Planning a 12 day trip to the Yucatan in late November. We would like to visit Bacalar, Valladolid and a small beach town to end off our trip. (Still deciding which one).
We land in Cancun around 5 pm and wonder if it makes sense to go directly to Bacalar or stay somewhere close for 1 night and head out the next day. We’re not interested in Cancun but may have to suck it up for 1 night!
If anyone can weigh in, I’d appreciate your advice re the following:
1. Best way to get to Bacalar from Cancun
2. Given our itinerary, should we rent a car?
3. If we stayed in Cancun just one night, any recommendations. And if we rent a car we’d have a bit of flexibility…
4. Any beach small town recommendations? Not Tulum or Playa del Carmen as we’ve been to both when they were actually small beach towns and I don’t think they’re our vibe anymore.
We love good food, spending the day at the beach, markets. Not into clubs, parties and loud places.
Thanks for any suggestions!

I would recommend checking out Holbox.

Crystal Toigo-Avila Friends have been and they loved it so On my list.

Sharmani yeah! it is 2 hours from Cancun. I would go if I were in my 20's or 30's. Not a convenient island for adults.

Marcela Vela we decided against it because reviews suggested it was a bit of a party place…

Since you are arriving late and will be dark, I would suggest staying close to Cancun and only head out to Bacalar the following morning. https://travelmexicosolo.com/cancun-to-bacalar-mexico/
TRAVELMEXICOSOLO.COM
Cancun to Bacalar Mexico: How to Get to Bacalar Lake (2023)

Best beach town close to Cancun - Isla Mujeres

Vickie I did wonder about that so we booked a hotel for one night in puerto Morelos. We’re going to rent a car and drive there in the morning. Thanks for weighing in!

Sharmani if you stay in cancun one day. Try Isla mujeres day trip. It is 30 min from cancun.

You can take ado bus from Cancun to bacalar then to valladolid. Very good bud service

Gary Good to know thanks!

I would go Valledolid first which you can teach in 2 hrs from Cancun, and plan on 3-4 days to explore all the cenotes and ruins, then Bacalar, stopping at Coba on the way. Then go to Puerto Morelos for gorgeous beach and reef

Madeline Thanks for the suggestions!

Hacienda Adhara was great for our family for an overnight in Cancun and buffet breakfast is included. It’s also very close to the ADO bus terminal. The bus anywhere is seamless! For us, it was hard to find a quiet beach town between Cancun and Tulum…not sure about further south.

Also, car rental Rentadora Isis was scam-free and well priced.

Karen this is helpful. Thanks!

I recommemd Mahahual , it is close to Bacalar

Marcela Vela good to know. We decided to rent a car and stay in Bacalar before exploring further. Will check out mahahual if we have tome