The Hidden Yucatán: Mayan Wonders, Quiet Beaches & Local Gems

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Anything I have chosen to add on post-trip, I will put in bold.

Tips, tricks, hacks, and big expenses for this entire trip are all listed on the bottom

Watch my Yucatan Peninsula TikTok linked above!

Friday, April 3

Arrive at Dulles at 1:30pm (park car and getting to the correct terminal)
- Dulles Parking
- $15 per day
Flight departs at 4:50pm from Dulles, arrive in Mexico City at 7:55pm
Dinner spots
- Modelo Cocina Urbana ($10-$20)
- Many other options, but this one looks like the best ^
Stay in airport Pods this Friday night
- It is on the ground floor, near the bus terminal. (ask staff for directions if need be)
- Our flight got delayed until the following morning a few months before the trip, so we had to improvise and buy airport pods to get some sleep. We debated going into Mexico City, but with only a 12 hour layover going through the middle of the night, we would essentially be going through a huge hassle just to sleep in Mexico City. This was also around the time when cartel activity was on the rise, and we did not want to put our wives at risk!
- The pods were located right outside of baggage claim where the bus terminal was located (out and to the right) Once arriving at the bus terminal, we simply walked up some stairs, and arrived at the pods. If you get confused just plug it into Google Maps!
- The pods were honestly super cool and futuristic. I did not get the best of sleep that night, but they were not claustrophobic, had a good fan to keep me from getting hot, and the they did a phenomenal job keeping the bathrooms clean at all times.
- We booked it through booking.com, and everything went smoothly:
  - izZzleep Aeropuerto Terminal 2
  - $163.32 ($81.66 per person, cannot share pods)

Saturday, April 4

Flight departs at 8:20am
Arrive in Merida around 10:20am
TAKE TAXI FROM AIRPORT TO AIRBNB
- $180 – $200 pesos ($10)
- Can use credit card. WITH CREDIT CARDS, Always select “MXN” (Pesos) on payment terminals to avoid poor exchange rates.
- Uber can be used around the city, but could get a fine for taking an uber at the airport
Airbnb
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/667212205533692134?check_in=2026-04-03&check_out=2026-04-04&guests=1&adults=4&s=67&unique_share_id=569bcd4a-71b5-4ffb-a394-dc10dbdd79b4 ($46 per couple per night)
- InDrive is a very safe and recommended transportation app that is much cheaper than uber! (HOWEVER IT IS MAINLY JUST CASH, try and use uber to save cash)
- Once arriving, find an ATM!!!
  - Bank-affiliated ATMs (for example, those operated by major institutions like BBVA, Santander, Scotiabank, Banorte, HSBC or Citibanamex) are generally safer and more reliable than free-standing machines or those in remote spots (BBVA is expensive)
    - Cajero Banamex, C. 63 506j, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico (IN PLAZA GRANDE)
    - 6 clean machines, in a safe spot, from a reputable bank (only charges $1.50 as well
      - Always choose to withdraw in pesos to avoid poor exchange rates. DO NOT ACCEPT CONVERSION RATES. Again, always decline (declinar/rechazar) the currency conversion offered on screen. Select the option to be charged in Mexican Pesos (MXN) to ensure your home bank handles the exchange rate
      - BEGIN by entering 10,000 pesos, then accept conversion fee ($1.50), then decline conversion rate and receive pesos! Our bank at home will give us a better rate and save us $75 to $100!!!!
      - Andrew and I will both bring backpacks to put our excess money in. Keep it locked away and always keep bags on us.
Merida!!!
- Plaza Grande
- Rent bicycles to get around!
- Catedral De San ILdefonso
- Lucas De Galvez
  - Most popular market in Merida with traditional local cuisine
  - Try the famous Coinita Pibil Sandwich
- Montejo’s home (oldest building in the city)
- Paseo Montejo – street with historic mansions
- Monumento De La Patria
- Plaza Las Américas (MALL WITH 4dx movie theater!!!)
  - Restaurants:
    - The Italian Coffee Centro
    - Chilakilez – delicious nacho looking entrees
    - Manjar Blanco – Traditional Yucatan dishes… Beautiful ambiance, food looks interesting
    - Calle 47 – street with higher end restaurants
    - Try and find restaurants off the beaten path a bit, way cheaper and same quality if not better food. Taquerias and los chupas
    - La Chaya Maya – Must go!!!
    - Try out local markets
    - Massage at: Boho Spa Calle 60 ($39 each)
- GOOGLE MAPS PLAN FOR EXPLORING MERIDA
  - https://maps.app.goo.gl/9a9Z5og2QsaAEFSa7
  - We spent this day following the route I designed and then relaxing back at our Airbnb pool that night. For dinner, we went to a completely authentic and local restaurant right around the corner from our house. We all agreed this was one of the best dinner spots of the entire trip. The food was phenomenal. Some of the best guac we have ever had in our lives, and the seafood was fresh and had so much flavor! They did not speak a lick of English here, but that made the experience more fun in my opinion! To top it off, they had live music! Such a great welcome on our first night to this beautiful part of the country.
  - The restaurant was called: Bar La Ruina (Calle 69 Por 70 y 72 #570, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico)
  - ALWAYS USE GOOGLE MAPS WHEN LOOKING FOR WHERE TO EAT. They will steer you clear from overpriced tourist-traps. This is how we found this gem of a spot.
- Optional day trip:
  - CENOTE MANÍ-CHAN (1 hour away)

Sunday, April 5

Continue to explore Merida!
Today was a built-in “explore” day. Sometimes I can get quite punctual, and so I left this as a day to do whatever we wanted in the city. We ended up heading back into the town square and shopped around at the pop up market they were having in the town square. The girls looked at all of the local dresses, while I was finding a bunch of name-brand clothes that were 1/10 of the cost of US prices! We tried a lot of their local foods and fun snacks that the locals made on their little carts. There was a concert happening in the square with people dancing and singing that we stopped at. We simply went wherever we wanted, and it was great. The previous day we had explored Paseo De Montejo, and had found a BOUJEE restaurant that we wanted to go to. So that night we dressed up and balled out. For “balling out” our bill was still under $70! This place was unreal. We were eating in a mansion with secret bathrooms hidden behind bookshelves. They even had a balcony spot for guests to eat, and afterward we were able to go to the very top of the building and see the beautiful Paseo De Montejo and city of Merida from a better viewpoint. Another must visit dinner spot
Dinner spot name and address: Yerba Santa Merida (P.º de Montejo 473, Zona Paseo Montejo, Zona, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico)

Monday, April 6

Wake up around 6am, get ready!
It is legal to uber TO the airport, so book an uber!
Leave around 6:30am and arrive at 7am
Pick up rental car from airport (C 32 306 Aeropuerto Int, Manuel Crescencio Rejón, 97288 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico),
Leave from rental car location around 7:30/8am, and head towards Pig Beach in Yucalpetén (50 min drive)(SEE IF AIR B AND B WOULD LET US DROP OFF STUFF EARLY)
- While on the way stop at Hacienda Xcanatún (Boujee Coffee / Lunch Stop) (30 min from airport which means we would get here around 8:30am. Get breakfast!
- CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE ENOUGH. The food was excellent, and the property was even better. The architecture mixed with the colors on the buildings were stunning. There was wildlife all throughout the property mixed with infinity pools and jungle villas.
- Leave at 9:30am and drive to Cenote Xlacah (15 min away)
  - Arrive at 9:45am
  - CANNOT SWIM AT THIS ONE
  - It is $10-$15 per person (if we are wanting to be frugal, skip. However, it is a very cool site
  - The cenote was kind of cool… We thought the Mayan ruins were definitely the better part of the spot. This cenote just happened to be on our route so we stopped, but I would not recommend going out of your way to see this
  - Leave around 10:30am
  - Arrive at the Pig Beach at 11am (30 min drive)
Once at the Pig Beach:
- There is free parking here
- Hang out with miniature pigs on the beach!!!
- The pigs get released from their little hut at noon to walk the beach!
- The pigs were just temporary, and they had stopped doing this by the time we visited Mexico sadly.
- There was free public beach access, or you could pay $2 each for a private beach with hammocks and a bunch of other amnetinites. Definitely worth it!
- Our Air B & B is just 2 min away from this beach
Once done at the beach, walk around to find a local beach restaurant for lunch in the cozy beach town of Chelem (Chelem is a quiet, rustic fishing village favored by people seeking tranquility, while Progreso is a larger, bustling port city with a lively boardwalk (malecón), numerous restaurants, and cruise ship traffic. Both towns are hidden gems in terms of authentic experiences in my opinion
Local restaurant spots:
- Coastal Café Chelem! Convenient lunch option for $5-$10 each! Great reviews.
  - ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS. I feel like I have been saying this for all the restaurants, but they were all so good. This spot was the best seafood I had the entire trip. So fresh and juicy! Great prices as well!
- Molusk FOR DINNER!!! Insanely boujee dinner spot right on the beach that offers crazy seafood platters and other entrees… We ended up thinking this spot was a bit overpriced. I thought the food was great (per usual), but for being a lowkey beach town, the price seemed to be too high.
Check into Air B & B at 3pm (or whenever it allows us to) to drop off luggage.
DO LAUNDRY HERE!!! This is our one Airbnb with a washer. Will have to use the drying rack as well. We should run a cycle right at check in so it has time to dry
- https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/923541?check_in=2026-04-06&check_out=2026-04-07&guests=1&adults=4&s=67&unique_share_id=f355b433-a835-4531-b456-cb19df067f11 ($44.50 per couple)
- This place was super cool… However, the person before us had gotten very drunk and thrown up in this room… So for the day/night we were there, the only thing we could smell was straight vomit! This Airbnb was a shared one with multiple different rooms, and all of the people we met were super nice. It was also right on the beach, and had roof access where we could watch the sunset/look at the stars. My wife and I ended up getting a massage here as well. The lady was so nice and did a fantastic job! They actually came to our accommodation, and we met on the beach. We got a massage, on the beach, as the sun was setting, for under $40 each! What was funny was that after we finished, all of the people renting the other beach side houses wanted to get one and were asking for her availability on other days! It pays to do your research!
- The company was called: Spa Vianny Mendoza terapeuta
Enjoy the sunset on the beach, play some cards at night, aim to pass out around 9pm.