Mexico self drive tours

Below you'll find an overview of our bite-sized Mexico self drive tours, lasting from 2 to 5 days. You can string these together to form a longer Mexico itinerary.

Most of our customers begin their Mexico self drive adventure with an Easy Going Starter Pack in Playa del Carmen. After this, you can pick and choose from our selection of mini self drive tours below build the rest of your itinerary. Take a look our travelling in Mexico page if you need a hand getting started.

Not sure where to start, or need a little inspiration? Check out our suggested Mexico itineraries.

Prices are quoted per person based on 2 people sharing and are valid until the 31st of March 2011, and surcharges may apply around Easter (spring break), in July and August and around Christmas.

Mexico starter pack Easy Going in Playa del Carmen

Duration:	3 days / 2 nights
Price:	£87 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Cancun airport
Route:	Cancun airport - Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a great place to begin a Mexican adventure, and this tour will help you get your trip off to a relaxed start. You'll be collected from the airport and transferred directly to your hotel, where you'll spend the first two nights of your holiday. Towel and book in hand, just settle into the warm white sand and stretch out in the sun. The Quinta Avenida, the main shopping street in Playa is a really lively area with plenty to see and do, particularly in the evening, so it's a perfect place for a burrito and Corona.

Click here for more about our Playa del Carmen tour.

Mexico self drive tour Haciendas and Mayan pyramids

Duration:	4 days / 3 nights
Price	£104 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Playa del Carmen or Cancun
Route:	Chichen Itza - Izamal - Campeche

This is the popular way to begin your Mexico self drive trip. Beginning at the tropical Caribbean beaches of Playa del Carmen you'll drive to the most famous Mayan ruins of Yucatan: Chichen Itza. It's one of Mexico's most popular sights, and you'll stay close to the entrance so that you can visit the ruins early the next morning before the big crowds arrive and the heat rises. Next, you'll continue to the fairytale 'yellow' town Izamal and then to colonial Campeche. The historic buildings in Campeche are beautifully lit at night and a walk along the fortress walls and bastions will take you back to the age of pirates.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short driving Chichen Itza tour.

Mexico self drive tour Hidden cenotes and colourful towns

Duration:	5 days / 4 nights
Price:	£110 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Playa del Carmen or Cancun
Route:	Valladolid - Chichen Itza - Izamal - Campeche

This is a more extended version of the tour above. You'll follow the same route, but spend more time in traditional Mexican towns like colonial Valladolid, with a number of sparkling cenotes (underground lakes) nearby. You'll visit Chichen Itza, after which you'll spend two nights in the yellow town of Izamal. The temples, the monastery, the local market - everywhere you look is drenched in the traditional Mayan culture. You'll follow the scenic 'Ruta Puuc', passing several small and off-the-beaten-track Mayan ruins in decorative Puuc style. This Mexico self drive tour ends in the colonial town Campeche.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Yucatan self drive tour

Mexico self drive Bathing with the pink flamingos

Duration:	2 days / 1 night
Duration:	£65 per person - based on 2 people
Departure	Daily from Playa del Carmen, Cancun or after Holbox
Route:	Stay in Lagartos

If you've got an extra day, we suggest this short stop at the very beginning of your Mexico self drive. It's a relaxed trip to a part of the Yucatan that isn't on the well-trodden tourist trail. With your rental car, you'll drive to Rio Lagartos village, the starting point of your boat trip. Gliding through the mangroves of the Rio Lagartos you'll see vast colonies of bright pink flamingos and you'll be able to get some free pampering in a natural mud bath. After 15 minutes of floating in the mineral-rich salt lake your skin will have turned a healthy tone of flamingo pink. You can end the day on your balcony and watch the orange sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Rio Lagartos tour

Mexico self drive Jungle temples and waterfalls

Duration:	4 days /3 nights
Price:	£89 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Campeche or San Cristobal de las Casas
Route:	Palenque and Calakmul

After exploring the Northern Yucatan area, you can continue your Mexico self drive to one of the uncontested highlights of Mexico: the jungle ruins of Palenque. You'll visit the Mayan temples early in the morning, and then escape the heat in the spectacular Agua Azul waterfalls. During your trip, you'll stay in a forest cabaña near to Calakmul, a relatively undiscovered jungle ruin. Wandering across the overgrown paths through the tropical rainforest, listening to the sounds of the jungle, smelling the wild orchids and clambering up the ruins of this ancient Mayan city you'll be virtually alone.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Palenque tour

Campeche to San Cristobal - market stall

Mexico self drive Colours and Indians

Duration:	3 days/ 2 nights
Price:	£65 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Campeche, Oaxaca or Palenque
Route:	Stay in San Cristobal de las Casas

In the mountainous province of Chiapas, you'll find yourself in a completely different Mexico. This hilly region on the Guatemalan border is home to the city of San Cristobal de las Casas, the centre of Mexican Indian and Zapatista culture. At 2100m, you'll stay in a colourful posada close to the old churches and shady plazas. But it's not just the town you've come to see - you'll also head out into the surrounding hills to visit remote Indian villages and experience traditional Chiapas culture.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Campeche to San Cristobal tour

Mexico self drive Beaches of Playa del Carmen

Duration:	4 days / 3 nights
Price:	Starting at £80 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Calakmul, Chetumal, or Cancun
Route:	Playa del Carmen

'Playa' is especially popular with European tourists. There's more of an authentic Mexican atmosphere here than the heavily Americanised resort Cancun. You'll hear mariachis singing in the streets and cheerful salsa music coming from the tequila and burrito stalls along the lively Avenida Quinta. On the beach, you can chill out to mellow reggae with a Pina Colada on a lounger. You'll also find several cosy little restaurants and plenty of good souvenirs to take back home. This is a great place to finish your Mexico self drive.

Click here to find out where to stay in Playa Del Carmen

Mexico self drive Palm trees and palapas

Duration:	4 days / 3 nights
Price:	Starting from £151 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Calakmul, Chetumal, Playa del Carmen or Cancun
Route:	Tulum

Tulum is a quiet tropical getaway with swaying palm trees, soft white sand and warm Caribbean waters - a perfect way to end your Mexico self drive trip. The cliff-top Mayan ruins are spectacular, and the town is full of little restaurants and interesting stalls. You won't find the large shopping streets or buzzing nightlife of Playa del Carmen here, and there are only a few rustic resorts on this stretch of the beach, which will make your beach cabaña stay all the more exclusive.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Tulum beach accommodation stay.

Mexico self drive Hammocks on barefoot island

Duration:	4 days / 3 nights
Price:	£160 per person - based on 2 people
Departure:	Daily from Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Valladolid or Chichen Itza
Route:	Stay on Holbox

Holbox Island, just off the coast of the Yucatan is a peaceful idyllic island hideaway. Not surprising really, as it's off the tourist trail and totally car-free. The only island roads are sandy paths and the only mode of transport is golf buggy. In the crystal-clear waters around the island, you can spot dolphins, tortoises, rays and (from May to September) whale sharks. Those who make the effort to get here will be rewarded with a tropical dream destination and we recommend it as a relaxing way to begin your Mexico self drive adventure.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Holbox Island tour

Mexico self drive Mayan jungle exploration

Duration:	2 days / 1 night
Price:	£106 per person - based on 2 people
Departure	Daily - excursion from Palenque
Route:	Yaxchilan - Bonampak - Palenque

If you're looking for a real jungle adventure in addition to popular Palenque, you can add this daytrip to your itinerary with extra night in Palenque. You'll be collected at your hotel early in the morning and travel by land and water to the remote ruins of Yaxchilan, the best Mayan site in Mexico to spot wildlife. Then, you'll continue on to Bonampak to see the beautifully preserved Mayan mural paintings.

If you would also like to include the ruins of Tikal in your Mexico trip, you can spend the night in Bonampak and travel on to Flores in Guatemala the next day.

Click here for the daily itinerary of this short Bonampak tour

If you like the look of our Mexico self drive tours and would like to request a Mexico Travel Plan, just complete the quote request form and we'll send you a personalised itinerary.

If you would prefer to travel by local transport, our Mayan route modules offers you the chance to explore the Yucatan Peninsula, Chaipas region, Mexico City and Oaxaca by first-class scheduled bus. We'll book your bus tickets for you, and these will be waiting for you in your information pack when you arrive in Mexico. Scheduled bus is also a great way to follow the Mayan Route through the Yucatan into Guatemala and Belize.

If you need some inspiration, or would prefer to do something tried and tested, check out our Mexico itineraries.

Or of course you can always contact us directly for more information if you prefer.

Click here for the quote request form

Click here for our suggested Mexico itineraries

Click here for our Mayan route tours by local bus