I visited Mexico in the beginning of March 2022 with my exchange friend Bruno who just happened to call me one day and ask if I wanted to come to explore Mexico with him. Visiting Mexico had always been on my bucket list so I did not have to think twice.
I hope you are as excited for your future trip in Mexico as I was, because Mexico is full of tasty food, stunning landscapes and incredible beaches with crystal clear water. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
In this post I will share our itinerary that changed a bit when we arrived to our destination. Our initial plan was to to hire a car. However, things don’t always go as planned and we ended up being scammed at the car rental. Our flight was late and we arrived to the rental a bit late. Rental personnel told us that they won’t give us our car unless we agree to pay 500 dollars more than initially agreed. After many hours of arguing we decided that we will not hire a car at all. I suggest that you do your research well before renting in order to avoid this type of disappointment and hassle!
Mexico Itinerary daily plan
- Day 0: Cancun. Arrive and relax after the flight.
- Day 1: Cozumel. Take early ferry to Cozumel from Playa de Carmen. Book a scooter and drive around the island (Getaway car rental). Visit Paradise beach for the sunset.
- Day 2: Cozumel. Go on a morning snorkelling trip with a catamaran to El Cielo. After the morning trip take a ferry back to Playa de Carmen and take a late bus to Tulum.
- Day 3: Tulum. Visit The Mayan Ruins of Tulum. In the evening visit Punta Allen for beach bars and shopping.
- Day 4: Tulum. Visit Grand Cenote + beach.
- Day 5: Tulum. Visit Ven a la Luz sculpture and SFER IK Museoin. Late bus to Bacalar.
- Day 6: Bacalar. Book a sailboat tour and visit the lagoon. In the evening go for a dinner in Nixtamal.
- Day 7: Bacalar. Go kayaking in Los Rapidos from Laguna Bonanza.
- Day 8: Cancun. Day trip to Chichen Itza + Cenote + Valladolid
- Day 9: Cancun. Last day in Mexico, enjoy food, go to the beach and relax.
Day 1-2 Cozumel Itinerary
Day 1.
After arriving to Cancun and after the hassle with the car rental we took an ADO bus from the airport to Playa de Carmen. ADO bus is one of the most affordable ways to travel in Mexico. Apparently it is the largest bus company in the world and it provides good quality buses with power outlets and comfortable seats. I really recommend ADO if you decide that you don’t want to hire a car. We booked all the tickets online. Be aware that the website is only in Spanish. However, you can download the app on your phone and use it in English.
From Playa del Carmen we took a Winjet fast ferry to Cozumel island. We booked round trip ticket for ($25). You could use the return ticket whenever you want. The one way trip is around 40 minutes.
We stayed in Mini Pini loft that was located a bit far from town, but since we booked a scooter the location was very suitable for us. I really enjoyed the accommodation because of its privacy and location in the middle of the jungle.
On the first day of our arrival we booked the scooter from the Getaway Car Rental and we went to explore the island by ourselves. We went to enjoy the sunset at the Paradise Beach Clubs beach since it had the best view according to the locals.
Day 2.
We booked a catamaran trip to El Cielo reef with Zeus. The tour included:
- Guided Catamaran Snorkelling tour
- Palancar and Columbia reefs and El Cielo Beach stops
- Guacamole, Chips, Ceviche
- Drinks: Beer, Bottled water, Soft drinks
We saw rays, starfish and fish. It was a lot of fun since the crew was incredible. They were very interactive and professional. In addition members of the crew were very protective towards the nature and made sure that the wildlife and nature stay safe during the cruise.
After our tour we packed our stuff and took a ferry back to Playa del Carmen. After eating at the beach we took an ADO bus to Tulum.
Day 3-5 Tulum Itinerary
Day 3.
We spent our morning at our hotel since the premises of this place were stunning. Diamante K hotel was located at the beachfront and we were able to enjoy the private beach good food and boho vibes.
After swimming, relaxing and enjoying our private beach we decided to head to the city and rent a scooter. If you don’t rent a car I recommend to at least rent a scooter since it helps a lot to travel from one place to another.
We headed with our scooter to The Mayan Ruins of Tulum. The Ruins of Tulum are open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm every day of the week. I recommend to go early in the morning since the temperature rises during the day and it becomes very hot. Entry tickets cost $70 MXN (about $3.50 USD) per person and you have to pay that amount in cash at the entrance.
We spent the evening at Mia Restaurant and Beach Club. At this restaurant we ate the best guacamole during our whole trip. It was extra delicious. The area has a lot of bars and restaurants so If this particular beach club is not for you you will definitely find a place to eat dinner or grab few drinks near to this place.
We also grabbed some tacos at La Malinche Tulum and let me tell you. You will not be disappointed if you eat here. This place had the best burritos and tacos. We went to eat here 3 times during our stay since the food was just so tasty. You should definitely give it a try!
Day 4.
We woke up early in the morning an headed to Gran Cenote at 8 AM. I recommend to go early in the morning since it will not be so crowded and you will be able to enjoy the views without so many tourists. Read more about Gran Cenote in my other post here.
We spent 2 hours at the Cenote, snorkelling, taking pictures and swimming so be ready to book enough time for your visit.
In the evening we decided to put our party mode on and we headed to the area with a lot of beach clubs and bars.
Day 5.
After the night of partying we took it easy on the beach the next morning. Before leaving to Bacalar we still wanted to see the iconic Tulum sculpture Ven a la Luz and SFER IK Museion.
We went to see the Ven a la Luz sculpture at 12 AM and we did not even have to wait in line in order to take a photo. We paid around 3 USD for the picture (60 MXN pesos). Be aware that there is a time limit for every person. You only have minute or two per person, so be quick!
Before leaving Tulum we made a quick stop at SFER IK, contemporary art museum. A beautiful space with calm music and instagrammable rooms. The museum has curvy walkways and nice plants. If you want to get some beautiful pictures for your instagram, this place is worth a visit.
Day 6-7 Bacalar Itinerary
Day 6.
In Bacalar we stayed at Blue Palm Bacalar. In this hotel we had a great staff that helped us with restaurants, tours and other tips. Hotel also had free bikes that we used a lot to get around the city.
At 15.00 PM we booked a sailing boat tour with Wild Wave Bacalar that cost 650 MXN pesos. The tour lasted for 3 hours and we were able to see the lagoon of Bacalar. It was a nice trip and we were able to swim in several locations.
What is included:
- Seasonal Fruits
- Water
- Tour time: 11:00 am or 15 pm
Day 7.
We went to Lagoon Bonanza by taxi because it was located a bit further from the centre of Bacalar. We rented out kayaks in this place from two young boys that were working at the property and went kayaking in the Los Rapidos. The lagoon is beautiful and it gives you a nice view of the mangroves. After kayaking you can enjoy the sun and tan at the Bonanza area.
Later we packed our stuff and took a bus back to Cancun. The bus ride was around 5h 30min.
Day 8-9 Cancun Itinerary
Day 8.
We hopped on a tour bus and were ready for our full day guided tour to Chichen Itza. We booked the tour through Viator and the trip included visit to the Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid.
Even though I am no the biggest fan of the bus tours, we decided that this option was the most suitable for us due to the fact that we did not have the car. The tour was pretty touristy, but we enjoyed the fact that we heard a lot about the history of Mayas and the lunch was also included in the tour.
Day 9.
On the last day of our stay we just enjoyed and relaxed at our hotel before our 11 hour flight back to Brussels.
I hope this blog was helpful, let me know your thoughts under this post!