10 Days in Yucatan Backpacking Route (+ Map)
TL;DR
After two trips to Mexico, we finally figured out the perfect Yucatan route – including swimming in cenotes, watching bioluminescence on a tropical island, exploring ancient Mayan cities, and Caribbean beaches.
Looking for the perfect Mexico Yucatan itinerary? Our Yucatan 10 day itinerary takes you to the very best places in the region — from colourful colonial towns and ancient Mayan ruins to tropical islands, crystal-clear cenotes, Caribbean beaches, and turquoise lagoons.
Planning a Yucatan travel itinerary can be surprisingly difficult. The Yucatan Peninsula looks compact on a map, but there are countless places to choose from. We spent two trips and several weeks backpacking the Yucatan Peninsula, travelling by public transport and figuring out what was actually worth our time. Based on our own experience, we created our Yucatan itinerary to help you see the highlights while avoiding unnecessary backtracking.
Our Yucatan Peninsula itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors, backpackers, and independent travellers who want to experience the best of the region without rushing from one tourist attraction to the next. We’ve included practical tips on how to get around, where to stay, and which experiences are genuinely worth adding to your bucket list.
10 Days Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary
Itinerary Yucatan Peninsula Map
Day 1-3 Valladolid
Day 1 – Travel to Valladolid & Historic Centre
You'll most likely be arriving from Cancún Airport today, so after checking into your accommodation, spend the rest of the day exploring the charming colonial town of Valladolid. You’ll fall in love with the colourful houses and the oldtimer Volkswagen cars in a heartbeat.
Start at Parque Principal Francisco Cantón Rosado, the town's main square, and visit the Iglesia de San Servacio before wandering down the colourful Calzada de los Frailes to the Ex-Convent of San Bernardino de Siena. If you have time, pop into one of the museums like Casa de los Venados.
For lunch, grab some authentic Yucatán food at Mercado Gastronómico or Mercado Municipal Donato Bates Herrera.
Afterwards, cool off at Cenote Zací, a beautiful semi-open cenote located right in the city centre.
If you're still feeling energetic, end your first day catching a traditional Jarana dance performance in the main square or with the video mapping show at the Ex-Convent of San Bernardino de Siena.
Here’s our full Valladolid Itinerary:
Day 2 – Day Trip to Chichen Itza
Of course, one of the seven new wonders of the world is a must-see in this region and it really is worth a visit. In contrast to what you see online (we’re guilty of that too I guess) it’s not only the famous pyramid but also a huge archaeological complex with many ruins and even a Cenote. The Mayan site includes highlights like the observatory and the ballcourt so schedule a couple of hours for the visit.
How to get to Chichén Itzá on a budget |
How to get to Chichén Itzá with more comfort |
| We took a colectivo from Valladolid and found it to be the easiest and cheapest way to get there. They leave from in front of the ADO bus station, the journey takes around 45 minutes, and we barely had to wait in either direction when travelling early in the morning. Alternatively, you can also take the ADO bus. |
This Chichén Itzá and 3 Cenotes Tour is an excellent option if you don’t want to worry about transport and a certified guide. The time you safe on transfers can be used to cool off with swims in the beautiful cave cenotes Ik Kil, Samulá, and Xkekén. |
Day 3 – Day Trip Las Coloradas, Rio Lagartos, and Ek Balam
If you're looking for a day trip that combines wildlife, nature, and ancient history, this was one of our favourites. Las Coloradas' famous pink lakes really are as vibrant as they look in photos (at least some of them), making them one of the most unique places we've visited in Mexico. Since you can no longer swim in the lakes, a visit doesn't take very long.
We recommend combining them with a visit to nearby Río Lagartos, where a boat tour takes you through the mangroves in search of flamingos and crocodiles. Our favourite part was covering ourselves in mineral-rich Mayan mud before washing it off in the Gulf of Mexico.
On the way back to Valladolid, don't miss Ek Balam, one of the Yucatán's most underrated Mayan sites. Unlike Chichén Itzá, you can still climb the main pyramid here, rewarding you with fantastic views over the surrounding jungle.
How to get to Río Lagartos on a budget |
How to get to Río Lagartos with more comfort |
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Reaching Río Lagartos by public transport is possible but takes some planning and time. Plan with around 3 hours because you usually have to change buses in Tizimín. To get to Las Coloradas, continue the final 20 km (12 mi) by taxi. If you also want to visit Ek Balam on the way, the logistics can quickly become too time-consuming. |
We opted for a Las Coloradas, Río Lagartos & Ek Balam tour as it takes care of the complicated logistics for you. You can book them on platforms like Viator or GetYourGuide – we recommend to check out both and compare prices. |
Day 4-5 Isla Holbox
Day 4 – Travel to Isla Holbox & Bioluminescence Tour
With no cars, sandy streets, and a laid-back backpacker atmosphere, Isla Holbox feels worlds away from the mainland.
Here’s our Ultimate Isla Holbox Travel Guide:
After checking into your accommodation, spend the afternoon exploring the streets filled with art, relaxing on the beach, or grabbing a drink at one of the beachfront bars.
We highly recommend staying at Hostel Tribu. It's one of the best social hostels on the island, with free daily activities like yoga, beach volleyball, live music, and sunset events. Read our full review: Should You Book Hostel Tribu Holbox? Our Personal Experience!
One of the main things to do on Holbox is seeing the bioluminescence just off the shore. Most tours go to Punta Mosquito where you can see bioluminescence around the sand bar. Going by kayak is a great option as your experience won’t be distracted by motor noises.
This tour combines bioluminescence watching with stargazing:
Day 5 – Three Islands Tour
Spend your second day on the island exploring Holbox's incredible nature on the Three Islands Tour. This popular boat trip visits Isla Pájaros, home to countless bird species, Isla Pasión, a beautiful sandbank surrounded by turquoise water, and Yalahau Cenote, where you can cool off with a swim.
After returning, enjoy a slow afternoon on Holbox – relax on the beach or walk to Punta Coco to catch the sunset.
Day 6-8 Tulum
Day 6 – Travel to Tulum & Tulum Ruins
Tulum nowadays is a love it or hate it kind of situation. But even if you’re not into the whole Instagram scene, the town is still worth a visit in our opinion. It’s the perfect base to explore the surrounding cenotes and beaches.
Of course, the Tulum ruins are a must-see. The buildings themselves are nowhere near as impressive as Chichen Itza but the stunning location at the sea makes up for it. You can even enter the beach below the ruins for a swim. Where else in the world can history be as easily combined with a beach trip as here?
End your day at the beach or in one of Tulum’s incredibly instagrammable beach bars. Don’t dismiss it before you try it!
Here’s our full Tulum Itinerary:
Day 7 – Cenote Hopping & Akumal Turtles
Cenotes are natural limestone holes filled with groundwater, perfect for swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, or simply relaxing. There are over 6000 cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula, so it’s easy to find the perfect cenote for you.
One thing that surprised us about Tulum was just how different each cenote feels. Some are little more than a hole in the ground inviting you to jump in, while others are huge open pools with underwater caves, turtles, restaurants, and even zip lines. Spending a day exploring several of them ended up being one of our favourite days around Tulum.
Rather than trying to visit every famous cenote, we recommend choosing three or four that are close together along the highway northwest of town, e.g. Cenote Calavera, Gran Cenote, Cenote Zacil-Ha, and Cenote Zemwayc.
How to get to the cenotes on a budget |
How to get to the cenotes with more comfort |
| The most affordable way to go cenote hopping in Tulum is by renting a bicycle .Beware that the highway can be busy with traffic. |
This Cenote Triple Adventure Tour brings you to three amazing centoes:
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You can easily spend your afternoon relaxing away at the beach – or you can tick off another bucket-list experience: Make the short trip to Akumal, where you can snorkel with wild green sea turtles. Although the water is usually clearest in the morning, we still think it's well worth the visit if swimming with turtles is on your wish list.
We’ve snorkelled with turtles in many places before, and we can say we had a great experience in Akumal, easily seeing several turtles. Just head towards the seaweed areas, and you’ll probably spot a turtle quickly. Be respectful, leave some space, and of course, never touch it.
Afterwards, you can relax and dry off at the beautiful beach, or you can grab lunch at Lol-Ha Restaurant.
Day 8 – Day trip to Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
If we had to choose just one day trip from Tulum, it would probably be the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It features tropical forests, fresh and saltwater lagoons, mangroves, and even a section of coral reef in the sea. Additionally, you can find 23 Mayan archaeological sites, including Muyil.
Most visits begin at Muyil, one of the region's least-visited Mayan ruins. Hidden amongst dense jungle, the partially overgrown temples gave us serious Indiana Jones vibes, and we were surprised by how few other visitors were there. After exploring the ruins, follow the wooden boardwalk through the wetlands to the observation tower for fantastic views across the reserve.
The highlight of the day, however, is the boat tour through Sian Ka'an. Cruising through the lagoons surrounded by mangroves is beautiful, and you might even spot tropical birds or manatees if you're lucky.
Our favourite part, though, was floating down the crystal-clear natural lazy river. It sounds incredibly simple, but drifting silently through pristine nature with nothing but birdsong around us ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of our entire Yucatán trip.
How to get to Sian Ka'an on a budget |
How to get to Sian Ka'an with more comfort |
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Buses from Tulum to Muyil run about every 30-60 minutes, so there’s no real need to plan in advance. The buses leave from the ADO bus station and take around 20 minutes. We decided to take a colectivo from the ADO bus station to Muyil which was equally easy and cheap. |
This Sian Ka'an Reserve Tour combines a boat tour through canals and lagoons, a natural lazy river, Mayan ruins and Mayan cuisine – and a chance to spot manatees. |
Day 9-10 Laguna Bacalar
Day 9 – Travel to Bacalar & Boat Tour
Today, travel south to Bacalar, home to the famous Lagoon of Seven Colours. Unlike Tulum or Holbox, Bacalar isn't a beach destination – instead, it's all about crystal-clear freshwater, wooden piers, floating hammocks, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
Here’s our full list of things to do in Bacalar:
After checking into your accommodation, head out on a boat tour of the lagoon. Most tours visit highlights such as Pirates' Channel, several small islands, lagoon cenotes, and even include a Mayan mud treatment. It's the perfect introduction to one of Mexico's most beautiful places.
Day 10 – Los Rápidos & Departure
Spend your final morning at Los Rápidos, one of Bacalar's most unique attractions. Float down the natural lazy river, relax in the crystal-clear water, and keep an eye out for the ancient stromatolites, some of the oldest living organisms on Earth.
If you have extra time before your onward journey, enjoy one last swim from a public pier or beach club, rent a kayak or paddleboard, or simply soak up the peaceful lagoon views before heading back to Cancún Airport or continuing your travels through Mexico.
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