If you are planning a trip to Yucatan, Mexico, you probably already know that you want to visit the world famous Chichén Itzá and spend some time relaxing on the beach but what else is there to do in Yucatan? The answer is, “an awful lot!” You might also be wondering if Mérida is really worth visiting so let’s assure you now that it is and then we’ll take a look at what there is to do with Yucatán and help you plan your very best 1 week Yucatan Itinerary.

In this article we’ll cover

📌 The best of Mérida including free activities

📌 Day trip options including colonial towns and pueblos magicos (magical towns), the best beaches, archaeological sites and cenotes

❓ Are you wondering whether to visit Mérida or Valladolid on your trip around Yucatán?

Where to Stay in Yucatán

If you have 1 week in Yucatan, we recommend that you base yourself in the gorgeous city of Mérida and choose a few day trips. With just 1 week it really makes sense not to move around too much. We want you to relax and enjoy yourself and we are confident that there is more than enough to keep you busy in and around Mérida for your one-week vacation in Yucatán.

By the time you’ve read this article you’re most likely going to be wishing you had more than a week to spend in the glorious state of Yucatan but you’ll also have a much clearer idea of how your 1 week Yucatan itinerary can look.

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What Makes Me an Expert? I’ve been living in the Yucatan for six years so I’ve had plenty of opportunities to test-run my itineraries on visiting friends and family.

Yucatan State or Yucatan Peninsula?

Both are correct but they are two different things.

The Yucatan Peninsula is made up of three Mexican states: Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatan. Historically, most tourists have headed to Quintana Roo, flying into Cancun and spending time on the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres and even Isla Holbox.

More recently, the State of Yucatan has caught travellers’ attention and its capital, Merida was recently rated as the second safest city in the Americas. With a vibrant culture and arts scene and easy day-trip access to beautiful beaches, small towns or pueblos, and loads of ancient Mayan ruins, Yucatan State is quickly becoming a favourite holiday destination. 

How to Get to Yucatán

✈️ The best way to get here is by flying into Merida International Airport (MID). For many travellers, that means at least one stop at either Houston, Dallas, Miami, or Mexico City

🚌 ADO buses service the whole peninsula and further afield. It is possible to get a bus to Mérida from Cancun, Tulum or even CDMX

🚗 The roads across Yucatán are well maintained and driving is safe

🚂 The Maya Train should be operational in early 2024, which offers yet more exciting experiences in this region and Mérida, Izamal and Valladolid will all be main stations along the route

Top Tip: When booking your flight, always check flights to Cancun as well as Mérida. If you are travelling on a budget, you could consider arriving in Cancun and taking the super efficient and comfortable ADO buses to Merida or renting a car.

How to Move Around Yucatán

Rental Cars – rent a car and drive yourself around the state of Yucatan. Roads in Yucatán are well maintained and cops are not dodgy

Why Rent A Car? Driving offers you freedom from other people’s schedules and allows you to visit places buses or tours might not offer. Check rental options here

Buses – ADO is the main company that services Yucatán although there are also local colectivos moving between smaller towns. Check main bus timetables here

Tours – When you only have a week to play with, booking tours through aggregate companies like Viator or Get Your Guide is often a good idea

Best Time to Visit Yucatan

Really there is no bad time to visit Yucatán.

🔆 November – March when the weather is dry and warm is the very best time to visit making spring break a great option for a trip to Yucatán

🔆 🔆 April – May are very hot so if you enjoy the heat and humidity, you’ll be fine. Others may struggle with the mid-day heat but that’s when the beach and cenotes are the most refreshing!

☔️ June – October is the rainy reason and although tropical storms and hurricanes are rare, they do occur. During the rainy season most days will have an hour or so of rain. Humidity is high

➡️ Let’s talk safety in Yucatán for a second. Yucatán is Mexico’s safest state, making it a perfect spot for a vacation. If you’re interested in reading more about whether Yucatan is safe and how to look after yourself while in Yucatan, you know I’ve got you covered!

1 Week Yucatan Itinerary Hit List

In this post, I share a combination of our favourite city happenings along with a selection of day trips to help you make the most of this short trip and give you a taste of what Yucatan has to offer:

✅ Amazing archaeological sites

✅ Nature and beaches

✅ Culture, music and dancing

We recommend using Merida as a home base and alternating exploring the city with day trips. Merida has many wonderful hotels, restaurants, bars, and museums. Note that there are certain attractions that are day-specific and I recommend planning your days around those depending on what interests you. 

🐾 If you’re travelling with your dog, you’ll need to book specific pet-friendly hotels.

Of course, if you’re visiting Yucatán with kids, don’t forget to pick up a copy of Cassie’s guide book, “Yucatán with Kids” to ensure you find the very best options for the younger members of the family.

Suggested 1 Week Yucatan Itinerary

Day 1 – Mérida Culture: museums, centro and Paseo de Montejo

Day 2 – Day trip to a Mayan archaeological site such as Chichén Itzá, or Uxmal

Day 3 – Mérida Food: explore the market, Museo de la Gastronomía Yucateca and sample traditional street food

Day 4 – Day trip to a cenote

Day 5 – Mérida Culture: explore the cemetery and browse for souvenirs

Day 6 – Day trip to the beach

Day 7 – Day trip to a colonial town/pueblo magico such as Valladolid or Izamal

If you have more time, check out this awesome 10 days in Yucatan itinerary we created.

Mérida Activities

Walking in Mérida

Mérida’s historic centre is the second largest in Mexico and its streets are ideal for walking. You can enjoy simply strolling the city streets and discovering its various plazas and charms. For those who prefer more structure, Mérida City Council provides free Merida walking tours with a local guide (each tour takes about ninety minutes) daily Monday to Saturday at 9.30 am and 5 pm. 

🐾 What about if you’re in Mérida with a pet? There are plenty of dog friendly parks to choose from and cafes that will welcome you both.

Mérida Museums

Mondays:  Vaqueria. Plaza Grande 8.30 pm.  Watch a local dance troupe perform traditional dances and enjoy the witty poetry that is interspersed with the dancing

Tuesdays on Plaza Santiago: the Remembranzas Musicales start at 8.30 pm. Everyone, old, young, local, visitor, just piles onto the dance floor and enjoys dancing to the live band.

Wednesdays: Dialogos del Conquistador. Museo Casa Montejo. 8 pm. This is part video mapping, part theatrical performance at the house of the Spanish Conquistadors, the Montejo family.

Thursdays on Parque Santa Lucia: come and see locals perform the Jarana, the traditional Yucatecan dance. The Serenata takes place every Thursday from 9 pm. It’s a very popular event so you should get there early or book a table at one of the restaurants on the square to ensure you’ll have a good view. 

Fridays: Peidras Sagradas. A video mapping onto the Cathedral, Plaza Grande. 8 pm. Be sure to show up early to get a good view of this incredible show.

Saturdays: Poc-ta-Poc (traditional Mayan ball game) demonstration at the Atrium of the Cathedral of San Ildefonso on the Plaza Grande at 8pm.

Saturdays: Noche Mexicana. Remate de Paseo Montejo. 8 -10 pm. Musical Demonstrations and stalls. Between the Remate and Plaza Grande, the roads are closed to vehicles and there are markets and stalls open.

Sundays: Biciruta. The city closes down parts of the historic centre and everyone comes to cycle and skate. There are loads of stands dotted around the route renting bicycles, some built for two or more! We loved the family bikes when the kids were younger. Local artists come and set up on the side of the Paseo Montejo section to sell their wares. And if you don’t fancy a bike ride, there are a number of cafes where you can sit, have a bit and take in the vibrant scenery. 

⭐️ Mexico Cassie also has a full run down of all the free activities in Mérida

Top Souvenir Shopping Options in Mérida

✅ Around Plaza Grande / Parque Santa Lucia. Calles 60 – 62 and the roads between them in particular

✅ Around Parque Santa Ana

✅ Paseo de Montejo – don’t miss Casa T’hó, Tejon Rojo, or Cielo Hamacas

✅ Around Lucas de Galvez Market (new at the end of 2023: the upstairs has been reopened for artisanias – don’t miss out on the best of Yucatán’s souvenirs here)

Lucas de Galvez Market: I can’t emphasise enough how important food and eating is to me. Though tourists may visit this market, don’t be fooled, this is a market for locals. You’ll find huge sacks of spices, pyramids of every local fruit and vegetable imaginable, fish and meats, flowers, tools, souvenirs jewellery, and amazing custom-fit leather sandals made to measure as you wait.  

In the streets around the market are more small stores selling great souvenirs, traditional goods and more. You’ll also find “piñata street”, which is great if you’re in town for a birthday or Christmas celebration.

Don’t miss the brand new upstairs artisanias area – you’ll find fabulous souvenirs and keepsakes from the region up here.

Be careful to keep away from the small section where live animals are sold, it isn’t for the faint-hearted. 

Day Trips From Mérida

Merida is wonderful for many reasons, its incredible location being one of them. No Yucatecan adventure is complete without at least one archeological site, one cenote, and time at the beach.

Maya Archaeological Sites

Realistically, if you’re in Yucatán for one week, you’ll probably only be visiting one ruin unless you’re a Maya ruin nut. For most people this will be the modern wonder of the world, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichén Itzá but others may wish to see something a little different:

Option 1: Chichen Itza and Cenote

It’s perfectly possible to visit Chichén Itzá in a day from Mérida whether you choose to visit as part of a tour or alone. The most popular day trips include a stop at a cenote on the way home to cool off and marvel at the beauty of these ancient swimming spots.

➡️ Read more about this day trip option here

5 ⭐️ Tour Option: Chichen Itza, Cenote Yokdzonot and Valladolid

Option 2: Uxmal Followed by a Visit to Choco-Story

Uxmal is one of the most important sites of Mexico and the largest of the Ruta Puuc sites. Like Chichen Itza, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And though there are tourists and vendors, it is a much quieter and more tranquil experience than Chichen Itza. I am a particular fan of the rain god CHAAC and he is extremely well represented in the carvings. I’ve done the visit both with and without a guide and really felt that the guide helped to bring the place to life. 

➡️ Read more about this day trip option here

5⭐️ Tour Option: Private tour of Uxmal and Choco-Story Museum

Option 3: Full Mayan Monty for Archeological Enthusiasts – the Ruta Puuc

The Ruta Puuc is a series of five archaeological sites all built in the same style. The name Ruta Puuc means hill route which is funny because the Yucatan is really flat. But when everything is so flat, even the slightest bulge causes excitement. I’ve always found it is best to drive to the furthest site and work my way back to Mérida. Be warned that it’s nigh on impossible to see all five so pick three sites and enjoy them without rushing.

➡️ Read more about the Ruta Puuc here

Other nearby ruins include Mayapan, Dzibilchaltun and Xcambo.

Yucatan’s Incredible Beaches

You can’t spend a week in the Yucatan and not check out the gentle beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. You may also see the Yucatan coast referred to as, “La Costa Esmerelda“, the Emerald Coast, thanks to their gorgeous green water and perfect white sands. 

➕ If you’re travelling with children, it’s good to know that Yucatán’s beaches are some of the most family friendly in Mexico.

Option 1: Progreso, El Corchito and Xcambo

A great option is to combine a beach day in Progreso with a visit to the open cenotes at El Corchito  and even a visit to the archaeological sites of Dzibilchaltun or Xcambo.

Progreso is a busy and popular beach town about thirty minutes from Merida. You can get there by bus but if you want to combine it with El Corchito and explore the vicinity, you should hire a car or driver for the day. The beachfront is full of local restaurants, bars, and beach clubs. The Malecon is a large pedestrianised walkway where one can cycle, skate, or amble peacefully.  There are climbing structures, new trendy container coffee shops and food vendors along the length of the Malecon. Walk far along enough to the left of the main pier on a windy day and you can stop and watch kite surfers take majestic leaps through the air.

If you have a car and the energy to visit a small but beautiful ruin then Xcambo is probably something you should consider visiting while you’re in Progreso.

➡️ Read more about exploring Progreso here

Option 2: Celestun and Flamingos

The Celestun biosphere is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its delightful pink flamingos. Tourists often see the flamingos and then return to Mérida, not realising that the beach here is gorgeous.Taking a tour in the biosphere and then following it with fish tacos on the beach makes a pretty perfect day out as part of your one week in Yucatan.

➡️ Read more about Celestun here

Yucatán’s Magnificent Cenotes

Before you decide if you want to visit a cenote (you do) you should know what one is, right? 

Geologically speaking, cenotes are natural sinkholes caused by collapsing limestone bedrock, exposing the groundwater below. The Yucatán Peninsula is absolutely covered with cenotes and underground rivers linking them. Cenotes were used by ancient Mayans as sources of freshwater, and as such they built cities near them. They also considered the crystal-clear waters of cenotes to be sacred entrances to the underworld.

It’s worth spending some time reading about different cenotes to see which one you want to visit during your one-week trip.

Option 1: Hacienda Santa Barbara

There are four cenotes on this one site. The entry ticket you choose gets access to various options (as well as transport there on the horse-drawn trailer).  All cenotes are accessed via stairs and all are deep water. The newest opened cenote (in 2023) has an elevator for people with reduced mobility. This is the ONLY cenote with lift access on the whole peninsula.

This option is a good idea if you’re at all nervous about the idea of swimming in a big hole in the ground as there are lifeguards at every cenote.

➡️ Read more about top rated cenote tour options from Mérida

Option 2: Homun Cenote Circle

Homun is a small town about an hour from Mérida. It is famous for the ring of cenotes just outside town. There are approximately 10-15 cenotes you can visit and these cenotes are wilder and more rustic than somewhere like Santa Barbara so if you’re feeling adventurous, grab your car, swim suit and let’s go!

➡️ Read more about cenotes near Mérida here

➡️ Read more about visiting cenotes with kids here

➡️ What should you take when visiting a cenote?

Explore Yucatán’s Colonial Towns and Pueblos Magicos

Realistically, if you have one day to visit another city, you’ll most likely visit either Izamal or Valladolid. If you’re interested in visiting less famous pueblos magicos while in Mérida, this is also possible. Motul, for example, is just a short drive from Mérida.

Day Trip to Izamal

The famous ‘Yellow City’ of Izamal is about 70km (just over an hour) from the centre of Merida. It has recently been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The main draw of the small and cute city of Izamal is that the town centre is entirely yellow including the convent in the middle of town. Entry to the convent is free and there’s a small museum at the back of it that charges a nominal fee.

The city is known to have had around 12 pyramids before the Spanish arrived. Three of these have been at least partially restored and you can climb up Kinich-Kakmo, the largest of them, for free.

Don’t miss tzic de venado tacos while in Izamal. Tzic is the Mayan word for shredding and venado is venison. The meat comes dressed with a sauce made from sour orange and is served with cilantro and radishes. 

Izamal is an easy drive or you can take a bus or colectivo from downtown Merida. If you don’t feel like getting there under your own steam, an organised tour is always an option.

➡️ Read more about how to spend a day in Izamal

Day Trip to Valladolid

Yucatán’s gorgeous second city, Valladolid is also a great option for a day trip. It’s located right in the middle of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is one of my favourite places to explore. With the gorgeous Calzada de los Frailes, a street full of boutique shops and restaurants, the main square flanked by an imposing cathedral, and even cenote Zaci right in the centre, Valladolid is really a treat for all. 

➡️ Read more about Valladolid

If you’re in Yucatán for longer, then this is also a good half-way point on your way to:

➡️ The pink beaches of Las Coloradas

➡️ The pristine perfection that is El Cuyo beach

➡️ Cancun to swim with whale sharks

➡️ Holbox to relax and enjoy the gentle waters and island life

A Final Word on a 1 Week Yucatan Itinerary

There are so many options for anyone who is lucky enough to have one week to explore the beautiful state of Yucatán. Whether this is your first time in Mexico or you are a seasoned visitor, we hope you can use this itinerary as a jumping-off point and craft your own perfect 1 week Yucatan itinerary. 

Happy Travelling!