The peak season is between July and August, a period that is not actually the best time to travel. This is because it is still the rainy season, and it often rains daily. The best time to travel is between November and April. During this period, Yucatan experiences dry season, with summer temperatures and little rainfall.

Tip: Avoid December, as the peninsula becomes relatively crowded around Christmas.

2. Currency and Language

The official currency in Mexico is the peso. Like all currencies, the exchange rate fluctuates frequently, but is usually between 19 and 20 pesos per euro. Since many Americans also travel to Mexico, the US dollar is accepted in some places. However, credit cards are rarely accepted in Yucatan. Therefore, make sure you always have enough cash with you.

The national language in Mexico is Spanish. You should therefore learn a few words beforehand, at least the most important ones for your trip. This will help you win the hearts of the locals. Otherwise, you can usually get by with English. However, don’t expect all Mexicans to understand you immediately if you speak English.

3. Entering Mexico

There isn’t much to consider when entering Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. A simple passport is sufficient for entry into Mexico from Germany, Switzerland, or Austria. The only requirement is that your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

With your passport, you can then stay in the entire country for up to 180 days at a time. However, if you plan to stay longer than 180 days, you will need a visa.

4. Safety in Yucatan

Mexico is often considered a dangerous travel destination. Mexico owes its poor reputation regarding safety to its numerous drug gangs. However, we ourselves have not had any bad experiences in Mexico. If you use common sense, it is no more dangerous than anywhere else in the world.

Don’t be put off by the huge number of police cars, with armed police officers patrolling the towns all day long. This is a common sight on the streets here. Furthermore, the Yucatan Peninsula is considered the safest region in all of Mexico. So don’t let prejudices deter you and gather your own experiences in this beautiful country.

Itinerary for a 2-Week Yucatan Tour

For your arrival, we recommend a direct flight from Germany to Cancún. You can usually find the best flight deals on Momondo or Skyscanner*.

While you can easily get from point A to point B by bus, if you’d prefer a bit more flexibility, book a rental car. Prices in Mexico are relatively low, so we definitely recommend renting a car. You can often find good prices and conditions at www.billiger-mietwagen.de*.

Here you’ll get an overview of your route across the Yucatan Peninsula. You should allow at least two weeks for the 8 stages. Because at almost every spot there are numerous highlights and sights that you shouldn’t miss.

• Stage 1: Cancún – Playa del Carmen (75 km, 1.5 hours)
• Stage 2: Playa del Carmen – Tulum (65 km, 1 hour)
• Stage 3: Tulum – Bacalar (210 km, 2.5 hours)
• Stage 4: Bacalar – Sacalum (300 km, 3.5 hours)
• Stage 5: Sacalum – Izamal (120 km, 1.5 hours)
• Stage 6: Izamal – Valladolid (115 km, 1.5 hours)
• Stage 7: Valladolid – Rio Lagertos (100 km, 1.5 hours)
• Stage 8: Rio Lagertos–Cancún (250 km, 3 hours)

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Our accommodations for the road trip

Here you can find an overview of our accommodations on Yucatan. In general, the prices for accommodations are affordable and fair. You’ll also find a wide selection of accommodations in almost every larger town, regardless of whether you prefer a hotel or an apartment.

• Angelo’s Hotel* in Playa del Carmen
• Zamunda Garden View Apartments* in Tulum
• Stone Apartments* in Bacalar
• Saak Luum Apartments* in Sacalum
• Hotel Hacienda Izamal* in Izamal
• Airbnb in Valladolid
• Hotel Posada Mercy* in Rio Lagertos
• La Villa du Golf Hotel* in Cancún

Yucatán Tour – The Most Beautiful Sights

On your route, you’ll admire ancient Mayan sites, stunning cenotes, fantastic beaches, and colorful towns. Here we reveal our 9 TOP highlights on Yucatan. In addition to a world wonder, a yellow city, a pink lake, and a mystical cenote near Valladolid await you on the peninsula.

But be careful! The entrance fees are mostly based on November 2025. Since then, some prices have apparently increased dramatically. We have also listed the new prices for the attractions where we know the new prices for sure.

1. The World Wonder Chichén Itzá

The absolute highlight of Yucatan is the World Wonder Chichén Itzá. The vast complex with the pyramid “El Castillo” at its center is the absolute attraction of the entire peninsula. Since 2007, Chichén Itzá has been one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, alongside Machu Picchu in Peru and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil.

Due to the large number of visitors, the entrance fee is quite high here. The price per person is 533 pesos (as of November 2025). That’s about €27. But it’s worth it. The crowds disperse over the vast grounds, and as you explore Chichén Itzá, you’ll continually discover impressive remains from the Mayan era. The Mayan site itself is well over 1,000 years old.

Tips: Visit Chichén Itzá as early in the morning as possible. Around mid-morning, the site becomes very crowded with tourist buses. Temperatures are also significantly higher than in the early morning. ☞ Tour: Chichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid All-inclusive Tour*.

2. Gran Cenote near Tulum

One of our favorite Yucatan highlights was the Gran Cenote near Tulum. The cenote is known for its crystal-clear water and the many turtles that frolic in the water. Furthermore, the animals have a separate area that visitors cannot enter. Therefore, the turtles only mingle with the visitors in the water if they want to.

Unfortunately, the price here has increased significantly in recent years. In November 2025, admission was 300 pesos per person; now you pay 500 pesos. But it’s worth it! For us, the Gran Cenote was by far the most beautiful cenote in Yucatan. This is partly due to the fact that you can dive through a small tunnel into another cenote.

Our tip: Bring a snorkeling set or rent one on site. It’s really worth it, as you can spot turtles and fish in the water. ☞ Tour: Cool Cenote Adventure with Lunch*.

3. The Yellow City of Izamal

A very special place on the peninsula is Izamal. Izamal is also known as “the Yellow City.” We consider it one of the most beautiful cities we have explored on our travels so far. Almost all of the house facades in Izamal are painted yellow. This was due to a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1993.

Today, the facades serve as a real eye-catcher and a great photo spot. As a special sight in the town itself, we highly recommend the San Antonio de Padua Monastery. An overnight stay in town is perfectly sufficient. There isn’t much else to see here, but Izamal is definitely worth a visit. ☞ About the tour: Izamal: 2-hour walking tour*.

Our tip: Visit the Kinich Kakmó Pyramid in Izamal and enjoy a stunning view of the city and the surrounding jungle of Mexico.

4. The Mayan Site of Cobá

Across the entire Yucatan Peninsula, besides Chichén Itzá, there are many other sights and Mayan sites that you absolutely should see. The ruins of Cobá are still a real insider tip. A complex of various ruins and pyramids stretches across a vast area and is definitely worth a visit.

The highlight is the Nohoch Mul Pyramid, from which you have a fantastic view of the surrounding jungle. The entire site is located in the heart of the Mexican jungle and therefore has a particularly mystical feel. The entrance fee in November 2025 was also extremely fair at just €3.50 per person.

Tips: Rent a bike. This will get you from point A to point B faster. The walks through the jungle are sometimes quite long. The cost is also reasonable at €2.50. ☞ Tulum and Cobá: Archaeological Day Tour with Lunch*.

5. Cenote Suytun near Valladolid

A real photo hotspot on your tour of Yucatan is the Cenote Suytun near Valladolid. The cenote is known for its platform that juts out into the water. From above, light shimmers through a narrow hole directly onto the platform, giving the entire scene a dramatic effect.

The cenote is very popular. Therefore, you are only allowed to stay here for one hour. It feels a bit like a mass procession. Nevertheless, the place is magical and worth a visit. At least, that’s our opinion. The entrance fee for one hour is 280 pesos per person (tickets here).

Tips: Give your phone to a staff member. The staff in the cenote are helpful and will take some unforgettable pictures from different perspectives. ☞ Chichén Itzá the Luxe & 2 Cenotes Tour with Lunch & Drinks*.

6. The Bacalar Lagoon

A particularly colorful highlight on your Yucatan tour is the Bacalar Lagoon. The lagoon is also known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors. This is because the lagoon is a natural amalgamation of seven different cenotes. This has created a huge lake with crystal-clear water.

Since each cenote has its own color, the water mixes in the different zones. In some places, you can actually see up to seven different shades of blue and green in the water. Furthermore, the Bacalar Lagoon is the perfect place to simply unwind and relax.

Tips: Book a tour of the lagoon if you don’t just want to relax on one of the beaches. How about this tour? ☞ 3-hour boat ride with swimming and drinks*.

7. The ruins of Tulum

The ruins of Tulum are located directly on the famous Riviera Maya, on the Caribbean coast in the southeast of Yucatan. Unlike other ruins, the area exudes a colorful flair. Thanks to its location directly on the sea, you’ll have a fantastic view of the ocean and the dream beaches right on the Riviera. You’ll also find numerous iguanas making themselves comfortable on the remains of the ruins. You can usually access one of the dream beaches and swim in the water directly from the grounds. Of all the Mayan ruins you’ll explore in Mexico, this Mayan site has a very special flair thanks to its unique location right by the sea.

Tips: Due to the popularity of the Tulum ruins, we recommend arriving early in the morning.

8. The Cenote Ik Kil near Chichén Itzá

Not far from Chichén Itzá, the Cenote Ik Kil awaits you, another highlight in the Yucatan. This place proves once again that every cenote in the Yucatan is different. While you can snorkel excellently in the Gran Cenote, a mystical atmosphere awaits you at the Cenote Suytun.

Here, at the Cenote Ik Kil, you’ll feel more like Tarzan or Jane due to the numerous lianas hanging from the walls. But be careful when you visit the cenote. We recommend visiting between 12 and 2 p.m. Most tourists are still at Chichén Itzá then and don’t visit the Cenote Ik Kil until a little later in the afternoon.

Tips: Combine your visit to Chichén Itzá with a visit to the Cenote Ik Kil. The cenote is the perfect way to cool off after exploring Chichén Itzá in the morning. ☞ From Cancun: Early Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote*.

9. The pink lake Las Coloradas

As the last highlight of your Yucatan tour, we recommend a stop at Las Coloradas. The pink lake in the very north of the peninsula is considered a very special sight. Various saltwater crustaceans and microorganisms produce beta-carotene, which ultimately colors the lake pink.

A short stop here is perfectly sufficient, unless you are particularly interested in the salt mining in this region. In that case, you can also book guided tours of the site. If a short stop is enough for you, it’s better to visit the town of Rio Lagartos, where, with a bit of luck, you might see crocodiles. ☞ From Playa del Carmen/Cancún: Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas*.

Tips: Save yourself the entrance fee here. In our opinion, it’s perfectly sufficient to take a few pictures before entering. In comparison, the entrance fee of 300 pesos per person is considerably overpriced.

About the Authors

We are Alex & Alina from the travel blog Travel around the clock. We have been running our travel blog since 2025 and spent four months traveling around the world during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2025. On this biggest adventure to date, we explored, among other things, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico for two weeks by rental car. Next, we’d like to explore Europe on a long-term trip and eventually embark on our world trip 2.0. Until then, you can also follow our adventures on our Instagram channel: @travelaroundtheclock.