{"id":20759,"date":"2019-08-19T11:31:47","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T10:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sommertage.com\/?p=20759"},"modified":"2023-10-14T16:31:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T15:31:00","slug":"yucatan-mexico-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sommertage.com\/en\/yucatan-mexico-travel-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Yucat\u00e1n in Mexico: Practical travel tips and information for your trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula is probably the most popular destination in Mexico but this doesn\u2019t exactly come as a surprise to us. Why? Because there, you can find the perfect combination of those dreamy Caribbean beaches<\/strong>, charming colonial cities<\/strong> and discover the intriguing Mayan culture<\/strong>. For three weeks we travelled all over the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula, falling in love with Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog article, we’ll tell you all you need to know about travelling through Mexico<\/strong>, including: Planning and Travel Preparation Tips for your trip to Mexico, Information about the Yucat\u00e1n Highlights, Safety, and of course, the food culture and culinary experiences that await you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Yucatan<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Preparation: Before Your Yucat\u00e1n Trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What to expect on the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula: First Impressions & Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mexico – the land of the Mayas, the snow-white beaches, mystical Cenotes, tacos and Margaritas. If you have these ideas of Yucat\u00e1n, then you are not far off because all these things are indeed waiting for you on your tour of the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Yucat\u00e1n is anything but untouched in terms of tourism. We are talking mainly about the East Coast, the so-called Riviera Maya<\/strong>, which is still a lot more touristy than we could have ever expected. This means that you really have to search deep for the authentic Mexico in Yucat\u00e1n. But we can reassure you, that you will still love it because there are still many places in the Yucat\u00e1n untouched by mass tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, when people say “Yucat\u00e1n”, then they are usually referring to the peninsula of the same name, which is actually home to a total of three states<\/strong>: Yucat\u00e1n, Quintana Roo and Campeche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yucat\u00e1n is, in our opinion, the perfect combination of culture, beaches and cities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Culture:<\/b> because of the abundance of Mayan Ruins, which you simply cannot help but be astounded and fascinated by them. There are countless Mayan ruins in Yucat\u00e1n and some are more impressive than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beaches:<\/b> because along the Riviera Maya<\/a> and on the Mexican islands, you\u2019ll find dreamy beaches that look as if they came straight out of a picture book. We were speechless in the face of snow-white sand and azure blue waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cities:<\/b> because Yucat\u00e1n is blessed with some beautiful, authentic colonial towns. We loved getting lost in the urban streets of Campeche<\/a>, M\u00e9rida<\/a> and Valladolid<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is Yucat\u00e1n suitable for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If this is going to be your first time in Mexico<\/strong>, then the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula is the ideal destination for you. There are several reasons why Yucat\u00e1n is so well-suited to newcomers in Mexico: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Yucat\u00e1n is Mexico’s most touristic region, yet there are places that are still untouched by mass tourism. Anyone who has security concerns can rest assured: the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula is not only the most touristic, but also one of the safest regions in Mexico. (We’ll tell you more about safety at the end of this article.) <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The distances between destinations in the Yucat\u00e1n are not huge: we never had to sit in the car for more than 4 hours on our road trip. All in all, we certainly had the feeling that Yucat\u00e1n was the perfect introduction and welcome into Mexico.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Families with children:<\/b> we can also highly recommend the peninsula to those travelling as families. There are plenty of great beach resorts along the Riviera Maya with beautiful beaches (for example in Tulum). If you want to do one or more side trips, you will find an abundance of choices – including the great Cenotes or the Mayan Ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Duration of the journey: How long should I stay in the Yucat\u00e1n?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Difficult question, because it depends on how much you want to experience and how much time you want to stay at each stop. We ourselves spent three weeks<\/strong> in Yucat\u00e1n and found this time period to be just perfect. We felt that we were able to see a lot of the peninsula without being too stressed with time constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But you can do a nice road trip even in just two weeks. And of course, you can also easily fill four weeks or more with memorable experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The best travel time on the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Dry Season = High Season<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Between November\/December and April\/May<\/strong> there is a dry season on the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula. This means that comparatively little precipitation falls and the temperatures are pleasantly warm (not too hot), although it can be a bit fresh in the evenings. It is during the dry season that most  <\/span>of the tourists flock to the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tourism experiences a huge spike during Christmas and Easter, where many visitors from the USA and Europe escape the cold and travel to Mexico. Around spring break<\/strong>, when college students from America have their semester breaks, things start to get a bit rowdy along the Riviera Maya. So we would recommend that you avoid these specific periods if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rainy season<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The rainy season begins from May and runs until October\/November<\/strong>. In these months, the Yucat\u00e1n experiences very high precipitation falls. The amount of rain is quite unpredictable: anywhere from day-long steady rain to a few showers in two weeks is possible. Coincidentally, the hurricane season also happens to fall in the same period. Dramatic hurricanes, however, are very rare in Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If there was no other choice than to travel Mexico during the rainy season, we personally would still do it. Be prepared, however, for certain plans to be washed away (sometimes quite literally).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our travel period and our climate experience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    We toured Yucat\u00e1n between late November and mid-December. Our trip was a good example of how the weather does not always stay true to its forecasts. We got some rainy days even during the main dry season. During our time on Holbox<\/a>, there was an unusually strong low over the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What you should take away from this: Even though you\u2019re travelling to the tropics, you have to be ready and prepared to adapt to changes in the weather no matter the season. It’s best not to plan the trip too rigidly, so that you can still be flexible and can reschedule if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Ek<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Flamingo<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Entering Mexico<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    German and Austrian nationals may enter Mexico without a visa<\/strong> and stay there for 180 days. This is actually the case for citizens of most EU countries as well as for citizens of UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and the USA (ie. 180 Day Visa Free Stay). You don\u2019t have to worry about anything in advance, just make sure that your passport is still valid for six months upon entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the plane, you will receive two forms: an entry form<\/strong> and a Customs form<\/strong> – you have to complete both, so having a ballpoint pen is a good idea. When you enter, simply show the forms and that’s it. Important: The entry form remains in your passport and is used as the the exit form when you leave. Therefore, you should take good care of it, because you have to hand it in upon your exit from the country. If you lose it, you will have to pay a fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Attention: If you have a stopover in the US, you must apply for an ESTA visa. Best to apply for this as soon as you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Power\/Travel Adaptor: Do I need an adaptor for Mexico?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It depends on where you come from. In Mexico you use completely different sockets than you would in the Euro Zone. More specifically, it uses sockets of type A and B. These have flat contacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another important note: The grid voltage<\/strong> in Mexico is only 110 or 120 Volts and the grid frequency 60 Hertz. In Europe, the supply voltage is 230 Volts. You should therefore check all your devices to see if they are suitable for Mexico. You can usually find the necessary information directly on the device or on the charging cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example: The MacBook Pro 13\u201d may be charged between 100 and 240 Volts and between 50 and 60 Hertz, according to the charging cable. So you don\u2019t have to worry about that in Mexico, although it might be the case that the charging time takes longer. Devices also usually run at half the power compared to what we are used to at home – this concerns, for example, the hair dryer, which quickly becomes unusable at 110 Volts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This adaptor is the correct one:<\/b> Travel Adaptor Mexico<\/a> (we had three pieces.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Travel Guide for Yucat\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    We would never travel to a new country without a printed travel guide – and this was also the case with Mexico. We did a lot of research in advance and finally decided on the English-speaking Lonely Planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The advantage of this guide is that it is very compact<\/strong>. You do not carry unnecessary weight, as the guide is limited to the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula (and a few nearby destinations). The most important points and locations are well described, although in some places, we would have liked to have had  <\/span>more detailed information. Nevertheless, we would recommend this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is the link where you can buy the travel guide:<\/strong> Lonely Planet Canc\u00fan, Cozumel & the Yucat\u00e1n<\/a> (July 2019 Edition)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Yucatan<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    2. Getting Around the Yucat\u00e1n Region<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Option 1 (Our Recommended Choice): By Rental Car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The fastest and most convenient way<\/strong> to get around is by rental car. It\u2019s also very easy to travel Yucat\u00e1n on your own – even though the initial thought might seem a bit far fetched. We have summarised all our tips for driving in Mexico and booking a rental car – in this particular blog article: Yucat\u00e1n Road Trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We ourselves booked our rental car for Mexico via Sunny Cars<\/a> (not surprising as we always book through them). But the main reason is that when you book via Sunny Cars, all major insurance policies for Mexico are already included, which is why we would choose it again any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Option 2: By Bus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Travelling by bus through Yucat\u00e1n is also very popular. The best-known, most modern and most popular tourist bus company is called ADO. The ADO route network is very well developed. You can easily search for specific connections on the ADO website<\/a>. Although there is no English version, you can find your way around the website relatively well, even without much Spanish knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Mexiko<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Getting Around a Town\/City<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you have a rental car<\/strong>, then you can of course also use it to get around within the town or city. This works great in places like Bacalar<\/a>, for example. But the bigger the city, the more impractical it usually becomes to get around within a city by rental car – the main reason being that the parking situation becomes a hassle, more expensive and more time consuming (eg. along the Beach Road in Tulum<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Uber & Taxi are good alternatives in this case. We used Uber ourselves to get around M\u00e9rida<\/a> – it worked without any hiccups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most cities (Valladolid, Campeche<\/a> and the majority of M\u00e9rida) are small enough that the distances are walkable. In other destinations, bicycle proves to be the best mode of transport (eg. in Tulum and Holbox<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Highlights & Itinerary on the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You are probably interested in what there is to experience on the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula and which highlights<\/strong> you should not miss. Therefore, we can recommend you this blog article in which we describe our itinerary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Detailed blog article:<\/strong> Our Yucat\u00e1n Road Trip Itinerary<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You will find an extensive description of the exact stops<\/strong> we took on our round trip. So if you’re interested in what the Yucat\u00e1n has to offer, then you will find this article very interesting and helpful. Of course there are also detailed blog articles for each of the Yucat\u00e1n destinations we outlined, along with our personal insider tips for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Valladolid<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Cathedral<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    4. Food & Drink: The Mexican Cuisine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To be honest: The Mexican Cuisine did not exactly knock our socks off. But that doesn\u2019t mean we didn\u2019t like it – quite the contrary actually. We ate very well and never once had a \u2018bad\u2019 meal. However, we did find the Mexican dishes to be rather monotonous<\/strong> by the end and this is mainly because we, as (mostly) vegetarians, could not enjoy the whole range of Mexican cuisine due to the heavy meat presence in the majority of dishes. Most of the dishes also happen to include tortillas and it got to a point where we just could not even look at them any more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Classics & Specialties in Yucat\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The absolute classic<\/strong> in Mexico are the tacos: Soft corn tortillas are served in a variety of ways. Most are filled with meat, but there are often vegetarian alternatives. The best place for authentic tacos is the so-called Taquer\u00eda<\/strong>. Tacos are usually very cheap – often you pay just a few Pesos per taco. Plus, you can choose to add several dips on top. Attention: some of them (mostly the green ones) are hella spicy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the deep-fried form, tacos are called Salbutes<\/b>. This also applies to the so-called Quesadillas<\/strong> (stuffed and cheese-topped Maistortillas), Burritos<\/strong> (rolled corn tortillas) or Enchiladas (filled and sauce-spilled corn tortillas). You can also get excellent guacamole<\/strong> everywhere on the Yucat\u00e1n – plus, you can tell that the avocados are locally sourced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s take a look at the lesser-known dishes, which unfortunately are reserved almost exclusively for meat eaters: Sopa de Lima<\/strong> is a chicken-lime soup with tortilla strips. Those who order Cochinita Pibil<\/strong>, will be served stewed pork. On the coast there are often fish specialties. The Peruvian classic Ceviche<\/strong> has also made it to the Yucat\u00e1n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The national drink<\/strong> of Mexico is the so-called Mezcal<\/b>, the most famous tequila in Mexico. Tequila-based cocktails can be found throughout the country. The best known is the Margarita<\/strong>, which is offered in multiple variations. Beer (“Cerveza”) is also drunk, including Sol or Corona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Often there are freshly squeezed fruit juices, but you see the locals mainly with soft-drinks instead: The Mexicans have one of the highest rates worldwide for the consumption of soft-drinks! We found the Agua de Jamaica very delicious -it\u2019s a hibiscus flower tea, which is served ice cold. Water Tip: It\u2019s best to stay away from drinking tap water in Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vegetarian Options in Yucat\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s put it this way: There are definitely countries where it\u2019s much easier to eat a balanced vegetarian diet than in Mexico. Traditional Mexican cuisine is heavily meat dominated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula is a bit of an exception, though. With tourism firmly anchored, in many places (especially along the Riviera Maya) there is an incredible supply of meat-free food<\/strong>. It\u2019s no longer a rare sight to see purely vegetarian or vegan restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The further you get away from the tourist hotspots, the harder it is to find creative vegetarian food. But not once, did we have a problem finding something delicious to eat in our three weeks of travel. We just thought it was a shame that we seldom dined in the really authentic shops, but having the same food (eg. Tacos everyday) would certainly get boring for us in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Hotel<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Latte<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    5. Accommodations in the Yucat\u00e1n Region: Where to stay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The bigger the town\/city, the more overnight accommodation there is on offer. In the hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum, you have the choice from a very extensive list of accommodations: from the cheap dorm beds to the sinfully expensive luxury resort – there is everything<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The less touristic a place, the less accommodations options you\u2019ll find. For example, when visiting Calakmul, we could only choose from a handful of accommodations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Important to know: The price level<\/strong> for accommodation in Mexico is higher than expected – at least if you want to have a certain standard. We ourselves, mostly lodged in small hotels or B&Bs and spent on average around 80 to 90 Euros per night<\/strong> for a room. There are also slight price differences between the towns: while Holbox and Tulum are more expensive, Campeche is cheaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can find out exactly which hotels we stayed at (and which ones we recommend) in this particular blog article:<\/strong> Yucat\u00e1n Itinerary<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6. Travel Costs: How Much Money Do You Need to Travel Mexico?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Currency & Cash in the Yucat\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The currency of Mexico is the Mexican Peso<\/strong>. It is abbreviated either as “MXN” or with the dollar sign $ – which often causes confusion. One Euro is equivalent to roughly 24 Pesos (as of December 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Banknotes<\/strong> are available in 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Pesos, as well as Coins<\/strong> in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Pesos – and most likely you will come across coins with smaller amounts. 1 Peso is further divided into 100 Centavos, in which there are more coins of varying amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ATM Withdrawals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s usually quite easy to withdraw money<\/strong> from ATMs. However, we would recommend having more than one card, just in case. For example, we always have at least one debit card (EC card) and one credit card per person. (Note on ATM card: Do not forget to disable GeoControl, otherwise the card will not work in Mexico.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ATM fee depends<\/strong> on a variety of factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. How much fee your own bank charges you<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. How much the third-party (ATM, foreign bank fee) charges. This is usually about 3 \u20ac per transaction in the Yucat\u00e1n region. (Also, depending on your type of credit card, you might be eligible to have these foreign fees refunded upon request.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Some ATMs on the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula will expel out only dollars – such as the ones on Holbox. This is something you should definitely avoid, as you then have to change those dollars into Pesos and you will lose a lot to foreign currency exchange fees and foreign banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Exchanging Money<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      There are plenty of Money Exchange Stalls, especially in the larger towns, where you can exchange Euros (or any other currency) to Mexican Pesos. Sometimes a passport is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The exchange rate is usually okay, but we recommend you to compare and do a cost-benefit analysis. Typically the exchange rate set by those Money Exchange Stalls tend to be worse than that of an ATM, but then you save on the ATM withdrawal fee. (Of course, this is obsolete if your bank waves ATM withdrawal fees.) Overall, it always depends on the individual case, whether it is cheaper to exchange money or withdraw from ATMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Additional Tip<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Big Tip:<\/strong> No matter what your Home Bank Currency is (for us it\u2019s Euros), when you withdraw money from ATM\u2019s and it prompts you to \u201cpay with your home currency (ie. Euros)\u201d and \u201caccept the ATM conversion rate\u201d – always decline!<\/strong> And always (!) pay in Local Currency (ie. Pesos in Mexico). If you accept, then you give them freedom to bump up the exchange rate in their favour so they take more money from you, without you realising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s a very sneaky trick because people are more familiar with their home currency (ie. Euros) and always tend to \u2018accept\u2019 what the ATM says for fear of a cancelled transaction if they decline. But if you decline, the transaction normally still goes through – this time at a more \u2018fair\u2019 exchange rate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Travel Costs in the Yucat\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Mexico is not an extremely cheap travel destination<\/strong>. Sure, the price level is lower than in Austria or Germany, but higher than, for example, in Southeast Asia. We personally thought that we would need less money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Of course, the actual costs always depend heavily on your travel style. From cheap Hostel beds to the expensive Eco-Resorts – you\u2019ll find everything. Especially in the more touristic places, you can spend an incredible amount of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How expensive is Yucat\u00e1n…?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n