Valladolid, Yucatan

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Valladolid has to be one of the most underrated destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula. I myself overlooked it on my first trip to the area in favour of the more-popular Merida. However, I found myself there more or less by accident and it surprised me with how charming it is. Unlike Merida, the climate was warm but not unbearably hot - at least in February and September. It has a typically charming central square and attractive colonial architecture. The town has a laid-back feel to it and is not overrun with tourists.

What to Do

Valladolid has a lot of underground lakes, known as cenotes, close by. In the city itself is cenote Zaci and always seems to be surprisingly quiet. Go early and you might be lucky enough to have the place to yourself for a while! Also highly recommended in the San Lorenzo or Oxman Cenote, located a short taxi ride out of the city. It's deep underground and has long vines hanging down into the water. There's even a swing! When you start to fell chilly you can head outside to the pool in the grounds of the hacienda where the cenote is located. There are plenty of other cenotes you can visit if you head a little further out of town.

Where to Stay

I stayed at the Santa Maria Guesthouse which is pleasant and centrally located. Also the accommodating owner agreed to meet us when we arrived from Bacalar at around 2 o'clock in the morning...


How to Get There

Vallodolid has a bus station served by the major coach companies in Mexico. You can get there easily from Cancun in about 2 hours.


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