Have you ever heard the term “pueblo mágico” and wondered what it means? Do you know what it means but have wondered how to visit one when you’re visiting Mexico? And did you know that as of mid-2023 there are fourteen pueblos magicos on the Yucatan Peninsula, some of which you probably haven’t heard of? Let’s check them out!

What Does Pueblo Mágico Mean?

“Pueblo Mágico” translates to English as “Magical Town”. It is an award bestowed by the Mexican Ministry of Tourism to promote tourism in smaller towns that represent the best of Mexico’s natural beauty, cultural richness, traditions, cuisine and hospitality. It is intended to improve and encourage tourism away from the bigger centres of tourism such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City. 

As of 2023, there are 177 pueblos mágicos across Mexico. I’ve personally visited thirty and while I have never decided to visit anywhere because of its status as a pueblo magico, after visiting I could generally see why somewhere has received the accolade. 

Outside of the Yucatán Peninsula my favourite pueblos magicos are Tapalpa (Jalisco), Tequila (Jalisco), Comala (Colima) and Tapijulapa (Tabasco).

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Pueblos Magicos, Yucatan Pensinsula

There are fourteen pueblos mágicos on the Yucatán Peninsula and while you’re unlikely to visit all of them, you’re probably going to want to add at least one or two to your Yucatan itinerary.

The Yucatán Peninsula is made up of three states: Yucátan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo.

📌 Yucatán, my home for many years, has seven magical towns – Izamal, Valladolid, Sisal, Tekax, Motul, Espita and Maní.

📌 Campeche has three pueblos magicos – Isla Aguada, Candelaria and Palizada.

📌 Quintana Roo has four pueblos magicos – Bacalar, Isla Mujeres, Tulum and Cozumel.

Some of these towns have been “pueblos magicos” for many years, while others received the title only recently. 

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

It is possible, by the way, for the title to be revoked if a town grows too large. This happened to San Miguel de Allende, which remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site but is no longer a pueblo magico. 

➡️ 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!

⭐️ Wherever you’re going in Mexico with kids, our packing list for Mexico with kids will come in handy.

Let’s take a look now at all of the pueblos magicos on the Yucatan Peninsula

Pueblos Magicos, Yucatan

Izamal – Yucatan’s Yellow Pueblo Magico

Highlights of Izamal

🌼 Izamal is best known for being the yellow city.

🌼 Izamal is the longest continuously inhabited settlement on the Yucatán Peninsula.

🌼 Izamal is home to the second-biggest pyramid in Mexico (after Cholula, Puebla).

🌼 Izamal is known as the City of Three Cultures because when you visit Izamal you’re walking around a typical colonial Mexican city full of modern Mexicans but there’s a very clear rich history and strong Maya influence, both ancient and modern. You’ll hear Mayan spoken on the street and you’ll walk by Maya archaeological sites and colonial buildings.

🌼 Pope John Paul II visited Izamal in the 1990s.

What to do in Izamal

🌼 Climb Pyramid Kinich Kakmo (Izamal makes it onto my top 10 ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula by the way) .

🌼 Explore the Convent of San Antonio de Padua.

🌼 Relax in the second-biggest convent atrium in the world – Atrium del Convento de Izamal (the biggest is in the Vatican, by the way).

🌼 Eat traditional Maya food such as poc chuc and cochinita pibil at the famous restaurant, Kinich.

🌼 Walk around the gorgeous yellow city, checking out all the fabulous souvenir shops.

🌼 You can take a horse-drawn carriage around Izamal.

Where is Izamal

Izamal is approximately halfway between Mérida and Valladolid in the north of Yucatán. There are regular minibuses from both Mérida and Valladolid but of course, driving yourself is much easier. 

🚗 60 minutes from Mérida along the 180

🚗 90 minutes from Valladolid along the 180D

Pueblo Magico: Valladolid

Highlights of Valladolid

Valladolid is often called the second city of Yucatán or the capital of Eastern Yucatán. It is a great base for anyone wishing to explore the east of the state of Yucatán including popular locations such as Las Coloradas and Izamal. Despite its size and fabulous location, Valladolid remains fairly unknown to all but the most intrepid visitors to the Yucatán Peninsula – thousands whizz by on tours to Chichén Itzá every day but very few take the time to get to know this beautiful and vibrant city.

What to do in Valladolid

📍Valladolid is a beautiful colonial city that has made its name as a foodie hotspot in recent years.

📍Explore the city centre by walking from the main square to the Calzada de los Frailes and the Convent de San Bernadino de Siena.

📍Watch the free video mapping show on the convent walls from Parque Sisal.

📍Explore the many excellent museums of Valladolid including the Casa de los Venados.

📍 Use Valladolid as a base to explore the beautiful cenotes that surround the city. If you don’t have time then check out Cenote Zaci in the centre of town.

📍 There are three huge Mayan ruins within easy reach of Valladolid: Chichén Itza, Cobá and Ek Balam.

Where is Valladolid

Valladolid is located approximately halfway between Mérida and Cancun, making it perfect for a great day trip from either location. It is also a great spot to spend a few days with a rental car exploring the surrounding areas. 

🚗 130 minutes from Mérida along the 180

🚗 130 minutes from Cancun along the 180D (although while Maya Tren roadworks are taking place in 2023 it can be much slower)

Pueblo Magico: Sisal

The small fishing village of Sisal is one of Yucatán’s most gorgeous beach towns and is a recent addition to the Pueblo Magico family and the accolade, in this instance is considered to be fairly controversial. Some residents of Sisal do not feel that they were consulted and that the title was conferred as a political move rather than at their behest. It’s worth keeping this in mind when you visit Sisal because while it is a beautiful spot, it really isn’t set up for hoards of tourists and if you visit expecting 5* service you will be disappointed.

Highlights of Sisal

Sisal is a small fishing town with a gorgeous beach that is somewhat isolated from the rest of Yucatán thanks to the lack of a coastal road. Fewer than 2000 people live in Sisal and that’s part of its charm. Sisal is popular with Yucatecan locals looking for a quiet beach get-away or a laid-back lunch (because yes, it’s close enough to Mérida that you can go for the day. I have done this many times).

What to do in Sisal

🌊 See sea turtles in Sisal.

🌊 Enjoy the pristine white sand beach of Sisal.

🌊 Take a fishing tour with local fishermen.

🌊 Take a kayak tour through the mangroves.

🌊 Grab a beach-side table or palapa and enjoy fresh fish and a michelada (spiced-up beer).

🌊 Stay the night in Sisal to witness the most phenomenal sunsets.

Where is Sisal

Sisal is on the west coast of Yucatán.

🚗 70 minutes from Mérida via Hunucma

Pueblo Magico: Tekax

Newly named Pueblo Magico in 2023, Tekax in southern Yucatán is making a name for itself as an eco tourism destination for the peninsula. Although the town is known as Tekax, its full name is Tekax de Álvaro Obregón. Locals also refer to Tekax, the highest city on the Peninsula as “La Sultana de la Sierra”. 

Highlights of Tekax

Tekax has no local cenotes but it has over 200 caves, many of which can be visited with guides through Eco-Parks such as Kaalmankal and Las Sartenejas.

What to do in Tekax

🧗🏽 At these eco-parks (please pre-book) you can go caving and learn about the ancient history of Tekax. You can also enjoy activities such as rappelling, ziplining, ATV-bikes, camping and more. 

🧗🏽 Head up the only hill in town to La Ermita for fabulous views across the town. The chapel is dedicated to San Diego de Alcalá de Henares. Don’t miss the small cave hidden round hte back of the church.

🧗🏽 The church in the centre of Tekax is the second biggest church in the whole of Yucatán.

🧗🏽 As you explore the town centre, be sure to pay attention to the deep machete marks on the walls of many buildings – these remain as a tribute and reminder of the important role Tekax played in the Caste Wars. The Palacio Municipal of Tekax was the seat of many meetings during this war. 

🧗🏽 The archaeological site of Chacmultun is just fifteen minutes from Tekax. 

Where is Tekax

🚗 90 minutes from Mérida on the 184. This route goes straight through the main cenote circle of Yucatán.

🚗 180 minutes from Campeche, the capital city of Campeche State. 

Pueblo Magico: Maní

It’s easy to see why Maní, a brand-new pueblo magico, or magic town, fits the requirements to be a pueblo magico. It’s one of the most authentic Maya towns you can imagine. Here you’ll hear people speaking Mayan and people often wear traditional dress as they go about their daily lives.

Highlights of Maní

Maní is one of the most important stops on the Yucatecan Convent Route (Ruta de Conventos). The other towns on this route are: Acanceh, Tecoh, Telchaquillo, Tekit, Mama, Chumayel and Teabo. However, Maní was important long before the Christians built convents in Mexico, or had even considered setting foot on Mexican soil.

Maní has been continuously inhabited for over 4000 years and after the fall of Mayapan, the Xui (a Maya dynasty) ruled from here. Maní was the main religious centre for Kukulcan.

The Auto de Fé took place in Maní – this is one of the most tragic moments in Yucatecan history: when Frey Diego de Landa, a Spaniard, destroyed all the known Maya codices as part of his efforts to forcibly convert the Maya to Christianity.

What to do in Maní

🔔 Maní’s convent, the Convent of St Michael Archangel, was built in the mid-16th century and it is home to one of the most impressive open chapels in the whole of Latin America.

🔔 Locals love Maní as a place to eat poc chuc.

🔔 Uxmal and the other Ruta Puuc archaeological sites aren’t too far away.

🔔 Visiting Maní means a chance to learn more about Yucatán’s long history of bee-keeping and apiculture. 

Where is Maní

🚗 70 minutes on the 184 from Mérida

🚗 45 minutes from Muna

🚗 50 minutes from Uxmal

🚗 30 minutes from Tekax

Pueblo Magico: Motul

Motul, a small town just outside Mérida is well known for two things: 1. It is the birthplace of the famous Yucatecan, Felipe Carrillo Puerto; 2. It is the birthplace of the famous Yucatecan breakfast, huevos Motuleños.

Highlights of Motul

Motul is a great spot to spend the morning on your way to the beach. Grab breakfast, take a stroll, soak up the culture and then head to the lounger on the beach.

What to do in Motul

🍳 Head to Motul early to join locals eating the delicious Huevos Motuleños in the market. When I went I chose to eat at Doña Evelia’s because that’s the recommended place. It was delicious but if I’m honest I’m sure the other spots are equally as good.

But what are Huevos Motuleños? Huevos Motuleños is a popular breakfast plate of tortillas, beans, fried eggs covered in a tomato, ham and pea sauce. Usually it comes with slices of fried plantain on the side. Obviously, it needs salsa habanero! And yes, it’s delicious.

🍳 Enjoy wandering around the market and if you have any stomach space left, try piedras (my favourite snack at baseball matches).

🍳 Visit the house in which Felipe Carrillo Puerto was born. He was a socialist governor (1922-1924) of Yucatán who stood with the Maya against hacienda owners. He was killed by firing squad but is today remembered as a hero.

🍳 Elvia Carrillo Puerto, sister of Felipe, was also born in Motul and she is considered to be Mexico’s first modern feminist. She campaigned for women’s suffrage and equality in the 1920s. Like her brother, she also called for equality for the Maya. In 1923 she was the first woman to serve in Yucatán’s government. The house in which the pair was born is a small museum dedicated to both of them.

🍳 Sambula Cenote – this is a small urban cenote.

🍳 Baca – if you like Thai food there is a great Thai restaurant here – La Casa de los Lotus. This is something of a local secret, definitely worth checking out and don’t forget to take a stroll around the gardens because they’re unlike anything else you’ll find in Yucatán.

🍳 Telchac Puerto – this beach town is easily accessible from Motul if you’re driving yourself around. 

Don’t forget to buy your travel insurance. You never know when you’ll need it.

Pueblo Magico: Espita

Espita, the last of the magic towns in Yucatán is located near the large but barely visited Tizimin. 

Highlights of Espita

Espita is somewhere to take a stroll and soak up the culture, charm and history of Yucatán. 

What to do in Espita

📍 Visit Ek Balam archaeological site.

📍 Explore Tizimin.

📍 Stop in Espita on your way from Valladolid to Tizimin or Río Lagartos.

Where is Espita

🚗 120 minutes from Mérida

🚗 50 minutes from Valladolid

🚗 30 minutes from Tizimin

🚗 60 minutes from Río Lagartos

Pueblos Magicos, Quintana Roo

In 2023 there are four Pueblos Magicos in Quintana Roo, all are extremely famous locations that are extremely popular with visitors to Mexico.

Pueblo Magico: Bacalar

In the south of Quintana Roo, near the border with Belize, is Bacalar. Bacalar has become something of a ‘must visit’ for people wishing to get away from Tulum and Cancun but it’s also still considered a hidden gem for the region.

Bacalar is located on the Bacalar Lagoon and is one of Mexico’s seven natural wonders. The lagoon is 30 km long and around 7 km wide. 

Highlights of Bacalar

Bacalar is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. The small town of Bacalar sits on the bank of Laguna de Bacalar. This laguna is also known as the “lagoon of seven colors” because of the variety of blues in the water. It is every bit as spectacular as people say it is. 

What to do in Bacalar

💦 There are many ways to enjoy yourself in Bacalar and most of them focus on the lagoon.

💦 Hire kayaks or SUP boards, a lancha, sail boat or catamaran and take your time getting to know the lagoon. 

💦 Canal de los Piratas – Pirates’ Canal – the beauty of this canal will blow your mind as you approach it. Be sure to spend an hour or two here either frolicking in the shallow waters or kayaking around it. Don’t forget sunscreen though!

💦 Balnearios – Bacalar may not have beaches but it does have balnearios – lakeside bathing spots. There are many around the shore including well-priced municipal options. My preference though is generally to find a lakeside hotel or restaurant with day-pass options and hole up for a few hours enjoying the views, swings, slides and hotel food.

💦 Cenotes – there are four cenotes to visit: Cenote Azul (the only one NOT in the laguna), Cenote Cocalitos (also know as the Santuario de los Estronmatolitos, see below) Cenote Esmeralda and Cenote Negro.

💦 Cenote Cocalitos – home to the stromatolites, this is one of the few places in the world you can see these ancient stone-like organisms. 

💦 Fuerte de San Felipe – built in 1725 to ward off the English is home to an interesting small museum in the centre of Bacalar.

💦 Visit nearby ruins of Dzibanche, Chacchoben, Kohunlich or Calakmul/Xpujil (all between 40 mins and 90 mins drive).

Where is Bacalar

🚗 150 minutes from Tulum

🚗 40 minutes from Chetumal

🚗 4hr15 from Mérida or Cancun

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a small island thirteen kilometres off the coast of Quintana Roo. It’s easily reached by ferry or sailing boat.

Highlights of Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a great option for either a day trip from Cancun or for a beach vacation in its own right.

What to do on Isla Mujeres

🏖 If you are looking for a party, stick around the port or head to the gorgeous North Beach. 

🏖 If you’re after a wilder, more natural time, hire a golf buggy and explore the south and around Payo Obispo where the beaches are rocky, wild and almost entirely empty. North Beach is quiet early in the morning and later in the evening once day trippers have gone home.

🏖 Tortugranja – this turtle rescue centre has great reviews (although I wasn’t a massive fan as many turtles were just sitting in concrete tubs – not sure what turtles need for stimulation but I’d imagine at least some pretense at being in the ocean).

🏖 MUSA – it is possible to dive or snorkel to see the underwater museum from Isla Mujeres.

Where is Isla Mujeres

Taking the ferry to Isla Mujeres is really a requirement of a trip to Cancun so please make time for this day o’fun. There are three UltraMar ferry departure points in the Cancun Hotel Zone: Playa Tortugas, EL Embarcadero and Playa Caracol. Check the timetable here.

Tulum

Who hasn’t heard of Tulum? On the Quintana Roo Caribbean Coast (also known as the Riviera Maya), Tulum is somewhere everyone wants to visit. I’ve been multiple times and although it isn’t my favourite place in the world I understand its allure.

Highlights of Tulum

The point of Tulum is its beaches and when there isn’t too much sargassum they are, without a doubt, some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen. When I first started visiting Tulum in 2016 the beaches were entirely free of sargassum and people. Today, there is regularly much more sargassum and there are certainly more people! 

What to do in Tulum

🏝 People generally come to Tulum for its beaches and its beach clubs so yes, grab your towel and sexy-suite and get down to the beach.

🏝 The Tulum ruins are the most visited of all Maya ruins in Quintana Roo. They are situated on a cliff overlooking the ocean – obviously this is stunning and well worth seeing but be sure to get there before the crowds as, in my opinion, these ruins feel even busier and more touristy than Chichen Itza.

🏝 Cenotes – the most popular include El Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera, Cenote Carwash and Zacil-Ha.

🏝 There are many exceptional restaurants, bars and hotels in Tulum and there are plenty of opportunities to shop in town should you so desire.

🏝 The ruins of Muyil are just outside Tulum. This magnificent jungle setting easily rivals the beauty of Tulum’s ruins, in my opinion.

🏝 Sian Ka’an Biosphere has some excellent touring opportunities for people who love adventure and nature.

Where is Tulum

🚗 100 minutes from Cancun

🚗 50 minutes from Playa del Carmen

🚗 90 minutes from Valladolid

🚗 210 minutes from Mérida

Tulum is easily reached with ADO buses or minibuses too: check prices and timetables on BusBud now.

Cozumel

Another island off the coast of Quintana Roo, Cozumel is a less developed island than Isla Mujeres yet it is still extremely popular with cruise ships and famed for its fabulous diving opportunities. In 1961, Jacques Cousteau proclaimed Cozumel to be one of the best dive sites in the world and since then it has become an underwater marine park where sealife is protected and diving a serious endeavor. Many people who visit Playa del Carmen for spring break enjoy a trip to Cozumel when the mainland feels to busy.

Highlights of Cozumel

Diving and snorkelling the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. 

What to do in Cozumel

🤿 Go diving or snorkelling.

🤿 Enjoy the beach life: eastern beaches for wild, remote experiences and western beaches for hotels and beach clubs. Head south to Punta Sur Ecological Park for truly wild and pristine beaches with white sand and perfect ocean.

🤿 Kitesurfing.

🤿 Visit the Museo de Cozumel.

🤿 Shopping.

🤿 Explore the ruins at San Gervasio.

(and please DON’T visit the dolphinariums on the island.)

Where is Cozumel

⛴ Cozumel is just opposite Playa del Carmen and is reached via UltraMar ferry from the port right by Parque los Fundadores 

⛴ 90 minutes from Cancun airport  

Pueblos Magicos, Campeche

Of the three pueblos magicos in Campeche I’ve only visited one. The other two will have to remain on my ‘to visit’ list for a while.

Isla Aguada

Isla Aguada is one of those super special places that not many people have heard of but those who know, know. In my opinion it’s a true hidden gem (Bacalar might be thought of as a hidden gem but Isla Aguada IS a hidden gem). I also learned recently that it was a refuge for pirates attacking the region until 1762.

Isla Aguada isn’t really an island, rather it’s a small town at the tip of the Palmar Peninsula. It is surrounded by water: the Laguna de Téminos and the Gulf of Mexico.

Highlights of Isla Aguada

Taking a lancha tour to see the dolphins, enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of this small beach town.

What to do in Isla Aguada

🐬 Take a lancha (small boat) tour to see the laguna bottlenose dolphins (if you ask nicely, your captain might take you out under the huge bridge and into the Gulf waters).

🐬 Visit the tiny islands in the Laguna de Téminos.

🐬 There is a small museum and iguana sanctuary at the town lighthouse.

🐬 Spend the day on the beach.

🐬 Join locals walking the boardwalk at night and grab snacks from the outdoor stalls as you do.

Where is Isla Aguada

🚗 120 minutes from Campeche

🚗 45 minutes from Ciudad del Carmen

Palizada

Palizada is a hidden gem of a location near the Tabasco border.

What to do in Palizada

📌 Walk the malecon (river bank) and enjoy the views.

📌 Explore the town’s colonial past and visit the various churches and haciendas.

📌 Take a tour of the mangroves.

📌 Visit the Museum of Paleontology and Anthropology.

Candelaria

Candelaria is something of an ecotourism destination in the deep south of Campeche.

What to do in Candelaria

📌 Go bird watching on the Río Candelaria.

📌 Explore the waterfalls and natural swimming holes in Parque Salto Grande.

📌 Visit El Tigre archaeological site.

📌 Take a jungle tour.

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