This 14-day route pairs Mexico's two iconic coasts: the powdery turquoise Caribbean (Cancún, Riviera Maya, Tulum) with the dramatic Pacific (Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos). One internal flight bridges the two, and you finish having seen the country's full beach personality. Below is the day-by-day plan, real 2026 costs, and the booking order that saves the most.
Route Overview
You start in Cancún (most international airline routes), work south through the Riviera Maya and Tulum, then fly cross-country to Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific, and end in Los Cabos at the tip of Baja before flying home from SJD.
| Stop | Nights | Region | Vibe |
|---|
| Cancún & Riviera Maya | 5 | Caribbean | Reef snorkel, cenotes, ruins, all-inclusives |
| Tulum | 3 | Caribbean | Boho beach, jungle hotels, Mayan ruins on cliff |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3 | Pacific | Cobblestone old town, Bay of Banderas, nightlife |
| Los Cabos | 3 | Pacific | El Arco, luxury resorts, desert-meets-sea |
Total: 14 nights. Excludes long-haul flights home/abroad. Internal CUN→PVR flight required between days 8 and 9.
Days 1-5 — Cancún & Riviera Maya
Land at CUN. Stay in Cancún Hotel Zone or move 1 hour south to Playa del Carmen — Playa is more walkable and a better base for day trips. Beaches like Mamitas and Punta Esmeralda rival anything in the world for water clarity.
- Day 1: Arrive, check in, dinner on Quinta Avenida (Playa) or at La Habichuela (Cancún).
- Day 2: Cozumel ferry day trip — Palancar Reef snorkel or scuba.
- Day 3: Chichén Itzá + Cenote Ik Kil + Valladolid combo tour (long day, worth it).
- Day 4: Beach day at Akumal — swim with sea turtles in shallow water.
- Day 5: Xel-Há or Xcaret eco-park, or a quiet day on the beach.
🧮
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Days 6-8 — Tulum
Transfer 1 hour south by ADO bus or pre-booked van ($30–$60). Tulum is a different beat: jungle eco-hotels, boho beach clubs, Mayan ruins perched on Caribbean cliffs and the cenote belt of the world. Stay in the Hotel Zone for beach access or in Aldea Zama for better value.
- Day 6: Tulum ruins at sunrise (open 8 am, beat the crowds), then Gran Cenote.
- Day 7: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve guided tour — dolphins, mangroves, lagoons.
- Day 8: Cenote Dos Ojos morning, Tulum Pueblo dinner, then transfer to Cancún airport.
Days 9-11 — Puerto Vallarta
Fly Cancún → Puerto Vallarta (PVR) — about 4 hours total with the layover. The Pacific coast announces itself immediately: cobblestone streets, Sierra Madre mountains spilling into the bay, sunsets you talk about for years. Stay in the Zona Romántica.
- Day 9: Walk the Malecón at sunset, dinner at El Arrayán.
- Day 10: Marietas Islands boat tour — hidden beach, snorkelling, dolphins.
- Day 11: Sayulita day trip (1 hr north) for surf classes, or whale-watching in Banderas Bay (Dec–Mar).
Days 12-14 — Los Cabos
Drive or fly down Baja. Most travelers fly Volaris PVR → SJD ($60–$110). Cabo is desert meets ocean — saguaros, granite arches, big resorts. Stay in San José del Cabo for art-walk charm or Cabo San Lucas for nightlife.
- Day 12: El Arco glass-bottom boat to Lover's Beach, sunset at Sunset Monalisa.
- Day 13: Cabo Pulmo snorkelling or Médano Beach + spa day.
- Day 14: Brunch in San José del Cabo, fly home from SJD.
Daily Costs (2026)
| Style | Per person/day | 14-day total | Includes |
|---|
| Budget | $90–$130 | $1,260–$1,820 | 3-star hotels, fondas, bus transfers, 1 internal flight |
| Mid-range | $180–$260 | $2,520–$3,640 | Boutique hotels, sit-down meals, mix of tours, internal flight |
| Comfort | $340–$480 | $4,760–$6,720 | 4-star, premium tours, private transfers, internal flight |
| Luxury / All-Incl. | $600–$1,200+ | $8,400–$16,800+ | 5-star resorts both coasts, private experiences |
All figures exclude international flights to Mexico. Internal CUN→PVR and PVR→SJD flights add $150–$280 per person if booked 4+ weeks ahead.
This 14-day route pairs Mexico's two iconic coasts: the powdery turquoise Caribbean (Cancún, Riviera Maya, Tulum) with the dramatic Pacific (Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos). One internal flight bridges the two, and you finish having seen the country's full beach personality. Below is the day-by-day plan, real 2026 costs, and the booking order that saves the most.
Route Overview
You start in Cancún (most international airline routes), work south through the Riviera Maya and Tulum, then fly cross-country to Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific, and end in Los Cabos at the tip of Baja before flying home from SJD.
| Stop | Nights | Region | Vibe |
|---|
| Cancún & Riviera Maya | 5 | Caribbean | Reef snorkel, cenotes, ruins, all-inclusives |
| Tulum | 3 | Caribbean | Boho beach, jungle hotels, Mayan ruins on cliff |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3 | Pacific | Cobblestone old town, Bay of Banderas, nightlife |
| Los Cabos | 3 | Pacific | El Arco, luxury resorts, desert-meets-sea |
Total: 14 nights. Excludes long-haul flights home/abroad. Internal CUN→PVR flight required between days 8 and 9.
Days 1-5 — Cancún & Riviera Maya
Land at CUN. Stay in Cancún Hotel Zone or move 1 hour south to Playa del Carmen — Playa is more walkable and a better base for day trips. Beaches like Mamitas and Punta Esmeralda rival anything in the world for water clarity.
- Day 1: Arrive, check in, dinner on Quinta Avenida (Playa) or at La Habichuela (Cancún).
- Day 2: Cozumel ferry day trip — Palancar Reef snorkel or scuba.
- Day 3: Chichén Itzá + Cenote Ik Kil + Valladolid combo tour (long day, worth it).
- Day 4: Beach day at Akumal — swim with sea turtles in shallow water.
- Day 5: Xel-Há or Xcaret eco-park, or a quiet day on the beach.
🧮
Mexico Trip Cost Calculator
Get a personalised cost estimate for your dates and resort tier.
Days 6-8 — Tulum
Transfer 1 hour south by ADO bus or pre-booked van ($30–$60). Tulum is a different beat: jungle eco-hotels, boho beach clubs, Mayan ruins perched on Caribbean cliffs and the cenote belt of the world. Stay in the Hotel Zone for beach access or in Aldea Zama for better value.
- Day 6: Tulum ruins at sunrise (open 8 am, beat the crowds), then Gran Cenote.
- Day 7: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve guided tour — dolphins, mangroves, lagoons.
- Day 8: Cenote Dos Ojos morning, Tulum Pueblo dinner, then transfer to Cancún airport.
Days 9-11 — Puerto Vallarta
Fly Cancún → Puerto Vallarta (PVR) — about 4 hours total with the layover. The Pacific coast announces itself immediately: cobblestone streets, Sierra Madre mountains spilling into the bay, sunsets you talk about for years. Stay in the Zona Romántica.
- Day 9: Walk the Malecón at sunset, dinner at El Arrayán.
- Day 10: Marietas Islands boat tour — hidden beach, snorkelling, dolphins.
- Day 11: Sayulita day trip (1 hr north) for surf classes, or whale-watching in Banderas Bay (Dec–Mar).
Days 12-14 — Los Cabos
Drive or fly down Baja. Most travelers fly Volaris PVR → SJD ($60–$110). Cabo is desert meets ocean — saguaros, granite arches, big resorts. Stay in San José del Cabo for art-walk charm or Cabo San Lucas for nightlife.
- Day 12: El Arco glass-bottom boat to Lover's Beach, sunset at Sunset Monalisa.
- Day 13: Cabo Pulmo snorkelling or Médano Beach + spa day.
- Day 14: Brunch in San José del Cabo, fly home from SJD.
Daily Costs (2026)
| Style | Per person/day | 14-day total | Includes |
|---|
| Budget | $90–$130 | $1,260–$1,820 | 3-star hotels, fondas, bus transfers, 1 internal flight |
| Mid-range | $180–$260 | $2,520–$3,640 | Boutique hotels, sit-down meals, mix of tours, internal flight |
| Comfort | $340–$480 | $4,760–$6,720 | 4-star, premium tours, private transfers, internal flight |
| Luxury / All-Incl. | $600–$1,200+ | $8,400–$16,800+ | 5-star resorts both coasts, private experiences |
All figures exclude international flights to Mexico. Internal CUN→PVR and PVR→SJD flights add $150–$280 per person if booked 4+ weeks ahead.