Where is Valladolid?

🧭 Valladolid’s location on the Yucatan Peninsula couldn’t be better. It’s just about halfway between Mérida and Cancun / Playa del Carmen, making it absolutely perfect if you’re wanting a short trip from either city or if you’re on a road trip around the peninsula.

It’s also the closest big city to Chichén Itzá and is perfectly placed to be a great base for visiting some of the state’s lesser-known areas and many of Yucatán’s most perfect beaches, including El Cuyo and Las Coloradas.

Valladolid is a great spot to spend a day or two (or even three if you have time) and if you have a car, it’s a perfect place to base yourself for longer while exploring the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula. I highly recommend adding it to your Yucatan itinerary.

Where to stay in Valladolid

A note on safety in Valladolid

✅ Valladolid is one of the safest cities in Mexico and perfectly safe for tourists to explore. Take the normal precautions – aka don’t flash wads of cash about, don’t leave your purse sitting on the table and walk away – and you shouldn’t have any issues.That said, I always recommend getting travel insurance prior to any trip to Mexico. Not for safety reasons but because you can trip and break a leg anywhere and you never know when your airline will “lose” your luggage. I recommend SafetyWing as it offers a good, comprehensive coverage.

The best things to do in Valladolid

So now, let’s dive into what to do in Valladolid, Mexico. 

Museums & culture in Valladolid

This gorgeous old city has plenty for those looking for culture. There is no shortage of museums in Valladolid and they each offer a unique focus on the history and culture of Valladolid and Mexico.

Palacio Municipal

My favourite place to stop in any Mexican town is the Palacio Municipal and Valladolid is no exception. Here you’ll find large murals depicting the region’s history.

📸 It’s also a great place to take photos over the plaza

Museo de Ropa Etnica de Mexico

This museum was a total surprise win for me as I’m not super interested in clothing. The experience here begins with a short talk about the different Indigenous groups in Mexico, and why their clothing developed the way it did. You’re then left to explore the small museum on your own, to exclaim over the gorgeous examples of traditional clothing. Whether you think clothing is interesting or not, I assure you that this is the museum most worth visiting in Valladolid.

Casa de los Venados 

This private home is also an eclectic museum of national culture collated by two long time American residents of Valladolid. It is one of the most recommended museums in Valladolid. I enjoyed my guided tour of their collection and was happy to know that moneys raised through the entrance fee go to support local charities. You can only visit on a guided tour – if the hours aren’t posted on the door then knock and ask and you’ll be told when to return.

Former Convent of San Bernardino de Sienna

At the far end of Calzada de los Frailes, is the Former Convent of San Bernardino de Sienna. It is one of the oldest colonial complexes in Yucatán, thought to have been completed in 1613 and it’s a fascinating place to explore. Your entrance fee here gets you into the church, the convent & its grounds and into a very small but weirdly fascinating museum about the weapons found in the abandoned pozo (well) on the grounds. I was surprised by how interesting this was. 

Museo San Roque

Located just a block from the cathedral, this small, dusty, half-forgotten museum is an interesting place to visit both for the building itself and for the artifacts it holds that pertain to the history of the city and Yucatán. I spent just 15 minutes or so in this tiny museum.

Choco-Story 

This is part of a family of museums dedicated to the history of chocolate. The other two are at Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. Here you’ll visit 12 rooms, try some chocolate and even be able to buy some of the famous Ki’Xocolatl chocolate (now renamed Choco Story Chocolate).

Video mapping in Valladolid

⏰ Note that I highly recommend you confirm the times when you’re in town because they are liable to change without warning. 

⭐️ “Noches de la Heroica Valladolid” – Convent of San Bernardino de Sienna: Tuesday – Sunday. Spanish at 9 pm and English at 9.25 pm.

⭐️ “Valladolid en la Historia” – San Servacio Cathedral – A spectacular video mapping show on the Templo de San Servacio every Tuesday – Friday at 9 pm.  Sat – Sun 9.20 pm.

📸 Snap a photo at the Valladolid sign

You’ll find the Valladolid sign in Parque Sisal, right in front of the convent, so you might as well snap a photo while you’re there (photo of me, there, above). 

Exploring & shopping in Valladolid

Relax in the main plaza, Parque Principal Francisco Canton Rosado

I love this plaza, particularly at dusk when the street performers appear, the birds come into roost and it’s wonderful to just sit and soak up the atmosphere.

Each night, around 5.30pm, you can catch a local cultural dance performance. It’s nothing big or fancy, just a group performing traditional Mayan dances or Jarana (a traditional Yucatan dance) for tips. But if you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth pausing to see.

You will find a multitude of street food stalls here as well as a few people selling traditional handicrafts.

🚌 If you’re visiting Valladolid on a day trip from the Caribbean Coast, your bus will most likely drop you off and pick you up here.

Calzada de los Frailes

This most colourful of streets is the most Instagram friendly street in Valladolid. If you enjoy trendy bars & restaurants then you’ll love it here. This is one of the places where ‘cool’ Valladolid most obviously comes into play. Here you’ll find numerous restaurants & bars, some new, some old and truly part of the scene. You’ll also find numerous artisan shops selling primarily Mexican souvenirs rather than Yucatecan souvenirs. By ‘Mexican’ I mean, souvenirs from all over the country, things you wouldn’t typically pick up in Yucatán – I spotted Oaxacan alebrijes, talavera pottery from Puebla, art from Guadalajara, clothing from San Cristobal de las Casas and more. It’s all gorgeous and definitely Mexican but not Yucatecan.

🕯My surprise favourite new store along the Caldzada de los Frailes is Frailes Atelier. This shop stands out from the crowd of newcomers. Here you’ll find a fascinating collection of items from the last century extremely beautifully displayed and the most gorgeous organic beeswax candles.

If you’re looking for traditional Yucatecan souvenirs, I recommend checking out the stores around the main plaza, in the artisan market on the plaza and in the roads around the plaza (such as C39 & C41).

Wander the Mercado Municipal

Valladolid’s market is known as the Mercado Municipal and you can find fresh fruits and vegetables and butchers as well as artisan items. It’s a great place to buy some groceries if you plan to cook at home and/or find a local souvenir to take home.

Visit the Iglesia de San Servacio

I’m not big into churches, which is why the Church of San Servacio is not at the top of this list like it is on most lists of what to see in Valladolid but the truth is, it’s one of the city’s top attractions. And there’s also no way you’re going to miss it, as it’s right in the main plaza.

The San Servacio Church was built in the 16th century but then demolished in 1705 by what is now known as the “Crime of the Mayor“. It was rebuilt into what you see today but to avoid having the altar in the same place it was originally destroyed, they had to build it facing North instead of East like other churches.

It’s beautiful as the sunlight shines on it just before dusk in winter. 

Cenotes in Valladolid

Cenote Zaci – There is one cenote right in the centre of Valladolid and it’s a great option for everyone, whether you plan on visiting more cenotes as you explore or not, whether you’re young, old, confident, or nervous. I love a good swim in this cenote and it’s really so handily close to everything!

This cenote is an open cenote. You’re given a life jacket at the top of the steps and it’s required to wear it while in the water. There are various points from which you can jump into the water, or you can simply walk down a few steps if you’re, like me, not a wild daredevil. 

Note that the changing rooms here are very basic – it costs a few pesos to access them. There are no lockers, you simply take your bag to the water’s edge and leave it with everyone else’s-

There is a restaurant on site. 

Where to eat in Valladolid

If you haven’t had a chance to try dishes local to the Yucatan yet, be sure to make it a priority in the foodie city of Valladolid. 

As I noted above, there are two Valladolids, the uber-trendy Valladolid and the traditional Valladolid. The restaurants I recommend here are more traditional, and are a part of the fabric of the city, having been here for years. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get wonderful food here in Valladolid.

🍽 Yerbabuena del Sisal – this restaurant has been quietly going about the business of providing excellent food since long before Valladolid was cool! It has great breakfast and lunch options for everyone including vegans.

🍽 Yakunaj Cocina – located just beyond the Calzada de los Frailes, this restaurant is truly excellent. I’ve eaten here a few times and always loved it. Grab a table in the garden and enjoy the ambiance (taco photo above taken here).

🍽 Le Kaat – perfect for vegetarians & vegans, this is a rare find that I highly recommend.

🍽 La Selva – although not located in the centre of Valladolid, this local restaurant serving traditional food is a top option for anyone looking for authentic experiences.

🍽 Restaurante La Sirenita – a traditional seafood restaurant I fell in love with. Perfect food, friendly waiters, great prices.

🍽 La Tia Valladolid – if you want to try poc chuc in Valladolid, this is your delicious and local option. Friendly, scrummy and extremely well priced. 

🍦 And, don’t miss the ice cream from Wabi Gelato. It’s so good that people actually make detours on their travels around the state of Yucatán just to have some (by some people I definitely mean me!). I had my first ice cream from here in 2016 not long after they first opened and in late 2024 I was happy to reconnect with the owner/ice-cream maker and see how well they’re doing.

🍺 Cantina La Joyita is a cantina (bar) that’s popular with locals and visitors alike. I actually have never made it here but it’s been recommended to me by numerous people over thee years.

Day trips from Valladolid

One of the very best things about Valladolid is its perfect location in the centre of the peninsula. This makes it a great place to stay if you want to get to know the region. Let’s take a look at some of the best day trips, both well known and less well known you can take while staying in Valladolid.

➕ For a more detailed look at day trips from Valladolid, my dedicated article is at your service.

How to take day trips from Valladolid

Rental car

🚗 My preference is always to have a car at my disposal. This way you are free to explore, change plans, stay longer and do whatever you feel like. I love driving in Yucatán and highly recommend it. The only thing worth noting is that I’ve never found it possible to rent directly in Valladolid. If you do want to have a car in Valladolid, I recommend picking it up in either Cancun or Mérida.

→ Check rental car options

Rent a bike

🚴🏾‍♂️ If you’re looking for an active adventure and to immerse yourself in local culture, consider exploring Valladolid by bike (this is a super cool bike tour but it’s also possible to just rent bikes and explore on your own. Many hotels offer bike rentals)

Public transport

🚌 The ADO public bus service is pretty decent although of course if you decide to use buses you have to stick to timetables. If you use colectivos (the small white mini-buses), the timetables are more free but buses only leave when they’re full.

→ Check schedules on the ADO website in Spanish or on BusBud in English.

Tours

👣 I always use Get Your Guide & Viator to find my tours, however, as of yet, there aren’t too many tours from Valladolid available on these sites.

​Maya archaeological sites

Chichén Itzá

I don’t think I really need to introduce this wonder of the modern world and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chichén Itzá couldn’t be more famous if it tried!

This fabulous Maya ruin is best visited early in the day, both to beat the heat and the crowds. If taking a tour is your only option then please don’t worry, it’s still magnificent, just less peaceful. Whether you have a few hours or all day here you are going to be blown away by the grandeur of the site.

➕ Most people tend to pair a visit to Chichén Itzá with a cenote after to cool down. Cenote Ik Kil is the most popular choice (where most tours stop) but I prefer Yokdzonot, which is owned by a women’s cooperative and has a little restaurant onsite.

→ Read the MexicoCassie guide to cenotes to visit near Chichén Itzá now

Ek Balam

I love Ek Balam. It’s smaller and quieter than many other ruins. It’s well worth spending an hour or two here exploring, listening to the jungle and relaxing at the top of the largest structure whilst gazing out over the jungles of east Yucatán.

On a good day, it’s possible to see all the way to Chichén Itzá and Cobá from the top of the necropolis. 

Since you won’t need a ton of time to explore the ruins, I recommend also visiting a nearby cenote or two, such as Xcanche or Hubiku.

Coba

Coba, about  45 mins drive from Valladolid, is an incredible sprawling jungle ruin site that reminds me of Calakmul, in Campeche.

Both times I’ve visited I’ve opted to take a bicycle-taxi around the site because it’s so large. You can also walk or rent a bike to ride yourself around. If you speak Spanish, the bike-taxi driver will potentially be able to tell you all sorts of interesting things about the area. 

I recommend getting to the site as early as you can because there’s really nothing like having this place to yourself before the magic and atmosphere are broken for the day by noisy visitors.

❌ Note that although it used to be possible to climb the tallest pyramid here, it’s not, at time of writing, possible to do so as it’s under repair. Perhaps in the future it’ll reopen although I’m doubtful.

➕ If you want to add a cenote stop to your day, consider Multum-Ha, Tamcach-Ha and Choo-Ha, which are all close together. Note that they do not have the facilities available at some of the larger cenotes.

⭐️ Read more about Coba and the other Maya ruins in Quintana Roo.

Cenotes 

Cenotes are one of the things that make the Yucatán peninsula so special and exploring them is by far one of the best things to do in Valladolid. There is one right in the city centre (mentioned above) and many others are easily reachable within an hour.

If I’m totally honest, the cenotes around Valladolid are, for me, the most impressive on the peninsula.

Here are a few of my favourite cenotes near Valladolid:

Cenote Zaci -This is probably the best-known cenote since it’s right in the centre of  Valladolid. It’s very popular with locals and visitors. There is a restaurant on-site and the cenote is what’s called an ‘open cenote’.

Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman –  Both the hacienda and the Oxman cenote are very beautiful. It can get busy with visitors. Popular for its rope swing. There is a restaurant on site. Just twenty minutes from Valladolid.

Dzitnup Village with cenotes Samula and Xkeken. A ten-minute drive from Valladolid, these cenotes are very popular with visitors. There is a restaurant on site.

Cenote Suytun – This is one of the most famous cenotes on Instagram, with the photo of someone standing on the concrete platform with the sun’s rays illuminating them. Note that you can only get that specific photo at certain times of the day. You can prebook online and take advantage of their buffet lunch too.

Sac-Aua – This is one of my favourite cenote experiences on the peninsula, partly because it’s so beautiful and partly for the incredible cave on site. We spent ages exploring the cave before heading into the cenote for kayaking and swimming fun (pictured above). This is apparently the only cenote on the peninsula with a natural island in it. Note that if there have been heavy rains, the island is sometimes covered by water.

→ Read the MexicoCassie guide to cenotes around Valladolid for more information

Take: Swim suit, towel, waterproof case for phone / camera, clear goggles if you plan on checking out under the water (and ear protector if you’re prone to ear infections)

​

Nature fun from Valladolid

Learn about traditional beekeeping

One of the most fun things to do in Valladolid is to visit the Xkopek Beekeeping Reserve. You can learn all about local bees and honey – and taste it too.

It’s a fun spot to spend an afternoon, as they have a cute pool, restaurant on-site as well as a dry cenote. There are small cabins on site if you want to stay here and day passes are available if you want to use their pool. When we took the tour here opted to stay the night in the cabins. Highly recommended!

You can visit independently (send a message to +52 985 125 0964 to set up a time) or join this tour from Valladolid.

Visit the beach from Valladolid

Las Coloradas 

The northeast coast of Yucatán is well worth a visit. Las Coloradas is the name of the small village next to the famous pink salt lakes. Head here to be wowed by the pink water (photo above in article) and then by the pristine beaches. 

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to visiting Las Coloradas and the pink salt lakes

→ This tour combines Las Coloradas with Ek Balam or you can combine Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas.

El Cuyo 

This little known beach town has an amazing, laid back vibe, some lovely little restaurants and the most wonderful beach. Highly recommended.

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to visiting El Cuyo

San Felipe and Río Lagartos

These two small towns on the northeast coast of Yucatán are two of my favourite places for a weekend getaway,  although day trips are also perfectly possible from Valladolid. They are tiny little places from where you can take amazing tours into areas of incredible natural beauty.

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to visiting Sal Felipe and Río Lagartos

Other towns to visit

One of the best things to do in Valladolid, is to explore nearby cities and towns – especially if Valladolid is your primary base for your Yucatan adventure.

Mérida 

Yucatán’s capital city is an easy day trip from Valladolid. Visit the famous Paseo de Montejo, enjoy the museums and culture and architecture of Mérida. If you’re wondering if Mérida is worth a trip, let me absolutely tell you that it is.

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to Mérida and the detailed, ‘1 day in Mérida’ article to plan your day

Izamal 

You may have heard of the famous yellow pueblo magico with more archaeological sites IN the city than you can imagine. A trip to Yucatán just isn’t complete if you haven’t been to Izamal.

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to Izamal

➕ Tizimin – This small city is best known for its strange caves and ice-cream.

➕ Uyama – Go check out the amazing and weirdly tiled church in this tiny nearby town.