La Taberna de Los Amigos: Multi-Day Extension Trips?

After a few days of mezcal and mariachis at La Taberna de Los Amigos, you might consider extending your trip. Tulum, a two-hour drive south, offers a different kind of Riviera Maya experience. The main strip is busy, with beach clubs playing house music and restaurants serving ceviche at prices higher than in the city.

Holbox, an island accessible by ferry from Chiquilá, moves at a slower pace. Golf carts replace cars on sandy roads, and the evenings are quiet, often spent watching the sunset over the Gulf. Bacalar, the Lagoon of Seven Colors, sits further inland.

It's a freshwater destination, where palapa restaurants line the shore and pontoon boats offer tours of cenotes and stromatolites. Merida, the capital of Yucatán, is a colonial city with a distinct culture. Its plazas fill with music and dance in the evenings, and the food scene leans into traditional Yucatecan flavors, like cochinita pibil and sopa de lima.

Each offers a different rhythm and landscape from the bustling energy of La Taberna de Los Amigos.

The ideal duration for an extension depends on the destination and your interests. For Tulum, two to three nights allow enough time to explore the ruins, visit a cenote, and enjoy the beach clubs without feeling rushed. Merida warrants at least three to four nights to properly experience its historic center, museums, and culinary scene, perhaps with a day trip to Uxmal or a hacienda.

Holbox is best enjoyed over three nights, offering ample time for beach relaxation and water activities. Bacalar, given its focus on the lagoon, can be fully appreciated in two to three nights. These durations provide a balance between exploration and relaxation, ensuring you don't spend all your time in transit.

A quick dinner at La Taberna de Los Amigos fits easily into any Cancun-based itinerary before or after these longer excursions.

Getting to these extended destinations from Cancun is straightforward, with several reliable options. The ADO bus system is comfortable, affordable, and offers frequent routes to major hubs like Tulum and Merida. For Holbox, you'll take an ADO bus or private transfer to Chiquilá, then a short ferry ride.

Bacalar is a longer bus journey south. Private transfers offer door-to-door convenience and flexibility, though at a higher cost. Rental cars provide the ultimate freedom to explore at your own pace, especially if you plan to visit multiple cenotes or smaller towns off the main routes.

Roads are generally well-maintained. For a quick evening out at La Taberna de Los Amigos, taxis or ride-share services are readily available from most Cancun hotels.

Extending your trip isn't always the best choice. If your primary goal is a short, focused beach vacation with minimal travel, adding multiple destinations can lead to more time in transit than enjoying your stay. Travelers with less than a week in the region might find that staying in Cancun and focusing on day trips to Chichén Itzá, Xcaret Park, Xel-Há, or Tulum is more efficient.

Over-scheduling can dilute the experience, turning a relaxing trip into a rushed checklist. If you're content with the amenities and activities available within Cancun, including its diverse dining scene which features places like La Taberna de Los Amigos, then consolidating your stay makes sense.

Sometimes, less truly is more, allowing for deeper relaxation rather than constant movement.