The Ultimate 8 Days Itinerary to Experience Everything Yucatán

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Viva Mexico! (Meh-hee-koh) Mexico is one of the three countries comprising the continent North America. I have been to a lot of places and I’ve skipped Mexico when I think of places where to go. Maybe, because, mostly I always think it’s so close and I will end up there eventually. That time has come. I got time off work and I wanted to go somewhere close but not in the States. Somewhere affordable with great weather and food. Mexico, specifically the Yucatán area turned out to be the perfect destination. Plus it didn’t affect my sleeping schedule because it has the same timezone back home in Playa del Carmen and only an hour behind when I travelled more to the West. With that being said, the North America conquest is complete!

I thought of doing a lazy vacation and stay at one place for the whole time but the explorer in me wants to go to multiple places in one trip. I ended up exploring the Yucatán Peninsula doing almost all the different types of travel from relaxation, to excursions, walking around everywhere, learning history, and eating amazing food. It was all in Yucatán. Here’s my great itinerary of my amazing Mexico trip and what I did everyday.

Playa del Carmen – 2 Days

My first day, I arrived at the Cancun International Airport in the afternoon and took the ADO bus straight to Playa del Carmen. ADO bus service is really good servicing the Yucatán Peninsula. I decided to skip Cancun, do my trip outside the city and it turned out to be a good trip! The bus ride was a quick 45 minutes bus ride and it takes you right at the heart (they call it centro) of the town.

I stayed at this amazing all-inclusive Adult Only Resort Hilton Playa del Carmen. Being a Silver Member of Hilton Honors and with the Friends and Family, I get amazing rates so I choose to stay at Hilton when possible. My Playa del Carmen leg was the relaxed part of my Mexico trip to unwind and slow down the pace of my life. I don’t know about you but the beach kind of does that to me.

Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort at night — Margarita all day everyday at my stay at Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort.

During my two days of stay, I fully utilized all the amenities, dining, and space of the resort has to offer. I also went to visit the town during the day, shopped, and went to the beach as well. Staying at a resort, all inclusive or not (definitely better if all inclusive), is definitely a must thing do you when you’re in sunny Mexico.

Eula Esguerra Letras Playa del Carmen at Parque Los Fundadores — Me posing at the Letras Playa del Carmen at Parque Los Fundadores.

Bacalar – 1 Day

I purposely made a detour here instead of going straight to Mérida because of Laguna de Bacalar and I love spending time in small town to escape the bustling city life. Lake Bacalar in English, is a long and narrow lake in the same side of Playa del Carmen down south. It’s super beautiful clear turquoise water is nothing like you will ever see before.

I never realized it’s possible to see in a lake this gorgeous. I normally see turquoise blue waters only in sea sides like close to the ocean. Right when I arrived at noon, I went straight to my hotel and asked if they know if there’re still available tours in the afternoon to tour the lake. I was so happy there are afternoon tours. I toured the lake organized by Cuco’s which is a local tour group Bacalar. The tour includes going to the three cenotes in the lake and spend time at the El Canal De Los Piratas. You get to swim for a good one hour or so in the middle of the lake and swim when the sun isn’t stinging hot. You can find more information about my Bacalar trip here.

Eula Esguerra Lake Bacalar Laguna de Bacalar — Had the greatest afternoon dip at Laguna de Bacalar. Loved the turquoise water.

Mérida – 4 Days

After Bacalar, I woke up early morning to catch the ADO bus to Mérida and it takes about four and a half hours to reach the centro. The hotel I stayed at was Hampton Inn Merida which is about 25 minutes north of the centro. They have the bus system but I didn’t want to figure out the bus system so thankfully there’s Uber in the city and the price is very affordable for me. I ended up uber-ing back and forth to the city centre which ended up becoming a tour on its own seeing the city’s main streets and attractions while I was in the vehicle. Pretty amazing adventures happened while I was in Merida like eating good food, seeing history, Spanish colonial architecture, and Mayan archeological sites.

Rainy day in Merida Yucatan Mexico — Rainy day in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

I had two full days in the city and I spent them for day tours. First was a tour organized by Mayan Heritage and I got to visit three places: the Mayan city of Uxmal (Oosh-mal), hacienda Yaxcopoil, and cenote Sambula.

Hacienda Yaxcopoil, Yucatan, Mexico — Hacienda Yaxcopoil, one of the many plantation haciendas that dates back to the Spanish colonial times.

The other day was an excursion of my own to see Chichen Itzá and the colonial city of Valladolid. It was very doable to do since there are many buses that goes to these two places from Merida and even Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Eula Esguerra Chichen Itza — Head on full force to the pyramid of Chichen Itza early in the morning before it gets crowded.

Playa del Carmen – 1 Day

Back in Playa del Carmen to catch my flight home in Cancun the next day for a super early flight. I also met up with a friend who is currently spending time here in Mexico and caught up with life. This was my last time to enjoy the warm weather, the beach, eat amazing good affordable Mexican food, and whine about the cold. Lol! I spent it at the beach, of course, then at the downtown core with my friend walking around.