Breakfast
Sweet bread and strong coffee
A simple start in the shade of the square: a soft sweet roll, a cup of coffee and a glass of fresh juice.
Local tip Order the juice with no ice if you are unsure about the water.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. The peninsula is hot and flat, so drink water, wear a hat and keep the first evening easy.Details
- From the airport
- Merida has its own airport, a short taxi ride from the center. Many visitors also arrive by long-distance bus or by a flight into one of the coastal resort cities and drive west. Check ahead on your route, and allow extra time after a long flight.
- The heat
- Late February is dry and pleasantly warm. Summer is very hot and humid, and the hurricane season runs roughly from June to November, so check ahead on the weather if you travel then. Carry water, shade and a hat every day, and plan the ruins for the morning.
- Your rental car
- Day 1 is on foot, so collect the car on the morning of Day 2. The roads are flat and straight. Toll roads are quicker and quieter, and the free roads pass through villages with speed bumps, so slow down for them. Check ahead on road conditions and on safety, as you would anywhere.
- First evening
- Walk to the Plaza Grande, sit under the trees and have a light dinner. Day 1 starts right there, so you will already be in the middle of things. Drink bottled or filtered water, and bring insect repellent for the evenings.
Day 1. Merida on foot
4 stops · 9.8 kmA slow day in the white city of the peninsula. The main square, the old cathedral, a grand avenue of mansions and a museum about the Maya, with a long lunch between them.
Photo: José Conçalves, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - 1MorningA place to sit
Plaza Grande
The shaded main square of Merida, with laurel trees, stone benches and the old government and church buildings around it. Sit for a while and watch the town wake up.
Go when Early morning, or in the evening as the lights come on around sunset (about 5:56 PM).
Local tip Take a seat on one of the stone seats built for two, which face each other, and stay for one more cold drink than you planned.
About 2 min walk0.1 km - 2MorningWorth a short look
Merida Cathedral
One of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas, built from the stones of an earlier Maya town. The inside is plain and cool, and a quiet place out of the sun.
Go when Morning, before the heat builds.
Local tip Step in out of the sun and look at the plain, high nave. The stone of its walls came from an older Maya town on the same spot.
Photo: Nicklasmark, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Cochinita pibil
Pork slow-cooked in sour orange and a red spice called achiote, and pulled into soft shreds. Served in tacos or on a roll with pickled red onion.
Local tip A habanero salsa on the side is very hot, so taste a drop first.
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 25 min walk2.0 km - 3AfternoonWorth the time
Paseo de Montejo
A wide, tree-lined avenue of grand houses from the time when the region grew rich on rope fiber. Walk a stretch in the shade and look at the old mansions.
Go when Late afternoon, when the shade is long and the heat has dropped.
Local tip Walk it slowly and look up at the old mansions behind the gates. Keep a bottle of water with you.
Photo: Ecamposs, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 11 min by car7.6 km - 4AfternoonPick your rooms
Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
A large modern museum about the Maya, from the ancient cities to the people who live here today. Choose a few rooms and give them time.
Go when Afternoon, in the hottest hours, when the air conditioning is welcome.
Local tip Choose a few rooms rather than the whole museum, and read the labels about how the Maya live and speak today.
- Dinner
Sopa de lima
A warm lime soup with shredded chicken, crisp tortilla strips and a scent of the sour lime of the Yucatan. Light, and good on a warm evening.
Local tip Squeeze a little more lime over it at the table.
If it rains. The cathedral and the museum are indoors, so keep those. Walk the square and the avenue in the gaps between showers, and take shelter under the arcades.
Day 2. Uxmal and the Puuc route
5 stops · 133.9 kmA day by car south of Merida. A big hacienda on the way, the great city of Uxmal, and then three smaller ruins along a country road called the Ruta Puuc.
- Drive from Gran Museo del Mundo MayaAbout 41 min by car37.7 kmWhere Day 1 ended.
- 1MorningWorth a short visit
Hacienda Yaxcopoil
A large old rope-fiber estate beside the highway, with a long main house and the machinery from its working days. A short stop on the way south.
Go when Morning, on the way to Uxmal.
Local tip Walk the long main house and look at the old machinery. Check ahead on whether it can be visited that day.
Photo: Magister Mathematicae, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 48 min by car56.0 km - 2MorningWorth the time
Uxmal
A Maya city of fine, carved stone, with a tall oval pyramid, a great palace and a courtyard of long, low buildings. One of the most beautiful ruins in Mexico.
Go when Early morning, before the sun and the tour buses arrive.
Local tip Walk to the far side of the great palace for the view back across the site, and bring water and a hat, because there is little shade.
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 21 min by car22.8 km - 3MiddayWorth a short walk
Kabah
A smaller city beside the road, famous for a long front covered in hundreds of stone masks of the rain god. Walk along it slowly.
Go when Late morning, on the road south.
Local tip Look at the long front covered with masks and notice how each one is made of many small, cut stones.
Photo: Mesoamerican, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Poc chuc
Thin slices of pork grilled over charcoal and served with onion, a sour orange sauce, beans and rice. A simple and filling roadside plate.
Local tip Ask for the salsa on the side, since the habanero in it can be very hot.
Photo: https://flickr.com/photos…, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 12 min by car9.0 km - 4AfternoonWorth a short walk
Sayil
A palace of three levels with a long row of columns, set in dry forest at the heart of the Puuc hills. Quiet, and easy to walk.
Go when Early afternoon, then a pause in the shade.
Local tip Stand back from the palace to see its three levels, then walk the short path into the forest to see a few quiet ruins.
Photo: Juan José Acevedo Góngora, CC BY-SA 2.5 on Wikimedia Commons About 18 min by car8.5 km - 5AfternoonWorth a short walk
Labna
A small site with a carved stone arch that once linked two courtyards. A last, peaceful stop before the long drive back.
Go when Late afternoon, when the stone turns gold.
Local tip The arch is the reason to come. Stand in the middle of the path and look back at it through the trees.
Photo: HJPD, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Panuchos and salbutes
Small fried tortillas topped with turkey or chicken, lettuce and pickled onion. Panuchos are stuffed with black beans and salbutes are puffed and soft.
Local tip Order a few of each and share them.
Photo: referenzia, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. The ruins are open ground and the stone is slippery in the wet. Go early, and if it rains all day, trim the day to Uxmal alone.
Day 3. Cenotes near Homun and Cuzama
3 stops · 140.4 kmA day south-east of Merida in sinkhole country. A town with an old pyramid in its center, then a village or two where the ground opens into cool, blue water.
- Drive from LabnaAbout 2 h 6 min by car120.9 kmWhere Day 2 ended.
- 1MiddayWorth a short look
Acanceh
A small town with a pyramid in the middle of its streets, right beside the church. A quick stop on the way to the cenotes.
Go when Morning, on the way to the cenotes.
Local tip Walk around the pyramid in the middle of town and look at how it sits beside the church.
Photo: Travel4Brews, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 34 min by car16.8 km - 2MiddayWorth the time
Cuzama
A village in an area of cenotes reached through old henequen fields. Visits are often made by a small cart on a short rail line, so check ahead on how it works.
Go when Late morning, once the light reaches the water.
Local tip Check ahead on how visits are arranged and on whether a life jacket is required. Ask about sunscreen and repellent before you swim, since many cenotes ask you to rinse them off.
Photo: Inri, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Relleno negro
A dark, smoky turkey stew made from burnt chiles, a classic dish of the countryside. Rich, and served with tortillas.
Local tip Start with a small bowl, since it is filling and the heat of the day makes it feel heavier.
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 10 min by car or transit2.8 km - 3AfternoonWorth the time
The Homun cenotes
The village of Homun sits in a ring of cenotes, some open to the sky, some in caves with long roots hanging into clear water. Choose one or two and swim.
Go when Early afternoon, when the sun is high and the water is bright.
Local tip Bring a towel and water shoes. Check ahead on swimming rules and life jackets, and shower before you get in if the cenote asks you to.
Photo: Inri, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons - Treat
Fresh fruit water
Water blended with fresh fruit or with chaya, a leafy green of the region. A cold glass after a swim.
Local tip Choose one made with bottled or filtered water.
Photo: روتانا, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Cenotes are cool and wet already, so a shower matters less, but thunderstorms are a reason to stay out of the water. Check ahead, and keep the town stops for the rain.
Day 4. Izamal and Chichen Itza
3 stops · 121.9 kmA long drive east, with two very different stops. A town painted yellow around a huge convent, then the most famous Maya city of all.
- Drive from The Homun cenotesAbout 1 h 1 min by car47.8 kmWhere Day 3 ended.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Izamal
The yellow town, where nearly every wall is painted the same warm color. Walk the quiet streets around the main square and look at the old buildings.
Go when Morning, when the yellow walls are bright and the streets are quiet.
Local tip Walk a few streets away from the square, where the walls are painted the same color and the pace is slower.
Photo: Addicted04, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 2 min walkunder 0.1 km - 2MorningWorth the time
Convent of San Antonio de Padua
A large convent with one of the biggest open courtyards in the Americas, built on top of an older Maya platform. Walk around the arched colonnade.
Go when Morning, right after you arrive.
Local tip Walk the whole arched colonnade around the courtyard, and look at the old platform it stands on.
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash - Lunch
Papadzules
Soft tortillas dipped in a sauce of ground pumpkin seeds, rolled around boiled egg and topped with a red tomato sauce. A dish with Maya roots.
Local tip Eat it warm, with a squeeze of lime.
Photo: Nosferattus, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons About 1 h 14 min by car74.0 km - 3AfternoonWorth the time
Chichen Itza
The great Maya city with the stepped pyramid called El Castillo, a huge ball court and an observatory. A World Heritage site. Climbing the pyramid is not allowed.
Go when As early as the site allows, before the heat and the tour buses.
Local tip Check ahead on timed entry and on the rules for the day. Climbing El Castillo is not allowed, so look at it from the square, and clap once in front of it to hear the echo.
Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Treat
Marquesitas
Crisp rolled crepes filled with cheese, often with sweet toppings. A street snack of the region, sold from carts in the evening.
Local tip Try the plain cheese one first, then something sweet if you like.
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Izamal is easy in a shower, since its colonnade is under cover. Chichen Itza is open ground with little shelter, so go early and be ready to wait out a storm.
Day 5. Valladolid and Ek Balam
4 stops · 71.9 kmA day around a pretty colonial town. An old convent, a cenote right inside the town, and a ruin in the forest with carved stucco figures.
- Drive from Chichen ItzaAbout 34 min by car41.8 kmWhere Day 4 ended.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Valladolid
A colonial town with a leafy main square, pastel houses and a big church. A calm place to walk, sit and eat.
Go when Morning for the square, evening when the lights come on around sunset (about 5:56 PM).
Local tip Sit on the square and look at the church, then walk the quiet side streets for the painted doors.
Photo: Addicted04 (collage), CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Longaniza of Valladolid
A smoky, spiced sausage that the town is known for, served with tortillas, onion and a hot salsa.
Local tip Share a plate and order a cold hibiscus drink to go with it.
About 16 min walk1.3 km - 2MorningWorth a short visit
Convent of San Bernardino de Siena
A sixteenth century convent and church at the end of a quiet old street, behind thick stone walls and an open courtyard.
Go when Late morning, as a walk from the square.
Local tip Walk the old street that leads out to it from the square and look at the thick walls and the open courtyard.
About 17 min walk1.3 km - 3MiddayWorth a short swim
Cenote Zaci
A cenote inside the town, a deep pool in a cave with a round opening to the sky. Check ahead on swimming rules and on life jackets.
Go when Midday, when the heat is at its worst.
Local tip Check ahead on swimming rules and life jackets. Rinse off before you get in if you are asked to.
Photo: Haakon S. Krohn, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 29 min by car27.5 km - 4AfternoonWorth the time
Ek Balam
A Maya city in the forest north of town, with a tall acropolis and carved stucco figures. Check ahead on what you may climb.
Go when Morning, before the heat builds.
Local tip Look for the carved stucco figures on the acropolis, and check ahead on what visitors may climb.
Photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Queso relleno
A ball of cheese stuffed with spiced meat and served in a thin sauce, a dish that came to the Yucatan from the Netherlands.
Local tip It is rich, so share one between two.
If it rains. Valladolid is easy to walk in the rain, and the convent has covered corners. Ek Balam is open ground, so move it to the morning of a dry day.
Day 6. Flamingos and the coast
3 stops · 140.4 kmA day on the north shore, among salt flats and shallow lagoons. A boat ride among the birds, pink water by the salt works and a fishing village for lunch.
- Drive from Ek BalamAbout 1 h 14 min by car91.6 kmWhere Day 5 ended.
- 1MorningCheck ahead
Rio Lagartos
A small fishing town on a long lagoon where flocks of flamingos feed. Boat rides go out among the birds, but they are seasonal, so check ahead.
Go when Morning, when the birds are feeding and the water is calm.
Local tip Flamingos are seasonal, so check ahead before you drive. A boat ride shows the birds, the mangroves and the salt flats. Wear a hat and sunscreen.
Photo: Noé González, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Fresh fish in achiote
Fish from the lagoon or the sea, rubbed with achiote and grilled, a plain and fresh plate of the coast.
Local tip Ask what came in that morning and let the cook choose.
Photo: ChesPal (Debra Heaphy), CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 21 min by car24.3 km - 2MiddayWorth a short look
Las Coloradas
Shallow salt pans that turn pink in the sun. Look from the edge, and check ahead on what visitors may do near the water.
Go when Midday, when the water is brightest.
Local tip The color is strongest in bright sun. Look from the edge and check ahead on what visitors may do near the water.
Photo: Wasquewhat, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 38 min by car24.5 km - 3AfternoonWorth a short walk
San Felipe
A quiet fishing village on a calm lagoon, with painted wooden houses and a short waterfront. A slow place for a late lunch before the drive home.
Go when Afternoon, for a late lunch.
Local tip Walk the waterfront and look at the painted wooden houses, then sit with a cold drink and watch the boats.
Photo: J. Magno, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Treat
Coconut water
A cold coconut cut open in front of you, for the long drive home. The coast is hot and open, so drink it early.
Local tip Ask them to split it open for the soft white inside when you have finished.
Photo: Shameelnurani313, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. A boat on a lagoon is not a good idea in a storm. Check ahead and move this day to a clearer one if you can.
Day 7. Dzibilchaltun and Progreso
3 stops · 182.0 kmA shorter day north of Merida. A ruin with a cenote, a seaside town with a very long pier, and a quiet beach on the way home.
- Drive from San FelipeAbout 2 h 13 min by car151.8 kmWhere Day 6 ended.
- 1MiddayWorth a short visit
Dzibilchaltun
A Maya site on the flat land north of Merida, with a small temple, a long causeway and a cenote you can swim in. Easy to see in a morning.
Go when Morning, while it is still cool.
Local tip Walk the long straight causeway to the little temple, and cool off in the cenote if swimming is allowed that day.
Photo: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 36 min by car or transit22.6 km - 2MiddayWorth the time
Progreso
The seaside town of the Merida area, with a long pier, a waterfront walk and a wide beach. A place for seafood and a swim.
Go when Midday for seafood, then a swim in the afternoon.
Local tip Walk out along the pier and look back at the town. The water is shallow and warm, and the wind can be strong, so check ahead on the sea conditions.
Photo: ros k @ getfunky_paris, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Seafood cocktail by the sea
A cup of cold shrimp or octopus in a tangy tomato and lime sauce with avocado and crackers. A coastal lunch in the shade.
Local tip Order a lime-based drink and watch the pier.
About 16 min by car7.6 km - 3AfternoonWorth a short stop
Chicxulub Puerto
A quiet beach village east of Progreso. The huge crater of the asteroid that ended the age of the dinosaurs lies under the ground and the sea near here, so there is nothing to see, but the beach is calm.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 5:56 PM).
Local tip Walk along the empty sand and look at the fishing boats pulled up on the beach.
Photo: LawrieM, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Yucatecan kibis
Fried wheat croquettes filled with spiced meat, a legacy of the Lebanese families who settled in the region. A true local snack.
Local tip Eat them hot, with a squeeze of lime.
If it rains. Dzibilchaltun is open ground, and the beach is no fun in a storm. Swap it for a second day in Merida if the sky is dark.
Day 8. A last slow day in Merida
3 stops · 45.5 kmA day with almost nothing to hurry for. A big market, a park and a grand old house, and a last dinner.
- Drive from Chicxulub PuertoAbout 41 min by car44.3 kmWhere Day 7 ended.
- Breakfast
Huevos motuleños
Fried eggs on a tortilla with black beans, ham, peas, cheese and a tomato sauce. A famous breakfast of the region.
Local tip Share one if you are not very hungry, since the plate is large.
Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - 1MorningWorth the time
Mercado Lucas de Galvez
The big city market, with fruit, chiles, flowers and stalls of woven goods. A good place to look for a hammock or a guayabera shirt that will last.
Go when Morning, when the stalls are full and it is still cool.
Local tip Ask about the hammocks. A good one is wide, soft and made of fine thread, and a seller will show you how to lie in it.
- Lunch
Vaporcitos and market tamales
Small, soft tamales steamed in a banana leaf and filled with meat or chicken, eaten from a market stall.
Local tip Eat at a busy stall where the food is turned over quickly.
Photo: Georgina Meneses, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 11 min walk0.9 km - 2MiddayWorth a short rest
Parque de Santa Lucia
A small park with arcades on two sides, where people sit under the trees. A pleasant place to rest in the heat.
Go when Midday, in the shade, or early evening.
Local tip Take a seat under the arcade and watch the park. Music is often played on some evenings, so check ahead.
About 5 min walk0.4 km - 3AfternoonWorth a short look
Casa de Montejo
A house on the main square built in the sixteenth century by the family that founded the city, with a carved stone front. Look at it from the square.
Go when Afternoon, from the square.
Local tip Look closely at the carved stone front above the door. It is one of the oldest in the city.
Photo by Sergio Mena Ferreira on Unsplash - Dinner
A last table of Yucatecan classics
Order a few dishes to share: cochinita pibil, papadzules, a bowl of lime soup, and finish with a cold drink on the square.
Local tip Order slowly, and let the evening stretch out.
If it rains. The market and the park arcades are under cover, so this is a good day for rain. The house is best seen from the square when the shower stops.
Departure day
After the last day. Merida is an easy city to leave, so keep the final morning slow.Details
- The car
- Return the rental car the evening before if you can, or early on the day you fly, with a full tank. Keep the rental papers and the parking ticket of any lot you used in case someone asks.
- A last hammock
- If you bought a hammock or a guayabera shirt, pack it flat in your carry-on, since both are light. Check airline and customs rules before you pack any food, honey or plants.
- To the airport
- The airport is south of the center and a short ride by taxi. Traffic is lighter than in most big cities, but give yourself extra time for check-in, and drink plenty of water before the flight.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Yucatan?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to February and December are the most comfortable months for walking around Yucatan. This plan is built for late February, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 8 days in Yucatan, planned for late February. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 1.2 to 96.3 kilometers between its stops, and 309.9 kilometers in all across 8 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Keep exploring
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