Colin & Angela
With friends & family

Tulum, Valladolid and the Cenotes of the Yucatán

Five days in Mexico's Yucatán: Tulum's beach clubs and hammocks, a road trip to Valladolid to swim in cenotes, and a catamaran day on the Caribbean.

Quintana Roo & Yucatán, Mexico · Dec 3 – 8, 2020 · by Angela

A deep open-air cenote with vines hanging down to swimmers far below

In December 2020 we escaped to the Yucatán with friends for five days of beaches, cenotes and a lot of sunshine. It was a pandemic-era trip, masks and all, and we spent almost the whole time outside.

Route
Cancún → Tulum → Valladolid and the cenotes → the Riviera Maya coast
How long
5 days
Best for
A warm December getaway with friends

Tulum

Tulum is all about the beach: hammocks over white sand, bright turquoise surf and beach clubs tucked into the jungle.

A woman in a sun hat lounging in a hammock above white sand and turquoise sea
Hammock time in Tulum
A yellow road sign reading Love Yourself on a sandy beach path under palmsA couple taking a selfie by the sea, one pulling down a face mask

Valladolid and the cenotes

The best day was a road trip inland to Valladolid, a van full of friends chasing cenotes. These are natural sinkholes full of clear, cool water. One was open to the sky with vines hanging all the way down to the water. Another was a cave with stalactites and a stone platform in the middle of emerald water.

A cave cenote with stalactites and a round stone platform in emerald water
Underground swimming pool, nature edition
A deep open cenote with hanging vines and swimmers in the water belowA group of smiling friends packed into a van on a road tripA hand holding up a champagne bottle on a white-sand beach with palms

The Riviera Maya coast

We finished on the coast: leaning palm trees, bean-bag loungers on the sand, a villa with a pool, and a catamaran day on turquoise water.

Two coconut palms leaning over white sand and turquoise water
Screensaver, but real
Bean-bag loungers on a sandy beach under palm treesA villa living room opening through glass doors to a pool and palm treesA woman in a black dress lounging on a catamaran net beside the sailPalm trees shading a quiet white-sand beach by the sea

Yucatán tips

  • Rent a car for the cenotes. Valladolid is about 1.5 hours from Tulum.
  • Go to the cenotes early before the tour buses arrive.
  • Skip sunscreen before swimming in cenotes. Most ask you to rinse off to protect the water.
  • Bring pesos for entry fees and parking.

We keep coming back to this coast. Read the Riviera Maya, four ways.

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