10 Days in Yucatan: Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary

Camille L.

How to visit Yucatan in 10, 11 or 12 days?

Do you want to visit the Yucatan Peninsula in 10 days?

To help you prepare for your trip, I have prepared a 10-day itinerary for you in Yucatan which will allow you to discover the unmissable places of interest of the peninsula.

Archaeological sites, colonial towns, cenotes and magnificent beaches: the program is sure to please you!

Departing from Cancun, you will first leave the coast to visit the famous Mayan city of Chichen Itzá and the yellow city of Izamal.

You will then leave for Mérida to see the site of Uxmal and observe the pink flamingos of Célestun.

Then you will return to the Riviera Maya to enjoy the magnificent beaches of Tulum, explore the Sian Ka’an reserve and swim with turtles in Akumal!

You’ll sail up the coast to Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, then take the ferry to Cozumel Island where you’ll spend the last few days before returning to Cancun for your departure.

As always, for each stage, I have also included my advice and practical information as well as the best hotels to stay according to your budget.

So what to do and see in the Yucatan in 10,11 or 12 days?

Day 1: Cancun

Welcome to Cancún!

This Caribbean city hosts the largest airport in the region and receives many international flights from North America and Europe and elsewhere in the world every day.

It will therefore be very easy to find your flight!

As soon as you arrive at the airport, take possession of your rental car.

If you plan to do this Yucatan tour without a car instead , you can book this transfer with air conditioning  to go directly to your hotel.

Another option, slower but a little cheaper, is to take the ADO bus to the center of Cancun, then take the R-1 bus which runs along the hotel zone.

Once the luggage has been dropped off at the hotel, you can:

Tips for your Yucatan itinerary:
To know everything about Cancun, with the best activities and all practical information, don’t miss my Ultimate Guide to Cancun!

In the evening, if you feel like experiencing a Mexican fiesta, I recommend Xochimilco Cancun.

For 3 hours you will ride in a typical colorful boat, with Mexican meal and open bar (tequila, beer and soft drinks), all accompanied by music, including mariachis!

Namely that it is a party open to the whole family, from 5 years old.

Buy your ticket for Xoximilco here.

Spend the night in Cancun.

Accommodation in Cancun

The Xoximilco party in Cancun

Day 2: Chichen Itzá and Izamal

Morning – Today, continue your Yucatan itinerary with a visit to the famous city of Chichen Itza!

Main tourist attraction of Yucatan, this emblem of the Mayan world is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is in the list of the 7 new wonders of the world.

You will be able to see El Castillo which is the main pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulcan, the El Caracol astronomical observatory , the Mayan pelota court, the Tzompantli where the enemy warriors were impaled, and the Temple of the Warriors and its 1000 columns.

Allow 2-3 hours to visit Chichen Itza  and I really recommend doing it early in the morning! It’s best to avoid the sun which is very strong in the middle of the day, but also to avoid the crowds since it’s a very touristic site!

You can buy your skip-the-line ticket to Chichen Itza here.

Getting to Chichen Itza from Cancun:

In the afternoon – Visit the small town of Izamal, which owes its nickname of “yellow town” to the pretty color of its facades.

Start with the Convent of Saint Anthony of Padua which is the symbol of the city. Its atrium, surrounded by 75 arches, is  the second largest  in the world  after St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican!

Stroll through Itzamna Park, the main square, and 5 de Mayo Park where you’ll find a cafe and craft shop.

Also not to be missed are the Itzamatul pyramid and the Kinich Kakmo pyramid, which is one of the  highest pyramids in Yucatan!

For lunch, I really recommend the Kinich, recognized as one of the best traditional cuisine restaurants in Yucatan.

If you have time, explore the San Ildefonso district,  the very traditional Los Remedios  district and the  El Gallito district.

Tips for your Yucatan itinerary:
For a fun activity to do in the evening: at 8 p.m. there is a video mapping show that presents the history of the city. There are screenings at 5 locations in Izamal, departing from Parque de los Cañones.

100 peso ticket, from Thursday to Saturday.

Spend the night in Izamal.

Getting to Izamal from Chichen Itza:

Accommodation in Izamal

The famous site of Chichen Itza in the state of Yucatan

Day 3-4: Merida

Day 1 – For this new stage of your 10-day Yucatan itinerary, set off to explore the Mérida region.

Morning – Discover the city of Uxmal. 

Uxmal was an important Maya city allied with Chichen Itza. It is considered an architectural jewel of the Puuc style which stands out, among other things, for the richness of its carved stone facades.

Things to see when visiting Uxmal:

For everything you need to know about Uxmal, here is my ultimate guide to Uxmal!

Also 20 min from Uxmal is Kabah, another Puuc-style site .

It’s almost non-touristy and much smaller than Uxmal, but its main building called ‘Codz Poop’ or ‘Palace of Masks’ is a must see.

Getting to Uxmal from Mérida :

Easy to book here.

In the afternoon – Return to Mérida, to discover the pretty capital of the State of Yucatan.

You can walk in its historic center: start with the Plaza Grande with the cathedral, the Casa de Montejo which is the oldest house in the city and the Macay Museum, a museum of contemporary art. All free!

Take Calle 64 to see its houses with colorful facades, then go for a walk on the Paseo de Montejo, a large avenue inspired by the  Champs Élysées in Paris.

In the evening, take a walk in Santa Lucia Park lined with restaurants with terraces and where you can listen to music.

Tips for your Yucatan itinerary:
Another interesting activity to get an overview of the city is to take the tourist bus.

I did this during my visit because it was too hot, and I loved it!

It’s a journey of 1h30-2h, in a small bus called “guagua” which looks like a tram. The visit, commented by a guide, takes us to see the main monuments, but also neighborhoods outside the historic center.

Spend the night in Merida

Getting to Mérida from Izamal:

The Canton Palace south of the Paseo de Montejo in Mérida

Day 2 –  Spend the day in Célestun, a must-see destination in Yucatan, known primarily for being the best place to see flamingos in Mexico!

You must first go to the fishing village of Célestun and board a small boat that will take you to the Ria Célestun Biosphere Reserve.

This reserve is the refuge of some 300 species of birds, including a large colony of flamingos, which can be seen mainly from November to April.

You can take the boat tour from the Parador Turístico Celestún (1h30 tour) or from the beach (2h30 tour).

Another option is to take a day trip from Mérida with pick up at your hotel, the boat trip to see the flamingos, swimming in a clear water spring surrounded by nature, free time and lunch on the beach.

Book here.

After visiting the reserve, you can also:

There are also several nice bars and restaurants along the beach of Célestun to have a good time.

Tips for your Yucatan itinerary:
If you go to Célestun by car, you can take the opportunity to stop at the villages of Hunucma, Kinchil and Tetiz which are on the road from Mérida.

Spend the night in Merida

Getting to Celestun from Mérida:

The Celestun Reserve

Accommodation in Merida

Here are my accommodation suggestions in Mérida :

Day 5-7: Tulum

For this new leg of your 10-day Yucatan itinerary, hit the road again towards the Riviera Maya where you will spend a few days in Tulum, a tropical paradise of white sand!

Day 1- Today visit the city of Tulum and its most beautiful attractions

Start with the archaeological site of Tulum located facing the Caribbean Sea.

In 1h-1h30, you can visit the wall, the Castillo which is the main structure, the Temple of the Frescoes, the temple of the Descending God, and several other structures.

After the visit, cool off in a cenote. Cenotes are natural water wells that were considered sacred by the Mayans!

Today several Yucatan cenotes are open to the public for swimming, snorkeling or diving.

If you are traveling with family, you can go to the side of the Gran Cenote, the cenote Dos Ojos, the cenote Zacil-Ha.

For a wilder cenote, there are the Nicte-Ha, Taak Bi Ha,  Cristal or Escondido cenotes.

In the afternoon, take a stroll along Tulum’s Beach Strip in the Hotel Zone, where there are several cute shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. It is therefore the ideal place for lunch.

As the road runs along the beach, you will already be close to kilometers of fine sand! You can then land at Playa Paraiso or Playa Las Palmas.

In the evening, there are several bars in Tulum with a good atmosphere such as Casa Jaguar, Gitano, Papaya Playa Project

Getting to Tulum from Merida:

The archaeological site of Tulum facing the sea

Day 2 – The Sian Ka’an Reserve

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a must-see during a 10-12 day tour in the Yucatan because it is a great paradise of biodiversity.

There are more than 300 species of birds, 100 species of animals and 1000 species of plants, between the sea and the tropical forest.

There are two accesses to Sian Ka’an, to choose according to the time you have and your desires:

1. A day in Punta Allen allows you to see the beach, salt water lakes, watch dolphins, snorkel in coral reefs.

It is really the destination that offers a more complete discovery of Sian Kaan!

The problem is that you have to have a 4×4 car to get there, or take an excursion from Tulum.

You can book the Punta Allen excursion with pick-up from your hotel, which also includes lunch.

  1. A half day in Muyil offers the opportunity to see the jungle of Sian Ka’an, with its marshes, freshwater lagoons and the Mayan ruins of Muyil.

It’s a much shorter tour that I only recommend if you have a short time.

The advantage of Muyil is its ease of access (20 min from Tulum) by car or by ADO bus, in the direction of Chunyaxché.

You can book this excursion to Muyil from Tulum, with visit to Sian Ka’an and lunch.

Around the Sian Ka’an Reserve, you can also visit:

Spend the night in Tulum.

The Sian Kaan reserve in the Yucatan

Day 3 –  Morning departure to Akumal, the best place to swim with turtles in the Yucatan!

Here, as the turtles are protected, the activity must be accompanied by a guide who ensures that certain measures are respected so as not to stress them.

When diving, you can see 3 types of turtles, many fish and corals.

It is now mandatory to take an excursion to swim with the turtles in Akumal.

You can find several agencies on the beach, or take this more complete excursion with pick-up at your hotel.

It includes diving with turtles in Akumal Bay, but also swimming in a cenote and visiting a cave!

To book here.

In addition to diving, you can discover enjoying the beaches, going to Half Moon Bay and Laguna Yal-Ku.

Coming back to Tulum, I recommend that you stop at the beaches of Xcacel and Chemuyil  which are only 10 minutes from Akumal.

They are two virgin beaches of white sand and transparent water, not touristy.

Important to know : there is nothing on site (no facilities, no restaurant) so if you go, remember to bring the essentials such as your towel, snacks, water and ideally an umbrella. And you have to leave at 5:30 p.m.!

Spend the night in Tulum.

Getting to Akumal from Tulum

A turtle in Akumal

Accommodation in Tulum

Day 8: Playa del Carmen

Leave Tulum, drive along the coast of the Riviera Maya and continue to  Playa del Carmen.

As your short stay in Yucatan forces you to maximize your time, and there is so much to do in Playa del Carmen, you will have to make choices depending on how much time you have left.

Here are my suggestions:

Option 1 – Exploring the caves of Rio Secreto (half day)

Rio Secreto is one of my favorite activities in Yucatan.

We explore 600m of an underground river located in a nature reserve, which is part of a large network of caves of 40km.

The guided tour  alternates walking and swimming in crystal clear water, surrounded by a multitude of stalactites and stalagmites.

And since the visits are in small groups, with reservations required, you can really enjoy nature!

Don’t forget your bathing suit!

You can easily book the entrance to Rio Secreto which includes lunch with local products.

You will then have plenty of time to stroll around Playa del Carmen.

Otherwise, you can also head to Xpu-Ha beach, one of the prettiest beaches in the Riviera Maya, and take the opportunity to go to Cenote Azul located just opposite.

Spend the night in Playa del Carmen

Rio Secreto

Option 2- Full day at Xcaret Park  (1 day)

Xcaret is a must do in Yucatan! It is a large park of 80 hectares with an ecotourism and cultural theme located between the jungle and the Caribbean Sea.

And, precisely, since it is located in the heart of nature, expect to see a multitude of animals such as crocodiles, tapirs, flamingos, iguanas and monkeys.

Better to arrive early because there is so much to do and see in Xcaret. Besides, I’ve never managed to do everything in one day, so the choice is yours:

And finally, do not miss México Espectacular!

It’s a spectacular 2-hour show with 300 artists that presents the history, culture and traditions of Mexico.

Here you can buy your tickets for Xcaret which includes the México Espectacular show and pick-up from your hotel.

If you prefer to go to Xcaret on your own, by car it takes 15 minutes by taking highway 307 towards Tulum; otherwise by bus from the ADO terminal on Quinta Avenida, or by colectivo towards Tulum departing at the corner of Calle 1 Sur and Avenida 45 norte

You can purchase your tickets to Xcaret with the México Espectacular show, but without hotel pickup here.

Spend the night in Playa del Carmen

Tips for your Yucatan itinerary:
The best way to enjoy the parks is to stay at Hotel Xcaret

In addition to meals, you will have full and free access to all the parks! (Xcaret, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco, Xel-Ha and Xenote)

X-Caret Park

Option 3 – Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos (1 day)

In the morning, depart for Puerto Morelos.

As it is only 400m from the second largest coral reef, it offers superb diving spots, in addition to its pretty beaches.

And yet she managed to escape mass tourism. Better enjoy it now!

Puerto Morelos is also the starting point of the famous Cenotes Route, a 35km route that passes through many cenotes.

If you like adrenaline, I suggest you go to Selvatica Park which has been recognized as the best adventure park in Latin America and one of the 35 best adventures in the world  by Travel+Leisure magazine  !

This is a 5 hour activity with pick up from your hotel and lunch.

It includes a network of 10 zip lines, swimming in a cenote and access to Tarzania, which is halfway between a zip line and a roller coaster.

Book directly here.

After Puerto Morelos, you can return to Playa del Carmen to explore the town:

Tips for your Yucatan itinerary:
I also suggest you read: Playa del Carmen: Top 30 things to do and see!

Spend the night in Playa del Carmen.

Puerto Morelos

Accommodation in Playa del Carmen?

Day 9-11: Cozumel

Welcome to Cozumel, the last stage of your 10-day Yucatan itinerary!

Many travelers do the one-day round trip from Playa del Carmen, but since it’s one of Mexico’s largest islands and there’s so much to do, stay at least 2-3 days in Cozumel. to visit it well!

Here is the program I suggest:

Day 1 – Start by discovering the best diving spots in Cozumel.

You should know that the island is considered one of the best destinations in the world for diving and snorkeling, so expect to be amazed!

Explore, for example, the reefs of Palancar, Columbia, Paraiso, Punta Tunich, Chankanaab, Santa Rosa, the Garganta del Diablo (an underwater cave) and the Felipe Xicoténcatl wreck.

And above all, don’t miss El Cielo, which owes its name “the sky” to the starfish that lie at the bottom of its transparent and shallow water.

To protect El Cielo and its starfish, the place is only accessible by boat, with an organized excursion that lasts 4 hours.

You can book here the excursion to El Cielo with hotel pick-up, which also includes a snorkeling stop at Palancar Reef, beer and margaritas.

Spend the night in Cozumel.

Getting to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen:

You have to take the ferry for 45 min-1h.

Heaven, Cozumel

Day 2 – Spend the day in Punta Sur

With its 1000 hectares of white sand beaches, lakes, jungle and palm trees, Punta Sur is the largest ecological reserve in Cozumel.

There is a great biodiversity there, in addition to the El Caracol archaeological site and the Celerain lighthouse which offers a magnificent panoramic view, provided you climb its 133 steps.

To visit Punta Sur, you can take this jeep excursion that takes you to the lighthouse, snorkeling, with free time on the beach which is one of the most beautiful in Cozumel!

It also includes lunch in a beach club and tequila tasting.

You can book the small group tour here. Or on a private tour here.

The Punta Sur Reserve in Cozumel

Day 3 – Relax at the beach or Chankanaab Park

There is so much to do in Cozumel that you will have to make a choice according to your desires.

And choose well! Because it’s your last day of travel in Yucatan and tomorrow you will have to take the road to Cancun airport.

You can for example:

Get admission to the park here.

Chen Rio Beach in Cozumel

Accommodation in Cozumel

Day 12: Departure from Cancun

It’s already the end of this 10-day Yucatan itinerary and you will have to return to Cancun to catch your return flight.

From Cozumel, take the ferry back to Playa del Carmen (1h) then the road or the ADO bus (1h) to Cancun.

Have a good flight home!

Yucatan Public Transport

The advantage of the Yucatan Peninsula is that it is rather easy to get around by public transport, with its dual system of buses and colectivo (van of 8-10 people)

My tips for doing this 10-day Yucatan itinerary without a car:

Getting to Yucatan by plane

Cancun Airport receives many international flights from Europe and North America. The city of Mérida also receives several domestic flights.

Are you going to Mexico? Read also

All our articles on Mexico are here:  Find all our guides on Mexico!

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