Rach77

Hi, I' visiting the Yucatan Peninsula in May with my family from Australia. We have 2 boys aged 11 & 8.

We arrive late into Cancun after 2 weeks visiting the USA. We have booked a hotel close to the airport. We then have a free night where I haven't booked anything. Then 6 nights accommodation in Tulum where friends are joining us. Tulum will be our base and we hope to visit Akumel to snorkel, Xel-Pa, Chicken Itza, Sian Ka'an, Coba, and lot's of beach downtime.
I am looking for recommendations on what to do on the free day....Keep in mind we have come off a long flight and 2 busy weeks of travelling with kids.
Should we spend 1 more night in Cancun and catch the ferry to Isla Mujures to explore the island for the day? Golf cart could be fun.
Should we just add another day/night in Tulum and relax?
Should we drive to Valladolid and stay the night before driving to Tulum?
It's so hard to decide. If it was just my husband and I it would be easy but I need to keep our movements pretty simple. We will either hire a car from Cancun or wait until Tulum.

Much appreciated for your advice.

kja

IMO, there are no right or wrong answers here, but FWIW, I think heading to Valladolid would be a great idea! It'll be different than anything else you plan on seeing, and it has a LOT of charm. I suspect your children would enjoy the Cenotes Dzitnup (aka the Cenotes Samula and Xkeken) just outside of Valladolid. And if you have time, Ek' Balam is also well worth a visit.

Enjoy!

hopefulist

I agree.

sf7307

We will also be in Tulum - in a week, for 5 full days. We love to relax on the beach, and our hotel is perfectly situated for that, but we also love to sightsee, and our favorite type of sightseeing is wandering around charming villages. Just wondering - if one day is spent diving, is Vallodolid/Ek-Balam worth a drive on one of the other days (we'll also go to the Tulum ruins, and probably Coba. Very unlikely we'd spend a day at Xel-Pa or similar (no kids with us)).

Note that we're headed to Guatemala after Mexico - we will visit Tikal and Chichicastenango, and also tour for a week (Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and a couple of remote villages).

SambaChula

The most efficient (less backtracking, extra driving) would be to pick up your car (highly recommend Easyway) and head for charming Colonial Valladolid. Use Valladolid as a base for Chichen Itza and Ek Balam (which the kids may like better--look at video on YouTube), as well as cenotes and [perhaps flamingos at Rio Largatos depending on season. Then head for Tulum via Coba (kids enjoy biking around in there). Use Tulum as a base for the Tulum ruins, beautiful beach, floating Maya canals in the Sian Ka'an biosphere, and Akumal for turtles. You may want to spend your last afternoon/night in Playa del Carmen, nearer the airport.

SambaChula

sf3707--Valladolid with Ek Balam would be a very long day, lots of driving to and from Tulum. Ek Balam was our favorite ruin though; Coba was second of the 4 (CI and Tulum).

kja

@ sf7307: I'm not sure you would be able to visit any "charming villages" from Tulum. Valladolid is a small city with a very walkable and charming core. Whether you just visit the city, or the city and Ek' Balam, or the city and the Cenotes Dzitnup, is your call.

jamie99

I agree with staying overnight in Valladolid, plenty of ruins to see, Ek Balam is nicer than Chichen, but if you do go to CI, get there when it opens at 8am to avoid the huge tour buses and before the annoying vendors get set up.
Going back to Akumal myself May 1-9, May is a great time to visit, usually not much rain, and not windy like April.
Agree with Easyway for car rental although America Car Rental is also good and includes all the insurance you need in their rates.