When you think of Cancún as a flight destination, miles of stretches of beach with thousands of resorts lined up next to each other come to mind. However, the Yucatán Peninsula offers much more – without having to forego the relaxed club holidays in Cancún. Thanks be to the car: “The best of both worlds”, so to speak.
First stop of my trip: the TRS Yucatan, an adults-only resort between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, about an hour and a half drive from Cancún Airport. After the long-haul flight, I don’t want to embark on the road trip adventure straight away, but just let my soul dangle, cure the jetlag and not have to think about anything. So for me the perfect first stop.
Unfounded security concerns
Three days are ideal to get an overview of the huge hotel complex and to try out the different restaurants. In between, I make a trip to Playa del Carmen to get the rental car there. And then there’s the road trip.
Sure, you keep reading bad things about Mexico. Other local tourists, mostly Americans, wonder if my colleague and I are crazy to drive across the country. In retrospect, however, the worries turned out to be unfounded. We didn’t encounter a single roadblock, although many had announced them to us. But maybe we were just lucky. Just in case: have some change ready.
Church facade with Mayan ruins
The journey continues via the Mayan ruins in Tulum and Cobá to Mérida. Mayan temples once stood here, but these were destroyed by the Spanish colonists. Today you can still see remains of the buildings in the city, such as on the facade of the Iglesia de Jesus.
Although Mérida has almost 900,000 inhabitants, the city center is relatively small. A free walking tour is worthwhile, but one night in Mérida is enough.
Tip for Mérida: There’s always something going on at La Negrita Cantina. You can eat and enjoy drinks while a band plays.
City full of yellow
After Mérida, it takes us to Chichén Itzá, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. On the way there, however, a stopover in Izamal is a good idea. This small town is also called “Yellow City” because most of the houses here are painted yellow, which makes the whole place look very picturesque.
We even plan an overnight stay for the Mayan temples in Chichén Itzá. Reason: A light show is projected onto the pyramids most evenings. Tickets for the event cost around CHF 25 per person and are limited. Exploration is twice as exciting: we first see the temples in the dark with colored lighting, and then the next day in bright sunshine.
Tip Chichén Itzá: Beware of the people in front of the entrance who have confused offers. We also booked a private guide in front of the main entrance. We paid around 50 francs, including tip.
Visiting a cenote is mandatory
From Chichén Itzá – and overnight in the village next door – we continue to Valladolid, stopping at Cenote Oxman. Visiting a cenote is a must on the Yucatán Peninsula. Caves where part of the ceiling has collapsed. You can even bathe in the fresh water that collects in it. As long as there isn’t a tourist bus on site, it’s totally relaxed.
This is followed by an overnight stay in Valladolid, also a manageable city. The San Bernardino Monastery is illuminated with a light show in the evening.
Tip Valladolid: A ride on the “El Bus Magico” is adventurous and very cheap. You drive through Valladolid, you can grab a drink from the Mexico Magico bar and see the city – although the sights are limited.
Enjoy Holbox before it gets overrun
Next up are three days of Holbox. An island in the north of the Yucatán, which is currently still more of an insider tip (but this seems to be changing soon, as resorts have already been built on site!). The drive from Valladolid to the port of Chiquilá takes two hours – beware of the wild animals on the road, snakes also like to cross the road. From there a ferry takes guests to Holbox.
Good to know
Getting there: Edelweiss flies directly from Zurich to Cancún several times a week from around 700 francs there and back.
Spend the night: Spend the night relaxed in the all-inclusive and adults-only hotel TRS Yucatan. The overnight prices start at around 450 francs per night. In Cancun, the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun offers the full party and all-inclusive experience. An overnight stay for two people is available from 330 francs.
getting around: The route for a road trip can be planned individually. A recommended round trip can look like this: from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cobá, Mérida, then to the famous site Chichén Itzá, on to Valladolid, Holbox Island and Mujeres, and finally back to Cancún.
Meal: On the Isla Holbox there is the inconspicuous snack bar Estan El Carbon. The crispy chicken burger is an insider tip. Also great: Pizzeria Roots on Holbox.
Drink: Ñaña Beach Club has the best mojitos in Holbox.
Getting there: Edelweiss flies directly from Zurich to Cancún several times a week from around 700 francs there and back.
Spend the night: Spend the night relaxed in the all-inclusive and adults-only hotel TRS Yucatan. The overnight prices start at around 450 francs per night. In Cancun, the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun offers the full party and all-inclusive experience. An overnight stay for two people is available from 330 francs.
getting around: The route for a road trip can be planned individually. A recommended round trip can look like this: from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cobá, Mérida, then to the famous site Chichén Itzá, on to Valladolid, Holbox Island and Mujeres, and finally back to Cancún.
Meal: On the Isla Holbox there is the inconspicuous snack bar Estan El Carbon. The crispy chicken burger is an insider tip. Also great: Pizzeria Roots on Holbox.
Drink: Ñaña Beach Club has the best mojitos in Holbox.
It’s idyllic on Holbox, time moves slowly and you feel a bit cut off from the outside world – thanks to the poor Wi-Fi everywhere on the island. Cozy drinks on the beach, stunning sunsets and fine dining abound here.
Tip for Holbox: We explored the glow of the sea in the late evening with a kayak tour. In Holbox there is luminescence, glowing plankton, in the sea. You should have seen that once. The three-island tour, which shows the flora and fauna of the island, is also worthwhile.
Isla Mujeres: the precursor of Cancún
After three nights on Holbox – the island we really hated to leave behind – it’s back to Cancún. We drop off our car at the airport, from there we go to the port and continue by ship to Isla Mujeres. An island that’s a bit more touristy and wild than Holbox, but a good stopover to go to Cancún afterwards and acclimatize.
Tip Isla Mujeres: Definitely plan a trip to Isla Contoy! The nature reserve is located in the very north of the coral reef off Mexico, and snorkelling is worthwhile here. The coral reef in Mexico is the second largest in the world and stretches from the north of the Yucatán Peninsula to Belize, Honduras and Guatemala.
Crazy night at Coco Bongo
Our trip finally ends in Cancún. But first of all: It is a huge contrast to our rest of the program, a lot more touristy and also more expensive. We are also planning three nights here, although we could do with less.
True to the stereotype, Cancún is a party-loving place. The Coco Bongo should be emphasized here, which has been offering entertainment for around 25 years that is otherwise so rare. Balloons fall from the ceiling, oxygen is pumped into the hall. There are always different tribute shows. The sensory overload of the extra class is not cheap – 100 dollars you have to calculate. But the drinks are included. Attention: Always give the waiters a nice tip so that you are served well.
15 days is ideal, but can be extended as required
All in all, the trip through Mexico lasted 15 days for me and my companion. Tightly timed, but not too stressful for my taste.
The Yucatán Peninsula is perfect for a multi-stop road trip. I enjoy the quiet days in the resort just as much as the subsequent trip through the two states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán. A little more time would be nice, but not essential. One thing is for sure: It definitely won’t be my last time in Mexico!
Good to know
Getting there: Edelweiss flies directly from Zurich to Cancún several times a week from around 700 francs there and back.
Spend the night: Spend the night relaxed in the all-inclusive and adults-only hotel TRS Yucatan. The overnight prices start at around 450 francs per night. In Cancun, the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun offers the full party and all-inclusive experience. An overnight stay for two people is available from 330 francs.
getting around: The route for a road trip can be planned individually. A recommended round trip can look like this: from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cobá, Mérida, then to the famous site Chichén Itzá, on to Valladolid, Holbox Island and Mujeres, and finally back to Cancún.
Meal: On the Isla Holbox there is the inconspicuous snack bar Estan El Carbon. The crispy chicken burger is an insider tip. Also great: Pizzeria Roots on Holbox.
Drink: Ñaña Beach Club has the best mojitos in Holbox.
Getting there: Edelweiss flies directly from Zurich to Cancún several times a week from around 700 francs there and back.
Spend the night: Spend the night relaxed in the all-inclusive and adults-only hotel TRS Yucatan. The overnight prices start at around 450 francs per night. In Cancun, the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun offers the full party and all-inclusive experience. An overnight stay for two people is available from 330 francs.
getting around: The route for a road trip can be planned individually. A recommended round trip can look like this: from Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cobá, Mérida, then to the famous site Chichén Itzá, on to Valladolid, Holbox Island and Mujeres, and finally back to Cancún.
Meal: On the Isla Holbox there is the inconspicuous snack bar Estan El Carbon. The crispy chicken burger is an insider tip. Also great: Pizzeria Roots on Holbox.
Drink: Ñaña Beach Club has the best mojitos in Holbox.
The trip was organized by Edelweiss, TRS Yucatan and Hard Rock Hotel Cancun supported.