Avila Travel Mexico EK Balam Chichen Itza blog Rosalie

Discovering Mexico; Yucatán, Campeche & Quintana Roo

Travel report

Travel with Rosalie through the provinces of Yucatán, Campeche & Quintana Roo in Mexico.

9 January 2026

Our colleague Rosalie van Doorn travelled through three impressive provinces in Mexico. You can read about her travel experience below.

Over the course of two weeks, I had the chance to explore three Mexican states: the Yucatán Peninsula, Campeche and Quintana Roo. It was my very first time in Mexico and what an introduction it was.

Yucatán

The trip began with a drive from Cancún to Valladolid, where I immediately visited my first cenote: Cenote Suytun. A cenote is a natural freshwater pool formed when the roof of an underground cave collapses, revealing crystal-clear, often turquoise water. Cenote Suytun is without doubt one of the most photogenic cenotes in Yucatán: deep, high-ceilinged and full of stalactite formations, with a circular stone platform in the centre onto which a beam of light falls at exactly midday. We were lucky enough to be there at exactly the right moment.

Next, we headed to EK Balam, an impressive Mayan ruin complex and, for me, one of the highlights of the trip. There are relatively few tourists here and you’re still allowed to climb the ruins, unlike at the wonder of the world, Chichén Itzá.

Valladolid itself is a charming colonial town with lively squares and atmospheric streets. Calzada de los Frailes is particularly worth a visit. Hotel El Mesón de Marqués is not only a lovely place to stay, but also perfect for lunch or dinner in the beautiful courtyard garden, serving authentic Yucatecan cuisine.

Avila Travel Mexico Vallodidad cenote blog Rosalie

Off to the capital of Yucatán, Mérida. On the way, a stop-off in Izamal, also known as the ‘yellow city’. Mérida is a city with beautiful architecture and a rich history. There’s always something going on every evening, and live music and dance performances are regularly staged in the square at Parque de Santa Lucía. When we were there, there was a traditional music and dance show featuring stunning costumes and singing. The city is one of the safest in Mexico, and we certainly noticed that when we were still strolling through the streets late at night.

Avila Travel Mexico Izamal Mérida blog Rosalie

Campeche

Next, on to colourful Campeche, which was a real highlight of the trip for me. The brightly coloured houses are almost reminiscent of the Caribbean. The city has a rich history of piracy and is still surrounded by a largely intact city wall.

After visiting all the towns, we headed inland towards Chicanná. Here we stayed in an ecolodge, an ideal base for exploring the impressive ruins of Calakmul. What makes Calakmul so special is its remote location. From the park entrance, you drive another 60 kilometres – a journey of about an hour and a half – straight through the jungle. Along the way, we spotted coatis, tarantulas and the ocellated turkey, a remarkable bird with brightly coloured feathers. It’s very secluded, which is why it’s not very touristy. All around the ruins, you can hear animal sounds everywhere, with the howls of the howler monkeys really standing out. With a bit of luck, you might even spot jaguars, pumas or ocelots here.

Avila Travel Mexico Campeche blog Rosalie

Avila Travel Mexico Calakmul blog Rosalie

Quintana Roo

We then travelled on to the azure-blue Lake Bacalar, a real gem just north of Chetumal. We stayed at Rancho Encantado, where you can jump straight into the lake from the jetty or go kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The water is around 27 degrees, so lovely and warm. From Bacalar, we set off on an adventurous drive to Punta Allen, in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. From the entrance, you drive about 45 kilometres – a journey that quickly takes two hours – along a bumpy road full of potholes but with stunning views. The speed limit was 20 km per hour, but luckily we had a sturdy SUV. It really feels as though you’re at the end of the world here: the sea on one side, mangroves on the other, and hardly any tourists. A hidden gem for anyone seeking peace and quiet and wanting to get completely away from it all.

We rounded off the trip on the beach at Tulum, where we stayed at the luxury boutique hotel Jashita. This hotel is situated right on the turquoise Soliman Bay, a protected bay with calm waters ideal for swimming. The restaurant serves a delicious mix of Mexican and Italian dishes. This romantic and peaceful spot was the perfect way to round off an active and varied trip.

Avila Travel Mexico Bacalar blog Rosalie

Avila Travel Mexico Sian Kaan National Park blog Rosalie

Mexico enchants you in so many ways: it offers adventure in the jungles and ruins of ancient Mayan cities, relaxation by azure lakes and on hidden beaches, and a rich immersion in culture and history that you can feel almost everywhere. Each region has its own charm: from colonial towns with colourful streets and squares to remote nature reserves where it feels as though time has stood still.