Magical Mexico: My Ultimate Yucatán Travel Guide – Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Chichén Itzá & Cenotes

My Mexico Trip – Winter 2023

I always had this picture of Mexico being a dangerous country when I was younger — you know, the one you get from movies filled with cartels, shootings, and chaos. But visiting Mexico changed that completely. While the country does have issues with crime like many others, I felt safe the entire time and met some of the friendliest, warmest people ever. Mexico turned out to be one of my favorite travel destinations to date.

🏝️ Isla Mujeres – The Island of Women

My trip started on Isla Mujeres, which indeed translates to “The Island of Women.” It’s located just off the coast of Cancún, on the Yucatán Peninsula. The island is small — only about 7 km long and less than a kilometer wide — but it’s absolutely stunning. Think white sandy beaches, turquoise water, palm trees, and an easygoing island vibe.

I stayed for three days, which I think was perfect for soaking up the atmosphere. My top beach recommendations are Playa Centro and Playa Norte, both picture-perfect with calm, shallow waters.

One of the best ways to explore Isla Mujeres is to rent a golf cart and circle the island. Make sure to stop by Punta Sur, the southernmost point, known for its dramatic cliffs, the Mirador Punta Sur viewpoint, and small local spots like Perimetral Sur for great photos.

And whatever you do, don’t miss Rancho Capricho — their tacos are unreal. 🌮

Since I hadn’t seen proper sunlight for months in Sweden, I made the rookie mistake of lying in the sun all day without sunscreen and ended up completely burnt. Don’t be like me — bring sunscreen! (You can find the one I use here on Amazon).

🌴 Next Stop: Tulum

After my relaxing beach days, it was time for the next stop — Tulum, located further south on the Yucatán coast. I took an ADO bus from Cancún to Tulum, a comfortable 2 hour 40 minute ride for about €12 per person.

I stayed at Garden Coba, a lovely and clean accommodation with friendly staff and a nice pool — highly recommend.

Tulum immediately captured me. The vibe is amazing, a mix of laid-back beach life, yoga retreats, and lively bars. The beaches are world-class — long, white, and soft as flour. Playa Paraíso was my favorite, though there’s a small entrance fee (around €3) to preserve the natural area. Worth every cent.

I had several lunches right on the beach, and each restaurant delivered both great food and stunning views. It’s truly like eating inside a postcard.

🌮 Restaurant & Bar Street

One of my best Tulum tips is to explore the restaurant/bar/hotel street right near the beach. When you get to the point where you can turn left to pay for the beach entrance, instead turn right and follow that road.

In the evenings, the entire street comes alive — twinkling lights among the palm trees, music spilling out from bars, and restaurants of every size and style. Whether you’re in the mood for a chill beach bar or a fancier dinner spot, you’ll find it here. It’s a vibe just to scooter around or even go for a run. I did both — scooter rides at night and runs during the day when there was less traffic.

🤿 Snorkeling and Adventure

One of the best experiences I had in Tulum was joining a snorkeling tour right off the beach. You’ll find plenty of locals offering tours, and it’s a must if you enjoy the sea.

We swam alongside giant manta rays — majestic and peaceful creatures, though part of me couldn’t help but think of my childhood hero Steve Irwin, who tragically died from a stingray. It was surreal being so close to them.

I brought my own snorkeling mask (you can get it here on Amazon), and it made the experience so much better. No leaking water, just comfort and clear vision — totally worth it.

If you’re a runner like me, Tulum Beach is perfect for a scenic run. You get the sea breeze, the soft resistance of the sand, and a refreshing ocean dip right after. The beach also has one of the world’s most famous outdoor gyms, where you can train with palm trees as your background.

A hot tip: rent a scooter. It’s the best way to get around — cheap, convenient, and fun. Tulum’s traffic isn’t bad at all (especially compared to places like Bali). While biking is possible, scooters make it easier to explore the more spread-out spots, including cenotes and archaeological sites.

🏛️ Exploring the Mayan World – Tulum Ruins & Chichén Itzá

For history lovers, Tulum offers so much. The Tulum Ruins are perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. They were once a major Mayan port city between the 13th and 15th centuries, dedicated to the god of the winds, Kukulcán. The site isn’t huge, but the combination of ancient temples and turquoise ocean views is spectacular.

The absolute highlight of my trip was visiting Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a place that completely blew my mind. It’s hard to describe the feeling of standing in front of something built over 1,000 years ago that still stands tall and proud today. The site was once one of the most powerful Mayan cities, thriving between the 7th and 13th centuries, and it served as a major political, economic, and religious center in the Yucatán Peninsula.

The most famous structure, El Castillo (also known as the Temple of Kukulkán), is the massive step pyramid that dominates the site. It’s not just beautiful — it’s mathematically perfect. Each of its four sides has 91 steps, which, when added together with the top platform, equals 365 — one for every day of the year. The Mayans weren’t just great builders; they were scientists, astronomers, and engineers way ahead of their time.

One of the coolest details our guide explained was how the pyramid interacts with the sun during the spring and autumn equinoxes. When the sun sets, the light and shadows create the illusion of a serpent slithering down the steps — representing the feathered serpent god Kukulkán descending to Earth. It’s one of the most incredible natural light shows tied to ancient architecture you could ever imagine.

Then there’s the Great Ball Court, the largest and best-preserved in all of Mesoamerica. It’s enormous — about 168 by 70 meters — and has a crazy acoustic design. If someone claps in the middle, the sound echoes exactly seven times, and you can even hear a distinct chirping sound that mimics the sacred quetzal bird, which the Mayans considered divine. The guide also told us that the Mayan leader’s voice could not be heard by the leaders from rivaling tribes that were sitting on the other side of the court, but their voices could be heard by the Mayan leader, even if they whispered to each other. They designed the arena in that acoustic way because the Mayan leader was always under threat from rivaling leaders and if they tried to scheme or plan something against the Mayan leader during the game where they were gathered, the leader could here them without them knowing — a deliberate design to show power and control. It’s a perfect mix of science, symbolism, and spirituality. The guide demonstrated this by letting us try all these acoustic designs and it really worked, absolutely crazy stuff!

The ball game played there, known as Pok-Ta-Pok, wasn’t just a sport — it was a ritual deeply tied to religion and sacrifice. It’s believed that the winners (not the losers) could be sacrificed to the gods as an honor, which sounds wild today but showed how deeply faith was woven into their lives.

Another incredible thing about Chichén Itzá is how advanced they were in understanding astronomy and time. The entire city was built around celestial alignments — temples and buildings are positioned to track solstices, equinoxes, and planetary movements. They used this knowledge for everything from agriculture to predicting seasons and performing ceremonies. It’s amazing to think that a civilization over a thousand years ago could design something so advanced without any modern technology.

Walking around the site in the scorching sun(cool yourself down with a portable fan on amazon here), it was surreal to imagine this place once buzzing with people, priests, traders, and warriors. It’s a place that really gives you perspective on human achievement — what people are capable of when driven by belief, creativity, and community. By the time I left, I felt both humbled and amazed, and honestly, a little emotional. To witness something this old, this smartly built, and this spiritually deep — it’s something everyone should experience at least once in their life.

💧 Cenotes – Nature’s Hidden Pools

You can’t visit the Yucatán Peninsula without swimming in cenotes — natural sinkholes formed when limestone bedrock collapses, revealing crystal-clear groundwater below. The Mayans believed cenotes were sacred, gateways to the underworld. I recommend a phone pouch to avoid any accidents while you enjoy the cenotes(buy here at amazon).

Here are a few I visited:

• Cenote Dos Ojos: Meaning “Two Eyes”, named after its twin pools connected by a cave system. It’s great for snorkeling and diving — the visibility is unreal.

• Cenote Cristal: A beautiful open cenote surrounded by jungle. Perfect for relaxing and cliff jumping into the fresh water.

• Cenote Ik Kil: Near Chichén Itzá and one of the most famous. It’s inside a circular cave with vines hanging down and sunlight streaming through the opening — truly a fairytale scene.

• Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the first one i visited, it was just 10 minutes away from Tulum on scooter and you could also drive ATV and visit a Mayan dream catcher, whose purpose was to catch bad dreams in the net

🌶️ Food, Spice & Surprises

The food experience in Mexico is out of this world. Everywhere you go, you’ll be treated to small dishes of nachos with different sauces — and at least one of them will always be very spicy.

Every time the waiter warned me, “This one’s not for gringos,” I took it as a challenge — and I can confirm, they don’t mess around. Some sauces are fiery enough to make you question your life choices, but it’s all part of the fun.

The only meal I didn’t love was the black bean mole — a mix of beans, chili, and chocolate sauce. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but I still recommend trying it once just for the experience.

The rest of the food? Absolute heaven. Tacos al pastor, guacamole, ceviche, enchiladas, tamales — everything bursts with flavor.

☀️ Final Thoughts

Mexico exceeded all my expectations. From relaxing beaches and fascinating Mayan history to delicious food, warm people, and unforgettable adventures — it’s a destination I’ll never forget.

If you ever get the chance, go. Experience it for yourself. You’ll see that Mexico is not just safe — it’s soulful, beautiful, and full of life.