20 days in North America Itinerary

Breathtakingly large, Mexico City provides a home for almost 9 million people living in nearly 1,700 distinct neighborhoods.

Palacio de Bellas Artes and Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Museo del Templo Mayor and Zocalo will appeal to history buffs.

For traveler tips, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Mexico City road trip website.

New York City, USA to Mexico City is an approximately 8.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from New York City to Mexico City due to the time zone difference. Expect much hotter weather when traveling from New York City in January: highs in Mexico City hover around 69°F, while lows dip to 44°F. You will have some time to spend on the 29th (Sun) before leaving for Merida.

Yucatan's busy capital, Merida remains a mid-sized urban center offering an impressive list of cultural activities, eclectic nightlife, and a chance to see tropical examples of French and Italian architecture.

Merida is known for sightseeing, historic sites, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the ancient world of Mayapan Archaeological Zone.

To find ratings, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, read Merida route planner.

Getting from Mexico City to Merida by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Mexico City to Merida due to the time zone difference. When traveling from Mexico City in January, plan for somewhat warmer days and much hotter nights in Merida: temperatures range from 85°F by day to 65°F at night. On the 1st (Wed), you'll have the morning to explore before heading off to Valladolid.

One of the gateways to the ruins of Chichen Itza, Valladolid boasts plenty of historic charm and offers a range of tourist-oriented services that ensure pleasant holidays in this area.

On the 1st (Wed), admire the masterpieces at Museo de Ropa Etnica de Mexico. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 2nd (Thu): explore the ancient world of Chichen Itza, then explore the ancient world of Las Monjas, then delve into the distant past at Plataforma de Venus, and finally explore the ancient world of Temple of the Bearded Man.

For photos, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Valladolid online trip planner.

You can drive from Merida to Valladolid in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Plan for a bit warmer nights when traveling from Merida in February since evenings lows in Valladolid dip to 75°F. You will have some time to spend on the 3rd (Fri) before leaving for Tulum.

The only Mayan site built to overlook the ocean, Tulum remains a coastal paradise preserving the last vestiges of a pre-Hispanic civilization.

On the 3rd (Fri), explore the ancient world of Tulum Archaeological Site and then examine the collection at Mystika Immersive.

To see traveler tips, maps, ratings, and tourist information, use the Tulum driving holiday planner.

You can drive from Valladolid to Tulum in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a shuttle; or drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Valladolid in February, things will get a bit cooler in Tulum: highs are around 80°F and lows about 65°F. You'll have a few hours on the 5th (Sun) to wrap things up before traveling to Cancun.

Few destinations in Mexico dazzle visitors quite like Cancun, a modern resort town filled with glitzy hotels sitting on picturesque and well-developed Caribbean beaches.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Zona Arqueológica El Meco and La Isla Shopping Village. Explore hidden gems such as Spas and National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos. Step out of Cancun with an excursion to Playa El Centro in Isla Mujeres--about 1h 30 min away. There's still lots to do: enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Chacmool.

For other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Cancun online route maker.

Traveling by car from Tulum to Cancun takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 81°F in February, and nighttime lows around 68°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 12th (Sun) to allow time for the flight back home.