Our trip to Mexico was completely unexpected. It took one message from our dear friends and one Skype call to confirm it’s really OK to come with our 3 year old wildling and 8 months old twins. Best decision ever. Mexico, or Yucatan peninsula to be exact, is not only safe and kid friendly. It’s colorful, beautiful, lively and we can’t recommend it enough.
Our 16 days in Mexico
We are lucky to have wonderful hosts, The Sabbaticals, who share their home in Playa del Carmen (PDC) with us. Our two weeks are fairly split between traveling around and chilling out in PDC:
- Day trip to Mayan ruins of Coba and Tulum: full of history and beach.
- 3 days in a tropical Cozumel island, just an hour ferry ride from PDC. Snorkeling, diving, eating, and spotting crocodiles at Punta Sur Eco-park.
- 3 days in Valladolid, a sleepy town couple hours drive away. Perfect base to the famous ruins of Chichen Itza, flamingos and pink river of Rio Lagartos, and cenotes. A lot of them, one nicer than the other.
Our TIPS
- Stroller is useful, but baby carrier is a must. The entry to cenotes often requires descending to a cave, expect stairs and narrow passages. Most of the ruins, including Chichen Itza, are easily done with a stroller.
- Rent a car. PDC offers many options to do trips with tours, but the freedom and flexibility of driving around at your own pace is priceless. Plus you avoid the crowds at major sights. Most car rentals offer car seats, but make sure to book ahead. We chose to take babies’ car seats with us on the flight, and used a portable car seat for Piko.
- Baby food is available in most stores, although not in the variety one might expect. We had to shop around to find a satisfactory brand, so if you have the option – pack something from home.
- Use this link to get up to €36 off or this link to get up to $39 off your first booking with Airbnb.
OUR TOP SIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES:
- Cenotes. Swimming and diving in these sinkholes and caves is unlike anything we have experienced before. Xcanahaltan is the one we love the most, but all are awesome and there are so many we did not have time to visit! Check out our blog post for more tips.
- Enjoying the Caribbean lifestyle at Cozumel. A great trip, feeling like taking a vacation from vacation. Might get crowded, but for a good reason. It is a tropical paradise. More here.
- Feeling more like a local in Valladolid. Escaping the tourist crowds to get a glimpse of more real Mexican life.
- Food. No need to elaborate.
