with your children on a tour of southeastern Mexico

Image: private

Esther (41) went to Mexico with husband Roeland and son Jim (then 6) and daughter Mette (then 4) for three weeks and had the time of their lives.

“’Going on such a long journey with your family, you only do that for yourself, don’t you? Your children will probably like a French campsite much more.’ I regularly get a comment like this when I tell where we have been with Mette and Jim. Also this year, when we planned our trip to Mexico.

But traveling together is so much more intense than a camping holiday, which is also fun. Alone, children often go out with other children at the campsite. In Mexico we had constant adventures together – you are always together, that makes it special.

Instantly in love

Mexico holds a special place in my heart. Eighteen years ago I went there, it was my very first backpacking trip. I immediately fell in love with the white beaches, the colors, the tacos, the music. I wanted to show my children that too, so we mapped out a tour through Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche: a route that lends itself very well to a holiday with children because the roads are good, the distances are short and the beach is always nearby. the neighbourhood.

“We mapped out routes of short distances and always a beach nearby”

We wanted to see quite a bit, but also made sure that there was enough rest for the children. But the funny thing is that along the way they soon asked: when do we move on to the next place? The children are still talking about our Mexican house on the beach. That was on our first stop, in Akumal, between busy Playa del Carmen and Tulum. We slept close to the beach, dived into a pool that faced the sea and snorkeled with sea turtles.

Akumal

From Akumal we also went on a day trip with a Belgian guide. With her we visited the Mayan temples of Coba in the jungle. We rode a rented bicycle from one temple to another, and along the way she told us all about the trees, plants and the impressive Mayan culture.

We even visited Mayan families and were allowed to sit down for lunch. Mette and Jim made tortillas with the family’s grandmother and played with the kids while our meal, a pan of chicken, cooked in the ground. The children immediately joined the family, they pooped and urinated just like those children in a hole in the ground.

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Music and pirates

Mexico is a country that immediately makes me happy. The atmosphere is cheerful, because you see so many colors and hear music in many places. The colonial cities are beautiful and well maintained. We liked the pirate city of Campeche the most. There used to be many pirate attacks here, which is why there is a large city wall around the old center that you can walk over.

“The atmosphere in Mexico is cheerful, with all those colors and music in many places”

We also visited Merida, where I spotted many nice restaurants and museums. Still, we didn’t stay here long; too hot and crowded for the kids. Fortunately, we always made sure that we slept in a hotel with a swimming pool in a city. This way we could cool down after a hot day.

Mangrove

Since we like exploring off the beaten track, we drove our rental car to Rio Lagartos, in the north. There we did not find a beach, but a mangrove. We made a nice boat trip where we saw crocodiles, pelicans, iguanas and flamingos.

Our guide turned out to have studied biology and could tell us all about nature. The children thought that was fine, they especially enjoyed all those animals. We took a mud bath there, and then rinsed ourselves in the super blue water, while we saw special fish and beautiful birds of prey.

Read also – From Thailand to Mexico: traveling the world with your children >

The perfect ending

With the children we also climbed the temples of Calakmul. I thought it was super cool that they dared to go up with us. We stood up there together, on top of the worldwith a view up to and including the jungle of Guatemala and Belize.

We ended up with a few days on the island of Holbox, where we mostly lazed, swam, cycled, made sand castles and watched the sunset. There we ate on the beach, with nice music in the background while the children danced around the table: the perfect end to our trip.

“Every week the children ask if we are going to Mexico again”

I was always proud of the children; they went along with everything, even though they had never done it before. Every week they ask if we are going to Mexico again, which I see as a good sign. But the best compliment came recently, when my son showed his report card. In it the teacher had written: ‘You already know so much about the world, and what can you tell enthusiastically about it!’ See, I thought then. I don’t just travel for myself, my kids enjoy it just as much.”

Doing

Contagious

Go out for one or more days with the Belgian Kristel from ‘La Belgicana’ who has been living in Mexico for years. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She talks endlessly about the trees, plants and Mayan culture. She gave us a day to remember. instagram.com/la__belgicana/

Underground

We regularly cooled off in one of the many magical cenotes, a kind of cave with water. For example, the small but beautiful Minotauro, or Aktun Zotz, with bats flying around.

Beautiful

Spend two or three days in Bacalar: ‘the lagoon of the seven colors’ is wonderful. There is also a nice, quiet atmosphere in the village itself.

To eat

Deliciously sweet

At the colorful Turtle Bay Bakery in Akumal you will find the tastiest pastries and delicious sticky buns. turtlebaycafe.com

Pizza time

At Holbox we ate delicious pizzas in the cozy garden of Roots Pizza. With a trampoline for the children, and often there is live music. roots-pizza-holbox.negocio.site

Swinging

Also on Holbox: La Playa de Nana, where you eat with your feet in the sand, with great music and the sunset in front of you. instagram.com/laplayadenana/

To sleep

Palms and sea

At Akumal Caribe you sleep in fairly basic houses, but on the white beach, complete with palm trees and a swimming pool with a view of the sea. And you can swim with sea turtles. hotelakumalcaribe.com

Nice vibe

On Holbox we slept in Casa Iguana, a nice house with swimming pool, good breakfast and sun loungers on the beach. Very nice vibe and good location. casaiguanaholbox.com/ingles.html

In the jungle

Casa Ka’aan is the perfect jungle cottage if you want to visit Calakmul. With our headlamps on, we took an evening walk here and enjoyed the sounds of the jungle. casakan.com

Esther likes to share her travel tips on Instagram: My Little Bag of Tips (@estherkooiman).

Check netherlandsworldwide.nl for the latest travel advice to Mexico.