Quintana Roo really is a land of enchantment. From the perfect beaches to the ruins that can only inspire wonder and awe, to the lively people, it is among our favorite destinations, not just in Mexico, but in the whole world. If you live in the US, it is usually an easy, cheap getaway. But there is more to it than meets the eye, and contrary to what the media and travel agents will tell you, you don't need to go to a resort if you don't want to. There are innumerable incredible things to do and places to see, and 307 Highway that traverses the coastline all the way down to the border of Belize is a treat to explore in itself. You can rent a car, take the ADO bus, or catch the collectivo. Here are our top 7 experiences in Quintana Roo from our adventures so far!
The coastal peninsula and most of the eastern side of the city are known as the "hotel zone." This area and the area along the beautiful 307 highway (on which I have spent a lot of time) is dominated by massive resorts and hotels. Though, you can find tons of local beaches both in the hotel zone and along the highway coast. A carefree vacation spent at one of these massive resorts may be what you’re looking for, and if it is, there is nothing like a Mexico luxury resort. Admittedly, we’ve wound down at a few All Inclusives ourselves.
My personal recommendation is that you can rent a car or a scooter and rip around the island for hours. Once you get out of the town that most people know as Cozumel, you find open roads and not a car in sight. There are immaculate beaches lining the whole circumference of the island without anyone on them at all. Most of the pop-up restaurants are not on any map because locals usually set up a few tables, bring a grill with propane, and set up for the day. There are restaurants and long-time permanent= beach bars where you can stop and grab a drink and some food.
Around the island, you will find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. Cozumel is known for the immaculate beaches and underwater sights here. If you are into diving, Cozumel is not a place you want to miss.
There are two noteworthy sites that you have the option of visiting while you are in Cozumel. First, north of the city, there is a huge pearl farm. You can tour the farm as well as buy unique jewelry made with saltwater pearls from Cozumel here, but you will need a car or jeep to get here. The road is a bit rough for the scooter that we took. And second, there is an archaeological ruin near the center of the island called San Gervasio. It's about 30 minutes outside of the main city, but it is well worth a visit! These ruins are far less visited than other ruins, so there is a high chance that you will see many types of jungle animals if you visit this location.
The town is famous for its boutique hotels which are regular getaways for celebrities and prominent influencers. Tulum is known as the "most instagramable" city in Mexico and has hotels to match. Even if you could never hope to afford to stay in one, you should look these up. Some of them can even be visited for a small cost, and are basically art and architectural museums. But there are also hostels, thriftier hotels, and a campsite along the beach that will cater to more modest budgets.
Aside from the boujee side of Tulum, the beaches are legendary. Pillowy white, soft, sand-lined, with perfectly groomed palm trees, covered with beautiful people, delicious snack vendors, and lively bars characterize the coastline. In fact you don't even need to bring a lunch for an afternoon at the beach. There are delicious locals and vendors walking along the beach that will be happy to sell you snacks or a large meal.
If you're not keen on the idea of driving yourself, there are plenty of tours as an alternative. Once you reach Punta Allen, you will find yourself in a tiny, quaint, peaceful little village whose inhabitants seem universally devoted to the preservation of one of Mexico’s richest biosphere. Sian Kaan is an incredible water feature that is absolutely alive with turtles, dolphins, fish, sharks, and a myriad of other sea life. There are also masses of mangroves populated by a whole array of birds of paradise and stunning crystal clear cayes.
Sian Kaan is the perfect place to spend an afternoon in the sun, drinking tequila, and learning about the biosphere. The people are kind, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque spot in the whole world. We’ve only experienced Sian Kaan once, but I would love to get back down to Punta Allen and learn more about the microcosm of life and the unique and harmonious world.
Number 7: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Cancún
Cancún is the city you’ll land if you’re flying to Quintana Roo. It is one of the most visited cities in Mexico by tourists and it shows. You will feel the busy city as soon as you hit customs. Depending on the time of day you land in Mexico, customs can take quite a while. Plan for a decent amount of time unless you land in the early hours of the morning.
The coastal peninsula and most of the eastern side of the city are known as the "hotel zone." This area and the area along the beautiful 307 highway (on which I have spent a lot of time) is dominated by massive resorts and hotels. Though, you can find tons of local beaches both in the hotel zone and along the highway coast. A carefree vacation spent at one of these massive resorts may be what you’re looking for, and if it is, there is nothing like a Mexico luxury resort. Admittedly, we’ve wound down at a few All Inclusives ourselves.
Our experience?
We have never spent much time in the “Hotel Zone” ourselves, but I hear it is exactly what you would expect: lots of drunk tourists, American chain restaurants, European clothes stores, and overpriced food and drink (relative to Mexico, that is). I suppose I shouldn’t be too judgemental, since I haven’t experienced much of it, but I’ve heard many people say they hate Cancún and this is the area they are referencing. Unless you specifically go looking for anything else, this is exactly what you will find in Cancun. Some people will advise you to get out of town as soon as you land, but I don’t necessarily feel that way. We happen to have a few good friends in the city who have shown us a different, and much better side. It is full of good, affordable restaurants, including little pop-up tents where you can eat fish that came out of the sea a few minutes before for no more than $3 USD. There are fun little local bars, and the people are very nice. We usually just enjoy just spending time at house parties and walking around with our friends eating incredible tacos.Number 6: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Cozumel
The most famous island off the coast of Quintana Roo is beautiful and everybody knows it, including every major resort chain, hoards of tourists, and cruise lines; a definite inclusion in any list of top 7 experiences in Quintana Roo. Most people know it for just that; the luxury tourism side. But we think it has a different element of charm. There are more affordable options for lodging and dining if that is what you’re looking for.
Our experience?
My personal recommendation is that you can rent a car or a scooter and rip around the island for hours. Once you get out of the town that most people know as Cozumel, you find open roads and not a car in sight. There are immaculate beaches lining the whole circumference of the island without anyone on them at all. Most of the pop-up restaurants are not on any map because locals usually set up a few tables, bring a grill with propane, and set up for the day. There are restaurants and long-time permanent= beach bars where you can stop and grab a drink and some food.
Around the island, you will find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. Cozumel is known for the immaculate beaches and underwater sights here. If you are into diving, Cozumel is not a place you want to miss.
Our experience?
There are two noteworthy sites that you have the option of visiting while you are in Cozumel. First, north of the city, there is a huge pearl farm. You can tour the farm as well as buy unique jewelry made with saltwater pearls from Cozumel here, but you will need a car or jeep to get here. The road is a bit rough for the scooter that we took. And second, there is an archaeological ruin near the center of the island called San Gervasio. It's about 30 minutes outside of the main city, but it is well worth a visit! These ruins are far less visited than other ruins, so there is a high chance that you will see many types of jungle animals if you visit this location.
Number 5: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is either too obvious or likely will be met with disagreement, and believe me, we understand. Despite its popularity among European and American tourists as well as expats, Playa is a great place to start if you’re new to the state, or even the country. For most people would include Playa on any list of top 7 experiences in Quintana Roo. On one visit, we spent our New Years Eve 2018 and New Years Day 2019 there with some friends and it couldn’t have been better. We started out at a friend’s house party and ended up on a crowded beach with fireworks on every side of us. On New Years Day we woke up and had some of the best tortas I’ve ever had made by a friend’s mom. But of course, that won’t be everyone’s experience. The downtown/tourist area has loads of restaurants, most of them pricier than average. If you are obviously a tourist, there will be hundreds of people waiting to try to sell you anything and everything from souvenirs to day trips. If you keep your eyes forward and walk with purpose, or better yet, speak Spanish, they’ll leave you alone. This is where many of the major hotels, the car rentals, the ferries, and the buses are. There are also several massive supermarkets, which we always love to find because the selection is great. Before you fly back home, be sure to pick up some tequila at one of the supermarkets because the selection is unreal. Outside of the main area, there are tons of great little taquerias and food places. If you’re on a budget, or just want better food for less money, I’d recommend just wandering around. You’ll find something incredible quickly. Playa has some incredible, white sand, sapphire blue water, and beaches that are easy to find. They will be busy though.Number 4: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Tulum
Tulum is a love/hate destination for me. It has got to be the most expensive city in the state. If you’ve got money to spend, it might just be your favorite new playground. If not, you might feel a bit out of place. That isn’t to say it is only a place for the spendy; there are certain things that can be enjoyed by the rugged backpacker too. It is a world-renowned destination, so should be a must-see, and definitely included on anyone's list of top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo.
The town is famous for its boutique hotels which are regular getaways for celebrities and prominent influencers. Tulum is known as the "most instagramable" city in Mexico and has hotels to match. Even if you could never hope to afford to stay in one, you should look these up. Some of them can even be visited for a small cost, and are basically art and architectural museums. But there are also hostels, thriftier hotels, and a campsite along the beach that will cater to more modest budgets.
Aside from the boujee side of Tulum, the beaches are legendary. Pillowy white, soft, sand-lined, with perfectly groomed palm trees, covered with beautiful people, delicious snack vendors, and lively bars characterize the coastline. In fact you don't even need to bring a lunch for an afternoon at the beach. There are delicious locals and vendors walking along the beach that will be happy to sell you snacks or a large meal.
Our experience?
Tulum ruins are perched atop a hill overlooking the sea and the beaches. If you’re new to Mayan ruins, this is a very cool feature. These ruins are located in a national park and you can either bike or drive, but this is too far of a walk from the city. The ruins are fairly large but will take no more than a few hours to explore. If you are going back up north, you can easily catch the collective back north. My (Katelin) father actually camped when he was a young backpacker at these ruins before Tulum had really popped! Being a MASSIVE tourist destination nowadays, this could never happen, but it is amazing to see how much the area has changed. The nightlife in Tulum is world-renowned. If you’re into clubs and beach bars, you’ll feel right at home. You can find any sort of nightlife to fit your style as well. In Tulum, the culinary culture is fabled. Famous chefs from around the world have set up shops to treat the taste buds of the clientele who come with money. But you can also eat for just a few pesos if that is more your thing. There is a slew of taco trucks, elote carts, torta shops, you name it, throughout the city.Number 3: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Isla Mujeres
Regretfully, we have only spent one day on this incredible island so far, but it was one of the best days of my whole life to date. Isla Mujeres is very close to Cancun, so going here would easily be included in our top 7 experiences in Quintana Roo. The trip was spontaneous. We had an extra day in Cancún, so we walked to the ferry, paid 300 pesos each (just under $15 USD at the time) each, and hopped on. The ferries run every half an hour or so, 5:30 AM until midnight. However, that might be different with the new COVID schedules, so be sure to check before you go. We found that returning boats get pretty full in the later hours.Our experience?
Island air just seems to hit differently. After walking off the boat and found a cute little town with tons of little shops and restaurants. Some random guy who worked in one of the restaurants made a few suggestions about what we should do, and then pointed us to a place that rents scooters and golf carts. We decided on renting a golf cart and proceeded to cruise around the island all afternoon and evening. We even passed a famous seashell-shaped mansion that we had seen on lists of famous Airbnbs! As we drove around the island we stopped at beaches, bars, and restaurants and saw very few other vehicles or tourists. In total, driving around the circumference of the island couldn't take more than 45 minutes if you wanted to circle the island quickly. The stars were extremely clear when the sun went down and the evening weather was perfect. After finally returning the golf cart we had dinner at a pop up tent restaurant. The food was delicious, and we had a great mezcal drink at a nearby bar. All around Isla Mujeres, you will find plenty of fancy, yet very affordable mezcal and tequila cocktails. There are quite a few smaller and less expensive restaurants outside of the main town area. I highly recommend venturing a bit outside of the main street because many of the local places are more on the outskirts of town. That being said, the town is not very big; walking from one side to the other takes no more than 10 minutes. If you plan to return to the mainland, make sure to get back to the docks early, but this ferry does not seem to fill up nearly as fast as the ferry to Cozumel does. We were some of the only guests making the final journey of the day.Number 2: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Bacalar
Bacalar is a town very near the capital of Quintana Roo, Chetumal, which is also the border crossing to Belize. From Cancun to Bacalar, it is about a four-hour drive or a bit longer ADO bus ride. The drive down is a treat in itself. But when you get there, you’ll find what I consider to be a true hidden gem of quality scarcely left in a world of easy tourism. I almost want to implore people NOT to visit Bacalar, so it continues to exist as it is. By far, it is one of the most beautiful places either of us has ever been.
Our experience?
This lake is known as the lagoon of 7 colors because of its array of hues of blue and the views on the lake itself are like a dream. There are multiple cenotes in the lake, and it is a biome of remarkable diversity and beauty. You might find yourself blinking to determine whether what you are seeing is real. The crystal clear water looks like blue Gatorade, then blue kool-aid, and then every other variety of artificially electric blue drink. It cannot be described in words and it is hardly done justice in pictures. A trip to Bacalar is not just one of our top 7 experiences in Quintana Roo, but it is a top experience overall. Bacalar town is adorable too. It is quaint but lively. There are some of the better restaurants I’ve ever eaten at, for prices I could more than afford. Overall, beers are around $1, and cocktails are $3 to $5 for a particularly good drink! Any restaurant you go to along the lake coast is amazing. The atmosphere of each restaurant is unique and easy to spend hours at. We spent days gorging on incredible food from the cheapest little dives to some of the fancier places in town. There are a ton of affordable Airbnbs, as well as some much more upscale ones. The town is incredible. Put it on your list.Number 1: Top 7 Experiences in Quintana Roo
Sian Kaan / Punta Allen: Top Experience in Quintana Roo
Sian Kaan biosphere is an amazing day trip or longer stay depending on what you're looking for. Of the top 7 experiences in Quintana Roo, we rated this experience highest because a trip to Sian Ka'an could be an easy day trip or an overnight stay. This little adventure is difficult to do on your own, but you could manage if you’ve got the right vehicle. Most rental car companies will not provide insurance if you are planning a trip here. The road into Sian Kaan and to the city of Punta Allen is very long and it is 100% necessary to have a high clearance, 4x4 type of vehicle. Plan for a two-hour trek south from Tulum along this difficult jungle road.
If you're not keen on the idea of driving yourself, there are plenty of tours as an alternative. Once you reach Punta Allen, you will find yourself in a tiny, quaint, peaceful little village whose inhabitants seem universally devoted to the preservation of one of Mexico’s richest biosphere. Sian Kaan is an incredible water feature that is absolutely alive with turtles, dolphins, fish, sharks, and a myriad of other sea life. There are also masses of mangroves populated by a whole array of birds of paradise and stunning crystal clear cayes.
Sian Kaan is the perfect place to spend an afternoon in the sun, drinking tequila, and learning about the biosphere. The people are kind, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque spot in the whole world. We’ve only experienced Sian Kaan once, but I would love to get back down to Punta Allen and learn more about the microcosm of life and the unique and harmonious world.