Visit Mexico’s beautiful Yucatan Peninsula
Though you might not know this state by name, Quintana Roo is home to many of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations!
Here in Quintana Roo, you’ll swim in the beautiful Caribbean waters surrounding Cancun and Tulum, and also the Earth’s second biggest freshwater lake, Bacalar Lagoon, AKA “The Maldives of Mexico.”
This state is also home to Mayan ruins, and many of the country’s most beautiful cenotes.
cenote: (noun) natural swimmin’ hole
Top Yucatan destinations
Quintana Roo FAQs
Is Quintana Roo state safe for solo travel?
Quintana Roo and Yucatan Peninsula are considered quite safe; in fact, it consistently ranks among the safest areas in Mexico. I lived in Playa del Carmen and Tulum for about 3 months, and encountered zero issues. However, I made my own safety a priority, and you should too! Check out Ep. 04 of my podcast, Janine’s Take On Solo Female Travel Safety in Mexico, where I spoke to a fellow solo female traveler about her take on Mexico travel safety.
What are Quintana Roo's best places to visit?
Oh man! Where do I begin?!
Quintana Roo’s “Big 3” destinations are Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
Some of the amazing, and slightly off the beaten path destinations include Holbox Island, Bacalar, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Akumal and Puerto Morelos… there’s quite a bit to explore.
Download my FREE eGuide, Venturing Off the Beaten Path: 10 Hidden Gems of Mexico, to learn all about the first two places listed — Holbox Island and Bacalar.
What's the best time of year to visit Quintana Roo, Mexico?
Located in the tropics, Quintana Roo state has pleasant, warm winters — but hot, rainy summers!
Weather-wise, the winter months of November-March are the nicest months in this part of Mexico. December is the busiest month for tourism.
The summer months are quite hot and humid, and also, this is hurricane season.
Is Quintana Roo, Mexico safe for solo female travel?
I wish this question had an officially official answer, but it doesn’t. What I can definitively tell you is that I have been safe as a solo female traveler & so have countless other women! Check out my blog Mexico Solo Travel: How to be Safe and Crush It to see how I did it.
Will I need a tourist visa to visit Mexico?
You don’t need a visa! When you go through Customs/Immigration at the airport, you’ll receive your FMM 180-Day (6 month) Tourist Visa at no charge. Be sure to keep track of this visa, as you’ll have give it back when you’re leaving the country. Check out my blog 5 Reasons Mexico is One of the Best First Time Solo Travel Destinations for more reasons Mexico is such a great option for U.S. visitors.
Do I need to speak Spanish to visit Mexico?
Many people visit Mexico and never utter a word of Spanish! However, as a general rule, you should know at least a few words of Spanish. Download my free Basic Spanish Words & Phrases list here! Pro Tip: Save it on your phone as an image, so you can have it handy even if you’re off-WiFi.
As far as Quintana Roo goes, if you stick to the more touristic parts, you should be fine with very basic Spanish. If you want to venture off the beaten path, be advised most people in the pueblos (small towns) won’t speak any English.
Yucatan Peninsula blogs & info
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