Daytrip’s guide to the Yucatán

The Yucatán Peninsula is best known as the home to some of the Maya people’s largest temples and cities. As you explore the many pyramids and city ruins, history will feel closer than ever. 

• Visit Chichén Itzá, which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
• See the imposing walls of Tulum, the pre-Columbian fortress on the sea
• Visit Uxmal for its unique rounded pyramid, an underrated spot
• Ek Balam’s hieroglyphs and statues bring many visitors
• Cobá is the tallest Maya pyramid in Quintana Roo, and you can climb it

Some of the Caribbean’s best beaches are located on the coast of the Yucatán, sometimes called “Riviera Maya.” Go snorkeling, splash in the water, or simply relax on the beach with a drink and a book. 

• Stay in one of Cancun’s many all-inclusive beachfront resorts
• Take a boat to Isla Mujeres for calm, shallow waters
• Visit Playa del Carmen for a laid-back vibe of a beach town
• Lounge on Tulum’s beaches with a view of Maya ruins
• Go snorkeling to see green sea turtles at Playa Akumal

The Yucatán’s lagoons, mangroves, and reefs are home to an incredible range of wildlife. Take a boat tour, swim alongside gentle giants, or hike into the jungle to see animals in their natural habitat.

• Swim with whale sharks off Isla Holbox from June to September
• See thousands of pink flamingos in Celestún and Río Lagartos
• Explore the mangroves and lagoons of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
• Listen for howler monkeys in the jungle around Calakmul
• Snorkel the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef

With almost no rivers above ground, the Yucatán keeps its water below, in thousands of cenotes. Each is different: open lagoons, half-covered pools, and caverns where the water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom.

• In Tulum, snorkel in the Two Eyes Cenote, with two cavernous pools
• Cenote Suytun, near Valladolid, has a stone pier for photos
• Swim beneath the hanging vines of Cenote Ik Kil
• Tulum’s Gran Cenote has tunnels and shallow sandy pools
• Cenote Zaci is massive and deep enough to dive into

A trip to Mexico usually centers heavily on cuisine, and for a good reason! The flavors of the Yucatán Peninsula have made their way to all corners of the globe for their tanginess and rich use of spices. 

• Cochinita pibil is a Yucatán-born marinated, slow-roasted pork dish
• Sopa de lima is a zesty chicken soup with tortilla crisps
• Sip xtabentún, a Maya anise-and-honey liqueur.
• Xcaita is a traditional, sweet Mayan drink made from squash and corn
• Poc chuc are thin slices of citrus-marinated pork

Spanish colonial architecture blends with Maya heritage in the Yucatán’s towns and cities. Wander past colorful facades, grand cathedrals, and shady plazas where locals gather in the evening.

• Stroll Mérida’s Paseo de Montejo, lined with grand mansions
• Walk the fortified walls of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• See Izamal, the “Yellow City”; nearly every building is painted yellow ochre
• Visit Valladolid’s convent of San Bernardino de Siena
• Enjoy free music and dancing in Mérida’s plazas most nights