Can anyone suggest me what to do and see in the Yucatan Peninsula in only 5 days? Thanks!?

Question

I have only 5 days to spend in the Yucatan Peninsula, and I was wondering if I am able to get to see the most interesting sites. Thank you!

This is school project that consists of creating a tourist brochure in which we can recommend a nice 5-day stay in Yucatán Península. (What to see, what to eat, where to stay, etc). Again, thank you!

Answer 1

To moonwalker's point it's hard to know what to tell you with out knowing your starting point but I'll go on the assumption that it is Cancun since this is where you posted.

For ruins, you can get on a bus tour to Chichen Itza, they usually stop at Valladolid, a nice colonial city or a cenote . The bus tour will likely set you back about $80-$100 and take all day (8:30 am - 6 PM). If you are going to see one set of ruins from Cancun Chichen Itza is the one to see. Tulum is much closer but much smaller.

If you are more adventurous, you can rent a car and make the drive. This will allow you to see more in less time. The highway between Cancun and Chichen Itza is modern and in excellent shape. It's a toll road (expensive - $17 US maybe more now) so it is generally empty or close to it with the exception of the occasional tour bus. Renting a car will allow you more time to explore as well as, if there are more than two of you it will likely be cheaper than the tour. If you are driving set out early and take detour north of Valladolid to the ruins at Ek Balam, they are not as well restored as the ruins at Chichen Itza but they are still impressive and there are some impressive stucco decorations that are still very well preserved.

Count on spending about an hour or so to see the ruins at Ek Balam and about 30 minutes off the toll highway so your you'd need about 2 hours total to include this. Entrance fee to this site should be very reasonable, I think it was 30 Pesos or something so $3-$4 dollars. A guide will likely cost about $20 for an hour tour, they may or may not speak English particularly well as this is a less traveled site. This is based on my last trip there in May of 2005 but it may be different as they had already completed a new road to the ruins and started a visitor center so you may find it a little busier but when I was there we were the only people at the ruins.

A guide at Chichen Itza will likely cost about $40 but the tour will be closer to 1.5-2 hrs. There will be guide here that speak excellent English and they are worth the money. They will add a lot to your experience. You can count on spending about 2-3 hours to see the ruins at Chichen Itza, it's very large. Even with this much time you won't be able to see all the ruins but you will see the major buildings.

Driving distances are Chichen Itza is 240 km (150 miles) from Cancun, Valladolid is 160 km (99 miles) from Cancun both along highway 180. The ruins will close at 5:00 PM and it will get dark not long after 6:30 PM so you'll want to start early to get most of your driving out of the way in the day light.

Here's a great road map of the State of Quintana Roo and the State of Yucatan:

http://www.maps-of-mexico.com/quintana-roo-state-mexico/quintana-roo-state-mexico-map-main.shtml

Chichen Itza and Ek Balam are both in the second map from the top left. Chichen Itza is just south of Piste and Ek Balam as already mentioned is north of Valladolid.

That's how I'd spend one of your days, if that's too involved then you can see Tulum from Cancun in about half a day, It's 117 km (72 miles) south of Cancun, so a little over an hours drive. The ruins there would take about an hour to see but you'll want to add on time to swim as the beach there is very nice.

Answer 2

To see and do everything you want to do in 5 days, you'll need a vacation from your vacation. The Yucatan covers a huge area. I suggest picking out one or two locations in the Yucatan and get a feel for those places at a comfortable relaxed pace.

As far as what to see and do, you didn't tell us your likes and dislikes. If your looking to party hardy then Cancun, Cozumel, or Playa del Carmen is where you want to go. If your looking for piece and quiet, then parts of the Riviera Maya, Bacalar, Rio Lagartos, Merida, Puerto Morelos, or the city of Valladolid is where you should be. If your looking for Mayan ruins then Chichen Itza is a "must see" on your list.

Answer 3

i don't know where you will be starting from, merida is nice old colonial city lots hotels. on to the ruins. Cancun on to playa Del Carmen and tulum to the beach rent hut from don Armando spend a few days have the time of your life just sand surfing Lot's eye candy good beaches ride the reef you can do it all on the bus system for a little bit money Mexico has good bus system just go on first class bus i stayed months in tulum.

Answer 4

there's many sites to visit, here some of the best

Cancun, restaurants, bars, discotheques, beach.

Chichen Itza, near to Valladolid, Yuc. (next to be one of the seven wonders of the world)

Cenote Zaci, Valladolid, Yuc. (light effects)

Paseo de Montejo. Mérida, Yucatán.

Hacienda Santa Rosa. near to Maxcanú, Yucatán. oh, mmm, wait, on this days in Maxcanú, Yucatán, are "juegos pirotecnicos" from 16th september to 29th september every night there is a "juegos pirotecnicos" called: "torojuegos", it always are full of people.

Answer 5

See the Myan ruins, snorkle in Xihi, bodysurf in the giant surf in Cancun, eat lobster in the hole-in-the-wall restaurants, rent a car and see the locals. In five days you can see and enjoy everything worth doing.

Answer 6

Tulum would be your best bet and then make sure to see some of the cenotes.

Answer 7

If nothing else go to Tulum!