Travel Guide

Cancún and the Yucatán

Mexico

Best time to go: December–April

Sights

Chichén Itzá – The great Maya city with the El Castillo pyramid, a UNESCO site – go early.
Tulum – Maya ruins on a cliff above the Caribbean Sea.
Cenotes – Crystal-clear freshwater sinkholes for swimming and snorkelling.
Isla Mujeres – A small island with the calm Playa Norte, a short ferry ride away.
Playa del Carmen – A beach town with the pedestrian Quinta Avenida.
Museo Maya de Cancún – A good introduction to Maya culture, with a small ruin site.

Cochinita Pibil – Pork marinated in achiote and slow-cooked – Yucatán's classic.
Tacos al Pastor – Cut from the spit, with pineapple.
Sopa de Lima – Chicken soup with lime and tortilla strips.
Marquesitas – Crisp rolled wafers with cheese and Nutella, in the evening on the plaza.

Holbox – A car-free island; snorkel with whale sharks from June to September.
Valladolid – A colonial town with a cenote right in the centre.
Bacalar – The «Lagoon of Seven Colours» for paddling.
Cozumel – An island with some of the Caribbean's best diving reefs.

When to go: December–April
Getting around: ADO coaches and colectivos link the towns; a hire car is handy for cenotes and ruins. Seaweed (sargassum) can wash up on beaches from spring to autumn.
Tipping: Around 10% is customary in restaurants.
Power: Plug type A/B, 127 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.
Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.