Yucatán

The heartland of Maya civilisation, where Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, cenotes and colonial cities complement one another.

Yucatán lies in the north of the Yucatán Peninsula, a flat land where the limestone bedrock is dotted with numerous natural sinkholes (cenotes). The Maya cities of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal are both World Heritage Sites; the capital, Mérida, is known for its colonial architecture, plaza cultural events and Yucatecan cuisine, and Valladolid and the yellow town of Izamal are popular Pueblos Mágicos. On the northern coast, Celestún and Río Lagartos are good for seeing flamingos. November to March is relatively cool and dry, April and May are the hottest, and summer and autumn are rainy. The gateway is Mérida International Airport, and you can also come by road from Cancún.

Destinations

• Mérida
• Valladolid & Chichén Itzá

Itineraries

• Classic Yucatán Road Trip Loop – Pick up and drop off your car in Cancún, covering Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza, Merida, and Uxmal in one week.
• Tren Maya: Cancún to Palenque – Skip the driving and ride the Tren Maya from the Caribbean coast all the way west to the Chiapas rainforest ruins.
• Grand Yucatán Peninsula Loop – A complete road trip starting and ending in Cancún, looping through three states from white cities and fortified towns…
• Southern Mexico: Mexico City to Mérida – Journey from the capital through Puebla, Oaxaca, and Chiapas to Yucatán, utilizing buses, flights, and the Maya Train.