Yucatan & Cancun: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'

Yucatan & Cancun: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'
Yucatan & Cancun: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'
Yucatan & Cancun: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'
Yucatan & Cancun: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'
Yucatan & Cancun: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'


(26 reviews)

From:

CAD $1,260 Was CAD $1,519

9 Days

Best Rate: Guarantee

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

What’s the best way to top off your Yucatán adventure?.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 28 Jun 2025

Experience Overview

What’s the best way to top off your Yucatán adventure? Pshh, that’s easy: add a stop in Cancún! With some of Mexico’s best hostels as your home, explore the Yucatan Peninsula on this nine-day adventure that wraps up with beachside days in Cancún. Kicking off in Merida, visit the jungle for a swim in crystal clear cenotes. Next, go on a guided tour of the massive Mayan site of Chichen Itzá before descending into a cenote for an epic dinner of local dishes cooked over a fire. After a couple of days in chilled-out Tulum, head to Cancún for an insider's tour away from the resorts, and spend your free time relaxing at the beach, your hostel, or doing all sorts of optional activities.

Highlights

  • Bike and swim your way through cenotes in the jungle
  • Take a guided tour of the massive Mayan site of Chichen Itzá
  • Descend into a cenote for a delicious spread of Yucatecan cuisine cooked over the fire
  • Hit the beach after visiting the ruins of Tulum
  • Stay at hostel near the beach in Cancún
  • Venture away from the Cancún hotel zone to prepare a meal in a local community
  • Enjoy free time for optional activities or hanging out at the hostels

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 1831

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Basic

TransportTransport: Private vehicle, public air-conditioned bus, taxi.

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Tour OperatorTour Operator: G Adventures

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: CMYCHW

StartStarts: Mérida, Mexico

FinishFinishes: Cancún, Mexico

DurationDuration: 9 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical Rating: Light

Includes

Activities

  • Your G for Good Moment: El Hongo Mexican Community Restaurant & Youth Art Program, Playa del Carmen Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Yucatecan Community Lunch Experience and Cenote Swim, Cancún
  • Excursion from Mérida to cycle between and swim in cenotes
  • Guided tour of Chichen Itzá and Tulum ruins
  • Dinner inside a cenote near Valladolid
  • Beach time at Tulum and Cancún
  • Visit to an insect museum
  • Beach time at Cancún
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

  • Hostels (8 nts)
  • 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

  • Private vehicle, public air-conditioned bus, taxi.

Group Leader

  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,260 ($140 /day)

Itinerary

1

Day 1: Mérida

Arrive at any time, and kick back at the hostel or head out to explore the city before meeting up with fellow Roamies in the evening. Later on, head to one of the many bars and restaurants near the hostel for some eats and make sure to check out the main plaza at night.

2

Day 2: Mérida

Ok, so every day on this trip is amazing but we'll venture to say that this one is ridiculous. You'll explore some of the many cenotes in the area, giant sinkholes in the earth formed by underground freshwater rivers. Hop on a bike to cycle between a few of them and swim in the crystal-clear waters to take a break from the heat. After a yummy lunch, return to Mérida and spend the rest of the day wandering the city or relaxing in a hammock at the hostel. Sound about right?

3

Day 3: Mérida/Valladolid

Ready for another epic day? Keep your sunscreen and the camera handy today as you'll be checking a major bucket item off of your list. Head into the jungle to the massive Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá for a guided tour and time to walk around on your own. Then continue to Valladolid to drop off your stuff at the hostel and chill for a bit before heading out for dinner, where you'll learn about the Mayas and have a chance to devour a spread of delicious Yucatan dishes cooked over the fire, like pollo pibil and tamales with fresh handmade tortillas.

4

Day 4: Valladolid/Tulum

Pile into the bus and head to the white sand and turquoise waters of the Mayan Riviera. But before you hit the beach we have more ruins to see - Tulum! The only of the Mayan temples to be built right next to the ocean, you will be filling your feed with jaw-dropping photos in no time. Spend the rest of the day on the beach, hanging out at the hostel or at one of the many bars and cafes in town.

5

Day 5: Tulum

The beach at Tulum is pretty stellar that's for sure, and today is yours to do with it what you want. Feeling active and want to explore more? Go snorkelling at the natural waterpark of Xel-Há or visit some more cenotes. Feeling the ocean vibes instead? Stay local and hit the beach before shoring up at the hostel bar for a cold beverage. After dinner head to one of the beach clubs to dance the night away under the stars.

6

Day 6: Tulum/Cancún

Squeeze in a bit more beach time in Tulum before heading north to Playa del Carmen in the late morning. Have lunch at El Hongo, a community project that supports youth art initiatives that also happens to have delicious food. After, take some time to browse the shops along the vibrant pedestrian strip of "la quinta." Next stop, Cancún - where more beach, adventure and nightlife await! Check into the comfy hostel in the hotel zone and laze about by the pool with a cold beverage before deciding what's on for the evening.

7

Day 7: Cancún

Day trip! Head away from the tourists into the jungle of the Yucatán to a local community. You'll learn all about the delicious regional cuisine and help prepare some of the dishes before scarfing it down on the spot for lunch. Later, top it all off with a swim in a nearby cenote to cool off from the midday heat. Don't worry, you'll still have time to hit the beach or hang out at the hostel pool when we get back to Cancún in the afternoon.

8

Day 8: Cancún

A free day in Cancún, how good does that sound? If you're craving more adventure you could head out on a day trip to Isla Mujeres or Playa del Carmen, or stay local and squeeze every last moment out of that white sand beach or the hostel hang-out spots. Your CEO is always on hand to give recommendations or to show you the best local stretches of beach, the rest is up to you. Ready to party? Of course you are! Your CEO knows all the best bars and clubs Cancún has to offer. Who needs sleep anyways?

9

Day 9: Cancún

Depart at any time, or maybe decide to add on a few more nights at the beach.

Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.

In Business Since 1990

Reviews

 

Yichao R.   -  Traveled, November 2023

cost, local guide that help us immensely

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/10/2023

 

Daniel P.   -  Traveled, November 2023

G Adventures took all the stress out of travelling alone. The activities were all phenomenal and I know that I would have never found a lot of them without the tour. I got to turn my brain off and just enjoy.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/10/2023

 

Fergus R.   -  Traveled, October 2023

We felt this tour was a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time. Overall we really enjoyed it and it was fun doing it as part of a group. All of the guides for our tours e.g Chichen Itza/Mayan Ruins were really impressive too and very knowledgeable. Our guide, Ale, was brilliant and super helpful. He had great energy and enthusiasm throughout the whole trip. He went above and beyond if anyone ever needed anything.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/26/2023

 

Allison U.   -  Traveled, October 2023

It was very affordable and easy. The planning is done for you. Also great for solo travellers who don't want to go it alone.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/26/2023

 

Jennyfer B.   -  Traveled, October 2023

It was a nice trip and our guide was amazing

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/26/2023

 

Megan J.   -  Traveled, September 2023

Laura made every minute of the tour so special, the group itself was amazing. The whole trip was very memorable and showed a different side to Mexico rather than just the super Americanized cancun

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2023

 

Holly C.   -  Traveled, September 2023

The organisation and the types of activities included were great! And Laura our guide was so helpful

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2023

 

Tessa S.   -  Traveled, September 2023

I loveeed doing the this trip. The only thing I might say is that sometimes you don't have the time to explore activities to the fullest because the schedule needs you to move on to a next activity. However, if you aren',t an experienced traveller, participating in a trip like this will help you get used to travellingm

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2023

 

Emma D.   -  Traveled, September 2023

There was great value for money with a wonderful itinerary and a great location. I felt like this trip was longer than 10 days and didn't feel like too much was missed

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2023

 

Mathangi S.   -  Traveled, September 2023

First time trying Roomies tour and I liked how you can meet different people

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2023

 

Ulrike P.   -  Traveled, September 2023

2 out of 4 hostels were in pretty bad condition

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2023

 

Bruno K.   -  Traveled, September 2023

Very inclusive, experienced Mexico in many different angles, felt like a got my moneys worth, loves the tour activity selection and had an amazing group and tour guide

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/15/2023

 

Philipp D.   -  Traveled, September 2023

I realy enjoyed it so i would recommend IT every time. But there is always room to improve

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/15/2023

 

Onyinye M.   -  Traveled, September 2023

Very well organised Excellent guide Good balance of travel & rest

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/15/2023

 

Anna-Maria S.   -  Traveled, September 2023

Kevin our guide

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/15/2023

 

Laura M.   -  Traveled, August 2023

Group during the day and option to go alone/ small group in the evening. Safe way to discover new countries. Planned well, very informative, low stress holiday

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/17/2023

 

Ronan B.   -  Traveled, August 2023

Very well organized. Good mixture between organized tours and free time. Laura was an excellent guide and looked after all of our needs

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/17/2023

 

Alexandra W.   -  Traveled, August 2023

I had the best week of my life. Not sure if it was the style of travel or the people I was surrounded with. But the combination of all was a completely new experience that I want to do over and over again

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/17/2023

 

Katie C.   -  Traveled, August 2023

value for money

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/17/2023

 

Sinem O.   -  Traveled, July 2023

many thanks to our lovely CEO, Laura!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/27/2023

 

Jason P.   -  Traveled, July 2023

Balance of structure and independence, with a sense of safety and fun!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/17/2023

 

Grace C.   -  Traveled, July 2023

While the CEO did a wonderful job of showing us different parts of the Yucatan and Quintana Roo and the itinerary was impressive, the accommodation choices were very poor and substandard. I felt very uncomfortable in most of the hostels that were chosen on this trip, and there were many issues with assigned rooms for people who paid extra to have their own private rooms or a twin share.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/27/2023

 

Daniel P.   -  Traveled, November 2023

G Adventures took all the stress out of travelling alone. The activities were all phenomenal and I know that I would have never found a lot of them without the tour. I got to turn my brain off and just enjoy.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/10/2023

 

Taiya S.   -  Traveled, November 2023

I loved how action packed it was, so many diverse activities, Anni our guide was so energetic and full of knowledge, the accommodations were all lovely and clean, the transportation was a/c with friendly drivers. I couldn't fault any of it

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/24/2023

 

Catherine N.,   -  Traveled, November 2023

I had a great experience, the tour was great, Kevin was fantastic, I rated it an 8 because it was a little expensive

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/10/2023

 

Benjamin H.   -  Traveled, November 2023

This is my second group travel event. Kevin, the CEO, made the trip very special. His service, knowledge, and personality was impeccable. The events in the tour were perfect. What made it so special were the events that you wouldn't be able to do without booking through G Adventures. One suggestion for this trip in particular is: I would have 1 less day in Cancun, 1 more in Tulum. Cancun really is not the best place to visit, especially on a trip centered around culture. Tulœm provides a good mix of culture, beach, and bars, etc.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/10/2023

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