Discover The Southeast Of Mexico With This 15-day Route

Are you planning a trip to Mexico and don’t want to limit yourself to enjoying the fabulous beaches of Cancun? We propose a route through the southeast of Mexico, a good way to make the most of your stay there. Ready for adventure?

A perfect route to explore southeastern Mexico

Keep in mind that, although the route is designed to take about 15 days, you are free to modify it to your liking. The important thing is that you are aware that near Cancun there are incredible places that you cannot miss if you travel to Mexico. Let’s discover them.

1. Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel

After arriving at the Cancun International Airport, go to Playa del Carmen, where you will stay. From Playa del Carmen you can take interesting excursions, such as going by ferry to Isla Mujeres or Cozumel, another of the islands.

In both places you can admire paradisiacal beaches and in Cozumel you can dive. An unbeatable way to overcome jet lag . In addition to these islands, we recommend taking a day trip to Chicén Itzá and the Ik-kil cenote.

2. Chichen Itza and Ik-Kil cenote

Located near the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, they say that the Ik-Kil cenote is the most beautiful in the country. You can swim in its waters, yes, after going down the 26 meters that there are until them.

For its part, Chichén Itzá is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the country. Heart of the Mayan Empire, its pyramid is the great attraction. Essential visit in the southeast of Mexico.

3. Xpujil, Calakmul and Balamkú

Now we are leaving Cancun. Travel by bus to Xpujil and stay there. From this town, you can travel to the Mayan archaeological site of Calakmul. In its day,  Calakmul was one of the most powerful cities of the Mayan Empire.

Balamkú, for its part, is a small Mayan site that was recently discovered in 1990. The large polychrome stucco frieze stands out, exceptional in Mayan sites and one of the largest that have been recovered.

4. Villahermosa, the archaeological zone of Comalcalco and the Hacienda Jesús María

The next stop on the route through southeastern Mexico is Villahermosa. From there you can go to the archaeological zone of Comalcalco. In Comacalco there is also the Hacienda Cacaotera Jesús María, where you can discover the history and origins of chocolate.

5. Veracruz

In Veracruz you will find a wide repertoire of places to visit. Once you have toured the city, you can take an excursion to the  El Tajín archaeological site and the municipalities of Papantla or La Antigua. Or, if you prefer, you can continue to the next destination, Chiapas.

6. Chiapas and the Sumidero canyon

Without a doubt, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state of Chiapas is the Sumidero Canyon. It is a narrow canyon of great depth, located 5 km from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital.

Its walls rise more than 1,300 meters above the waters of the Grijalva River. We recommend hiring a guided tour that includes the boat route and a visit to the Chicoasen dam and the viewpoints of the canyon.

7. San Cristóbal de las Casas, the Nahá Ecotourism Center and the Welib Há waterfall

From San Cristóbal de las Casas, you can travel to Nahá. It is a small community located in the northern part of the Lacandon Jungle. This community, which preserves cultural features, customs and ancient traditions, lives in a protected natural area that you cannot miss if you are in the area.

If you have time to spare, don’t forget to take a look at another star destination in the area. In the middle of the jungle is the Welib Há waterfall, whose waters are an impressive turquoise blue. The perfect place to have a picnic and enjoy this natural enclave.

8. Mérida, Uxmal archaeological zone and X’batún cenote

Uxmal is an ancient Mayan city and one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It is located 62 kilometers from Merida, so it can be easily reached.

On the way from Mérida to Uxmal, you will find the cenote X’batún, the perfect place to take a bath and relax after the excursion to Uxmal. For this reason, we recommend you visit it on your return so you can rest before returning to the hustle and bustle of the city.

And, if you have time to spare …

If you have time to spare, we recommend you stop by Tulum  and visit the Gran Cenote and the archaeological zone of Tulum. And, of course, take an excursion to Punta Allen. Afterwards, you can return to Cancun having explored the most impressive places in the southeast of Mexico.