Uncrowded Experience in Yucatan
 

Hi all,

So we are a couple (30s) looking for our next vacation, around April time. We thought of Mexico, because of the food, beaches, weather, wildlife and scenery. I started reading online but then saw many reports from people bashing Cancun and PdC for being too crowded and touristy.

Here's the thing - we prefer a more secluded experience and one where we can explore smaller, quaint cities/villages and quiet beaches, and have a more authentic experience.

Which areas/cities would you recommend then - assuming we fly into Cancun (thought about PV but I think the Caribbean water is more appealing) and staying for about 10 days.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read and respond!

If you change your mind about Puerto Vallarta, I can help. Sorry don't know "the other side" at all.

Try looking in Puerto Morelos. It has the feeling of a small fishing village with no high rises or chain restaurants, etc. It is between Cancun and Playa so still very accessible to everything, but such a wonderful town. One of the best snorkeling reefs is out from there and there are many boats that will take you out from the pier. Or further south about 45mins. from Playa into Tulum for an even more relaxed feel. The water is gorgeous down there. Many great condos type places in PM and more rustic hotel types in Tulum.

Puerto Morelos is worth considering, IMO, as are some parts of Tulum.

We did a 2 week road trip around the Yucatan a couple years ago. We spent our beach time in Tulum. We also spent time inland - Valladolid, Merida, and the Uxmal/Ruta Puuc area. We also went to the beach at Celestun from Merida. It was a great trip. We saw amazing ruins, some great little towns, plus the city of Merida, and some good beach areas.

Our 1st trip to the Yucatán Peninsula was in 2010; we had 2-3 weeks and started with a place in Tulúm Pueblo as a base for diving and snorkeling cenotes and with turtles, flyfishing, and visiting Maya sites, then Valladolid for more Maya sites, more cenotes, and it's a nice colonial town, San Felipe on the Gulf coast - tarpon and flamingos - and then 4 or 5 nights on Isla Mujeres during whale shark season. It was an awesome trip and we managed to avoid the crowds, partly because it was June, partly because we hit the Maya sites 1st thing in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds, and partly because of the places we chose to stay.

Easter is in mid April and beachy places get really busy, especially the week leading up to Easter.

My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations are embedded there. Happy planning!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Half Moon Bay near Akumal has a lovely beach and is fairly quiet as it is mostly--but not entirely--condo rentals. You can sometimes spot rays in the water from your balcony there.

Puerto Morelos, Akumal, Tulum all would fit your needs.

As for the bashing of Cancun and PDC, I could never understand why people do that on this site... one regular poster once put Cancun down, but later claimed that she had never been, go figure !! Each and every Mexican destination has it's good and bad side.
This said, you will most probably arrive in Cancun (airport) and if your stay is for 10 days, then I would go down to PDC for a few just to get acclimatized and aquainted with the surroundings and plan from there. PDC is a great departure point as everything is at your disposal, buses, taxis, tour guides, information, rentals, you name it, it's there.
There are dozens of small, off the beaten track destinations that would most certainly meet your requirements and a good mix of quiet and busy places is healthy in appreciating Mexico in all it's mannerisms.
IZAMAL, (yellow city) comes to mind immediately, although it has no beach it is exactly what most people should experience if culture is important not to mention quaint and secluded, stay at the Arcangel hotel on main square and do take a hoarse and carriage ride to the main pyramid in town, restaurants close early.
On your way to Izamal, you could stay over in VALLADOLID, for the same reasons (Meson de Marquis hotel on main square). There are several more of these small cities all along the same well paved and well kept roads, unfortunately some of their names are difficult to prononce and harder to remember.
If you choose to go south, you could start with Akumal, Tulum, then head north to COBA, then PISTE, (stay at the Dolores Albe hotel). On your way to MERIDA which is IMO, the crown jewel of all of the Yucatan peninsula... well worth staying over for several days. I do believe that Merida is the hearth and soul of Mexican culture(in the entire peninsula) with it's theatres, monasteries and churches, folklore week ends, haciendas, Paseo de Montejo and all within a 40 minute drive north to PROGRESO for the beach.

I have to respectfully disagree with choosing Playa del Carmen for people wanting something less crowded and touristy. It is crowded and it is touristy, in our experience moreso than even Cancun (!). It does offer the benefits Rohelia lists, but that doesn't eliminate the basic experience of heavy car and/or pedestrian traffic.

Pretty easy to plan logistics for a trip before arriving in the peninsula.

<<one regular poster once put Cancun down, but later claimed that she had never been, go figure !!>>

Go figure, no doubt Rohelio is talking about me again.

You don't have to have been to Cancun to know it is a "touristy" destination and certainly not the "uncrowded experience" asked for here.

I don't think that saying that a place is crowded and touristy really amounts to "bashing" it - its just a description of the place. And yes, Cancun and PDC are crowded and touristy. If that is what you want, then that's a good thing. If it isn't what you want, then its a bad thing. Simple. Clearly a lot of people want crowded and touristy, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people in those places.

I think my "bashing" was when I said Cancun looks more like Miami Beach than it does a typical Mexican town. Only on this forum would anyone choose to pick a fight about that.

"I think my "bashing" was when I said Cancun looks more like Miami Beach than it does a typical Mexican town."

Cancun was developed as a purpose-built tourist area - intended to attract large numbers of tourists with big resorts on the beach - to get people to come to Mexico and spend their money. And it has been enormously successful. Saying Cancun looks more like Miami Beach than a typical Mexican town is not only accurate, it is a compliment because that is exactly what Cancun was meant to resemble.

muchas gracias mi amiga :-)

I'd also note that, especially in La Zona Hotelera, Cancun is not crowded at all--with all of the huge hotels things tend to get spaced a decent ways apart.

"Here's the thing - we prefer a more secluded experience and one where we can explore smaller, quaint cities/villages and quiet beaches, and have a more authentic experience."

This is exactly the experience I had in Holbox.

That said, 10 days might be a bit long there, and you said you favor the Caribbean (Holbox is just to the gulf side on the tip of the peninsula) So you might pair a few nights in Holbox with a few nights in PM or Tulum.

I really liked Holbox, we stayed 6 nights. Quiet and isolated it is. Food was incredible.

I'm not sure when Easter is next year but check those dates for visits to the beaches in the Yucatan. mexicans and other come out en mass at that time. Spring break is another time to think about the numbers in PDC.
I agree with limmy about Holbox. Great quiet-ish sort of place to unwind but probably not for 10 days.
Isla of Mujeres is also a beautiful island and as authentic as any beach community can be unless it's a fishing village.
You can also find a bit of peace in parts of Puerto Morelos - diving/snorkling are very good but the town it's self doesn't have too many things to do. It's a great place to do day trips from.
Akumel is a favorite of mine. There's a small town, great snorkeling, it's a turtle haven where you can swim along side them. There are also many natural habitats to hike and kayak at. Tulum offers up a beautiful beach, a small town but is much higher priced than Akumel.
Good luck!

RAC also brings up an interesting point about the crowds in Cancun.
Many of the hotel properties are quite big and have a lot of space between them. Spring break aside, you can always find crowds if you go to certain areas but there's also a lot seclusion at many hotels.

Interesting points indeed cybor... (and before I got sidetracked and ambushed here,) I was saying the exact same thing, that every destination has it's ups and downs. Yes, I was also in Holbox for a few days and if laid back is what you seek then laid back is what you get in Holbox, that said, it is a little out of the way and 10 days might prove to be too much. To add to my reply (above) there is a small village north of Valladolid in Rio Lagartos, where the pink flamingos gather in the mangroves, very laid back and quaint for sure... there are literally dozens of places that fit danielm's description, it's all in the planning !

Holbox is on my list of places to visit for those exact reasons. I haven't been there yet, but it looks like the perfect place for laid back, quiet beach time. 10 days might be too much there, but it seems like a good place to combine with other areas in the Yucatan.

As an aside - ambushed? Really Rohelio? Sidetracked - yes. But ambushed? Like posters were lying in wait to attack you? I think you've misread the discussion.

I think Easter next year is around April 16-17 so it will be crowded with families taking vacation when their kids are on break as well as Mexican nationals, also prices will be higher. My last few trips we stayed on Half Moon Bay in north Akumal, much less crowded yet has some restaurants and a few shops, also Aventuras Akumal is laid back but you definitely need a car here.

Yes, Easter is on the 17th and the Semana Santa is the whole week before that which means, crowds in a big way, The whole area is just flooded with Mexican and their families. You can rent your condo in the blink of an eye and for almost twice the price. iF YOU SEEK PEACE AND QUIET, THIS IS NOT THE TIME...

Wow, thanks for the great responses everyone. So to be clear- as my vacation starts early april and ends mid month (1-15), is that a bad time to go and should I expect big crowds everywhere?

Daniel,
I think your dates should be ok. I believe the hordes will start to emerge in CUN and PDC on the Sat before Easter. You'll have a better idea of when the actual high season or holiday season is when you check the rates. They'll dramatically jump when there's something going on.
Other than the above, my other suggestion for any tourist sites is to get there when the gates open. You can usually see what you need to see at ruins, etc in the first couple hours. Less crowds and cooler morning air.
ADO buses, many of the combis (the transport vans that you'll see everywhere) or having a rental car will get you where you need to go. Many of the tours will get you there late morning. They all seem to arrive at the same time.

In our experience around Latin America the whole week before Easter Sunday is packed in beachy places because of North American vacations and especially because lots of Latin American folks have that whole week off from work. Since that will just be the last few days before you fly home, maybe plan for those days to be away from the beach - Valladolid, maybe? Or San Felipe? We loved both of those places and they're not too far from Cancún for your flight home unless you leave really early in the day.

Sorry about that. Hopeful's right that Semana Santa starts a week before Easter.
https://www.vercalendario.info/en/wh...xico-2017.html

As said, Mexicans go to the beach en mass. Merida empties out while entire families go to the beach.
Also know that many locally owned places in many cities and pueblos close down that week.

Well said cybor... and, yes, there are crowds but on a positive note, many attractions to be enjoyed if in the area at this time. It is important to note that holly week or semana santa starts from Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. The churches are all decked out in colorful decorations with drapes and flowers. Ash Wednesday is popular as you will notice the many church goers with marked foreheads from ash. Not to be missed, is the procession that takes place. Two years ago it started with the reenactment of Judgement day in a city park near 30 th ave in Playa... down 30th right up to the beach where the young person chosen to be Jesus was tied to the cross and the lifted and planted in the beach, at the end of Benito Juarez street. This whole undertaking takes many hours to unfold but it so very realistic... even Judas (portrayed) was hanged (harness) from a huge Ceiba tree (Mayan sacred tree) on 30th. All participants are very well costumed and real whips are used to mimic the whipping. The young man chosen for Jesus has to be in great shape as he has to drag the huge wooden cross along the street and is relieved at several points along the procession. All traffic is redirected as crowds of patrons and tourists follow for several kilometres from the starting point to the beach.
Something to remember for a lifetime !
Some restaurants offer special meals and events at this time also. On Sunday mass (if you can get in the church) all patrons and tourists hug and wish peace upon one another. Mexicans are a very warm people and given the chance, they are quick to share.
For sure, you need to book your hotel ahead of time for this period.

Rohelio, Agree. No one parties or does festivals like Mexicans. I personally love it at holiday time here in Merida. Course, we can sort of spread out a bit so it never feels claustrophobic like it can at our closest beaches.
Progreso turns into a zoo at Easter and Xmas. The Malecon all the way into the water is packed. Fun and stimulating but packed.
Even the quieter beaches on the gulf get packed as well.
That said, I know of a few quieter out of the way beaches that not many people flock to if I want to escape the crowds.
Anyhow, I think it's easier to get away from crowds on the Carib side if you're willing to walk a bit because of the large properties and the vastness of the beaches. You can always find space and quiet if you're willing to get away from the main tourist towns/beaches etc.

So, now that I have my mind set- how would you recommend combining Merida, Holbox,Tulum, Akumal in 10-12 days? Starting the trip with Isla Muheres for 2 nights. Will probably rent a car if needed.

If you start with only 10 days, subtract 2 for Isla, and only have 8 left (or 10 if you use the 12 day number) for the other 4 towns/cities, I don't think that's enough time really to do any of them justice.

Subtracting the time to get between them will barely leave you 1.0 to 1.5 days in each place (8 days divided by 4 places subtracting a 1/2 day in between each for transfer).

If you change your mind about Puerto Vallarta, I can help. Sorry don't know "the other side" at all.

The message above was sent by suze on Sept. 22. so I would not be too keen on following that advice...

Rohelio, Instead of stalking my posts, why don't you help this person out then?

You explain how they can arrange their itinerary and transportation in order to fly into Cancun, and visit Isla Mujeres, Merida, Holbox, Tulum and Akumal in only 10 days.

What I posted is simply from looking at a map, that they are trying to cover too much ground in too short a time, unless all they want is a "drive by" of the 5 places mentioned.

:)) Well, does it change anything if I extend to 14 days?

Sure, it would help a little bit -haha.

All I'm doing here is math :-)

Take the 14 days total, subtract approx. 2 days (moving 4 times, allowing a 1/2 day each time. So 12 days divided by 5 = 2-1/2 days in each place.

Longest drive (Tulum to Merida and Merida to Holbox area) is 3-4 hours, so that's not too bad. So what if we do:

2 nights Isla Mujeres
4 nights Tulum/Akumal
3 nights Valladolid/Merida
4 nights Holbox

Daniel,
14 days is always sweeter than 10, lol
Have you checked flights out of Merida - MID
I'm thinking that that would logistically make things a bit easier.
If were me (I wish) I like to start with the city stuff first and end my vaca on the beach. Others like to do it the opposite way.
Anyhow, fly into Merida, then drive to Holbox (you'll need to park your car in a lot and ferry over) then hit some ruins/caves/cenote etc maybe stay in Valladolid while doing this.
Hit a cenote and maybe Coba on the way out and end up at the beach to chill. Stay at one beach and make day trips to the others - Tulum or Akumel.
Ferry over to I Mujeres (leave car in Cancun lot) then fly out of Cancun.

We were posting at the same time.
Your plan also works.

Mathematics aside... YES, Yes you can do it, of course. Your only concern will be finding accommodation at that particular time of year.
I will get come and give you my two cents worth !