Mexico’s Caribbean coastline isn’t all high-end resorts and glitzy hotels (though granted there are a fair few), you can explore ancient Mayan ruins, hop from town to town, scuba dive, feast on fresh seafood and nip into neighbouring Belize.
With cheap transport and accommodation and flights direct from London to Cancun, it’s a perfect destination for the budget traveller.
If you’re looking to explore both countries, read on for my tips for the perfect two week Mexico and Belize travel itinerary.
Best Places to Visit
In a nutshell, here’s what I’d do with two weeks in Mexico and Belize:
Cancun > Playa del Carmen > Tulum > Caye Caulker (Belize) > Tulum > Cancun
Here’s how it would work…
Cancun
Famous for the influx of some 4-million US tourists each year, Cancun is a combination of the posh resorts of Dubai, the party vibe of Las Vegas and the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. Even if it’s not exactly your thing, the glitzy city is definitely worth a visit. For a less-polished experience head to downtown Cancun for the markets, buzzing local art scene and range of budget accommodation.
For a break from the year-round ‘spring break’ vibe, hop onto a ferry for the 30-minute ride to laid-back Isla Mujeres off the coast of Cancun. The little slice of paradise offers the perfect place to chill out as well as artisan markets, cafes and a sea turtle farm.
Recommended time here: 3 days (including 1 or 2 in Isla Mujeres)
Recommended hostel: Hostel Quetzal
Getting to Playa Del Carmen: At only 70km away, it will take you around an hour to get to Playa Del Carmen. Buses (both 1st and 2nd class) leave from the bus terminal on the corner of Avs Uxmal and Tulum every 30 minutes.
Playa Del Carmen
Playa, as the locals call it, is a smaller, less busy and decidedly more European version of Cancun. The sophisticated beach town is the ideal stop-off point along the coast and is also the gateway to Isla Cozumel, Mexico’s largest island, where you can go diving and explore coral reefs made famous by Jacques Cousteau.
Recommended time here: 2 days (including 1 on Isla Cozumel)
Recommended hostel: Casa del Shiva
Getting to Tulum: Tulum is only 45 minutes away from Cancun so you can hop on a bus from Playa bus station at southern end of 5ta Avenida and Avenida Juárez (which is near the Ferry terminal to Cozumel). For a slightly cheaper alternative, flag down a colectivo van on Calle 2 between Av 10 and Av 15 – they leave every 10-15 minutes.
Tulum
The poster image of the Yucatan, Tulum boasts Mayan ruins flanked by incredible beaches (some of the country’s best) and turquoise waters. Away from the beach, the town centre is where you’ll find the cheap eats, hostels and bars packed with fellow travellers. The further away you get from Cancun, the more laid-back things become. Tulum is the perfect example of this.
Recommended time here: 2- 3 days (but you may never want to leave).
Recommended hostel: Secret Garden Tulum
Getting to Caye Caulker: You have two main options here:
Option 1: Bus to Chetumal (around 4 hours so you’ll want to get one around 8am) and then the ferry (San Pedro Water Jets Xpress) from Chetumal to Caye Caulker (it takes around 2 hours and leaves at 3pm every day).
Option 2: Bus to Chetumal (see above) and then another bus from Chetumal to Belize City (around 3 hours), followed by a water-taxi over to the islands (8 hours in total).
Caye Caulker
On Caye Caulker, there are no cars, no pollution and generally no hassles, just picture-perfect beaches, fresh seafood and some serious laid-back Caribbean vibe. But by far the biggest draw is Belize’s famous Blue Hole; a 25ft-deep sapphire-blue swimming hole inside a 328ft-wide underground cave located just off the tiny island.
Recommended time here: 3-4 days
Recommended hostel: Yuma’s House
Getting back to Cancun: If you’re flying back home from Cancun you’ll need at least a day. Buses do go straight from Belize City to Cancun (around 8 hours) but I recommend swinging by Tulum for one or two more nights for some final chill out time.
Have you been to Mexico and Belize? What did you think of your trip? Share your thoughts below. You can view also view more recommendations on my country guides:
