The 7 Best Things To Do in Valladolid, Mexico
Welcome to Valladolid, a small but historic city in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Its central location and proximity to some incredible historical destinations, including one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, makes it the perfect base for your Mexico explorations. Below are my top 7 suggestions for the best things to do in Valladolid, along with the activities I skipped and my thoughts on whether you should include them in your itinerary or skip them as well.
Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling and respect the locals—Valladolid is their home :)
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7 Best Things to do in Valladolid
Traditional Jarana Performers
A Marquesita in front of Templo de San Servacio
Mayan Performers
#1: Explore the Main Square
The main square of Valladolid surrounds Parque Principal Francisco Cantón Rosado, with shops, restaurants, and the architecturally beautiful Templo de San Servacio lining the square. I recommend wandering around this small, picturesque area and visiting the park in the center.
Templo de San Servacio was built in the 1500s by Spanish conquerors and rebuilt again in the 1700s after the Murder in the Church incident. This historically and culturally significant church is still used as a place of worship today. It is a beautifully built church that is well worth the visit.
Parque Principal Francisco Cantón Rosado, the park in the middle, was named after an important politician/military leader. In the park, you can grab a Marquesita from a nearby stand to enjoy while you watch some local performances! A Marquesita is a dessert native to the Yucatan Peninsula. It is essentially a crepe filled with cajeta (caramel), condensed milk, Edam cheese, and your choice of other fillings, rolled into a taquito shape.
For the performances, you have two options. Between 4:00-5:00 PM on Wednesday, I watched traditional Jarana performers turn the park into their dance stage. From 5:00-6:00 PM on Sunday, I watched Mayan Street Performers participate in a traditional fire ceremony, a Pok ta’ Pok game, and traditional dances. Although these performances are tourist-driven and can become a bit crowded, it is an excellent opportunity to indulge in authentic Mexican and Mayan culture pieces.
#2: Visit the San Bernardino Convent
This beautifully crafted, fortress-like building was founded in the mid-1500s as a key Franciscan missionary center– a place where Christian followers dedicate their lives to spreading the word and donating their time to charity. You can enter the convent from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM for 20 pesos and explore its interior and exterior grounds.
The famous Valladolid letters stand in front of the convent as well!
#3: Watch A Video Mapping Show!
A video mapping show is a visual light display projected onto large surfaces. In Valladolid, you can catch a show from Tuesday to Sunday. The Templo de San Servacio hosts a show around 10:00 PM, and the San Bernardino convent offers an English show at 9:25 PM. Each show tells a visually appealing story about Mexican and Mayan history.
Don’t want to be out wandering after dark but still want to catch a show? Try joining a Free Walking tour of Valladolid here! This way you will be with a group of people and a local guide.
#4: Wander The Colorful Streets
The streets throughout central Valladolid are extremely colorful and picturesque, making them one of the best things to explore in the city. They are the perfect opportunity to take some fun photos! Here is a list of my favorite spots!
Walk Calzada de Los Frailes - a colorfully painted street, perhaps the most colorful in Valladolid! You can find some restaurants and shops to stop in as well.
Find the pretty pink church, Iglesia De La Candelaria! The road leading up to the church is also very colorful.
Find the bright yellow church, Iglesia Santa Ana! Google Maps claims this one is closed, but you can still wander around and take in its bright hue!
There are also so many beautifully colored doors— so keep an eye out as you wander!
#5: Visit A Museum
Valladolid is packed with some funky small museums for you to explore!
Museum De Ropa: This museum collects and preserves the different styles of Mexican clothing over the years while also telling a story of its history.
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Donation Only
Choco-Story: A unique small exhibit museum that tells the story of Mayan culture and the importance of cacao over the years. You can spend around 30 minutes in this interactive museum, which could be a fun stop with children.
Hours: 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Entrance Fee: 190 pesos for adults (9.50 USD)
Museo San Roque: A small museum in an older historical building with Mexican artifacts. The museum leads out to a small, quiet park behind it.
Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Free!
Casa De Los Venados: This museum is actually located in a home and contains one of the largest private collections of Mexican folk art (over 3,000 pieces). They offer tours in both Spanish and English. You can check out some of the exhibits here.
Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Entrance Fee: 100 pesos donations suggested (5 USD)
Xkopek, Beekeeping Park: A Mayan bee tour that includes the history and traditions that are still followed today. They will show you a variety of bees, tell you about beekeeping, and even conclude with a honey tasting. There is also a gift shop.
Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Around 120 pesos (6 USD), you can purchase tickets there.
Note: I did skip this one since I am highly allergic to bees ):
#6: Explore Ek Balam
Ek Balam, or “Black Jaguar” in the common Mayan tongue, is an ancient Mayan city/ruins that has been impeccably preserved. It is well known for its Acropolis, which holds an incredible monster-like mouth with teeth lining the bottom. You can climb to the top of the Acropolis to get an insane view of not only Ek Balam but also the miles of jungles surrounding you. This is absolutely one of the best things to do in Valladolid.
The site is 34 minutes from Valladolid, and there is a 70 pesos Colectivo station in the city.
The entrance fee to Ek Balam is 556 pesos for foreigners (30 USD). Mexican and Yucatan residents receive discounted tickets with an I.D.
For more information on Ek Balam, head here!
#7: See A New 7 Wonder Of The World: Chichen Itza
This next stop is at the top of the list of things to do in Valladolid. You cannot possibly stay in this city and not take advantage of its proximity to the Unesco World Heritage Site: Chichen Itza. It is one of the tallest standing Mayan ruins in the Yucatan and is truly just as impressive in person. The archeological site has much more to uncover than just the famous El Castillo, including a Great Ball Court, Temple of Warriors, and my personal favorite, El Caracol.
Head here for some more info on these incredible structures!
A Colectivo station in Valladolid will take you to Chichen Itza for 40 pesos each way (80 total).
The entrance fee to Chichen Itza is 643 pesos (around 34 USD). Mexican and Yucatan residents receive discounted tickets (285 and 95 pesos) with a valid I.D.
You can find more information on visiting Chichen Itza here!
More Things to Do
Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos: This is the popular pink lake and flamingo area located 1.5 hours north of Valladolid. The pictures of this place look absolutely incredible, however, after doing some research, the pink lake looked to be only the slightest tint of light pink without editing. This could have been the time of year since I was here during hurricane season, but for me, it did not seem worth the hype.
Izamal: This is a beautiful little yellow city located 1.5-2 hours west of Valladolid. Every house and building looks to be painted yellow— adorable. I skipped this one because I felt like I was already getting enough colorful buildings around me between Valladolid and Merida. I also simply did not feel like I could find any more of a reason to travel the 2 hours aside from seeing the yellow glow. For me, and who I am as a traveler, I prioritized Ek Balam and Chichen Itza over this one.
Uayma Church and Village: This small town just 20 minutes from Valladolid, has only 3,000 residents. It has become widely known for its adorable and Instagrammable church. There is a Colectivo station in town that will take you there, however, I also skipped this one due to the lack of much else to see aside from the church.
Explore a Cenote: There are SO MANY cenotes around Valladolid and even one in the city, Cenote Zaci. You can find some of my favorites below:
Cenote Suytun: Head to this one for noon to catch the sun gleaming through the hole in the top of it. There is a line to take a photo at this one and the entrance fee is 250 pesos
Cenote Xkeken: (200 pesos)
Cenote Zaci: Located right in the city! | Entrance: 60 pesos
Cenote Chukum: Great for freediving. | (300 pesos)
Cenote X'ux Ha: (200 pesos)
General Information on Valladolid
Best Time to Visit:
Hurricane Season: June - October | Dry Season: November-April
Valladolid, centrally located in the Yucatan Peninsula, is best visited during the cooler months from November to February, with February being the coolest month. This period is ideal for exploring nearby sites such as Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, as you can avoid the extremely high temperatures at the unshaded ruins. March and April are also good months to visit Valladolid, as they precede the rainy season and are still relatively cool.
If you prefer higher temperatures and do not mind the chance of rain, you can visit during the rainy season from May or June to October. The city is prone to flooding during the rainy season, often leaving streets impossible to walk on.
How to Get to Valladolid:
Flying: To arrive in Valladolid, you must fly into one of the nearby airports, the nearest being Merida International Airport (MID). The most popular airport to fly to nearby is Cancun International Airport (CUN). Both will require an additional taxi, bus, or shared van to arrive in Valladolid.
ADO Bus: ADO is the largest Mexican bus company throughout the country, and most routes are safe for tourists. You can take an ADO bus from almost anywhere else in the Yucatan Peninsula to Valladolid. The best routes are from Cancun and Merida. Prices vary depending on the time of year and time of departure. I arrived in Valladolid from Bacalar on ADO.
Colectivo: A Colectivo is a shared van with other people heading to the same destination you are. They are the favored form of transport by backpackers and travelers with less luggage. ADO also has an “ADO Conecta” option that will be faster and similar to a Colectivo but more comfortable to ride in. I recommend this over a Colectivo.
Private Taxi: A private taxi is always an option but can be quite pricey. I recommend contacting multiple companies for quotes before deciding which to take.
Bonus Tip: Transportation throughout the Yucatán Peninsula is on its way to becoming more accessible with the new Tren Maya Railway. Head here for more information and to stay updated on what routes are open now!
Mode of Transport in Valladolid:
Valladolid is small and easily walkable. Transport within the city itself is not necessary. However, when venturing to nearby destinations such as Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, or Cenotes, you will need a form of transport. There are organized and inexpensive Colectivos laid out throughout Valladolid for access to popular tourist spots.
Where to Stay:
The best area to stay in Valladolid is any location within walking distance of the main square. I have listed some of the best options below!
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Hostel Candelaria
Best Low-Budget: Hotel Kookay or Hostel Casa Xtakay
Best Mid-Budget: Colonte Hotel Origen or Casa San Roque Valladolid
Best High-End Budget: Casa Tia Micha or Real Hispano
Are There Vegan Options?
Yes, there are! Here are a few of my favorites:
Elela Organic Vegan Cafe and Restaurant (the desserts here are SO good)
Is It Safe?
This is a big debate with Mexico in general, and it all depends on what you will be doing and where you will be going. I felt completely safe in Valladolid. I would say Valladolid felt like one of the safest places in Mexico for me, alongside Bacalar.
I recommend staying up to date with your country’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling, in addition to:
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Emergency Contact Number: 9-1-1
