Category: Hiking

A view of the main stone structure at the Pre-Colombian Mayan ruins at Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The stone structure sits on a cliff overlooking the turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. A white sand beach, rock outcroppings, and dark green foliage fill the foreground.

The Best Beach in Tulum: Playa Paraíso

Day 2 on the Mayan Riviera: Today we are visiting the Mayan ruins of Tulum before relaxing at Playa Paraíso, one of the best beaches in Tulum.

A view of the main stone structure at the Pre-Colombian Mayan ruins at Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The stone structure sits on a cliff overlooking the turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. A white sand beach, rock outcroppings, and dark green foliage fill the foreground.

Riviera Maya Excursions: Tulum Ruins

Day 2 on the Mayan Riviera: Today we are visiting the Mayan ruins of Tulum before relaxing at Playa Paraíso, one of the best beaches in Tulum.

A small pier juts out into the Caribbean Sea between Mexico's Playa de Carmen and Cancún, at the Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan luxury resorts along the Riviera Maya. Clouds reflect the setting sun over the turquoise-blue water and white sand.

Mayan Palace and the Grand Mayan: Must-See Resorts along Riviera Maya and the Yucatán Peninsula

Day 1 on the Mayan Riviera: Today we are visiting Puerto Morelos before enjoying the pools and beaches of the Grand Mayan resort between Cancún and Playa del Carmen.

A young girl smiles as she holds a small monkey on her shoulder while wearing a pink-brimmed straw hat. The monkey is part of the various tourist attractions at the Pre-Colombian Mayan ruins of Tulum, Mexico, overlooking the Caribbean Sea on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Riviera Maya Things to Do

Our 4-Day Itinerary for the Riviera Maya and the Yucatán Peninsula includes adventure-filled days at Puerto Morelos and Playa Paraíso, the Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichén Itzá, and plenty of downtime by the pool.

A view of the mountains and river near Haast, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Best New Zealand Itinerary 2 Weeks

We’ve planned the best 14 Day New Zealand Itinerary so you don’t have to! Check out each of the days below to put together your own holiday around the South Island and Wellington, or customize a trip if you’ve only got a few days or a week. (Check out our “Itineraries” in the main menu for other, shorter itineraries from New Zealand and other countries, as well).

A view of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown's waterfront park. Bayonet Peaks and Walter Peak are both visible over the lake. Blue-green, turquoise water sits beneath a vibrant blue sky, as fluffy white clouds float by.

New Zealand Travel Blog and Facts: Top 10 New Zealand Activities

Check out our New Zealand Top 10 list, including all our favorite road trip stops throughout the South Island and Wellington. We’ve hand-picked our favorite spots, activities, and must-see locations to help you plan your own kiwi adventure itinerary.

A view of downtown Queenstown, New Zealand from the edge of Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown's waterfront park. Blue-green, turquoise water washes ashore on the rocky beach near the tourist centre of central South Island.

Things to do in Queenstown: Eat, Play, Run

For our post on what to do in Queenstown, we picked a few of our favorite spots for our last few days in country, including the Cow Restaurant, the esplanade, walking downtown Queenstown, and the Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve just outside of town.

A young girl crouches inside a massive Moeraki Boulder sitting on the sandy Pacific Coast of New Zealand. The top of the boulder has eroded, leaving a large, concave opening in which the girl sits. The Pacific Ocean is visible off New Zealand's South Island on the East Coast near the village of Moeraki.

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders are a must-see stop on the coastal route between Dunedin and Christchurch or a drive from Dunedin to Queenstown. If you’re staying close by, it’s worth visiting the Moeraki Boulders and the town of Moeraki as a destination all its own, and there’s plenty to do along this stretch of the South Island’s East Coast.

A view from the top of the first ridge of the Abel Tasman National Park trail. The trail carves out a deep section of the hillside as it wraps around the top of the hill.

Abel Tasman Coast Track – Great Walks NZ

If you’re thinking of either a long day hike or a longer, overnight trek, add Abel Tasman National Park to your list of stops on your two week trip. We’ve hiked the Milford Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and many shorter treks throughout the South Island. The scenic views, secluded beaches, and dense native bush of Abel Tasman make this one of our favorite areas to hike and camp (and we have a lot of favorites in New Zealand!).

A mother and daughter pose in an open window at the Brunner, New Zealand, while another daughter stands nearby, on railroad tracks that lead toward a museum building on the site.

New Zealand Itinerary – Brunner, Waiuta, and Motueka

We planned day four as a driving day to cover about 1/3 of the length of the South Island, from Hokitika all the way to Motueka, on the South Island’s North Shore between the Abel Tasman National Park and the wine-growing region of Nelson, Picton, and Blenheim. If you have a little more time, you could easily break this into two segments and stay in Reefton, the first town in New Zealand and all of the Southern Hemisphere to receive electricity. You can easily cover the distance with a few fun stops in less than a full day.

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