Riviera Maya & Philadelphia
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itinerary
Riviera Maya & Philadelphia
Day 1
Make it a short working week and fly out on a Thursday. To avoid sky high direct air fares to Cancun, break up your flight with a pit stop in the US. Often a lot cheaper to fly to and from (for onward travel), New York offers a great stop for transatlantic travel.
Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson
This hotel offers skyline views of Manhattan from most of its rooms, and sits on a waterfront promenade where you can enjoy the view.
Tip: New York airports are quite far out of Manhattan, so if your pit stop is a quick one, why not base yourself in Queens for JFK and Jersey/ Hoboken for Newark. Some of these places offer stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.
If your flight is not too early the next day, try these spots for coffee.
Days 2-3
Cancun! Catch a flight to Cancun to start the main part of your holiday.
Check into an all inclusive resort for the next 2 nights.
Day 4
DAY 3
Feeling refreshed and catered to, check out of your all inclusive hotel ready to explore a different side to Riviera Maya.
Head to another one of the coastal towns in the Yucatan Peninsula:
Tip: Use the ADO Bus system to get around which is much cheaper than taxis. Times above are for bus journeys, direct transfers may be quicker.
For this itinerary, we headed to Tulum as the bus service was more frequent.
A few other options in Tulum are below, some beachside and some in the town centre:
Tulum
~2.5 hours from Cancun
Puerto Murelos
~50 mins from Cancun
Akumal
~1h 50 mins from Cancun
Isla Holbox
~3 hours from Cancun. Bus to Chiquila then ferry to Isla Holbox.
Bacalar
~6 hours from Cancun. Non coastal - freshwater lagoon.
Located in Parque Nacional Tulum, on Playa Pariaso, this glamping and treehouse style hotel offers a quiet place to unwind and close access to Playa Ruinas.
Day 5
Free day in your chosen location. This itinerary explores Tulum.
Enjoy the relaxed vibes of Tulum. Many of the hotels offer a boutique experience including yoga and meditation during the day and authentic food, drinks, and beach parties by night, so if this is all you're after, spend the day enjoying your accomodation.
However, if you want to get out and explore, here are some things you can do in Tulum:
Playa Ruinas
Gran Cenote, Dos Ojos Cenote
Airbnb experiences, Viator tours including ATV, Ziplining, Snorkelling, Cooking Class & more.
Day 6
On Day 6, say goodbye to Tulum and head back to the ADO Bus Terminal to catch a bus to Valladolid.
The end destination for Day 6 is Merida (the capital of the Yucatan), but you'll stop in Valladolid to break up the journey and explore some of the best cenotes (swimming holes) the Yucatan Peninsula has to offer.
Note: What is a cenote? A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. The term originated on the Yucatan Pensinsula of Mexico, where cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya.
Arriving at Valladolid ADO Bus Terminal, you have plenty of bike rental/ scooter rental places nearby as you'll want a bike/scooter to access some of the cenotes just outsides of town.
Ko'ox Balak Car & Scooter Rental
Tip: there are plenty of very cheap but good quality hotels in Valladolid which you may consider booking just for a few hours to have somewhere to leave your bags, and to freshen up after cenote swimming.
Cenote Zaci
This cenote is right in the centre of Valladolid and can be accessed by foot.
Cenote Samula
Cenote Xkeken
Valladolid is also approximately 45 mins from the world famous Chichen Itza which is worth a visit from either Valladolid or Merida. However Wander Woman Travel recommends other Mayan ruins across Mexico instead (on another trip) such as Teotihuacan and Palenque.
After a refreshing swim in the majestic cenotes, head to your hotel to freshen up, before heading back to the ADO Bus Terminal for onward travel to Merida.
You'll arrive in Merida quite late and may have time for a late dinner, drinks, before a well-earned nights rest.
Note: This tour is timed to arrive in Merida during Dia de los Muertos in Mexico or Hanal Pixan as known in the Yucatan. Therefore you'll be able to see performances, get your face painted, see offerendas being set up, and generally soak up the magical Dia de Muertos atmosphere.
Live music & rooftop bar
Day 7
After a busy day yesterday, you may want to have a slow morning, waking up to the sounds of downtown Merida.
There is nothing set in stone on the agenda today, except catching a bus back to Cancun at anytime you choose. So take the day at your leisure, and try some of the following:
Coffee & breakfast:
Manifesto (Centro)
Lunch:
Things to do:
Los Dos cooking or tasting class
Explore the historical centro
Join a walking tour
Visit more cenotes!
Head to the ADO Bus Terminal at your leisure and catch a bus back to Cancun.
As the bus journey is approximately 4-5 hours, you will likely arrive in Cancun fairly late and so a downtown hotel may be a better option than a beachside one.
Day 8
On Day 9, say goodbye to the cultural wonder that is Mexico, and catch a flight to Philadelphia.
Tip: Using the US as a stopover for travel to Latin America is a good way of breaking up your journey and squeezing in another destination. We picked Philly for this itinerary - guided by a basketball game scheduled for our day of arrival, but other US cities offering great connecting flights include: New York, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Orlando.
Arrive in Philly and after checking into your hotel, head straight for a lively NBA game. Or if preferred, try an NFL or NBL game instead.
Philadelphia 76ers NBA tickets
Philadelphia Eagles NFL tickets
Philadelphia Phillies NBL tickets
If sports isn't your thing, not to worry, there's plenty to do, eat, and drink in Philly:
Rocky Steps & Statue
Reading Terminal Market
Day 9
After a busy night in Philly, refuel this morning with coffee and breakfast at one these cafes:
You may have time to walk around and explore or even grab some food at one of the city's many eateries before catching a train to New York for your flight back home tonight.
Take a train from 30th Street Station in Philly to Penn Street Station in New York. The prices range from as little as £9 to £100 depending on the time you want. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours and can be booked in advance on Omio. Choose your time depending on whether you want some additional time in Philadelphia or NYC that day, before flying home.