The Yucatán Peninsula is well suited to an unhurried road trip. Two weeks are enough for a complete loop: Valladolid and Chichén Itzá, Mérida, Uxmal and the Puuc Route, Campeche, the Calakmul rainforest and the Bacalar lagoon, starting and ending in Cancún. This guide builds on our seven-day Yucatán itinerary, which ends in Campeche, and continues south to close the loop.
- Fourteen days and thirteen nights, on a closed loop starting and ending in Cancún.
- Three nights in Campeche, the only walled city on the route, with Edzná 55 km away.
- Two nights around Xpujil for Calakmul, so the rainforest is not squeezed into a single day.
- When you enter Quintana Roo on the way to Bacalar, clocks move forward one hour.
The route leg by leg
| Days | Leg | Where to stay | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Cancún, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá and cenotes | Central Valladolid | 2 |
| 3 and 4 | Mérida | Mérida's historic center | 2 |
| 5 | Uxmal and the Puuc Route | Santa Elena or near Uxmal | 1 |
| 6, 7 and 8 | Campeche and Edzná | Inside Campeche's walls | 3 |
| 9 and 10 | Becán and Calakmul | Xpujil and surroundings | 2 |
| 11 and 12 | Bacalar | By the lagoon | 2 |
| 13 and 14 | Back to Cancún and flight home | Cancún | 1 |
No leg turns into a race: the night near Uxmal lets you start early on the Puuc Route, and two nights in the Calakmul region keep the drive and the visit on separate days. The last night, near the airport, spares you a long drive on the day of your flight; if your flight leaves late, you can spend it in Tulum or Playa del Carmen instead.
Days 1 and 2 · Valladolid, Chichén Itzá and cenotes
From the airport to Valladolid
From the city of Cancún to Valladolid it is about 158 km on the toll highway, roughly an hour and a half without stops. If you leave straight from the airport, the route is different, so check it before you set off. If your flight lands early enough for you to pick up the car and arrive in daylight, you can spend your first night in central Valladolid, a quiet colonial town, with its main square and the convent of San Bernardino a short walk away. If you land late, spend the first night in Cancún and set off the next morning, which makes the trip fifteen days.
Chichén Itzá early, a cenote in the afternoon
Chichén Itzá is about 45 km from Valladolid. The site opens at 8:00 a.m., and it pays to be there at opening, ahead of the heat and the tour groups. In addition to the INAH admission, you pay a Yucatán State Government fee at the ticket office; check the current amount on the official site page before you go. In the afternoon, a nearby cenote, a short drive away, is a good way to end the day. To choose one, our guide Campeche heading north covers the cenotes and towns of the area.
Days 3 and 4 · Mérida
From Valladolid to Mérida it is about 170 km, just under two hours without stops. Two nights give you time for the historic center, the markets and Paseo de Montejo, and for a break from the car. Mérida and Campeche complement each other well: the Yucatecan capital is large and lively, while Campeche is more intimate and best explored on foot. There is more in Visiting Campeche? Don't forget Mérida.
Day 5 · Uxmal and the Puuc Route
Uxmal deserves a day of its own
According to INAH, Uxmal is the most representative site of Puuc architecture. What stands out is the stonework: facades covered in finely carved stone mosaics, fitted piece by piece, with frets, latticework and masks of Chaac, the rain god. Look up at the Pyramid of the Magician, 32 m high, walk through the four buildings of the Nunnery Quadrangle and pause before the long facade of the Governor's Palace. Uxmal is about 81 km south of Mérida, a little over an hour's drive, and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with last entry at 3:00 p.m. As at Chichén Itzá, a Yucatán State Government fee is added to the INAH admission.
A selection from the Puuc Route
There is no need to see everything. Kabah is about 23 km from Uxmal, and Sayil and Labná are a few minutes apart. Choose two sites depending on the time of day and your energy: they are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. If you reach the route late, save them for the next morning; that is what the night in Santa Elena or near Uxmal is for. After Uxmal, our guide to Maya architecture near Campeche will help you recognize the same style at each site.
Days 6, 7 and 8 · Three nights in Campeche
From Uxmal to Campeche it is about 161 km via Santa Elena and Hecelchakán, around two hours without stops. If you visit Sayil or Labná in the morning, you can plan to reach Campeche by mid-afternoon.
Why stop here
Between Mérida and the Calakmul rainforest, Campeche is much more than a stopover. It is the only walled city on the route, and its fortified historic center has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999. It is a city to explore on foot, at an easy pace, and three nights give you time for the city, its neighborhoods and Edzná without changing where you stay. In Campeche in one day? we explain why a single day falls short.
Day 6 · Arrival and the malecón
Settle in, take a first walk inside the walls and, if you arrive in time, head down to the malecón, the seafront promenade, to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
Day 7 · Walls, bastions and neighborhoods
Spend the morning inside the walled center: the Puerta de Mar, the Puerta de Tierra and the bastions that ring the old town. In the afternoon, leave the walls for the neighborhoods of San Román and Guadalupe, with their churches and everyday local life. If you stay longer, our Campeche itinerary has more ideas.
Day 8 · Edzná and a last afternoon in the city
Edzná is 55 km away, around an hour by road. The site is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. Go in the morning and come back to the city for lunch. In the afternoon, the Fuerte de San José el Alto offers a wide view over Campeche and the sea. You will find more details for planning the outing in our Edzná guide.
Where to stay inside the walls
Casonas MX is a house hotel in Campeche's historic center: eleven places to stay in nine casonas, seven houses and four lofts, with hotel service and breakfast included. Each house is booked as a whole house with hotel service, and the same local team welcomes you in person; check-in is from 3:00 p.m. One of the houses, Casa Japa, is part of the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection. You can see them all in the collection.
Days 9 and 10 · Becán and Calakmul
From Campeche to the Calakmul region
Leave early and head south via Escárcega and Highway 186. Xpujil is about 303 km away, close to four hours without stops. In the afternoon you can visit Becán, a few kilometers from Xpujil, open until 5:00 p.m. with last entry at 4:45 p.m. Spend two nights in or around Xpujil.
A full day for Calakmul
From Xpujil to the Calakmul archaeological site it is about 116 km, including the last 60 km on the reserve's inner access road. Allow almost two hours each way, not counting the visit. For reference, the archaeological site is about 290 km from Campeche: about 230 km to the reserve entrance, then 60 km on the inner road. The site is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. The official INAH page, consulted on October 26, 2026, lists two separate charges: admission to the archaeological site, MXN 210 for foreign visitors and MXN 105 for Mexican nationals, and the fee from CONANP, the Biosphere Reserve authority, MXN 215 general and MXN 110 for Mexican nationals and foreign residents of Mexico. There may be other charges along the access road, so do not take these figures as a total cost: confirm current conditions before you set off. Bring water and leave with a full tank. Our Calakmul guide describes the visit in detail.
Days 11 and 12 · Bacalar
From Xpujil to Bacalar it is about 119 km, around an hour and a half. When you enter Quintana Roo, set your clock forward one hour. If you leave Xpujil in good time, you can enjoy the afternoon by the lagoon.
Set aside the morning of day 12 for the lagoon: if conditions allow, you can explore it by kayak or sailboat with a local operator, or simply swim from a dock. Leave the afternoon free: a stroll through town, an unhurried meal, or nothing at all, which after the rainforest is part of the trip too. The leg from Campeche, with its stops, is covered in Campeche to Bacalar.
Days 13 and 14 · Back to Cancún
From Bacalar to the city of Cancún it is about 340 km, close to four hours without stops. The route to the airport terminal is different, so check it before you set off. Keep day 13 for the drive and the car return, and sleep near the airport. If your flight leaves in the afternoon of day 14, you can spend the last night in Tulum, about 210 km from Bacalar, or in Playa del Carmen, about 272 km away.
Distances and drive times by leg
Distances and times are from the SICT official route planner, without stops or visits, except for Chichén Itzá and Edzná, which use the distances already published in our guides. The two Cancún legs were calculated to and from the city; the route to or from the airport terminal is different. Add time for each visit and a few breaks.
| Leg | Distance | Time without stops |
|---|---|---|
| Cancún (city) → Valladolid | 158 km | 1 hr 31 min |
| Valladolid → Chichén Itzá | 45 km each way | |
| Valladolid → Mérida | 170 km | 1 hr 53 min |
| Mérida → Uxmal | 81 km | 1 hr 18 min |
| Uxmal → Kabah | 23 km | 17 min |
| Uxmal → Campeche, via Santa Elena and Hecelchakán | 161 km | 2 hr 10 min |
| Campeche → Edzná | 55 km each way | about 1 hr |
| Campeche → Xpujil, via Escárcega | 303 km | 3 hr 47 min |
| Xpujil → Calakmul archaeological site | 116 km | 1 hr 42 min |
| Campeche → Calakmul archaeological site (reference) | 290 km, including 230 km to the reserve entrance | 3 hr 58 min |
| Xpujil → Bacalar | 119 km | 1 hr 28 min |
| Bacalar → Cancún (city) | 340 km | 3 hr 58 min |
What to book ahead
- The car, including its airport return conditions.
- The three nights in Campeche and the two around Xpujil.
- In high season, your accommodation in Valladolid and Bacalar.
- For the archaeological sites, arrive first thing and check the official INAH pages, which list opening hours and fees.
Two variations on the loop
Three weeks, with Palenque
With an extra week, you can give each base more time and add Palenque, in Chiapas. From Campeche to Palenque it is about 362 km, around four and a half hours without stops; you can also take the Tren Maya (Maya Train). The archaeological site is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m., and tickets are sold at its Visitor Center. Before you go, read the official advisories: the U.S. Department of State keeps Chiapas at Level 3, "reconsider travel," and France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs advises against Highway 199 between Palenque and San Cristóbal de las Casas unless strictly necessary.
Without a car: Tren Maya and bus
Much of the loop can be done on the Tren Maya, which links Cancún Aeropuerto, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá, Mérida Teya, San Francisco de Campeche and Palenque, and also reaches Xpujil, Calakmul and Bacalar. Uxmal and the Puuc Route are outside the rail network: for those legs, check bus options on the official ADO system or book a tour. Always allow for the transfer between each station and the town center. We cover this in our 10-day Maya Train itinerary and in our guide to getting to Campeche on the Tren Maya.
FOR THIS TRIP
Your home for these three nights
You have a route. Now choose the door you would like to open when you come back.
Casonas MX is a house hotel in Campeche, Mexico: a boutique collection of seven heritage homes and four contemporary lofts inside the historic walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The main booking format is the complete home or loft, combining the privacy of a home with hotel services and one local hospitality team.
Explore the collection with your travel companions and the kind of stay you want in mind. Tell us your dates and the number of guests: our team will help you choose the right home for your stay in Campeche.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to travel around the Yucatán Peninsula?
Two weeks are enough for the full loop at an easy pace, with two nights in the main cities, three in Campeche and two in the Calakmul region. With one week, our seven-day itinerary reaches Campeche. With three weeks, you can add Palenque.
Is it safe to drive around the peninsula?
Yucatán is Mexico's most peaceful state according to the Mexico Peace Index 2026, and Campeche ranks fifth. The U.S. Department of State places Campeche and Yucatán at Level 1, "exercise normal precautions," and Quintana Roo at Level 2. France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs recommends not driving at night in Mexico. Plan the long legs in daylight.
When is the best time for this road trip?
From November to April, as we explain in when to visit Campeche. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center; if you travel in those months, check the advisories before each leg.
Can you include Calakmul before continuing to Bacalar?
Yes, if you give it two nights around Xpujil. The last stretch to the archaeological site is a 60 km inner road through the reserve, and the site is explored on foot. A same-day round trip from Campeche, about 290 km each way, is possible, but very long.
Can you do a similar route without a car?
Largely, yes, by combining the Tren Maya and the bus. Uxmal and the Puuc Route are outside the rail network, and every station requires a transfer to the town center. We explain how in our 10-day Maya Train itinerary.
