The Best 10 day Yucatan Vacation

And here we go again, Yucatan here we come!  I stopped counting.  Must have been there more than a dozen times, and still wanting to go back : )

So I told myself... I'm turning 50 in the spring, and where else would I want to be but in Yucatan with my family!  I am VERY excited about this trip, because we will also be traveling with very dear friends of ours, adults and kids, for a total of three families of four.  Woohoo!

Just these two reasons inspired me to prepare the very best 10 day Family Yucatan itinrary - and I shall share the tips and the experience!

The first order of things in organizing the trip was to find accommodations that fit our group and our budget.  On the coast of Yucatan (Gulf of Mexico), we had three options for a group of 12 people.  A couple included a combination of 2 smaller houses from K'ab Yucatan (excellent agency - highly recommended - kab-yucatan.com), but because most people in the group preferred to be all together under the same roof, we opted for a fabulous big 5 bedroom house.  It is located in Telchac Puerto, the price is right, and there is plenty of space for the kids to go nuts without the parents going nuts as well.  The photos are pretty convincing... www.flipkey.com/telchac-puerto-vacation-rentals/p432756/.
Can't wait!

With the house booked, I then built the trip around that main destination.
We will arrive at the Cancun airport by noon, rent one car per family, and get on the highway right away.  Because Telchac Puerto is about 4 hours drive from the Cancun airport, and because we have to stop and get some food on the way, there is not enough time to get to Telchac Puerto before sunset.  It is not recommended to drive by night in the countryside, especially if it's your first time in Yucatan.

So our first pit stop from the airport will be the lovely historic town of Izamal.  We will arrive in late afternoon, jump in the pool, and go walk around the central square, get dinner and enjoy the site.  Izamal is my favorite town.  Rural hub with a mix of colonial and archeological landmarks, kind country people all around, and the best little public market and bakery.  I have booked one of the best hotels in town - might as well have a top notch first night in this lovely place, and kick-off our vacation on the right foot.  We will be at Romantic Hotel Santo Domingo - www.izamalhotel.com/

On day 2, we will go shopping for food in the market and get what we need for the first couple of nights, then head out to the house in Telchac Puerto - a 90 minute drive from Izamal.  We will be there for 5 nights, and REALLY get in vacation mode.  Oh... and we might have a wedding in store too... but it's a secret... shhhh : )

After our stay in Telchac Puerto, we will be spending one night in Mérida.  A must.  Mérida has quite a few hotels of course, but one of my favorite ones is Luz en Yucatan.  This small hotel has  a lot of character, is very well located and safe, in the historic centre of town right by the Santa Lucia Park.  They also have a few units with kitchenette.  www.luzenyucatan.com/

The next day we will all drive back to the Caribbean coast, and stop to swim in the beautiful Cenote Ikkil, about half way between Mérida and Cancun. A stunning place, one of the best Cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula. www.tuulavintage.com/2013/05/ik-kil-cenote/

Finally, we will spend our last 2 nights in Cancun.  The best beaches in Cancun are located near the Club Med, AKA South Beach.  That's also the strip of hotels located closest to the airport, about 20 minutes drive.  The beach is absolutely AMAZING there.  The perfect place to play in the warm blue waves, and that's how I like to end my Yucatan vacations.  I found a good condo complex with a pool, and with lots of very good reviews.  www.cancun-condos.net/SolymarCancunEn

And this brings us to day 10 - flying back home.

A Short itinerary overview :
Izamal - to Telchac Puerto - to Mérida - to Cancun.  Amen.