10 Best Things to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula

Are you looking for the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico? The Yucatan Peninsula is the most popular travel destination in Mexico. There are many beautiful places to visit on the Yucatan Peninsula, which you can spend at least 2-weeks exploring.

You must have heard of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, or Tulum. Well then, you will be glad to hear that these are located on the Yucatan Peninsula, and you can easily visit these places.

See the ancient Mayan Ruins, chill out at beautiful tropical beaches, swim at the cenotes, and explore authentic Mexican cities.

In this post, you will find the 10 best places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula.

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How to Get Around the Yucatan Peninsula

The best way to get around the Yucatan Peninsula is to rent a car or take an ADO bus. For nearby attractions or day trips, you can join a group or private tour, travel by taxi or Colectivo (shared minivans), or rent a bike.

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If you want to book bus tickets or transfers, use Bookaway.

Car rental will cost around 30-35 USD per day, which included full insurance.

During our travels, we always use Discover Cars for car rentals. Because they always offer the best deals and provide free cancellation 48 hours before your reservation.

Are you thinking of renting a car? Be sure to read our guide to renting a car in Mexico and driving around the Yucatan Peninsula.

Best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula

1. Visit Chichen Itza

One of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula is to visit Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the most visited attraction in Mexico.

You can easily reach Chichen Itza from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid, or Merida. The small colonial town of Valladolid is the closest to the Mayan Ruins, so the best way to visit Chichen Itza is from Valladolid.

For the best experience, book your Chichen Itza and Cenote day trips via Viator or GetYourGuide.

Visiting Chichen Itza is very easy, and you can see it on your own, with a guided tour, or join a group.

Spend at least 2-3 hours at Chichen Itza and explore the whole archaeological site.

Read the full post → Guide to Chichen Itza

Places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula

2. Walk Around the Yellow City of Izamal

Are you looking for more top things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula? Izamal is a small colonial town in Yucatan, founded by the Spanish on the site of an ancient Mayan city in the 16th century.

The Yellow City of Izamal is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágico).

Izamal is famous for its yellow-painted buildings, photogenic streets, and beautiful Convento de San Antonio de Padua. Because you can discover Izamal in a few hours, it is well worth a visit from Merida or Valladolid.

Recommended post → Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary

3. Take Photos in Cenote Suytun

A visit to Cenote Suytun is one of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Cenote Suytun is just a 15-minute drive from Valladolid. You can swim and snorkel at Cenote Suytun, but most people visit only to take Insta-worthy photos.

Good to know that the Cenote Suytun platform is not always underwater, depending on weather conditions. However, in the dry season, you can usually walk on the platform, which is a fantastic experience.

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If you want to catch the Cenote Suytun when the natural light is beaming on the platform, you should visit from noon to 2 PM.

Recommended post → Best Cenotes in Tulum

4. Explore Tulum

Tulum is one of the best cities and places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula, and you’ll probably either love it or hate it.

It is a unique destination where you can enjoy luxury hotels, tropical beaches, charming restaurants, and a creative mix of modern art. Because of its popularity, it’s very crowded, and you may have to wait in line if you want to take photos.

Join a Tulum Instagram Photo Tour.

Tulum and its surroundings have a lot to see and do, so don’t miss it if you visit the Yucatan Peninsula.

We think exploring the attractions of Tulum is one of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula. We loved Tulum and spent 4-days exploring the beautiful sights.

See also → Instagrammable Places in Tulum

5. Visit Las Coloradas

Las Coloradas is a beautiful place, but most people skip it on the Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary because of its distance. The lakes at Las Coloradas are pink due to the salt production in the area and are home to many flamingos.

From Cancun and Tulum, the journey time is at least 3 hours.

You can’t swim at Las Coloradas, but you can take many beautiful shots of the pink lagoons and white sand beaches.

6. Chill out in Bacalar

Bacalar is a Magical Town (Pueblo Mágico) in Mexico, famous for its beautiful crystal clear waters and the Lagoon of Seven Colors.

It is not usually part of the typical Yucatan Peninsula trip, but it is well worth a visit. Spend at least 3-days in Bacalar, take a sailing trip, kayak in the lagoon, and enjoy the Maldives of Mexico.

You can book your Bacalar Sailing tours through Viator or GetYourGuide, where you can get the best prices.

Visiting Los Rapidos is one of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula. The crystal clear waters in different shades of blue and impressive stromatolites make it the best place to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Read the full post → Guide to Bacalar

10 Best Places to Visit in the Yucatan Peninsula

7. Discover Valladolid

Valladolid is a Spanish colonial city that is a hidden gem in Mexico. Therefore, you must visit Valladolid and enjoy the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Valladolid and its surroundings offer a wealth of attractions, making it the perfect base for exploring popular places. From Valladolid, you can easily reach Chichen Itza, Cenote Suytun, and the Yellow City of Izamal.

For those who want an authentic Mexican experience and prefer budget-friendly places, Valladolid is the best choice in Mexico.

Recommended post → Valladolid Itinerary

8. See Muyil Ruins

You can visit many Mayan Ruins in Mexico, but after Chichen Itza, our favorite was the Muyil Ruins. We only met a few tourists during our visit, so it was a fantastic experience to explore the Muyil archaeological site.

One of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula is a boat trip to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Sian Ka’an is home to many species of flora and fauna, and you can easily combine it with a visit to the Muyil Ruins.

Join Sian Ka’an and Muyil Ruins Tour.

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If you want to visit more Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula, don’t miss the ruins of Coba, Tulum, Uxmal, and Ek Balam.

9. Visit Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a beautiful island to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula. Because Isla Holbox is much closer than Bacalar, it is a popular destination from Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

On Isla Holbox, you can swim with whale sharks, relax in a hammock on the most beautiful beach at Punta Cocos, and rent a bike or golf cart to explore the island.

Take a day trip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen to Isla Holbox.

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You can visit Isla Mujeres or Cozumel, which are also magical places in the Yucatan Peninsula.

See also → Renting a Car in Cancun

10. Stay in Merida

One of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula is to visit the colonial city of Merida.

Merida is the capital of Yucatan state, the perfect place for digital nomads and budget travelers. But there is no shortage of expensive restaurants, trendy boutiques, parties, and popular events.

Merida is not such a popular tourist attraction. But as it is easily accessible and you can get around in one day, it’s worth a visit. When visiting Merida, you’ll see that it mixes historic colonial buildings with modern neighborhoods, making it a different experience from Izamal or Valladolid.

From Merida, you can easily book day trips that include visits to Chichen Itza, Valladolid, and Izamal.

Check prices and availability HERE.

Where to Stay in the Yucatan Peninsula

We hope our list of the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula will inspire you to visit Mexico. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

10 Best Things to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula