This tailor-made Yucatán trip takes you across Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula in 15 days, away from the big resorts. You spend three unhurried nights in Río Lagartos (two if your flight lands late) with its flamingos at sunrise, climb Ek Balam and Cobá, arrive at Chichén Itzá when the gates open and spend three nights in colonial Valladolid. Then the Caribbean coast: Tulum, the lagoons of Sian Ka'an and the lagoon of seven colours at Bacalar.
It is a private trip: you travel with your partner, family or friends on the dates you choose, with no group. You pick self-drive or a private driver; the airport pickup, hotels and boat trips are arranged in advance. The route is my recommended one, and you can change whatever you like.
At a glance
- Recommended duration: 15 days (9 to 18 days possible)
- Format: private, fully arranged, tailor-made
- Start: any day, you choose the dates
- Transport: your choice of self-drive (rental car collected at Cancún airport) or a private driver
- Comfort level: Budget, Comfort or Premium
- Price from (indicative price): €1,570 pp excluding flight (based on 2 travellers); flight approx. €570–850 pp, not included, depending on the month
- Travelling as four: about 11% less per person · travelling solo: about 58% more
- Best months: November to March
| Comfort level | Self-drive | With private driver |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €1,570 | €2,260 |
| Comfort | €2,000 | €2,690 |
| Premium | €2,920 | €3,610 |
Prices are per person, based on 2 travellers, excluding the international flight. They are indicative estimates and may change once partner quotes are in.
Best time to travel
Two things decide the timing on the Yucatán: sargassum and hurricanes. Sargassum is the brown seaweed that washes up on Caribbean beaches. The worst months are usually May to August, and 2026 was forecast as a major year. The clearest window is November to February or March. Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with a peak from August to October. That's why I recommend travelling between November and March. Bacalar lagoon and the cenotes are not affected by sargassum.
The route and why it runs this way
You start in the north, not on the coast. If your flight lands early enough to drive in daylight (roughly by 14:00–15:00), you drive (or are driven) straight on, about 3 hours, to Río Lagartos. Driving after dark in Yucatán is not a good idea, so if you land later you first spend a night in a good hotel close to Cancún airport, 15 to 25 minutes from arrivals, and drive up the next morning. Once your flight is known, I decide this for you. In Río Lagartos you see the pink salt ponds of Las Coloradas, and the flamingo boat trip leaves at sunrise. You stay three nights (two if you land late): after the boat there is a slow afternoon in San Felipe, a fishing village of brightly painted wooden houses, with fresh fish by the harbour and a small boat across to the white sand of Playa Bonita. From there you continue to Ek Balam and Valladolid, your base for three nights. Valladolid is only 45 minutes from Chichén Itzá, which means you're at the gate at opening time, before the tour buses from Cancún arrive.
After a cooking class with a Maya family and a cenote swim, you head to Cobá (about 1 hour), cycle between the ruins, and reach the Caribbean. Tulum, Sian Ka'an and Bacalar follow from north to south. The last long drive (about 4.5 hours) brings you back up the coast to Puerto Morelos, close to the airport, for a relaxed final evening.
See the full day-by-day itinerary
Self-drive or private driver?
Yucatán is one of the easiest places in Latin America to drive yourself: roads are flat, straight and good, and distances are short. If your flight lands in time, you collect your rental car at Cancún airport on day 1, with a briefing and our route notes, and drive to Río Lagartos in daylight. If you land late, a driver takes you to a hotel near the airport and your rental car is delivered there the next morning. You return it at the airport on day 14. A Belgian licence is enough. Watch for speed bumps (topes), don't drive after dark and never leave anything visible in the car. Full insurance is included; fuel, tolls and parking are paid locally.
With a private driver you are driven from hotel to hotel and to the sites and cenotes, and the driver waits while you visit. It costs more, but you have nothing to think about.
Either way you get a private boat with a local fisherman at Río Lagartos, Chichén Itzá at opening time, a cooking class in a Maya family home and community cooperatives in Sian Ka'an and at the cenotes. You also have a WhatsApp line with me: I'm reachable 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp from Belgium.
Practical tips
- Visa (Belgian passport): no visa for tourist stays up to 180 days; immigration decides the exact number. The digital migration form is issued automatically on arrival by air. The Quintana Roo tourist tax (VISITAX) must be paid before leaving Cancún; it is included.
- Health: no mandatory vaccinations. Dengue occurs, so use mosquito protection. Many cenotes require biodegradable sunscreen. Check wanda.be or a travel clinic.
- Money: Mexican pesos. Cards work in towns, but cenotes, markets and small restaurants want cash. Don't exchange money at the airport.
- Flights and time: no direct Brussels–Cancún flight was operating in 2026; count on 13 to 15 hours with one connection. Quintana Roo is 6 hours behind Belgium in winter. Yucatán state, where Valladolid is, is one hour further behind.
- Guides: no fixed guide; only snorkelling with the turtles in Akumal requires a licensed guide (included). Prefer a guide? I can add a local guide to any activity.
- Meals: Breakfast is included every day, as are the lunch you cook yourself at the cooking class and lunch during the Sian Ka'an trip, where there is no alternative. For the other meals you get my restaurant recommendations, but you are completely free to choose where and when you eat: I never steer you to expensive restaurants in return for a commission.
Travel advice
The Belgian FPS Foreign Affairs reports that travel in Quintana Roo and Yucatán, the states most visited by Belgians, takes place without significant problems. Thefts from rental cars are reported in Quintana Roo, so never leave anything in the car; don't accept drinks from strangers. Several northern and western states are advised against, but none are on this route. Check the latest advice on diplomatie.belgium.be before departure.
Frequently asked questions
When is sargassum season on the Yucatán?
It usually peaks between May and August and can continue into October. November to March is the clearest window.
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
No, not with a Belgian passport for tourist stays. You do need to pay the VISITAX before leaving Cancún, which we arrange.
Why stay in Valladolid instead of Cancún?
Valladolid is 45 minutes from Chichén Itzá. You arrive at opening time, and the town itself is quieter and more colonial. You only sleep near Cancún airport if your flight lands late, so you never have to drive after dark.
Can I travel solo or change the route?
Yes to both. Solo travellers pay about 58% more because the room and transport are not shared; four travelling together pay about 11% less per person. You can change the number of days, the order, the hotels and the activities.
Is there a November hurricane risk?
November is the end of the season and the risk is lower, but not zero. Our terms will include a hurricane clause.
Plan your trip
There are no fixed departures: you leave whenever you like. It starts with a personal intake meeting, at your home or by video. You then receive a tailor-made proposal, with my recommended route as the starting point. Plan a call via the interest list or email info@steennot-travels.be. Before we start selling trips, we take out the legally required insurance against financial insolvency. Prices remain estimates until then.
Sources
- https://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/landen/mexico/reizen-naar-mexico-reisadvies/algemene-veiligheid-mexico
- https://www.visitax.gob.mx/sitio/
- https://www.howisthesargassum.com/blog/sargassum-2026-forecast
- https://chichenitzamexico.org/entrance-fee/
- https://www.flightsfrom.com/BRU-CUN
- https://www.wanda.be/nl/
Last updated: 6 October 2026. Prices and dates are indicative estimates and may change.
