Yucatán Peninsula in October

[Askingadvice123]

Hi, we are thinking about going to Mexico for 12 days in October with two kids (13 and 10) and looking into a mix of cultural sites and the beach. Has anyone got any recommendations for the Yucatán peninsular (or elsewhere in Mexico)? Thank you!

October is the height of hurricane season there, did you know? Hopefully sargassum season will be over though. The Yucatan is wonderful, Chichen Itza is the obvious cultural site and although very touristy not to be missed, fist sight of the huge pyramid is amazing even if you can't climb it any more. Coba is not as easy to reach but has more of a jungle feel to it, you could climb the pyramid still when we went last but not sure if that has been stopped. Tulum also has smaller ruins, still cool though if you like that sort of thing.

Ceynotes are very cool as well, dotted all over and worth checking out. We also really enjoyed Xcaret and Xel-ha, but they are pricey and basically theme parks so depends if that's your thing. For beach I liked Akumal but we didn't stay there as it's expensive. We also went to Holbox island and that was amazing.

We went last October and it was lovely.
There was a downpour one day and it was VERY heavy, we were on our way back from a boat trip and the boat raced the rain back into shore just in time but we did get soaked getting on the coach and some roads were flooded.
It didn't spoil it for us at all though.
Tulum was great to visit and not as far or crowded as Chichen Itza and we enjoyed swimming in a cenote as well as driving a golf cart round Isla Mujeres.
It was probably a bit more touristy than we usually do and the hotels were very American focussed (with the tipping culture) but we had an amazing time and because we can speak Spanish the hotel staff absolutely loved us , depsite us not being great tippers!!!

We went October 2023 and the weather was fabulous. Also went to Dom Rep one October and again the weather was great spart from one thunderous downpour - when it rains or pours but it arrived and passed over within 30 mins and the skys were blue once more.

Stayed near Akumal in August a few years ago

If you like wildlife it’s fabulous - lots of opportunities to see animals in the wild in their natural habitat (we didn’t do the X parks as they keep dolphins etc in captivity which I don’t agree with).

You can swim with whale sharks off Cancun (although perhaps not in October), swim with turtles in Akumal, see dolphins, crocodiles, manatees in Sian Kaan biosphere. Our hotel was also teeming with wildlife - coatis agoutis and iguanas everywhere.

Food is incredible and hospitality amazing. Plus mojitos and tequila. What’s not to like?!

Thanks all - some great tips. We are going at the end of October so was thinking that was the tail end of hurricane season but will do more research.

how did everyone get around? Did you hire a car or go on tours? Did you feel reasonably safe if driving yourself? And please let me know any recommendations for any accommodation that you loved!! Thank you

We went in 2022 in the last 2 weeks of October, we stayed in the Riviera Maya and it was amazing. When I researched the pacific side of Mexico was still in its hurricane season at that point, which was why we chose the Caribbean side.
Wildlife everywhere, the weather was great. There was the odd shower during the day but it was still hot and everyone just went into the pool.
We went to Tulum, swam in Cenotes and had a day at Xel Ha.

We didn't hire a car but went on organised trips, all were well organised and felt safe.
We travel quite a lot and it was without a doubt one of the best holidays I have been in. If you can try to be there over the beginning of November for the Day of the dead, we missed it which is my one regret.

I wouldn't hire a car in Mexico......

I've driven a hire car on two Yucatán holidays. It's been completely fine. Just lower your expectations of hire car newness and don't drive in the dark.

I'm flying out to stay in Puerto Morelos on 30th October as my sister lives over there. The accommodation is relatively cheap, obviously depending on what you are looking for. I'm going self catering because I'll be with my sister most of the time, so I looked on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Apparently the Collectivo (the buses) are really easy to use and very cheap. That's how she gets around most of the time and they go to most places you would want to see.

I am there for Day of the Dead, that's part of the reason I booked for the end of October/beginning of November but apparently PM doesn't do much in way of celebration. There is a theme park place that goes all out but it is quite expensive and understandably very touristy. I can't remember the name of the place though.

Have you decided where on the peninsula you'll be staying yet?

I haven’t decided on where to stay yet - I found a boutique hotel in Isla Holborn that looks lovely. I’m still very much in the research stage and the price of flights are eye watering at the moment which might scupper the whole plan sadly!

@Askingadvice123 I booked with BA from Gatwick,they were about £700 with luggage. I did have a look the other day at prices to upgrade - £150 for Gatwick to Cancun, £1400 for both directions 😂

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