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15 Best Things To Do in The Yucatan Peninsula

best things to do in the yucatan visit cenotes

There are endless adventures to have in the Yucatan. Here’s a look at the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Few destinations offer as much variety as Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. A vast expanse of jungle, bordered by pristine white beaches, grows out of a unique and complex ecosystem.

The entire peninsula is porous limestone with caverns of fresh water. Countless sinkholes (called cenotes) break the surface, providing travelers with opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Visiting cenotes is one of the must-do’s in the Yucatan

And that’s just nature. The Yucatan contains a mix of three important cultures: Mayan, Spanish colonial, and modern Mexican.

You can immerse yourself in all three in places like Valladolid, near Chichen Itza, with a visit to the famous ruins in the morning, a stop at a 16th-century convent in the afternoon, and a dinner of Yucatan specialties at a stylish gastropub in the evening.

There are so many things to do in the Yucatan that many travelers return again and again. I’m one of them. During my 10 years living in Mexico, I visited the area about once a year, sometimes more.

With so many places to visit in the Yucatan, you’re sure to have a great experience no matter what you’re looking for!

Here are the top 15 things to see and do in the Yucatan, plus practical tips on how to make the most of your trip.

1. Visit Playa del Carmen

Although Cancun is the first destination that may come to mind, I recommend Playa del Carmen as a first stop in the Mayan Riviera.

best places to visit in playa del carmen
A rainbow after some rain. Make sure to walk 5th avenue far north past the touristy spots

Cancun is fine if you want to confine your trip to a big beachside resort (or if you want to rough it in cheap hotels in Cancun’s somewhat rundown downtown area).

But if you want to walk barefoot from your family-run hotel to the beach for an early morning swim, Playa del Carmen is the place.

Although the beach has suffered erosion and algae invasions in recent years, and there are larger beaches in Tulum, Puerto Morelos, and Akumal, what gives Playa the edge over these other beach towns is Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue).

Conveniently starting at the main bus station and running parallel to the beach, Quinta Avenida is pedestrian-only for nearly 2 kilometers.

It’s lined with small hotels, souvenir shops, and a wide range of Mexican and foreign restaurants. Exploring this bustling street is…

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