TRAVEL MAPS FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

WHAT TO EXPECT

Most car rental agencies at resorts will not have a map. Resorts and hotels do NOT carry maps nor do they even sell them in their gift stores, however they sometimes carry some of the tourist booklets found at Cancun airport. If you arrive at Cancun airport this will be the best place for you to find maps [for Cancun and the Maya Riviera] unless you are staying in Playa del Carmen.

Maps to look out for at Cancun airport are:

These pamphlets/booklets are filled with coupons and advertisements but also carry maps of Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and highway maps that can get you from Cancun to Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza.

NOTE: The cover of these booklets will be different but the names will remain the same.

CANCUN - MAYA RIVIERA

In the Maya Riviera at every resort/hotel you will find a pamphlet called MAPA [see above]. This pamphlet has a basic map of the Riviera and is good enough to travel with. It also has a map of Playa del Carmen. There is also a book usually found in 3-5 star resorts called "Cancun Tips" which has an okay map in it of the Riviera between Cancun and Tulum.

By far the most up to date and accurate map of the Riviera is produced by a couple named Laura and Perry who make this map as an act of love. They are to be commended for their diligent work. They have a web site and you an order their map right from there. They work on the honor system. You submit your name and address and they will send you a map. You then send them some money. How kule.

Their site is at: www.cancunmap.com  

A good map for Playa del Carmen is "Playa" which is a funky little map with lots of pictures. It makes a great souvenir. This map cost around $3 and you can find it in stores in Playa.

A good general map [free] can be found on 5th Av. at Calle 8 nte. at Playa Car Rental. This map has general highways listed for the entier peninsula.

There is also a tourist information booth on 5th Av. near the docks that has maps and info-booklets.  

CAMPECHE

In Campeche the best map is in a newsprint booklet you get at the airport [your resort or hotel will most likely NOT have this booklet]. It has a map in it, which is NOT accurate but is the best map you will find. The tour rep at any resort or the hotel manager may have a map [Mapa Touristico Yucatan], which is just as bad as the book one but if you use both maps together it helps.  

CHETUMAL

If you fly into Cancun or Merrida and expect to drive to Chetumal you will NOT find any maps for Chetumal. You actually really do not need a map to drive from Cancun because you simply take 307 all the way there. Chetumal is a big place and you may need a map to get around the city. There is an excellent map for this area and it extends from the Belize border up to Tulum and across to Uxmal however this map is hard to find if not outright impossible.

There is also an excellent map for the city of Chetumal called Mapa de Cd. Chetumal, which you may be lucky and find in a hotel lobby or car rental agency.

NOTE: If you are traveling to the Yucatan for Maya ruin sites then "The Road to Mayan Adventure" is a MUST get!