After picking up your car, you'll head to the Playa del Carmen area, where you can either relax on the beach after your flight to recharge for the days of exploring ahead, or enjoy the colorful streets and check out the surroundings. I've included a few tips on places to visit during your first day, but don't worry at all if you don't manage to get to them.

In the morning you'll head towards Tulum, but before you get there, you'll stop at a few places. So don't forget to put your swimsuit on in the morning. The first stop will be Cenote Azul (my personal favorite) – a spot for relaxing, exploring, and swimming. It's an open-air cenote. To check out all types of cenotes, the next stop will be Cenote Dos Ojos (a semi-open cenote – kind of half-cave). If you're into diving, you can rent scuba gear at this cenote. There are many other cenotes between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and it's up to you if you want to add more stops or just really enjoy the two mentioned above. After the cenotes, you'll head to Tulum to check into your accommodation. Most hotels offer bike rentals, and if they don't, they'll recommend the nearest rental shop. I recommend renting bikes and riding through the Tulum hotel zone, where you'll find some nice local shops, and you can also ride them all the way to Tulum Centro, where you can explore the center, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the street vibe. Or, instead of exploring, you can just spend the evening on the beach.

After breakfast, you'll head off in the footsteps of the Mayans. The first stop is the Coba ruins. I personally found the place magical. At the entrance, you can rent bikes for a small fee to ride around the entire area (highly recommended), though you can also walk it. It should also be possible to climb one of the pyramids (which isn't allowed at most other sites). You can also hire a guide (speaking Spanish or English), but unless you're a huge Mayan culture buff, it's not necessary. After exploring and soaking up some history, you continue back to Tulum and stop at the archaeological zone there. Just be careful here: as you approach the official parking lot and ticket office, various groups will try every trick in the book to lure you into buying tickets from them, claiming it's a better deal or offering various packages. However, their prices are up to 5x higher. Admission in 2026 was 400 Mexican pesos, and you could pay by cash or card. The site itself is definitely worth it, and it's good not to skip it. There's also a Cenote within the area, so it's worth having your swimsuit with you.

Up next is one of the seven wonders of the world - Chichén Itzá. A spot you definitely shouldn't miss when visiting Mexico. It's about a 2.5-hour drive from Tulum, and you'll pass through Valladolid, a charming town that’s definitely worth a visit on your way back. I recommend stopping by the mercados or a local restaurant there, and then enjoying a walk through authentic Latin American streets. If you want to cool off after visiting Chichén Itzá, the well-known Cenote Ik Kil is just 3 km away. However, if you’re not in the mood for a swim, you can skip it and head straight to Valladolid.

After a few days in Tulum, you'll head out to explore a bit further. Your final destination for the day is Bacalar, and while I recommend all the stops along the way, feel free to pick and choose according to your taste if you don't want to do them all. Kaan Luum Lagoon is great if you want to take a swim and see another beautiful spot. The Muyil archaeological zone is smaller than all the previous ones, but for fans of history and Mayan culture, it's worth a visit. Right behind it is the entrance to the Sian Ka'an area, which looks far on the map, but the beginning of the reserve is actually connected to the archaeological zone, so you can easily combine them. It's worth having cash on you here, as you can rent a boat or arrange another trip deeper into the bio-reserve right on-site. We just walked the marked path, which led us to a lookout tower.

The main attraction of Bacalar is the turquoise lagoon, where you can rent a kayak, pay for a boat trip, or enjoy other activities. We decided on a boat trip and it was a great idea. Just walk around the area, check out a few companies, and pick the perfect trip for you. We got a trip for 300 MXN per person, which included a small snack and many stops around the lagoon. Once you've had enough of swimming or water activities, most accommodations offer bike rentals.

After visiting Bacalar, you will head back north. Since it's a long drive, you'll stop in Akumal to snorkel with turtles, grab a nice lunch, and then continue on. Your final destination is Holbox Island. For us, this was a must-do stop because you can see bioluminescence there. Definitely an experience worth having. Sailing through the bay at three in the morning, seeing the rays reflecting off the water, and watching it light up even more with every touch. Plus, the chance to see the Milky Way was just incredible. 

Today is all about discovery and relaxation just the way you like it. I've attached a few tips below on how to enjoy Holbox to the fullest; pick the one you like best. 

After Holbox island, your final stop will be Isla Mujeres, which is a personal favorite of ours and a place we love coming back to. You can reach Isla Mujeres from Cancun. We didn't think much of Cancun overall, but we found an excellent local taqueria there—I've added it below and recommend it as a lunch stop. I suggest bringing plenty of cash with you to Isla Mujeres, as many places don't accept cards.

Depending on your departure time, you'll head back to Cancun, drop off your rental car at the airport, and fly home. The airport is easy to navigate, check-in has always been quick, and arriving 2 hours early is plenty of time.