The PERFECT Mayan Riviera Road Trip 👌🏼

A complete guide to doing The Riviera right. All in a week's work.

Cancun ↣ Isla Mujeres ↣ Playa del Carmen ↣ Tulum ↣ Chichen Itzá

Quick Highlights:

• Party with Spiderman in Cancun's iconic CocoBongo ✓

• Scuba/snorkel in world famous Isla Mujeres ✓

• Patio hop in Playa del Carmen ✓

• Visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World (no big deal) ✓

• 3 wild nights in the trendy, nightlife-hub that is Tulum ✓

• Swim in an underground cave (cenote) ✓

HOS Score:

• List: 1 Country

• Local: 8.1 /10

• Loco: 9.3 /10

• Affordability: $$

[HOS Scores Explained]

As always, our parameters for judging a trip are the 3 L's:

• List: How many countries does it add to your "list"?

• Local: How many authentic, local experiences will you get?

• Loco: Spanish for crazy, "loco" is the hot sauce to your trip's burrito. How many wild moments will you get? (think nightlife, parties, adrenaline sports, awesome stories)

QUICK NOTE: This is a roadtrip. We highly recommend renting a car. It'll make your life easy, add to the experience, and save you from buying expensive tours. Plus... ROADIE!

Let's dive in:

Stop #1: Cancun (1-2 nights)

Most likely, your flight into Mexico will land in Cancun. You can think of Cancun as the Mexican Las Vegas: full of nightclubs, shows, restaurants, resorts, and virtually no local culture. For what it is, it's awesome.

If it's your first time, check out the world famous Coco Bongo night club. They host a nightly party complete with epic performers and a kick-ass playlist of your favourite classics. Purists will say it's mainstream and touristy, but in our books, partying your face off with Batman, Spiderman and Marilyn Monroe is never a bad idea. If you can swing it, get yourself a VIP pass. You don't want to miss Grease Lightning 'cause you were waiting in line for a drink.

There's no shortage of party spots in Cancun, from Mandala to The City to margaritas at Señor Frogs, you will have a blast. You will spend too much money. And you will wake up hungover. Viva Cancun!

Where to Stay: Frankly, it doesn't matter. You won't sleep much. But if you're really keen: Nomads, Mayan Monkey and Fiesta Party Hostel will show you a good time for cheap.

Stop #2: Isla Mujeres (1-2 nights)

Nothing washes away Cancun sins like the turquoise waters of the Caribbean; and world-famous Isla Mujeres has some of the very best. If you're into scuba diving or snorkelling, this is one of the best spots in the world. We highly recommend a day-tour to the Instagram-famous Underwater Museum (seen above).

That said, Isla Mujeres (or "Isla" if you want to sound cool and local) isn't just for water-dwellers. It's a vibey beach paradise with more patios and local food spots than you know what to do with. Not to mention a serious case of "island time", where nothing really matters and the days melt together.

Getting There & Getting Around: The ferry that takes you to Isla is just outside Cancun. We recommend leaving your rental car there (overnight parking is about $12), putting your bags in the trunk, and only taking a little bag to the island. You only really need a phone, cash and swim trunks. (I exaggerate, but only a little)

Once you're on the island: RENT A GOLF CART!!

Read that again so it sinks in. For some weird reason, Isla Mujeres = Golf Carts and Golf Carts = Isla Mujeres. There's no better way to explore the beaches and patios, and frankly to embrace the island spirit. @aabanciu

Where To Stay: Airbnb doesn't have much of a selection on the island, but there are a couple high-end hostels (equipped with beachfront pools and patios) that are definitely worth checking out:

• Nomads

• Selina

• Les Trois Singes

Recently stayed at Nomads and had a comfy room, great breakfast and golf cart rental on-site. Definitely recommend.

Stop #3: Playa del Carmen (1 night)

At HangOverSeas, we firmly believer that Playa del Carmen should really be called Patio del Carmen. This place has a higher concentration of patios (both street-side and rooftop) than most of Latin America. In fact, you'll spend most of your time on patios and hardly any time on the playa! Trust me though - that's not a bad thing.

Playa del Carmen's famous 5th Avenue is a patio-lover's paradise. From small, hole-in-the-wall bars to flashy open-air clubs, it really has it all. Is it ridiculously touristy? Absolutely. Will you get offered drugs, "massages" and everything in between? Constantly. But if you want to take down Mexico, you have to spend a night on this famous strip.

Personally, our favourite spot is Patio 8 (the first video on the left). It wins on music, architecture and overall buzz. Think of it as a hybrid between a patio restaurant, a bar and a club. Go there for sit-down drinks that slowly transition into a full-on party. Shout out to the DJ's here as well, who crush it with both the Spanish & English music.

PRO TIP: Start your night at Cerveceria Chapultepec across the street. If you get a table at the edge of the patio, you're 10 feet away from Patio 8, but eating dirt-cheap tacos and drinking discount tequila shots. Best of both worlds.

**NOTE: Like many in PDC, Patio 8 has a tendency to change names - so look out for the Cerveceria and the beautiful patio across the street will be the one you want (regardless what name is on the sign).**

Where to Stay: PDC's hotel game is on point! Even if you don't love the strip, you'll love your stay based on hotels alone. Not only does every spot have a ridiculous rooftop with a pool overlooking the ocean, but they're also reasonably priced. Our top picks are:

• Singular Joy Downtown Residences (also available on Airbnb)
  

• The Thompson Playa del Carmen

...but there are so many, you can't go wrong. Just don't settle for anything without a rooftop pool and ocean view!

Singular Joy Playa del Carmen

PRO TIP #2: To mix in some of the minimal "culture" Playa del Carmen has to offer, swing by the Parque Los Fundadores at some point during your stay. It's right off the main strip, includes the iconic Portal Maya sculpture and even has traditional indigenous presentations every few hours.

Stop #4: Tulum (3 nights)

The big dance for party-lovers and hipsters alike: this is where you'll get most of your content. With trendy restaurants, bars and beach clubs, grandiose night life and an increasingly hip crowd, Tulum is quickly becoming the Bali of the West. Expect fedoras and shirts with holes in them.

With that said, some of the coolest restaurants and bars you'll ever visit are located here, not to mention accommodations. Let's start there:

Where To Stay: This one really depends on you.

Fancy yourself an influencer and have money to blow? Then you'll find no shortage of luxurious, boutique resorts along Tulum beach: AZULIK Tulum, Alaya Tulum and Ahau Tulum being some of the most notable.

HOWEVER - Tulum is one of those rare places where us mere mortals can also get a taste of the good life at a reasonable price. Villas and luxury condos complete with terraces and pools are surprisingly affordable - especially if you're traveling in a small group. We got a luxury 2-bdrm condo with a rooftop infinity pool & waterfall for less than $50 USD/person.

Scroll Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo to find your home base.

Backpackers - Don't stress. There's room for you (and your $20/night budget) too! Our hostel of choice is definitely Hostel Ché Tulum, since they have a pool and undoubtedly the best pre-bar parties, but there are plenty to choose from. That said, no matter where you stay, go to Ché for your pregame!

Hostel Ché Tulum

What to Do:

If you're following our schedule and doing 3 nights - make sure they're Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This stretch, known as the Tulum Holy Trinity, is among the best in the world. Let's break down your itinerary:

Thursday:

If you arrive in the daytime, take a quick drive to the Tulum Ruins. My first few times in Tulum, I put this off and never ended up making it. Take advantage of your energy, sobriety, and that you're already in the car - and get these seaside Mayan beauties done!

Where to Eat: A favourite on Tulum's beach strip is the subtle but iconic Clan-destino. Like the name suggests, this spot does not sport a big bright sign or hostesses begging you to go in. It doesn't need all that. It relies on its fundamentals: delicious food, vibey music, affordable prices, and oh yea the fact that there's a cenote in the middle of it..

Bring your appetite, bring your swim trunks, and don't miss Clan-destino.

Tonight, your non-negotiable destination will be Casa Jaguar. This vibey, outdoor resto-bar is the essence of Tulum personified: deep house DJ's, open-air dance floors, vibey candlelight seating areas, and all the mezcal you can shake a peso at. Dinner isn't cheap - but if you want to do dinner and stay there until the party starts - it is a pretty unique experience.

Alternatives for Thursday: The resto-bar La Rosa Negra. Sitting across the street from Gitano (more on that tomorrow), this restaurant turns to a people-dancing-on-tables bar real quick. Pricey, but fun. A common theme in Tulum.

Friday:

No questions asked, you'll want to start your day at Burrito Amor. No more to add here - just take our word for it. This breakfast, smoothie, and burrito spot needs no introduction, but it does need a visit. Trust me.

From there, the day is yours (I mean.. we're not your babysitter), but check your bank balance and see which level of beach club (or public beach) you want to dabble in. OR, hang out at your villa / hostel and drink by the pool.

If you want a cheap and fun activity - check out Grand Cenote. An open-air cave with crystal blue waters, right outside the town. It won't be the best cenote you'll see on this trip (that's Cenote Ik Kil tomorrow), but it's still worth checking out.

Friday night at Gitano: The Bee's Knees 🏆

Friday night is Gitano night. At HangOverSeas, we'll go as far to say this spot is our favourite in all of Tulum - if not all of Mexico. This legendary establishment has it all. It's big, it's beautiful, it's vibey, it has different areas with entirely different atmospheres - and it attracts an awesome albeit wildly diverse crowd.

Just do us one favour: while you're standing on a chair surrounded by beautiful people and jamming to the DJ's set - look up at the starry sky above you, take it all in, and thank HangOverSeas for bringing you to this moment. You're welcome!

Saturday:

Today is gonna be a long day. This is when you need to put on your rally hat and make miracles happen. Are you hurting from last night? Yesss. Was last night unbelievable? Yesss. Are you driving 4 hours round trip today? Yess. Is it worth it? F*** yea.

Get up as early as last night will allow, hop in the car, and start the roadie to Chichen Itza (1 of the 7 Wonders of the World). Your roadie will be the most authentic Mexican experience you have on this trip - and you'll never forget it. So pony up!

Day-Trip Summary:

• Tulum --> Cenote Ik Kil (2 hours): Here you'll stop for a swim in one of the Riviera's most beautiful cenotes. A big perk of Ik Kil: there's a spot you can jump off. It's also very close to Chichen Itza - so you're almost there!
  

• Cenote Ik Kil --> Chichen Itza (5 mins): The big dance. Take your pictures, buy a souvenir, and complain about how hungover you are in the blistering sun. Worth it.
  

• Chichen Itza --> Valladolid (40 mins): At this point you're heading home, but on the way is the city of Valladolid. Unlike Tulum, Valladolid has maintained it's authentic Mexican feel. Stop for some tacos, a churro and a picture of the classically Mexican main square / church.
  

• Valladolid --> Tulum (1h 20 mins): Home time. Shower, change, do what you have to do - 'cause the day isn't over yet.

Saturday Night:

The answer here is Papaya Playa Project. If you've never been to Tulum, this outdoor club is a must-see. The architecture is spectacular - with tables carved into a rocky hill, overlooking the beach (aka dance-floor,) a DJ stage shaped like a conk shell and made out of bamboo, and of course a backdrop of the moon-lit ocean. The place is remarkable. But disclaimer: It's not Gitano. If you set expectation for each night to be better than the last, you could be asking too much. The catch(es) with P.P.P are, it's pricey even for Tulum standards (which is saying something), the music is EXCLUSIVELY trance, and (at least during COVID) you have to check-in your phone at the front before you can go in. To be fair, that part is kind of cool - but it's also inconvenient. If they improved their music a little, and made cocktails a couple USD cheaper, this place would be the rockstar in Tulum.

..unless you're a trance nut with bags of money of course, in which case yippee.

Conclusion:

Don't let the family fool you, one week in Mexico is not just for all-inclusives. If you fork up the cash to rent a car, you can squeeze the best The Riviera has to offer without any rush or hyper-planning. Will it be cheap, by Latin America standards? No. Will it be a culture-rich experience where you'll rub elbows with locals and "find" yourself? Not really. But this touristy hotspot will show you one hell of a good time.

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