website

Merida Cathedral

Palacio Municipal, or just the City Hall, is a historic building located in the city center of Merida. Built in the late 19th century, it is a beautiful example of French Renaissance architecture and is one of the city's most important landmarks.

The building's façade features ornate decorations and sculptures, while the interior is home to a grand staircase, a spacious courtyard, and a series of elegant halls and rooms, making it a great place to hang out.

Today, Palacio Municipal is still used as the headquarters of the city government. It is also home to several art exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year. You can take a guided tour of the building to learn more about its history and architecture.

Palacio Municipal

Paseo de Montejo is a grand avenue in the capital city of the Yucatan state. The avenue is named after Francisco de Montejo, the founder of Merida, and was built in the late 19th century as a symbol of the city's wealth and prosperity.

The avenue stretches for several miles and is lined with beautiful colonial-era mansions and other architectural gems. Many of the mansions have been converted into museums, art galleries, restaurants, and boutique hotels.

The avenue also has numerous parks and monuments, including the Monumento a la Patria (Monument to the Fatherland) and the Monumento a la Bandera (Monument to the Flag).

Overall, Paseo de Montejo is a great way to take in the vibes of Merida.

Paseo de Montejo

Uxmal is an ancient Maya city within an hour's drive from Merida. It was a major regional capital during the Late Classic period, and its monumental architecture and artwork are considered some of the finest examples of the Puuc style.

The site features several impressive structures, including the Pyramid of the Magician, the Governor's Palace, and the Great Pyramid. Uxmal is also known for its ornate friezes and intricate stone carvings, which feature a blend of geometric and organic motifs.

Today, Uxmal is a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Uxmal

The pink lakes of Las Coloradas are quite a spectacle in the proper weather conditions, getting their vibrant colors from the pink-colored bacteria, brine shrimp, and algae in the water. It’s become quite popular over the last few years, mostly fueled by picture-perfect Instagram photos.

But along with the lakes becoming famous, the owners started employing various tricks to make people pay a steep price for the “experience”, the move considered by many locals unethical. If you do wish to see these lakes, we recommend either discussing it with your guide on a Ria Lagartos boat tour (that you are most likely doing earlier in the day) or driving to Las Coloradas and purchasing tickets directly from the owners.

Las Coloradas

Discover the remarkable beauty and diversity of the Ria Lagartos Bio Reserve which is home to Mexico’s largest flock of Flamingos, along with thousands of other species. The boat trips are the only way to explore the preserve, so we recommend booking a private boat tour with experienced nature guides.

The tours usually consist of navigating deep into the mangroves, seeing many species of birds, crocodiles, and occasionally mammals, visiting the feeding grounds of the flamingos, and optional stops for beautiful beaches and mud baths. Check the links section for our vetted local vendor options.

Guided Tour

Ria Lagartos Boat Tour

Tulum is a beautiful coastal town along the Caribbean Sea and is most famous for its stunning white-sand beaches, boutique hotels, world-class cuisine, and most important – laid-back bohemian vibes.

Every accommodation from our list of curated stays is beach-front and provides amazing opportunities to relax and sink in the turquoise blues of the Caribbean.

Depending on your preferred hotel, you can enjoy world-class on-site restaurants, Mayan-inspired massages, yoga, and many other activities. The best part is you can participate in these activities on the day of arrival, before even checking in to your room. Meditate, read, listen to music, or make new friends – whatever you feel like.

If you feel more adventurous there's plenty to explore around the village. The Tulum Ruins, a well-preserved ancient Mayan city, are perched atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. There are many beautiful cenotes, which are natural swimming holes that are unique to the Yucatan Peninsula. These cenotes are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

And there's Sian Ka’an – an enormous and unique biosphere reserve with thick jungles, blue lagoons, Mayan-built canals where you can float, and a record number of beautiful unique species.

Catch Tulum Vibes

Gran Cenote is a popular cenote located just outside of Tulum. The cenote is known for its crystal-clear waters and is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. It is also surrounded by lush vegetation and wildlife, making it a beautiful and peaceful place to hang out.

The cenote features a large pool of water with several smaller pools and underwater caves for exploration. Snorkelers and divers can swim among schools of fish and observe the unique underwater rock formations. You can also take a break from swimming and relax on the benches or explore the surrounding jungle.

If you want a hassle-free snorkeling or diving experience – check out our vetted tours from Tulum in the links section (both group and private).

Cenotes are unique to the Yucatán peninsula with the name "cenote" coming from the Mayan word "dzonot" which means "well". Cenotes were considered sacred by the ancient Mayan people and were used for both ceremonial and practical purposes such as a source of drinking water.

Gran Cenote

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Mayan for “a place where heaven begins”, Sian Ka’an is an enormous and quite unique biosphere reserve. It consists of a thick jungle, blue lagoons, and Mayan-built canals, and boasts a record number of unique species.

There are two distinct ways of exploring this unique reserve. The oceanic side with beaches and saltwater lagoons can be accessed via Punta Allen. And the jungle side with Mayan ruins, freshwater lagoons, and wetlands can be accessed via Muyil. 

We recommend exploring the jungle side of Sian Ka’an on a four-hour tour that takes you to an off-the-beaten-track Mayan site, a boat tour of the lagoons, watching wildlife, and floating in a lazy river.

If you are driving further down to Bacalar after your Sian Ka'an tour, we recommend declining the hotel pickup/dropoff in Tulum and arriving straight at the Muyil parking lot. This will give you some significant time back.

Sian Ka’an & Muyil Site

This 13th-century Mayan archaeological site has a pretty unique setup combining remains of an ancient Mayan city with the beach and Caribbean sea as its backdrop.

We recommend arriving early in the morning, ideally right at opening (8:00 am), to avoid crowds or being exposed to the scorching sun later in the morning. Starting early is also essential if you want to visit Sian Ka’an Preserve on the same day.

Tulum Ruins

Cenote Ik Kil is a natural swimming hole located near the famous Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. It is a deep, round cenote, with vines and lush vegetation hanging down from the opening at the top of the cenote, which gives it a magical feel.

The cenote has a stairway carved into the limestone that leads down to the water's edge, where you can swim, snorkel, and enjoy the cool, refreshing water. There are also diving platforms for those who want to jump from higher up into the water.

Cenote Ik Kil is a popular tourist attraction and can get quite crowded, especially during peak tourist season. However, it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and want to experience the beauty of one of Mexico's many natural wonders.

Cenote Ik Kil

Cenote Samula and Xkeken are located across the road from each other and feature clear turquoise waters and impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

Cenote Samula is an open-air cenote located inside a large underground cavern. It has a small opening in the roof that allows natural light to filter through, illuminating the crystal-clear water below. You can descend a set of stairs to reach the water's edge, and there are also platforms and ropes for swimming and diving.

Cenote Xkeken, also known as Cenote Dzitnup, is another underground cenote located in a cave. It has a circular opening in the ceiling that lets in natural light, creating a stunning visual effect as the light reflects off the water. The cenote is surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites, and you can swim and snorkel in the cool, clear water.

Cenote Samula & Xkeken

Cenote Suytun is Instagram-favorite yet not that crowded cenote with a unique, picture-perfect setup. There is a human-made platform in the middle and a magical sun ray coming through a natural hole in the ceiling, creating a stunning scene to behold.

The platform is now a bit underwater due to the hurricanes of 2020, but the water levels are slowly coming back. We recommend visiting it either at the opening at 9:00 am or late in the afternoon after 3 pm to avoid crowds. The sunbeam is also strongest in the afternoon.

Cenote Suytun

Cenote Zaci is a stunning cenote located in the heart of Valladolid, so if you feel like cooling down while exploring the city – just stop by and submerge in refreshing water with the locals.

Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, revealing the crystal-clear groundwater below. Cenote Zaci is no exception, with its deep blue waters surrounded by towering rock walls and lush greenery. You can swim, snorkel, or simply relax and take in the peaceful surroundings.

Cenote Zaki

Chichén Itzá is a world-famous archaeological site that was once one of the most important Mayan cities. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited travel sights in Mexico.

With its first settlers dating back to 550, Chichén Itzá became a religious, military, political, and commercial center that at its peak was home to 35,000 people. A massive Chichén Itzá Pyramid (or El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcan) is the most astonishing Mayan ruin inside the archaeological site.

El Castillo has also recently become one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, making it quite popular among tourists. So we recommend arriving as early in the day as possible to avoid crowds (doors open at 8:00 am).

Chichén Itzá

Ek Balam is an archaeological site that offers a more serene, uncrowded, but still stunning experience of wandering among Mayan ruins. The city was occupied from the Middle Preclassic period to the Postclassic period and was at its peak during the Late Classic period (600-900 CE).

The most impressive structure at Ek Balam is the Acropolis, a massive pyramid that is over 100 feet tall. The Acropolis is surrounded by several other structures, including a ball court, a palace, and several smaller pyramids. The site also contains numerous stelae (stone monuments) and altars that depict scenes from Maya mythology and history. You can climb the Acropolis and explore the other structures at the site, and it is unique to more crowded Mayan sights.

One of the most unique features of Ek Balam is the well-preserved stucco friezes that decorate the walls of several of the structures. The friezes depict various scenes from Maya mythology and daily life, and are notable for their intricate detail and vibrant colors.

Ek Balam

One of the most beautiful and charismatic colonial cities in Mexico, Valladolid features vibrant streets, refreshing cenotes, amazing restaurants, cozy parks, and some unique experiences like the Coqui Coqui spa. 

We recommend spending half a day strolling the streets and enjoying the main architectural sights, and then getting into your car and exploring nearby cenotes for the rest of the day.

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We couldn't believe that a small nearby destination can offer such a diverse and epic adventure. But Yucatan delivered, with its unique mix of beautiful white-sand beaches, stunning nature with wildlife, and Mayan ruins with one of the seven wonders of the world – Chichen Itza. Enjoy!

The Hilton Garden Inn Cancun Airport is located just a few minutes drive from the airport. It offers comfortable rooms and amenities like a fitness center, outdoor pool, restaurant, and free shuttle service to the airport.

Hilton Garden Inn

Car-free island, pristine beaches, boutique hotels, also laid-back atmosphere.

Isla Holbox Escape

Pristine beaches, boutique hotels, world-class cuisine, and a laid-back atmosphere.

Tulum Escape

A road trip adventure with everything the Yucatan peninsula has to offer.

Yucatecan Adventure

It's like stepping into a postcard with crystal-clear waters and powdery white beaches as far as the eye can see. You can't miss snorkeling in the underwater museum, MUSA, or dancing the night away in the Hotel Zone's lively clubs.

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Hilton Garden Inn

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Hilton Garden Inn

Word from curator

Nearby things to do

Alternative Itineraries

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to save your Iceland trip