Mexico's Yucatan and Riviera Maya: Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel, Chichen Itza Complete Guide 2026
Browse more guides: Mexico travel | North America / Americas / Caribbean destinations Mexico's Yucatan and Riviera Maya: Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel, Chichen Itza Complete Guide 2026 TL;DR I planned my Yucatan trip around three anchors: the Caribbean coast (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel), the ancient Maya interior (Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Coba, Merida), and the wild edges (Sian Ka'an Biosphere, Holbox Island). Two and a half years after the Maya Train (Tren Maya) opened on December 16, 2023, the roughly 1,500-kilometre rail network finally makes east-west travel painless, replacing three internal flights or a multi-day bus loop. The Riviera Maya runs about 130 kilometres south from Cancun to Tulum. Cancun's Zona Hotelera is a 23-kilometre L-shaped beach strip of resorts and ferry piers for Isla Mujeres. Tulum offers cliff-top Maya ruins facing turquoise water, beach clubs, and access to Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos. Playa del Carmen sits in the middle with Quinta Aveni...