When is the best time to travel to the Yucatan Peninsula?

There is no bad time to visit. The weather on the coast tends to be warm to hot throughout the year allowing for good beach stays, although the best time is between October and May. There is very little rain between December and February and this is the mildest period. The busiest seasons are Christmas, Easter and the summer months when Mexican families like to travel and hotels are crowded. Generally, the beach resorts are less busy between December and May. However, these are the months when prices are at their peak. 

What are the top cities or places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula?

Merida

Merida is a city of contrasts. You will find elegant hotels, restaurants and malls plus a large central market and numerous small shops all around the main plaza. Merida has a rich cultural life which also reflects its diversity. Many free concerts, performances and other events are held daily. The city's ambiance is colonial and the climate is tropical. From Merida, it is easy to take day trips to a vast array of destinations including archaeological sites on Mexico vacation packages. Its most famous building is the Pyramid of Kukulcan, a temple-pyramid dedicated to the feathered serpent of the same name. 

Chichen Itza

The Yucatan Peninsula is home to many excellent archaeological sites of the Mayan civilization. Chichen Itza is the largest and most restored site. Chichen Itza is probably the most famous and was once a large pre-Columbian city built by the Mayan civilization existing between 600 and 1200 AD. It is a day trip from Cancun, about 160 kilometres/100 miles away. It is also an hour and a half away from Merida, the capital of Yucatan. The Pyramid of Kukulcan or El Castillo is the most famous landmark of Chichen Itza. This was a temple-pyramid dedicated to the Feathered Serpent God, Kukulcan.

Uxmal

Another important Mayan site is Uxmal located 62 kilometres/40 miles south of Mérida. Uxmal is an ancient Maya city and is considered one of the most important archeological sites of Maya culture. Its buildings are noted for their size and decoration. Ancient roads connect the buildings. The most important include the Governor’s Palace with the longest façades from Pre-Columbian times and the Adivino also known as the Pyramid of the Magician or the Pyramid of the Dwarf. Thanks to its good state of preservation, it is one of the few Mayan cities where the visitor can get a good idea of how the entire ceremonial centre looked in ancient times.

Tulum

When on a Mexico vacation, do visit Tulum, the site of a pre-Columbian Maya walled city which holds the honour of being the most picturesque archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula and the only one to have been built overlooking the sea as it is located on a series of cliffs 12 metres/39 feet in height. It was an ancient Mayan fortress city that rose to power between the 13th and 15th Centuries and actually survived for a further 70 years after the initial Spanish occupation. It is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the country and the third most visited on a Mexico vacation package. A walkway extends out around the ruins and a staircase nearby leads down to the beach where you can swim and sunbathe. Tulum is one of the few archaeological sites in Mexico where it really does make sense to bring a swimsuit. The best way to experience Tulum is to combine a tour of the ruins with some beach time!

For more information on Tulum, click here

Campeche

Campeche is one of the country’s best-kept colonial-era secrets. The city is one of the most picturesque centres in Mexico. Wealthy merchants and traders built outstandingly beautiful houses and haciendas here. Today hundreds of these have been carefully restored to their former glory. UNESCO declared Campeche a World Heritage Site. This old walled city with its narrow streets, pastel-coloured houses and old-world feel is a true gem.

Beach Resorts 

Cancun is a fairly recent man-made resort dating back to 1970 before which it did not exist as such. It is definitely Mexico’s showcase resort. Few resorts anywhere on Mexico vacations have the infrastructure and amenities that were built into Cancun from the beginning. It is naturally endowed with turquoise waters and powdery white sandy beaches. The beaches themselves stretch for 23 kilometres/14 miles and are shaped like the number seven. There is a large selection of good-quality hotels, many of which are all-inclusive resorts. Cancun is not only for sun worshippers but also for water sports enthusiasts. Being located on a coral reef, Cancun is popular with both scuba divers and snorkelers. There are also 2 excellent golf courses. 

Playa del Carmen is located on the Riviera Maya coastal strip on the Yucatan Peninsula, 70 kilometres/45 miles south of Cancun. Originally a small fishing village, it has now developed into a sophisticated resort with a distinctly European feel. It is possibly Mexico’s trendiest resort. This is evident on Mexico vacations as one strolls down the pedestrian-only main thoroughfare, Fifth Avenue, locally known as Quinta Avenida. It is the place to see and be seen in Playa del Carmen. By day it is busy with people browsing the shops and boutiques and at night, by roving musicians entertain diners in the many restaurants and bars. 

Cozumel is famous for its magnificent coral reefs. Drift diving was pretty much created in Cozumel because of the perfect current that flows along the island, which allows divers and snorkelers to use very little energy to enjoy the reefs in Cozumel. This system of reefs spans over 22 kilometres/13 miles extended in white beaches that frame it. Due to its great marine biodiversity, it is considered an ideal place to practice diving.

Yucatan Peninsula Travel Information

Travelling around the Yucatan Peninsula

The best method of transportation in the Yucatan Peninsula is by regional bus. The roads are well made and the bus services efficient. To reach Cozumel, regular ferries depart from Playa del Carmen.

Mexico Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to a Mexico vacation.

Learn about the history and culture of Mexico, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Mexico's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Mexico for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Mexico vacations today!

Extend Your Trip

After your Mexico Tour, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours. These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Chile vacation packages and Easter Island tours, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.