Pueblos Magicos in Quintana Roo – Which ones should you visit?

With the fairly recent addition of Cozumel, the Mexican state of Quintana Roo now has four pueblos magicos. And given that I had the chance to explore all of them while living in Playa del Carmen, I want to introduce the four pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo, and what they have to offer, to you.

While visiting the pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo it is possible to relax at dream-like beaches, dive among vibrant coral reefs, explore Mayan ruins, and venture off the beaten track. Therefore, they are each worth a visit but tend to attract different types of visitors.

However, it can be hard to know which magical town is the ideal destination for you without knowing more about all four. This article will help you decide which one you should visit first and provides an overview of the best things to do while there.

What is a Pueblo Magico?

Pueblos Magicos are towns all over Mexico that display immense cultural, natural, gastronomic, or historic wealth. They receive this designation based on certain criteria set forth by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism, and their status is evaluated annually.

Currently, there are 177 pueblos magicos in Mexico, and each of them has one or more distinctive features that make it worth visiting.

One of the application criteria is the existence of suitable tourism infrastructure and as such you always have a few hotels, restaurants, and healthcare providers for tourists alongside a way to get there without having to drive in Mexico.

The Pueblos Magicos in Quintana Roo

As previously mentioned, there are now four pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo. All four are great places for water lovers as they are either located at the ocean or a lake and have Maya ruins in town or the surrounding area.

But beyond that, these magical towns are quite different and each highlights different aspects of this corner of Mexico.

1. Cozumel

Cozumel might be known as a haven for scuba divers, but this island off the coast of Playa del Carmen is so much more than that. After all, it has a lot to offer above and below the surface. It is the newest of the four pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo, and only received the status in mid-2023.

Having had the chance to spend four days on the island, I can tell you that Cozumel offers a surprising amount of stunning natural sights alongside places with cultural and historical significance. The latter include the San Gervasio and the El Caracol Mayan Ruins.

While in Cozumel, visiting the El Cielo sandbank is a must. Only accessible by boat, this shallow area is known for the seemingly endless number of starfish that can be found there. Therefore, snorkeling there is a fantastic experience. But of course, you can also snorkel over vibrant coral reefs close to the shore.

As previously mentioned, the island is very popular among scuba divers, as Cozumel is a scuba diving haven. Known for its fantastic drift dives, the island offers suitable dive sites for all levels of divers. Hereby, dive sites like San Francisco Wall, Santa Rosa Wall, and Palancar are part of the reason why Cozumel is now one of the pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo.

Those who love bird-watching or want to see wild crocodiles should visit Punta Sur Eco Beach Park at the southern tip of the island. This area includes a large lagoon and there are several towers from which you can observe the local wildlife. I recommend bringing binoculars!

In addition to all these things, Cozumel also offers a vibrant town called San Miguel that draws you in with its ocean-themed murals and fantastic restaurants. One of my favorite ones is located on the rooftop of the Cozumel museum and I can only encourage you to visit it for a sunset cocktail.

How many days do you need in Cozumel?: at least 3 days.

Where to Stay in Cozumel

When it comes to accommodations in Cozumel, you can choose between a place to stay in San Miguel de Cozumel where you will find all the restaurants, the museum, and murals, or you can stay in an accommodation on the island’s west coast. Hereby, there are both vacation apartments and resorts.

How to get to Cozumel

If you are wondering how to get to Cozumel, you will find that most people take the ferry from Playa del Carmen. The ferry ride takes around 30 minutes and there are two different passenger ferry companies called WinJet and Ultramar. Additionally, there are also two car ferries that depart south of Playa del Carmen at Punta Venado (Calica).

Alternatively, you might also be able to fly directly to Cozumel from several destinations within Mexico as well as some airports in the USA and Canada.

2. Bacalar

Bacalar can be considered one of Mexico’s hidden gems and is the least-visited pueblo magico in Quintana Roo. Located close to the border of Mexico and Belize, it takes a while to get there, but let me tell you that it is more than worth it.

While it might look like it is located right on the coast, this magical town is actually located at a large freshwater lake known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors. It is the perfect place to go for a swim during the Sargasso season, and aside from kayaking and SUPing, you can also do a sightseeing tour by boat.

The boat tours will take you to places like the Canal de Los Piratas (Pirate’s Channel) and Isla Pajaros (Bird Island). I recommend choosing a boat that does not play loud music so you can do some bird watching. Please note, that no boats are allowed in the water on Wednesday, so plan your trip accordingly.

There are three cenotes inside the lagoon and another one, Cenote Azul, is located nearby. In addition to that, the lagoon is also home to stromatolites (living fossils).

Aside from the lagoon, you should also visit Los Rápidos. This shallow 300-meter-long and 6-meter-wide canal connects the Lagoon of Seven Colors with XulHá Lagoon and is the perfect place for kayaking and simply floating along with the gentle current.

In addition to these water-related activities, Bacalar also offers fantastic restaurants and has a Spanish fort. Built to protect Bacalar from pirates between 1725 and 1733, Fuerte de San Felipe is located in the center of the town. Its center building now houses a museum, where you can learn more about the history of the town.

How many days do you need in Bacalar?: at least 2 days.

Where to Stay in Bacalar

If you are staying in Bacalar, the best accommodations have a pier that grants you direct access to the lagoon. Due to construction work in some parts of the town, these piers might not always be accessible, so I recommend reading the recent reviews of the hotel you want to book.

Makaabá Eco Boutique — This hotel is another fantastic place to stay in Bacalar and is furthermore also the location of one of the best restaurants. The design is modern with a natural touch, and as such, it is a very relaxing place to stay. The property has two larger pools.

Khaban Boutique Hotel — If you do not want to stay in town and favor being surrounded by nature, this boutique hotel is the place you are looking for. It. is located right at the lagoon and is a prime example of a luxurious boohoo design.

How to get to Bacalar

The easiest way to get to this pueblo magico in Quintana Roo is to fly into Chetumal airport and then take the ADO bus to Bacalar. If you are coming to Bacalar from Cancun or Tulum, the transfer will be longer, but you can also take a bus.

There will be a Tren Maya stop, but if you care about the environment and the local Mayan population, you should first read all about the massive drawbacks of the train project. I will not tell you what to do, but I think my stance on the subject is obvious.

3. Tulum

Nowadays, Tulum is best known for its instagrammable places and as a digital nomad hotspot, but this town is so much more than that. In fact, its insta-fame can even be slightly off-putting if you are looking for an authentic stay in Mexico. However, it is still worth a visit even if you have no interest in the instagrammable beaches, cafés, and street art that made Tulum so popular.

It might surprise you, but I spent significantly more time in the area around Tulum than in the pueblo magico itself. While the town became one of the pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo due to being the only place with Maya ruins right at the seashore, my personal highlight of Tulum is the cenotes all around the town.

Overall, there are over 200 cenotes near Tulum, and if you are a scuba diver, you should add cenote diving to your list of things to do in Tulum. But of course, you do not have to be a diver to enjoy these astonishing water-filled sinkholes. Cenotes like Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote, and Casa Cenote are also wonderful places for swimming and snorkeling.

The Tulum ruins date back as early as 564 AD, and you can still see reliefs and murals on some of the structures. Given the unique setting of some buildings right at the cliff’s edge, these ruins offer a unique sight.

Outside of the turtle nesting season, you can even walk down several stairs toward the beaches while exploring the archeological site.

How many days do you need in Tulum?: at least 3 days.

Where to Stay in Tulum

Kin Ha Tulum Hotel — Located in the center of Tulum, this hotel is close to many great restaurants. The room design combines minimalism with modern features.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Tulum, you have to choose between accommodations in town or near the beach. While it is possible to find more affordable accommodations near the town center, the luxurious beachfront properties tend to be more expensive.

Dos Ceibas Hotel — This hotel is the perfect place to stay if you want to escape the crowds of Tulum and want to stay right at the beach.

How to get to Tulum

Nowadays, Tulum has an airport that connects the pueblo magico with several destinations in Mexico and the US, but chances are that you will arrive at Cancun Airport. If you have to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum, you can either take the ADO bus straight from the airport or book a private transfer.

Tulum is also easy to reach by bus from many other places on the Yucatan Peninsula including Playa del Carmen and Bacalar.

4. Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is an island that is located 13 km off the coast of Cancun, which makes it a very popular holiday destination. It is best known for its white sandy beaches that tend to be unaffected by the sargasso season and crystal-clear water, but like many other places in the Yucatan, it also has Maya ruins.

The ruins of the Ixchel Temple can be found at the southern tip of the island, and are the reason why the island was once a pilgrimage site. Maya women visited the island to pray to Ixchel, the goddess of childbirth, midwifery, and medicine.

I visited Isla Mujeres at the very end of my time in Mexico as this time marked the beginning of the local whale shark season, and while I enjoyed snorkeling with a whale shark, my highlight was the white Playa Norte.

While somewhat crowded, this beach is (usually) very pristine and is the perfect place to relax for a while, before snorkeling at the Zazil-ha bridge. Surprisingly, said bridge happens to be one of the best places for snorkeling in Isla Mujeres. Please note that you should not feed the fish while doing so even if you see others do it.

At the end of the day, it is great to enjoy a sunset drink at the beach, before strolling along Miguel Hidalgo Andador, where you will find plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops. Many of the restaurants are international, and if you want pizza, I recommend eating at Capricci Pizza & Sfizi.

I know a lot of people love the island, so please do not crucify me for saying this, but I have a love-hate relationship with Isla Mujeres. Some places like Playa Norte are stunning and there are some great restaurants, but at the same time, it often did not feel like I was in Mexico and I saw a lot of unsustainable behavior by tourists and companies alike.

Additionally, I saw a lot of somewhat broken things ranging from statues to walls along one of the main coastal walkways, so it partially felt like an island of broken dreams. I would still say the island is worth a visit, but it should not be your only impression of the pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo and of Mexico in general.

How many days do you need in Isla Mujeres?: at least 2 days.

Where to Stay on Isla Mujeres

Accommodations on Isla Mujeres tend to be on the pricier side, so I highly encourage you to book your stay in advance.

MIA Reef Resort — This all-inclusive resort is located on a small island and connected to Playa Norte via a pier.

Itzé Hostel — The private rooms of this hostel are a great option if you are looking for an affordable place to stay near Playa Norte.

How to get to Isla Mujeres

To get to Isla Mujeres, you have to take a ferry from Cancun. There are two ferry terminals, but Puerto Juarez is a better choice than the ferry terminal in the Cancun Hotel Zone, as there are more crossings. That is unless you already are in the hotel zone. A taxi ride between the airport and Puerto Juarez costs around 70 USD.

Is it worth it to visit the Pueblos Magicos in Quintana Roo?

Given how much the pueblos magicos in Quintana Roo have to offer, there is no denying that they are all worth a visit. While you explore them, you can organize your time however you please, and as such, you can plan everything from relaxing trips with a lot of time at beaches to more adventure-focused trips that include diving, snorkeling, and bird-watching. And of course, all of them offer you the chance to enjoy fabulous Mexican cuisine.

Ultimately, it is this diversity that makes the Mexican pueblos magicos such fantastic places to visit, so be sure to visit as many of them as you can.

Despite having to admit that I liked two more than the other two, I enjoyed visiting all four magical towns in Quintana Roo. And if you have enough time, I can only encourage you to do the same so you can see how diverse this Mexican state is.