Five Days in Mayan Ruins

Day One

Fly into Cancún International Airport in the morning-early afternoon

Allow 1-2 hours for security

3:40-6:45 - ADO bus from Terminal 3 to Tulum

6:45-8:00 - Dinner in Tulum (I recommend Charlie’s - great food, fun and interactive staff, and right beside the bus terminal)

 8:00-8:20 - Walk to lodging (20 minute walk if Macondo Tulum) (apartment-style hotel; great for a larger group)

Lodging: Macondo Tulum - Calle Juanek lote 1, manzana 25 Aldea Maya, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico

Day Two

8:00-8:30 - Walk or taxi to rental car facility (Hertz and Enterprise are both available in Tulum)

9:00-9:15 - Drive to Tulum Ruins

9:15-11:00 - Explore Tulum Ruins

11:00-11:15 - Drive back to Tulum

11:15-12:30 - Lunch in Tulum (Negro Huitlacoxe is fantastic- try the elote!)

12:30-1:15 - Drive to Cobá Ruins

1:30-4:30 - Explore Cobá Ruins

4:30-5:30 - Drive back to Tulum

5:30-6:30 - Dinner in Tulum (Tropi Tacos has delicious and cheap tacos)

Lodging: Macondo Tulum - Calle Juanek lote 1, manzana 25 Aldea Maya, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico

Day Three

7:30-7:40 - Check out of lodging

7:40-8:00 - Drive to Muyil Ruins

8:00-9:40 - Explore Muyil Ruins

9:40-10:00 - Drive to rental car facility

10:00-10:45 - Drop off rental car and walk to ADO bus station

10:55-11:25 - ADO bus from Tulum to Valladolid

11:30-11:45 - Walk to hotel (10 min. walk if Quinta Marciala) and drop off luggage

12:00-1:00 - Lunch in Valladolid

1:00-1:45 - Taxi to Chichén Itzá

1:45-5:00 - Explore Chichén Itzá

5:00-5:45 - Taxi back to Valladolid

6:00-7:00 - Dinner in Valladolid (El Sazón de Valladolid has so many options that are super delicious!)

Lodging: Quinta Marciala - C. 39 239, Bacalar, 97780 Valladolid, Yuc., Mexico

Day Four

9:20-9:30 - Walk to bus station (10 min. walk)

9:44-12:19 - ADO bus from Valladolid to Mérida Centro Historico

12:20-12:40 - Walk to hotel (7 min. walk if Hotel Plaza Mirador) and drop off luggage

1:00-1:30 - Lunch in Mérida

1:30-6:00 - Taxi to Dzibilchaltun and explore Dzibilchaltun ruins OR spend the afternoon exploring the Mérida city center, with old churches and lots of markets; if you’re lucky, there may even be a mariachi show at the Plaza de Independencia in the evening!

6:00-7:00 - Dinner in Mérida (Los Trompos gave us three delicious courses for about 120 pesos! Crazy!)

Lodging: Hotel Plaza Mirador - C. 70 541A, entre Calle 67, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., México

Day Five

7:00-8:00 - Taxi to Uxmal Ruins

8:00-11:00 - Explore Uxmal Ruins

11:00-12:00 - Taxi back to Mérida

12:00-1:00 - Lunch in Mérida

1:00-1:30 - Walk to bus station

1:37-7:37 - ADO bus from Mérida Centro Historico  to Cancún

7:40-8:00 - Walk to and check into hotel (10 min. walk if Adhara Hacienda) 

8:00-9:00 - Dinner in Cancún (El Socio Naiz Taquería is fantastic!)

9:00-10:00 - Walk to Av. Tulum to find churro stands and a market

Lodging: Adhara Hacienda - Av Carlos Nader 1-2,3, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

Day Six

9:50-10:05 - Walk to ADO bus station (10 min. walk)

10:20-10:50 - ADO bus from Cancun to Cancún International Airport terminal

Fly home out of Cancún International Airport

Notes:

- On Sundays, everything shuts down, including rental car facilities and a lot of taxis. Be mindful of that when you travel (that was day four for us, which is why we spent the day in Mérida instead of at Dzibilchaltun).

- Each of these ruins are very unique. We never got tired of them and never thought they looked the same as the last one. You won’t regret seeing all of these unique historical sites!

- Chichén Itza is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

- Muyíl was my favorite because it felt like we were discovering it for ourselves! It was small, there were only two other people there, and it was in the jungle, making it a super cool environment.