Yucatán Peninsula

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Yucatan - Tulum - beach performance - Anna K-K. photo

Transport

Driving a car:

On the Yucatan peninsula, driving is easier and more hassle-free than in other parts of Mexico.

Outside the cities, there is relatively little to very little traffic on Yucatán's roads. Be prepared for many single-lane roads (with oncoming traffic).

The speed limits are always well marked. On country roads, they are usually between 80 and a maximum of 100 km/h, on motorways at 110 km/h, but never more.

On the roads, you'll experience a large number of speed bumps. Mexicans call them topes. You will find topes, especially before entering localities.
If you happen to rush over a tope at high speed, you'll not repeat it next.  Watch for the warning signs before the coming topes. Drive carefully and significantly reduce speed, especially when entering a settlement.

Beware of potholes! There are plenty of them on Yucatán's roads. Some of them are very small, but others are terrifyingly large. We, therefore, recommend driving during the day if possible. At night, you may notice dangerous potholes just too late.

Most of the roads on the Yucatán Peninsula are free of charge ("libre"). They are often in worse condition than the toll roads ("cuota"). Toll roads are marked with the letter "D". There aren't too many of them on the Yucatán Peninsula. The best known is the one from Cancún or Playa del Carmen to Mérida.

The tolls are moderately priced. For instance, Valladolid to Chiqilá (Holbox) 187 Pesos; Chiqilá (Holbox) to Playa del Carmen 107 Pesos. You can often bypass the toll roads (with some loss of time).

In most places in Yucatán, finding a free parking space for your car is no problem. The sign for parking spaces in Yucatán is an "E" (abbreviation of "Estacionamiento"), while a crossed-out "E" means that parking is prohibited.

In Tulum Beach (along Beach Road) it is becoming increasingly difficult to find free parking.

There is often free parking at Mayan ruins. Sometimes a fee is also due (e.g. in Uxmal and Coba), but then the parking spaces are monitored.

A liter of gasoline currently costs 19 MXN, which is about 92 USD cents. The majority of the gas stations are state-owned and are called PEMEX. You can now also find smaller gas station companies. You are usually served at the gas stations. I.e., you tell the gas station attendant how much you want to fill up. Few stations accept cash payment only.

Expect numerous military checks while driving in the countryside. It looks pretty frightening: men in uniform (mostly with machine guns) control passing cars, but not each one. The military is primarily there to uncover and prevent the smuggling of drugs and other illegal goods.

Playa del Carmen - beach next to the Cozumel ferry port - r.g. photo

Food

In Playa del Carmen and Tulum, in an inexpensive restaurant, a meal costs around 4-7 USD. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant may cost about 25 USD. 

A restaurant meal is about 10-15% more expensive in Cancun than in Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

Yucatán - Tulum - shrimp salad - r.t. photo

Shopping

If you are to shop, go to where the locals do their shopping. Prices in the Zona Turistica (anywhere from the Hotel Zone in Cancun to all the pricey places beachside in Playa Del Carmen and south to Tulum) are higher than in, say, Cancun Centro.
The exchange rates are better in towns, too, though at 20 pesos to a dollar, it’s a pretty good deal anywhere. Always have some U.S. dollars on you. Pay in pesos for most everyday transactions, but you get a better deal by paying with U.S. dollars for larger ones. Everyone takes them, and many locals prefer USD.

Yucatán - Tulum - souvenirs - Anna K-K. photo

Yucatán - Tulum - ATM - Anna K-K. photo

Fun

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Tulum - Laguna Kaan Luum - seasaw, instead of seesaw- Anna K-K. photo

Public safety

The Yucatán is much safer than other parts of Mexico. The state authorities and the influential business circles are both very keen to protect the tourism industry, the goose with the golden eggs. 

In 2019: the homicide rate for Mexico is 20,5 per 100,000 inhabitants, the homicide rate for Yucatán is 2,1 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Keep in mind that car break-ins in parking lots may happen. Never leave any valuables visibly in the car.

Before traveling to Mexico, you may read some horror stories about the corrupt Mexican police. On the Yucatán, you'll never experience anything like that. Police officers are very friendly and helpful. They may have instructed to make positive impressions on foreign tourists.

Yucatán - Caution! Crocodiles live in this lagoon. - v.j. photo

Akumal Beach

Yucatán Peninsula - Akumal Beach - Krista photo

Yucatán Peninsula - Akumal Beach - Krista photo

Yucatán Peninsula - Akumal Beach - Krista photo

Uxmal

Yucatan - Uxmal - b.l. photo

Uxmal - b.l. photo

Uxmal - step sizes - b.l. photo

Mérida

Yucatan - Mérida - Monument to the Fatherland (Monumento a la Patria), a sculpture depicting Mexican history from the Mayans to modern day. - Elter photo