Cancun to Merida Drive: The Family Road Trip
Updated: 6 days ago
Explore colorful Colonial villages, climb ancient ruins, discover new flavors and push your boundaries inland to the Yucatan's lesser visited sites. Whether staying in mid-range hotels or in more opulent Haciendas, this trip is perfect for families and Foodies.
We discovered, with my toddler in tow, that this trip was not only safe, but very accessible for families with children. Even better, there was plenty of shopping, cultural immersion, history to be learned, and the best yet? THE FOOD. Explore all of it with me on this perfect itinerary from Cancun to Merida with stops in Valladolid, Izamal and more.
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Stop 1: Cancun Area - Riviera Maya
The first few days of any good road trip from Cancun to Merida require dipping your toes in the high end resort pool and getting acclimated to the culture change from home.
Arriving at either Cancun airport, a perfect first (or last) stop near the airport is to have lunch in Puerto Morelos.
We enjoyed El Pesquero Restaurant, about 25 minutes south of the airport on the road towards Tulum. With parking, toes in the sand dining, and fresh ceviche, it was a slam dunk for a starting meal in Mexico.
Even better - my daughter had the whole restaurant as a sandbox, and there was a playground too!
Where to Stay in Cancun Area
Stay at the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya - one of the newer Hiltons in the area featuring multiple pools, sea view rooms, a kids club and many restaurants.
Enjoy luxurious surrounds while sipping a mezcal cocktail, try some sushi at their sushi bar restaurant, or maybe even some upper crust cuisine from the Yucatan in their full service restaurant.
Things to Do in Cancun Area
I've rounded up a list of my favorite Cancun bucket list adventures here, but namely you'll want to enjoy whale shark encounters or snorkeling with sea turtles, lunching on the waterfront, evening boat rides at Xochimilco, and just across the street from the Conrad, enjoy the Aktun Chen cave tour! A "dry cenote", this cave tour is a great option for families who aren't interested in water sports or swimming in cenotes all day.
Stop 2: Coba and Valladolid
Continuing the road trip, the next stop includes a day of touring ancient Mayan ruins, and the afternoon in a colorful colonial city.
Coba Ruins
This ancient Mayan complex is one of the hidden gems of the Yucatan, and worth learning more about Coba Ruins here.
You'll find a fun day spent here riding a bicycle or tuk tuk through the forest, exploring Mayan ruins, learning about Mayan culture, and enjoying nearby food and craft vendors.
Valladolid Sites
Full of colonial charm, this city offers a different view of life in the Yucatan. While still busy, you will find mostly French tourists here and a notable lack of ostentatious Americans looking to get wasted.
Stroll picturesque Calzada de los Frailes to the Convento de San Bernardino or pop into the many shops along the way.
Stop at local merchants and try the Mayan honey you may have learned about in your visit to the Coba ruins. Or, learn more about the bees on an educational tour to Xkopek, which includes lunch and honey tasting.
If you are on time (they have odd/early hours), visit the Mercado Municipal - next to Cenote Zaci. Here you can have a cold beer at Restaurante Zaci while you watch visitors tiptoe into the cenote's waters below.
Tour lovers can optionally hire a guide for the day to show them around town as well.
Where to Stay in Valladolid
Casa Tia Micha, around $100 USD a night for a double, includes a great breakfast. Pay in cash and get a discount!
We loved the convenience to the center of town, the comfortable and clean rooms, and the morning surprises at the breakfast table were quite nice.
Don't Miss: Dinner at Ix Cat Ik
No visit to Valladolid would be complete with stopping in for dinner at Ix Cat Ik for traditional mayan cuisine featuring the xcatic pepper.
Make a reservation well in advance online and bring cash, as when we went they did not accept cards. Expect an all out feast of new flavors to ignite your senses, and if you're lucky, a tour from the owner to explain all of the Mayan flavors that have gone into the food.
Stop 3: Ek Balam and Izamal
Ek Balam
Similar in size to a day out at Coba, visitors to this region will want to make sure they stop at Ek Balam for its incredible structures.
Carvings, pyramids and more wonders await, making those who go there feel like they've stepped onto a set of Indiana Jones. In fact, the jaguar carvings at this location are so famous, we saw the re-creation of them in a museum in Merida.
For ancient ruins, these were quite unique and enjoyable to see.
Explore Izamal
Coined "The Yellow City", the idyllic backdrop will have photographers marveling at the wash of amarillo all over the buildings in this town. Vibrant and festive, you'll want to come for the photos but stay for the small town feel.
Enjoy some elote (street corn) from a vendor outside the Convento de San Antonio de Padua (worth a walk through and it's free!), or take a horse drawn carriage around the streets.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at Kinich Restaurant, specializing in regional and Mayan dishes. Make a reservation online and make a note to try the chorizo appetizer and sopa de limon. If you are a gin fan, try and take home some Katun Gin!
Where to Stay in Izamal
Stay at the beautifully restored Hacienda Sacnicte, around $112 USD including breakfast.
Enjoy the pool and have a meal at the al fresco restaurant. The food at Hacienda Sacnicte is outstanding - be sure to save room for a bottle of wine, raw tuna appetizer and pasta. All absolutely wonderful and one of the best meals of your trip to be sure!
For other Hacienda stays in the Yucatan, visit my round up of Best Haciendas Near Merida, which is just an hour from Izamal.
Stop 4: Merida
Because Merida in itself is such an incredible place to visit, it's hard to note just how long to stay. Our first visit was just for a night or two, and we loved it so much that we went back for another week and a half a few years later.
For a first visit, focus on the city proper - but don't go in the warm summer months, the heat is truly brutal. Save those hot months for the beach towns near Merida.
Merida Sites
Colonial and slightly upmarket, Merida may surprise you. I found Merida to be heavily influenced by European architecture, and that the 'main drag' by our hotel was a lively and posh place to be.
Walk down the Paseo de Montejo and explore the towns' many markets and museums, and make time for a horse and carriage ride if you see one plopping about!
Where to Stay in Merida
Haciendas are plentiful in this area, but if you like to use points like me, the Marriott branded Rosas & Xocolate cost me only 35,000 points for a one night stay in the heart of town, including breakfast.
Where to Shop and Eat in Merida
Stop into the Posheria for a coffee and Pox (posh) drink, a favorite ancient elixir many do not know about. You'll want to take home several bottles.
Enjoy lunch at El Nuevo Tucho Centro, a family friendly mid range restaurant serving huge meat plates and ice cold beer. Live entertainment and great service make this place a win for ducking away from the Merida heat.
For dinner, we tried the pizza restaurant across from Rosas & Xocolate called Trattoria La Pasta Montejo. With streetside dining we enjoyed people watching and great food. This has aactually become a family favorite that we have gone to several times now!
Stop 5: Playa del Carmen
A three hour drive from Merida and a one hour drive back to Cancun's airport, Playa del Carmen is a good home base for your final night's stay in the Yucatan.
Basically bourbon street, this is going to be the only taste of Cancun that you need to feel like you've properly seen Cancun.
Enjoy strolling the main drag - shopping and eating or drinking is the main event, so pick whatever floats your boat and have fun!
We stayed at The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton, which included an average to poor breakfast (especially after all the homemade goodies we got elsewhere!) but a great rooftop pool.
Driving From Cancun to Merida: A Few Thoughts To Consider Before Your Trip
Safety
Everyone's biggest concern - safety. From my experience, the journey was extremely safe. Roads, other than the numerous tope's (speed bumps) were well built and easily navigable. Many tope's are unmarked, so just be aware.
In some parking situations, be mindful that paying to park is essentially paying for someone to look after your car. It's worth it. Be aware some children may offer to watch your car for a fee. This is not the same as an organized car park and you should not pay these children.
Facilities Along the Road
The major roads have an occasional central median plaza for eats, restrooms and gas. Stop when you see one because there may not be many other off-road opportunities. They are clean and safe and often have very delicious offerings (not to mention cheap souvenirs!).
Rental Car Concerns
Beware that getting your car is a time consuming process. First you will be shuttled to a clean facility with a waiting room where you may speak to a rental desk agent.
Next, they will shuffle you from their desk to a confusing upsell desk. This person works for the Xcaret group and will try to get you to buy into some tours. They will start by asking you about your itinerary and they'll pull out a map, so you think it's car rental related. It's not. Politely ask to move on.
Next, you'll talk to the outside agent and show them your paperwork. You'll be asked to sit in another waiting area while your car arrives for you.
Be sure to video and photograph any issues with the car, including scratches, dents and interior issues as well.
You are now ready for your Cancun to Merida road trip!
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