Riviera Maya: Best 1-week Itinerary With Nice Day Trips

If you’re dreaming of a perfect 1-week trip to the Riviera Maya, you’re in the right place. As someone who has explored this breathtaking region extensively, I know exactly how to maximize your time between white-sand beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, and stunning cenotes.

This itinerary is packed with must-visit destinations, including Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Chichén Itzá, along with incredible day trips to hidden gems.

The Riviera Maya stretches along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, offering a mix of adventure, relaxation, and cultural experiences. Whether you’re into snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, exploring underground cenotes, or savoring authentic Yucatán cuisine, this guide will help you plan the ultimate getaway. I’ll also share insider travel tips on the best times to visit, how to get around efficiently, and where to find the most breathtaking views.

With this expertly crafted itinerary, you’ll experience the best of the Riviera Maya without the stress of figuring it out on the go. Expect a perfect balance of historic landmarks, stunning beaches, and vibrant local culture. Ready to dive into a week of unforgettable adventures? Let’s get started with the ultimate Riviera Maya itinerary.

1-week route through the Riviera Maya

Ready to explore the Riviera Maya? This itinerary is designed to be done either independently by renting a car or with excursions , you choose: both options are valid and completely accessible to anyone.

⭐ Here we tell you how to rent a car and drive safely in Mexico .

Now, let's start our 1-week route through the Riviera Maya :

Days 1 and 2
– Valladolid, Suytun cenote and Chichén Itzá –

After arriving at Cancun airport (we understand that this will be the chosen option to get to Mexico) and renting the car there, we will head towards the beautiful city of Valladolid , about 160 km away, where we will spend the first two days .

The first of them, for acclimatization, we will take advantage of to get to know the city and see some of its main attractions, such as the Central Plaza, the Church of San Servacio or the Franciscan Convent of San Bernardino de Siena (where at 9 pm they put on a nighttime light and color show that is a must). It will also be the day when we have our first contact with Mexican cuisine .

→ Here we tell you 20 things to see and do in Valladolid
→ We stayed at Casa Sisal

The second day will be one of the most unforgettable of the trip. In the morning we will visit Chichén Itzá , one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and the most famous and spectacular Mayan ruins of the Riviera Maya.

And in the afternoon, a great plan: a few hours of relaxation in the Suytun cenote , undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and impressive in this entire area (and there are quite a few ). Entry in 2021 costs $150 (about €6).

Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here . Whatever your destination, save yourself trouble and don't take any chances.

Chichen Itza Mexico

Day 3
– Bacalar Lagoon –

Don't stay up late because we have a few hours of road ahead of us. There are approximately 265 km separating Valladolid from Bacalar, but you'll see that it will be worth it, because there another highlight of the Riviera Maya awaits us: the Bacalar Lagoon .

Also known as the lagoon of the 7 colors , there we will spend a day of total aquatic activities: sailing on a sailboat or rowing on a kayak, bathing in its crystal-clear waters, snorkeling around a 180-meter-deep cenote... Believe us, the Bacalar Lagoon is amazing, and it became one of the best surprises of our trip.

Ideally, you should arrive around 12 noon so you have the whole afternoon to visit the lagoon. Here are some experiences you can book online:

Sunset boat tour
Paddle Surfing excursion around the lagoon
Kayak rental

→ This is our guide to visiting the Bacalar Lagoon
→ We stayed at the Tribu Hotel

Bacalar Lagoon Mexico

More activities

Days 4 and 5
– Tulum (cenote, ruins and beach) –

We leave behind the paradisiacal Bacalar Lagoon to return to the Riviera Maya coast and visit one of its most famous and fashionable enclaves: Tulum . The day on the road will not be very tiring, as we will have to travel approximately 215 km.

And what can we do in Tulum? The main thing is to make time to visit the archaeological zone of Tulum , the only Mayan ruins overlooking the sea. But Tulum is also synonymous with the beach (if you don't get caught in the sargassum days, you can swim in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean that made this coast so famous), stay in a boutique hotel (probably the best in the entire Riviera Maya are here) and explore the surroundings (there are a few striking cenotes , such as the Gran Cenote, the Zacil Ha, or the Dos Ojos).

And if you want to see more ruins, the ancient Mayan city of Cobá is nearby , which you can visit on your own or on comfortable excursions like this one . The more relaxing alternative is to visit the ruins of Tulum and spend the rest of the time lying around… which tastes even better on the white sands of its beaches.

→ Here we tell you everything to see and do in Tulum
→ We stayed at the Solera Tulum

Cenote Mexico

Days 6 and 7
– Island: you choose –

The last 2 days of this week-long Riviera Maya route will be spent in style on an island. How does that sound? You're probably already getting excited, but you have to do your part, because you're going to have to choose which island you want to visit. The selection is initially reduced to two: Isla Mujeres and Cozumel .

♦ Cozumel : From Tulum you can get to Playa del Carmen in no time , where the ferries to the island leave from (40 minutes, around €20 round trip). The main reason for choosing this island will be to see the “ sky of Cozumel ”, a famous snorkelling area full of starfish. But on the rest of the island, which is quite large, there are other surprises such as the ruins of San Gervasio and the Royal Castle , or very beautiful beaches such as those on Isla Pasión . We tell you everything there is to do in Cozumel .

♦ Isla Mujeres : one of the most famous and beloved islands, where the typical way to get around is to use a golf cart 🙂 Isla Mujeres is a combination of beautiful beaches , urban art , gastronomy (oh, those ceviches) and it is just a stone's throw from Cancun (there are several ports from which ferries leave for Isla Mujeres, they take about 20 minutes and cost about €15 round trip). In other words, getting to the airport from here is very easy. Here is our travel guide to Isla Mujeres .

→ More information about ferries to the islands

We love Holbox Island , but it is quite far from Tulum and the road is bad. In addition , Holbox is the typical destination that is enjoyed quietly and by taking daily excursions (whale sharks, snorkeling, Punta Mosquito…). Therefore, we would not recommend it for a 1-week route through the Riviera Maya. And even less so for a day trip: you will spend about 6 hours on the road, between going and coming back, and you will only be on the island for a handful of hours, which only give you time to take a swim and wander around the town.

If the island plan doesn't really appeal to you (you're sooo weird!) you can add a day to Bacalar, or even end the trip by treating yourself to a Cancun resort . There will be people who think that visiting the Riviera Maya without visiting Cancun is a waste of time. It's not our favorite place, but hey, it's not a bad place either.

Best Tours & Activities

Isla Mujeres

What if you don't want to rent a car?

You may not have a driving license or you simply don't feel like taking on the responsibility of driving through a country you don't know. No problem. The route we suggest can also be done by bus or, even better considering the "little time" we have, with daily excursions .

In this case we recommend you base yourself in Tulum , the most central area of our route, and spend 3 or 4 days on these excursions:

Chichen Itza + sacred cenote
Bacalar Lagoon
Cozumel or Islas Mujeres

The trip will cost you a little more, but you will return having seen some of the most interesting places in the Riviera Maya.

Do you have more time? 3-week route through the Yucatan Peninsula

Well, that's perfect! As we've already told you, the ideal would be to have 3 weeks to visit (almost) all the main sites in this area of Mexico, and extend the trip to other more distant points of the Yucatan Peninsula. In this post we share our 3-week itinerary for the Yucatan Peninsula and here you have the top 20 places to visit .

If you want more information, take a look at our tips for traveling to Mexico (and not screwing it up)

We hope our 1-week itinerary around the Riviera Maya helps you plan your trip. And you know what: you're encouraged to rent a stroller and explore this beautiful region at your leisure. We have felt very safe at all times and we are looking forward to returning to Mexico, we bet you will love it too.

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