The Yucatan peninsula is home to some of the most beautiful and culturally rich places I’ve been! While most people flock to the beaches, the colorful colonial town of Valladolid is definitely worth a trip inland. And, it’s proximity to Chichen Itza means you can easily visit both in one trip.
Here’s how to spend one day in Valladolid, Mexico!
Step back in time at Chichen Itza
This ancient Mayan city is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is located just 45 minutes from Valladolid — and if you’re planning to visit from the beaches, it definitely makes sense to visit both Chichen Itza and Valladolid at the same time! To avoid the crowds, get there at opening time (8 AM) and you’ll be able to really soak in Chichen Itza’s beauty.
I’d recommend visiting El Castillo, the largest pyramid, first as it can get the most crowded and then work your way through the rest of the city. The Great Ball Court was incredible — it’s the largest of 13 in the city!
Explore colorful Valladolid
Explore colorful ValladolidWith its seemingly endless rows of brightly colored houses, colonial architecture and lively plaza, Valladolid is a charming and vibrant town!
We spent a few hours wandering along Calle 46 and Calle 41A, browsing the shops, stopping to try Mayan chocolate and street tacos, and — one of the highlights — sitting in the plaza and admiring the beautiful San Servacio church.
San Servacio is beautiful inside as well! It’s free to enter and definitely worth having a peek inside.
Lunch at La Casona de Valladolid
Enjoyed by both tourists and locals, La Casona de Valladolid is the place to be for lunch! They serve traditional Yucatan specialities in a buffet style — so come hungry and don’t miss the cochinta pibil.
The hacienda style setting is beautiful as well with an outdoor courtyard, fountain and colorful decor.
Swim at a nearby cenote
The Yucatan has thousands of cenotes to explore and Valladolid is no different. Cenote Zaci is located in downtown Valladolid and is a great place to cool off and relax after lunch.
Or venture out to Cenote Samula, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Valladolid. I absolutely loved this cenote as it was completely underground with just a hole opening at the top to let some light stream in.
We spent an afternoon here swimming and floating in the clear blue water with the cutest little fish nibbling at our feet!
Grab dinner at IX CAT IK
IX CAT IK serves traditional Mayan cuisine and everything is made fresh daily using traditional Mayan cooking methods. The vegetables are grown in the garden, the tortillas are made by hand and the servers would be happy to give you a tour to teach you about the traditional cooking techniques. It truly is a cultural culinary experience!
Stay the night at Hotel Zentik Project
While we didn’t get to stay the night in Valladolid, we heard great things about Hotel Zentik Project. This fun, quirky hotel has brightly colored rooms, murals throughout the property and two pools — one outdoor and the other, a saline cave pool!
Coqui Coqui, the perfumerie and boutique hotel chain, also has a residence style location in Valladolid that was the previous home of the founders and looks absolutely charming!
Did you rent a car or did you do a private tour? If you did a private tour do you mind sharing the company/details? I am trying to plan a similar day trip for December but I’m hesitant to rent a car while in Mexico and am looking for a private tour that isn’t crazy expensive. Thanks in advance!
Hi Emily — so sorry for the late reply here. Our hotel — Papaya Playa Project (in Tulum) — set us up with a private tour for the day to see Chichen Itza, Valladolid and a nearby cenote. He was great, you could try reaching out to him directly — his instagram is @oscarfreediver
Hope that helps and enjoy your time in Mexico!