See another side of Mexico's gorgeous Yucatán Peninsula as you venture beyond Cancún to the region's heart: Mérida. Over seven days, you'll explore this Spanish-colonial gem of a city (the capital of the province), plus embark on day trips to beaches and the famous cenotes in the area. For a bonus, take a day trip to Chichén Itzá, one of the most impressive ancient Maya ruins in the Yucatán.
Travelers to Mexico typically plan a trip for 11 to 14 days when combining Mérida with Mexico City, Valladolid, and Tulum. If you're not interested in Mexico City, Valladolid, and Tulum, five to seven days is enough for your Mérida trip. Check out our favorite Mérida trips below.
In just five days, you'll reach the heart of Maya Indigenous culture in Mexico's famous Yucatán Peninsula. Your base will be Mérida, the region's capital, where you'll walk amid colonial history and sample delicious street food with ancient roots. Then you're off to tour maíz fields, swim in cenotes (limestone sinkholes), and explore the awe-inspiring pyramid of Chichén Itzá. Finish the adventure with a day trip to a biosphere reserve known for flamingoes.
Explore a different side of Mexico's famous Yucatán Peninsula on this five-day escape to Mérida, the region's capital. Take part in a number of culture and nature experiences that include visiting Maya communities, boating to the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, touring the ancient milpa fields of Yaxunah, and visiting Chichén Itzá, the "famous wonder of the Maya world," which dates back over 1,500 years.
Take a step back in time to explore ancient Maya cities shrouded in mystery—some of which were inhabited since around 1800 BCE—on this five-day adventure. You'll visit Chichén Itzá, one of the New Wonders of the World, as well as Izamal and Mérida, which will offer insight into the transition from ancient Maya civilization to contemporary Maya ways of life.
Pack a wealth of Maya culture and history into just five days on this whirlwind tour of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Create lasting memories as you tour the cobbled streets of Valladolid and Mérida, hike the ruins at Ek' Balam, and marvel at the Chichén Itzá pyramid, which dates back over 1,500 years. Other highlights include swimming in cenotes and taking an immersive chocolate tour in Uxmal.
Discover a side of Mexico's famed Yucatán Peninsula that tourists rarely see. First, stroll the cobbled streets of Valladolid and marvel at impressive Spanish colonial churches. After Indigenous experiences at Ek' Balam and Yaxunah, you'll take a dip in sapphire cenotes, visit the awe-inspiring pyramid at Chichén Itzá, and cap the trip with street-food tours in Mérida, the region's capital.
Get off the beaten path for a week of culture and nature in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Start in Yaxunah with a weaving workshop and an introduction to ancient Maya farming methods. Transfer to Valladolid to explore the ancient ruins of Ek' Balam and Chichén Itzá, learn embroidery and tortilla-making with local communities, and get to know the colorful streets of colonial Mérida. After some adventurous cenote diving, you'll wrap up with a day of nature and wildlife in the Celestun Biosphere Reserve.
Most people visiting both Mexico City and Mérida spend about 11 to 14 days in Mexico, which usually includes some time in Valladolid and Tulum as well. If you're not interested in Valladolid and Tulum, a week to eight days is enough for your Mexico City and Mérida trip. With less time, it's still possible to see the highlights in as few as five or six days. Read on for the best itineraries, including Mexico City and Mérida, and beyond.
Discover the lesser-known areas of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula with this two-week trip that takes you from Mérida and Valladolid to the local communities and cultures in between. Tour sustainable farms in Yaxunah and get a glimpse into the peninsula's Maya culture during community visits, engraving workshops, and eco-tours. Highlights include swimming and diving in secret cenotes, admiring colorful colonial architecture in Izamal, and boating past pink flamingoes in the Celestún Biosphere Reserve.
This 10-day trip introduces you to an authentic side of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, from Valladolid to Mérida, and the local communities and cultures in between. See Maya wonders at Ek' Balam and Chichén Itzá, join sustainable workshops to weave hammocks and make tortillas alongside the locals, and cool off with plenty of swimming in secret cenotes. Catch a glimpse of the peninsula's unspoiled nature as well, with day trips into the biodiverse hotspots of Ría Lagartos and the Celestún Biosphere Reserve.
On this colorful trip plan, you'll experience Mexican culture in an authentic way. See the highlights of the Yucatán Peninsula, visit the archaeological sites of Chichen Itzá, Cobá, and Xcambó, and view flamingos at Río Lagartos before finishing up in Mérida, where you'll go on a kayak tour and relax on the beach.
The largest pyramid in the world is in Mexico, as are some of the world's mysterious pyramids—at Cholula and Teotihuacán, respectively—and you'll visit both places on this wide-ranging cultural tour. Learn about pre-Hispanic, Maya, and Aztec cultures as you explore Mexico City, Mérida, Puebla, and Chichén Itzá, and take a break for a refreshing dip in a cenote. And a taco or two, of course.
This 10-day tour of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is the family trip of a lifetime. Start in the village of Puerto Morelos, where you'll snorkel among the coral beds, colorful fish, and the occasional shy octopus of Puerto Morelos Reef National Park. Visit Mérida to tour ancient Chichén Itzá, then cruise Valladolid's Ría Lagartos Reserve while the kids count flocks of pink flamingoes. See the ruins of Tulum, take a jungle adventure with ziplining and cenote swims, and explore the peaceful waters of Sian Ka'an Reserve.
Discover the history, heart, and natural beauty of Mexico's famous Yucatán Peninsula on this weeklong adventure. Start in the colonial city of Valladolid, followed by a deep dive into Indigenous culture in Yalcobá. After touring the incredible 1,500-year-old pyramid of Chichén Itzá, finish with a delicious street food tour of Mérida, the capital of the Yucatán and one of Mexico's great gastronomy centers.
Sample the best of the Yucatán Peninsula's archaeological and natural wonders, Indigenous communities, and charming cities with this 10-day road trip. Drive from the Riviera Maya coastline to the Spanish colonial cities of Valladolid and Mérida. Tour the ancient Maya ruins at Ek' Balam and Chichén Itzá before a day trip to coastal towns, which bring beekeeping insights and a boat ride to a cenote. Finish in El Cuyo on the northern coast, spotting flamingoes on a boat ride in Ría Lagartos Reserve.
Eleven days to two weeks are the most popular trip lengths for Mexico travelers interested in visiting Mexico City, Valladolid, and Mérida, especially when also including Tulum. If you're not interested in Tulum, 8 to 11 days is enough for your Mexico City, Valladolid, and Mérida trip. Check out the favored Mexico City, Valladolid, and Mérida trips below.
Spend 11 days immersing yourself in the culture, history, cuisine, and beauty of Mexico. You'll start in Mexico City, where you'll experience all the highlights, from visiting the historic center and the Frida Kahlo Museum to enjoying the city's famous street food. Then you're off to the Yucatán Peninsula, home to incredible Maya ruins, thousands of cenote lagoons, and some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the Caribbean.
Explore the best of Mexico's offerings on this comprehensive 16-day trip. Swim in crystal clear cenotes and go sailing in the Bacalar Lagoon. Continue to Chunhuhub for a mystical bonfire experience, then spend a few days exploring the historical sites of Merida and Chichen Itza. End the trip on Holbox Island for several days of sun, beach, and surf.
Fifteen days in Mexico's Yucatán region is enough time to visit famous archaeological sites while also enjoying its famous white-sand beaches. Explore the ruins at Chichén Itzá, experience indigenous cultural traditions, and float in the turquoise waters of the Chemuyil cenotes—these are just a few of the highlights. You'll also venture to Holbox Island and enjoy its famous golden sunsets.
Get a full dose of sun and sea while learning about Mexico's rich Mayan history as you travel from the beaches of Tulum to the wonders of Chichén Itzá pyramid. This journey through a few regions of Mexico will give you ample time to relax while experiencing the country's mystical, handicraft, and culinary traditions, and seeing its significant architectural monuments.
Dive into Mexico's rich culture over 11 days and enjoy some of the country's best activities (and most delicious food). It begins with tours of Mexico City's historic cobbled streets and a visit to the awe-inspiring ruins at Teotihuacán. Then jet off to the Yucatán Peninsula, where you'll take a traditional cooking class plus visit mystical cenote lagoons, ancient Maya ruins, and colonial cities.
Get ready for a 12-day road-trip adventure across Mexico's famed Yucatán Peninsula, known for its Caribbean beaches, underground cenotes, and ancient Maya ruins. You'll see all of it, starting at the fortress ruins in Tulum and then visiting biosphere reserves and exotic turquoise lakes. Next, you'll venture north to enjoy cultural exchanges in Indigenous communities, visit Spanish-colonial heritage cities, and descend into underground caves sacred to the Maya people.
Spend 13 days enjoying the best of the Yucatán Peninsula on this whirlwind itinerary. Tour the famous ruins at Uxmal, Tulum, and Chichén Itzá, plus visit Spanish-colonial heritage towns like Izamal and Valladolid. Throughout the adventure, you'll also dive into turquoise cenote lagoons, immerse yourself in local Maya culture, and enjoy some "me" time on the white-sand beaches of Puerto Morelos and Holbox Island.
Two weeks is the perfect amount of time to see some of Mexico's best archaeological sites—including Chichén Itzá—while also leaving plenty of time for relaxation. You'll swim in beautiful cenotes, explore the colonial city of Merida, and experience Indigenous culture. End with a couple of days on Holbox Island, where sand, surf, and beautiful sunshine await.
The beaches and jungles of southern Mexico beckon on this adventurous, two-week family vacation. Start in Chiapas with the kids in tow to explore lost Maya cities, paddle across jungle lagoons, and join in the crafts and rituals of the native Lacandon people. Then it's on to the Yucatán Peninsula to cool off in turquoise swimming holes and tour colorful colonial cities before ending your trip on the white sands of Holbox Island.
With two weeks to spare, you can discover Yucatán's white-sand beaches, ancient Maya ruins, and colorful colonial cities at a relaxed pace. This adventurous itinerary takes you counter-clockwise around the peninsula from Valladolid to Tulum, checking off the region's many UNESCO-listed archaeological sites, nature reserves, and historic centers along the way. Highlights include snorkeling off Isla Holbox, sampling regional gastronomy in Mérida, and climbing the Maya pyramid at Calakmul.
Circle the entire Yucatán Peninsula on this self-drive adventure through the region's historic cities, archaeological sites, and nature reserves. Over two weeks, you'll explore the ruins of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, spot monkeys and toucans in the jungles of Calakmul, follow an artisan route through the villages of Campeche, and paddle through the colorful lagoons of Bacalar. Your trip winds down on the coast, snorkeling through Cozumel's reefs and learning to cook with the locals near Playa del Carmen.
Two weeks in Mexico is ideal for discovering the Chiapas and Yucatán regions' natural and archaeological treasures. Your route traverses the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula and finishes in Isla Holbox on the paradisical Caribbean Coast. Along the way, boat through natural wonders like the Sumidero Canyon, a brilliant pink lake in Ría Lagartos Reserve, and unspoiled beaches at Cabo Catoche. You'll also swim in cenotes and tour archaeological sites like Palenque, Uxmal, and Chichén Itzá.
This 15-day adventure blends ancient Maya sites with stunning secluded scenery for an off-the-beaten-path journey through Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula. Venture through the Sumidero Canyon to the colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, then take a raft along Lake Montebello to see incredible wildlife. Explore the Maya cities of Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak, get your hands into clay during a pottery class near Nahá, and cool off along the way in hidden waterfalls and turquoise lagoons.
Discover Mexico, a country home to more UNESCO World Heritage Sites (35) than any other nation in the Americas. Over 15 days, you'll tour many of these archeological marvels, like the ancient cities of Teotihuacán, Palenque, Chichén Itzá, and more. Beyond that, you'll visit natural highlights like the majestic Sumidero Canyon, the waterfalls at Agua Azul, and the marine reserve at Puerto Morelos.
Take eighteen relaxing days to drive through the Yucatan Peninsula as you explore the best that Mexico has to offer: colonial cities, indigenous communities, white-sand beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins. Start the trip in Tulum for a dip into a turquoise cenote, then head to Bacalar for a sail on the lagoon. End in Valladolid and Holbox Island for sunrise at Chichen Itza and a couple days on the beach.
Seventeen days is enough time to see the Yucatan's highlights while leaving enough time for a couple of free days to walk around town and relax on the beach. Go sailing on the Bacalar Lagoon, visit indigenous communities to learn about traditional gum and corn production, and visit the UNESCO-designated Calakmul ruins.
Drive from city to beach on this nineteen-day immersive trip through the Yucatan Peninsula. From the colonial cities of Merida and Valladolid to the ancient Maya ruins of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, you'll explore the best that the region has to offer. Tour historic sites, sample local fare, relax on beaches, and more as you make your way through the jungles and roads of the area.
Spend twenty days on a road trip through the Yucatan as you explore everything from ancient ruins to colonial cities. Go swimming in turquoise cenotes, head underground to visit Xibalba — the Mayan Underworld, and sail on the Bacalar Lagoon. With top stops including Chichen Itza and some of Mexico's best beaches, there's no shortage of adventure.
Fully immerse yourself into Mexican history and culture on this comprehensive three-week trip. From the colonial cities of Merida and Valladolid to the ancient Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Chichen Itza, this trip covers millennia of history and leaves room for relaxation and food. End the trip on Holbox Island for some of Mexico's loveliest beaches and plenty of sunshine
Step back in time on this two-week itinerary featuring ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins of Morelos and the Yucatán Peninsula. Along the way, you will explore Mexico City, the colonial towns of Valladolid and Mérida, and the turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya. You will snorkel in freshwater cenotes, climb stone steps of Aztec pyramids, and meet with indigenous locals to learn about Maya history and culture firsthand.
This 13-day adventure covers the highlights of two of southern Mexico's most historic and naturally beautiful states: Chiapas & Yucatán. In the former, you'll tour natural wonders like Sumidero Canyon and the Agua Azul waterfalls. In the latter, you'll visit its most famous archeological sites, like Palenque and Uxmal, while also enjoying the white-sand beaches of Holbox Island and Playa del Carmen.
