17 days in Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary

Few destinations in Mexico dazzle visitors quite like Cancun, a modern resort town filled with glitzy hotels sitting on picturesque and well-developed Caribbean beaches.

Cancun is known for nightlife, wildlife, and adventure. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: buy something for everyone on your list at La Isla Shopping Village, stop by Tattoo Studio Henna, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Catedral de la Santisima Trinidad, and find your balance on the water with some of the best stand-up paddleboarding in the area.

For traveler tips and more tourist information, read our Cancun journey planning app.

Sydney, Australia to Cancun is an approximately 24.5-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Sydney to Cancun is minus 15 hours. Expect a daytime high around 32°C in February, and nighttime lows around 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Playa del Carmen.

The tourist hub of the popular Mayan Riviera, upscale Playa del Carmen remains the jewel of Mexico's Caribbean coastline.

Spend the 10th (Fri) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. And it doesn't end there: find something for the whole family at Xcaret, kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, don't miss a visit to Quinta Avenida, and head outdoors with Outdoor Activities.

For traveler tips, reviews, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Playa del Carmen trip planner.

Getting from Cancun to Playa del Carmen by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. February in Playa del Carmen sees daily highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Tulum.

The only Mayan site built to overlook the ocean, Tulum remains a coastal paradise preserving the last vestiges of a pre-Hispanic civilization.

On the 10th (Fri), stop by Amore Latino Tulum. On the 11th (Sat), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, then don't miss a visit to Tulum Tower, then explore the ancient world of Tulum Archaeological Site, and finally see the interesting displays at Mystika Immersive.

For where to stay, maps, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Tulum road trip planning website.

Drive from Playa del Carmen to Tulum in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. February in Tulum sees daily highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Merida.

Yucatan's busy capital, Merida remains a mid-sized urban center offering an impressive list of cultural activities, eclectic nightlife, and a chance to see tropical examples of French and Italian architecture.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Mon): admire the masterpieces at Museo Fernando Garcia Ponce Macay, then contemplate the long history of Mayapan Archaeological Zone, and then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Iglesia de Jesus.

Start your trip to Merida by creating a personalized itinerary on Inspirock.

Traveling by car from Tulum to Merida takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Traveling from Tulum in February, you will find days in Merida are a bit warmer (38°C), and nights are about the same (22°C). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Mon) early enough to travel to Isla Mujeres.

Tiny municipal seat of an eponymous island, each season Isla Mujeres swells to bursting with international tourists coming here to swim, snorkel, dive, fish, and sail.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Tue): enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Norte, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Capilla de Guadalupe, and then explore the ancient world of Punta Sur.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Isla Mujeres trip maker website.

Getting from Merida to Isla Mujeres by combination of flight and ferry takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of bus and ferry. While traveling from Merida, expect slightly colder days and about the same nights in Isla Mujeres, ranging from highs of 32°C to lows of 23°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Tue) so you can travel to Chichen Itza.

Featuring the largest archeological site of the ancient Mayan civilization, Chichen Itza remains one of the most visited tourist destinations in Mexico.

Start off your visit on the 15th (Wed): delve into the distant past at Chichen Itza, contemplate the waterfront views at Cenote Ik kil, and then explore the ancient world of Las Monjas.

For maps, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Chichen Itza trip itinerary builder website.

Traveling by combination of ferry and bus from Isla Mujeres to Chichen Itza takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and car; or do a combination of ferry and bus. Traveling from Isla Mujeres in February, things will get a bit warmer in Chichen Itza: highs are around 36°C and lows about 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Wed) early enough to drive to Bacalar.

Bacalar is the municipal seat and largest city in Bacalar Municipality (until 2011 a part of Othón P. Blanco Municipality) in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, about 40km north of Chetumal, at 18° 40' 37" N, 88° 23' 43" W. In the 2010 census the city had a population of 11,084 people. On the 16th (Thu), get a taste of life in the country at Num Ka'an Ranch and then explore the activities along Lake Bacalar.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Bacalar sightseeing app.

Traveling by car from Chichen Itza to Bacalar takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Traveling from Chichen Itza in February, Bacalar is a bit cooler at night with lows of 23°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Thu) so you can travel to Cozumel.

Thanks to the island's outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling options, Cozumel tourism sector remains a major employer and the main source of income for this Caribbean getaway.

Spend the 18th (Sat) in the pleasant surroundings of Cozumel Pearl Farm. There's still lots to do: see some colorful creatures with a scuba or snorkeling tour, learn more about the world around you at Museo de la Isla de Cozumel, look for gifts at Cozumel Black Pearl, and play a few rounds at Cozumel Country Club.

To see where to stay, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Cozumel planning tool.

Getting from Bacalar to Cozumel by combination of car and ferry takes about 5.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and ferry; or fly. Traveling from Bacalar in February, you will find days in Cozumel are a bit cooler (31°C), and nights are about the same (21°C). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Sun) early enough to fly back home.