Pueblo Magico, The Yellow City, Town of Hills, City Of Three Cultures

If you are looking for perfect day trips from Merida or Valladolid then Izamal – the yellow city – is a great option. It’s one of my personal favourite places to visit on the Yucatan Peninsula because it is a beautiful little town full enough of culture to be interesting, but not so full you feel overwhelmed on a day trip.

Let’s take a look at the very best things to do in the hidden gem that is Izamal!

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If you wanted to stay longer in Izamal, it’s also plenty interesting enough to make it worth a night or two in the area.

What is Izamal Known For?

🌼 Quite apart from being a yellow city, Izamal is a small city that is known for its friendly, authentic vibe. You won’t see hoards of tourists here but you will find plenty of Mexican culture to imbibe.

🌼 People who know Yucatán (like me!) know that Izamal is a great place to go for lunch: Kinich is an incredible restaurant serving up excellent quality traditional food.

🌼 Izamal is also known for the quality of its souvenirs. Be sure to come with spare cash and some time to shop because I guarantee you’re going to want to buy souvenirs here.

➡️ Let’s talk safety in Yucatán for a second. Yucatán is Mexico’s safest state, making it a perfect spot for a vacation. If you’re interested in reading more about whether Yucatan is safe and how to look after yourself while in Yucatan, you know I’ve got you covered!

Why Is Izamal Yellow?

This is the first question everyone asks, right? I mean, why is the town all yellowed up? It’s a fair question. A little bit of digging turns up two suggestions as to why Izamal is yellow.

☀️ The first is that the yellow both represents and reflects, the sun, the god (Kinich Ahau) to which the city was originally dedicated.

☀️ The second is that the town needed sprucing up prior to the Papal visit in the 1990s and some bright spark had the idea of painting everything yellow because yellow was already kind of the city’s colour thanks to the dedication to Kinich Ahau.

☀️ Walking around Izamal is a joy simply because yellow is such a happy colour and it means you can spot the dedicated Instagrammers as they inevitably show up in yellow too!

☀️ I haven’t found anything definitive as to why Izamal is yellow, but I quite like the ambiguity. I love that the locals all seem to have different responses too. It’s almost as if they’re toying with visitors. I’d also say it’s telling that the map the tourist office gives visitors makes no mention of reasons for the yellowing. The cynic in me yells that it was a brilliant marketing ploy.

Warning: if you or your kids happen to lean against a yellow building whilst in Izamal and then return to your home or hotel and it has any white walls, you can be sure you’ll wind up with a large yellowy patch on your wall! Who needs souvenirs when you’ve got your own Izamal yellow wall in the house? (*sigh*)

Important Izamal Facts

🌼 Izamal is one of Mexico’s ‘pueblos magicos’. As of 2023 there are seven pueblos magicos in Yucatán. The colonial city, Valladolid and the sleepy fishing village, Sisal are the other two well-known pueblos magicos in Yucatán. One of the qualifying points to becoming a pueblo magico is to be a small town that is rich in tradition and culture with something to offer visitors.

🌼 It is said that Izamal is a city of three cultures: Maya, Colonial, and modern-day Mexican. Strolling around Izamal you’ll definitely feel that you’re in a colonial city and it’s obviously it was built over an ancient Maya town. As a bonus you’re even likely to hear Mayan being spoken by locals.

🌼 Izamal is probably the oldest city in the state of Yucatán, having been inhabited continuously for around two thousand years.

🌼 Izamal was an important ally of Chichén Itzá in their struggle for dominance against Mayapan.

🌼 Izamal was an early conquest for the Spaniards and it was here that Fray Diego de Landa, in the sixteenth century, committed the shocking atrocity of burning all the Mayan codices he could find. He did, later, realise the error of his ways and try to recreate everything he destroyed. He destroyed twenty-seven codices and burned over 5,000 idols.

🌼 Around 80 Maya structures have been found in the city. There was also a sacbe (sacred path) linking Izamal to Ake and to Kantunil.

🌼 De Landa also built a Franciscan monastery on the site of an important Mayan pyramid.

🌼 Izamal’s other claim to fame is that Pope John Paul II visited in 1993.

🌼 Izamal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be a first-rate archaeological site for the whole of Mexico. When I see people saying that the ruins of Izamal aren’t worth a trip in their own right it makes me pretty sad. It’s also the only city in Mexico with so many sites within its urban area. The view from the top of the main pyramid is breathtaking.

Why does Izamal have so many names?

Ciudad Amarilla – Yellow City

I hope this one is obvious to you now!

Ciudad de los Cerros – City of Hills

Yucatán is flat with a capital F. Izamal doesn’t have natural hills but it does have old pyramids that look like hills. I guess that’s why it got this name.

City of Three Cultures

As noted above, when you visit the present-day Izamal, you are exploring the oldest of ancient Maya settlements; there will be colonial buildings all around you and modern Mexicans live their lives amongst all this history. You’ll hear both Yucatecan Spanish and Mayan being spoken.

What to do in Izamal

Visit The Convent de San Antonio de Padua

The Convent de San Antonio de Padua is a great place to begin your day in Izamal. Firstly, it’s enormous, striking, and right slap bang in the middle of town. You can’t miss it.

🌼 The Spanish began their building work in 1553 right on top of a pyramid temple P’pap Hol Chak to the sun god, Kinich Ahau. I might not be one for religion but I definitely don’t think this was cool. You do not wander into another culture’s home and plonk your god building atop another’s god building. It’s just not good manners, even if it is yellow and pretty. They even used stones from the ancient buildings they destroyed when building the convent, much like when the conquistadors buil the cathedral in Merida (the ancient city of T’ho) out of plundered stone.

also one of the oldest Catholic monasteries in the Americas.

🌼 Just past the church itself is an entrance to a beautiful and serene courtyard that leads to a small museum where you can see the chair the pope sat in when he visited Izamal, see some religious clothing, get a great view of the back of the convent and enjoy a strong breeze.

Atrium del Convento de Izamal

🌼 While you’re here, don’t miss the Atrium del Convento de Izamal. It’s apparently the second largest in the world after the atrium in the Vatican City.

🌼 The convent grounds are busy yet remain calm and definitely a place to sit and wonder why the building isn’t symmetrical for a good long while. My best guess, by the way, was that the bell tower is a later addition. See if you can do better.

🌼 As you stroll around, notice the 16th-century frescos on the walls. I believe these were only discovered fairly recently when someone was cleaning the walls.

Explore The Pyramids and Maya Sites of Izamal

Izamal is home to far more pyramids than you might expect, in fact, more than any other town in Mexico.

Remember, Izamal was an extremely important Maya ceremonial centre before the Spanish arrived.

Kinich Kakmo 

📍Kinich Kakmo is the biggest and most impressive of the pyramids in Izamal. In fact, it’s one of the biggest pyramids in the whole of Mexico after the pyramid in Cholula, just outside Puebla. It’s also the highest pyramid in the Yucatan state – higher even than Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá.

🦜 Did you know that Kinich Kakmo means Sun-Eyed Fire Macaw in Mayan? 🦜

📍 I just love this pyramid and have climbed it twice, once like a normal person from the front and once, following my kids, up the back. Many people will tell you not to bother climbing this pyramid but I strongly disagree. How can you ever not want to climb a giant pyramid slap bang in the middle of town that’s also apparently a manifestation of the god, Itzam Na? The 360 degree views from the top are just wonderful.

🩼 How accessible is Kinich Kakmo?

It’s hard going to be honest so if you have any accessibility concerns, it’s important to keep the following in mind: First, you climb a monumental stone staircase up the lowest levels of the pyramid to a grassy field, which you cross before beginning the climb to the top. Here you find another monumental staircase but it quickly turns to rubble and you may find yourself using your hands to get up.

If you, for some reason find yourself wondering if you can climb up the back of this pyramid, the answer is yes. There are no barriers to stop you and it isn’t in bad condition at all for a fairly unrestored building.

Location and Price: Calle 28 x27 y23. Free.

Itzamatul

📍 The first section of this pyramid was built around 400 – 600 CE, and the third and final section was added around 950 – 1100 CE. This pyramid was apparently dedicated to the god Zamna, to whom pilgrims would come to make their petitions.

📍 From the top of Itzamatul there is a great view over to the pyramid of Kinich Kakmo, which gives a good idea of the size and layout of the lost Maya plaza that lay between the two.

Habuk

📍 It’s fun to poke around here but little is known about the site. I believe the site was a residential building but I’m not 100% certain.

Kabul

📍 Is not currently open as it’s being restored but this is where Catherwood was believed to have made his sketch of the sun god mask.

El Conejo

📍 El Conejo is not a pyramid but a smaller residential structure. This site has yielded a number of items that will have been used in daily Maya life but no one really knows what the site was used for, perhaps it was a room for an important Maya official.

Cultural Centre – Centro Cultural Y Artesanal

Izamal’s beautiful Cultural Centre is located on Parque Itzamna. I highly recommend checking it out and not just for the sweeeet blast of air con for which you’ll truly be grateful after a day exploring. The centre is both museum and gallery of Mexican art. The museum is small and contains some great examples of Mexican handicrafts.

Statue To Fray Diego de Landa

I love that Izamal decided to turn this angry yet eventually penitent guy into a small roundabout! I imagine the decision-making process went something like this:

“You know we have to acknowledge this famous and powerful man who both led to the creation of the modern city of Izamal AND destroyed all written history of the Maya people”.

“I don’t think we should have to honour him. He helped destroy Maya culture”.

“No choice”.

“Fine. Damn it. Make him a roundabout”.

You can find this roundabout just around the back of the convent (walk on the road with the convent on your left and the market on your right).

Other Things To Do In Izamal

🌼 Izamal has two beautiful central plazas: Parque Cinco de Mayo and Parque Itzamna. On Parque Itzamna you’ll find both the Izamal letters AND the Izamal horse-drawn carriages.

🌼 Every Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sat at 8pm the city offers a video-mapping show in the atrium of the convent (often information about this is confused so please don’t be mad at me if I have the location wrong, it’s a small town, you’ll find it).

🌼 Take a walk, explore the streets of Izamal, stroll around and enjoy the yellow city. You’ll find plenty of picturesque and Instagram perfect spots.

🌼 Go street sign spotting. Like in Mérida, there are delightful old street signs on the walls.

🌼 If you’re in Izamal before 2 pm you’ll be able to explore the local mercado municipal (market). Note it closes for the afternoon.

🌼 Grab a corn ice cream or a cup of chopped mango and enjoy photographing them against the bright yellow buildings and yellow houses!

Shopping In Izamal

🛍 Hecho A Mano is particularly famous and well worth checking out but my personal favourite is Raices Mayas (calle 30 x29 y31). I really, really wanted to buy a hennequin lamp there last time we visited but had to pull myself away as my finances really don’t permit frivolous purchases.

🛍 I also recommend checking out the market stalls on Plaza Cinco de Mayo. These stalls are open from 8 am until 3 or 4 pm every day. The stallholders are very friendly and the prices are reasonable.

Do note that there is only one cash machine in town and it is known to run out of money! We didn’t see a bank anywhere. Come with cash!

Where To Eat In Izamal

🌽 Kinich is a very well-known and well-regarded restaurant that regularly wins awards for its Yucatecan cuisine. If you plan on eating there I recommend heading in early (it opens at 12) to eat or book a table for later or you’ll have to accept a wait because as large as it is, it fills up very fast. Be sure to go and see the women making homemade tortillas in the middle of the restaurant! The local delicacy of cochinita pibil is particularly well regarded here.

🌽 Yes, there are other options in town serving up local cuisine but Kinich is where most visitors go if they’re only eating once in Izamal. I surprised myself by wanting to go back because I normally do want to try as many places as possible.

🌽 I do very much like the look of the cafe in Hotel San Miguel Arcangel (and I’d probably stay there if I were looking for a hotel in Izamal too).

🌽 If you’re more of a market restaurant kinda person then be sure to eat early as the market really is all shut up by 2 pm ish. There are some street food stalls around if you’re late for lunch!

Where to Stay in Izamal

🐾 If you’re wondering about dog-friendly hotels in Yucatán, there are a few worth checking out.

What Is There to Do Near Izamal?

📌 People don’t tend to stay in Izamal: although it’s lovely and I have stayed there myself. Most people will visit Izamal from Mérida or Valladolid, or as part of a tour around Yucatán. It’s even possible to visit from Cancun or Tulum if you start out early.

❓ Are you wondering whether to visit Mérida or Valladolid on your trip around Yucatán?

📌 You can’t visit Yucatán and not explore the ancient Maya archaeological sites. Chichén Itzá, for example is just over an hour away from Izamal. Why not visit and pair it with a cenote swim.

📌 There are cenotes all over the state of Yucatán and visiting one or two is an absolute must when exploring Yucatán.

📌 The beaches of Yucatán are always top of my list of recommendations for people visiting the area. Tel Chac and Dzilam de Bravo are both just over an hour from Izamal. There are other gorgeous beaches between 1h30 – 2 hours drive away too.

Insider Knowledge: Many people will recommend that you visit Cenote Zaci or Cenote Ik Kil and while both are perfectly nice, they’re also very touristy. If you have access to a car then I recommend going off-piste and either heading out to the Homun Cenote Circle, into the jungle to the jaw-dropping Kax Ek or to Xkeken or Yokdzonot on the outskirts of Valladolid.

Izamal Frequently Asked Questions