Backpacking Yucatan Itinerary

Welcome to our 1 week Yucatan itinerary.

Mexico is an highly diverse country full of authentic culture, foods and destinations alike.

As a result it continually ranks as one of the most popular countries to visit in the entire Western Hemisphere, let alone just Latin America!

The Yucatán region in particular is a rite of passage for backpackers coming to explore Mexico.

Home to Chichén Itzá and other mysterious Mayan ruins, this region is also great to explore with its cool cities and more remote beaches.

Backpacking Yucatan Itinerary

In this guide we’ll dive head first into the region of Yucatán, covering the very best things to do with our custom 1 week itinerary.

Specifically, we’ll look in-depth at the destinations of Mérida, Valladolid (including Chichén Itzá) and Río Lagartos.

Getting around Yucatan State

Compared with other states of Mexico, Yucatán is a breeze to get around thanks to its buzzing tourism and an increased demand for transportation.

Getting to and from the bigger cities of Mérida and Valladolid are very easy, with many companies serving the route several times a day.

Even the more remote areas like Rio Lagartos don’t present too many logistical issues, however you may need to take a local chicken bus every now and then to get to the more off the beaten path destinations.

Other Things to know: Travel Tips

When completing the itinerary below of Yucatán, you’ll need a daily budget of $20-25 a day.

This will cover a dorm bed, meals for the day, some local buses and also a few drinks or extras.

Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.

*When it comes to safety, Yucatán is perhaps one of Mexico’s safest regions to visit. If you’ve already been to Quintana Roo then it’ll even feel safer here.

Again as always, however, still take precautions such as locking up any valuables where you’re staying and not overdressing too much.

*Packing for a trip to the Yucatán is straightforward – it’s going to be hot.

Light clothes and garments are best here, as well as the musts of a good sun cream and mosquito repellent.

Depending when you visit it may rain, so also remember carry a good quality raincoat if heading during the rainy season (you won’t regret it) 😉

Yucatan Itinerary (1 Week)

Now let’s explore our one week itinerary of Yucatán.

Below we’ll go in-depth and cover the very best sights and experiences you can have in this ever-popular Mexican region.

Mérida (Days 1-3)

We’ll first start our trip in the popular backpacking hub of Mérida.

This beautiful city is arguably the most popular for backpackers in all of Mexico, and for many different reasons.

First off all it’s laden with beautiful architecture and interesting buildings such as the Mayan World Museum and the Catedral de Mérida.

This city is also home to some incredible dishes which you must try whilst here, with some of the best being Panuchos and Cochinita Pibil.

When you’re not exploring the city and tasting the local grub, it’s time to venture out as the outskirts of Merida has some truly amazing sights to see.

Dzibilchaltún is an ancient Mayan temple that’s not located too far, and whilst isn’t as spectacular as that of Chichén Itzá, still offers a more authentic experience with much less crowds!

The other day trip worth doing from here is to the cenotes. There’s literally hundreds to explore in this region, however we recommend heading to Mucuyche, where you’ll see the brightly coloured natural pools.

You can also see the crazy rock formations that lie above inside the caves (you’ll get a tour of the old hacienda as part of your troubles getting here too).

To get to Mérida you’ll first need to fly into Cancún (if arriving internationally) and then taking a bus over into the Yucatán region.

Valladolid (Days 4-6)

From Mérida we’ll then take the bus to the old colonial city of Valladolid, which takes around 2.5 hours.

This town is much less visited than Mérida and close-by Playa del Carmen, and as a result thankfully retains a lot of its authenticity and natural charm.

Walking along the cobblestone streets, here you’ll see plenty of colourful buildings and local street vendors serving some pretty tasty dishes.

In terms of things to do, we of course couldn’t start off without mentioning the king of all Mexican attractions.

The legendary ancient site of Chichén Itzá is located only 25 miles from this city, making Valladolid the perfect place to use as your base camp (and to arrive early before the sheer horde of buses begin to arrive).

We recommend heading on this all-inclusive tour, where you’ll also visit a cenote and have a buffet lunch included

The pyramids here really do make you step back in time, and is an absolute must-visit when in the Yucatán region.

From Valladolid you’ll also want to head to the cenote of Ik-Kil, which is arguably the most stunning in the entire region.

It honestly looks like something out of a prehistoric film, and you can rope-swing into the emerald green waters too for added pleasure.

Inside of Valladolid be sure to visit the picturesque convent of San Bernardo and to also take a free walking tour – where you’ll get to know many of this colonial town’s hidden gems!

Rio Lagartos (Days 7-8)

Our last couple of days in the Yucatán region will be spent in the much less touristy town of Rio Lagartos.

You can get here by bus from Valladolid in around 3 hours, making it an ideal last stop before heading out to Cancún.

This small fishing port town was more or less nonexistent on the tourism radar a couple of decades ago, but is now starting to gain traction due to one main thing: Pink Flamingos.

That’s right, here you’ll be able to see these beautiful birds up and close in the Parque Natural Ria Lagartos, which is best explored with a boat tour.

The other top thing to do is to explore Las Coloradas. These incredible pink lakes are a must-visit when here, however don’t jump in as they’re actually rich in salt which can cause burns!

Regardless, it’s great to visit and you can either get your photos from the lake’s edge or again take another boat tour out to explore the pink lagoon.

The town of Rio Lagartos doesn’t have much going for it, however if you have extra time then consider heading on a day trip to the stunning Isla Holbox which is nearby.

Holbox is a paradise best known for its relaxing and romantic atmosphere away from the parties and chaos found on most shores of the Riviera Maya.

Best time to visit Yucatán

We’ve spoken a lot about the best time to visit Mexico on this blog (George is absolutely obsessed with checking the weather when we travel).

We’ve found that the best month to visit Yucatán is the month of May.

It’s one of the warmest times of the year with daily averages of 82°F, with highs reaching up to a very toasty 95°F and lows hovering around 72°F.

May still falls within the dry season, so rainfall will be very low (ranging from 0.5-1 inches throughout the month).

This time of year is also off-season, so you’ll find cheaper flights and hotel prices compared to the more popular Christmas and summer seasons.

Yucatán Backpacking Tips

⬇️ Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Yucatán:

Got travel insurance for the Yucatan?

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Yucatan Backpacking Itinerary

The Yucatán region promises a true adventure, with the authentic Mayan Culture, sprawling pyramids and white sand beaches waiting to be explored.

There’s also its colonial cities and beautiful cenotes too, both of which simply cannot be missed.

In this itinerary-style guide, we’ve looked at the Yucatán region including the best destinations to visit, how much time we recommend spending in each, what to see and also our own top tips.

Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.

Also see our backpacking Mexico guide for more travel inspiration!

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

---

“Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”