I kind of regret accepting this assignment. How am I meant to boil down Yucatán’s incredible beauty and fun into five of anything? It’s just too hard. I’ve been roaming across this state for years and my kids and I are neither bored nor done exploring. The only answer is to take a few liberties in my interpretation of “five.” It’s the only way. You have been warned.
1. Best cenote to visit with kids in Yucatán
El Corchito, just outside Progreso, gets my vote for the best child-friendly cenote experience. Not only do you begin with a small boat ride, which the kids love, but the three cenotes are entirely outdoors and feel very safe for first-timers. If your kids are bigger and you’re looking for more adventure, then Santa Bárbara near Homún offers a wonderful three-cenote option (with lifeguards on-site). Cenote Sac-Aua, near Valladolid, is my wild cenote pick. Hire a kayak and paddle around this beauty of a cenote, the only one on the peninsula with a natural island in the middle, apparently.
2. Best kid-friendly beach in Yucatán
I think Sisal steals my heart as the best beach in Yucatán. My kids love spending a lazy weekend in this small and beautiful pueblo. The beach never feels crowded, the water is generally clear, calm, and shallow; plus the sunsets are astounding, and there are also mangrove tours if your kids are more adventurous. Rent a palapa, take your hammock, and a picnic (or order from one of the beach restaurants), and settle in.
If you prefer utter silence and solitude on your beach days, Chuburná Puerto in winter will work for you. And if you’re more into activities, beach snacks, and souvenirs, head straight for Progreso.
3. Best park for kids in Yucatán
“But what are you looking for?” I whine. “Do you want activities and snacks, an eco-park, what do you waannnnnt?” My kids most often ask to go to Parque de Las Americas, Mérida’s most famous park, in the García Ginerés neighborhood. We go for evening fun, Marquesitas, and people-watching. If we’re picking a park for a nature walk then we choose Parque Arqueoecológico de Xoclán in Mérida. Here we can march through the forest, stumble over the remains of a pyramid, and marvel at nature, all without leaving Mérida.
4. Best archaeological site
Now that Mayapán is temporarily closed, a good option to introduce your kids to archaeological exploration is Xcambó. At this wonderfully small and compact site, the Maya produced and traded salt, a vital commodity. I particularly love that salt continues to be produced here today.
Plus, this wonderfully quiet jungle archaeological site is also wonderfully undervisited, so you may have it all to yourself while you explore. My kids love a day out here. We take snacks, plenty of water, bug spray and aim to spend a few hours just jumping, climbing, and imagining Maya life during the centuries that people lived here in the coastal jungle of Yucatán.
5. Best active activity for kids in Yucatán
If you’re an active family with bigger kids then kayaking in the pink lagoon at Xtampú, a stone’s throw away from Xcambó, is one of the most fun things you can do in Yucatán. Rent kayaks by the hour in Sayachaltún, just outside Telchac Puerto, grab your paddles, and off you go! If you’re lucky you’ll see flamingos. If you’re more into caving and ziplines, head down to Tekax where the whole family will love exploring the caves at Gruta Sartenejas or Parque Ecoturístico Kaalmankal.
Photography by Sara Alba, Monica Starling, Edgar Solorzano and Yucatán Today for its use in Yucatán Today.
First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no. 445, in January 2025.
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