Yucatan Peninsula: Valladolid Travel Guide
Welcome to Valladolid, a small but historic city in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. This charming place is like a coloring book, with vibrant buildings lining its streets at every corner. The New 7 Wonder of the World, Chichen Itza, and the renowned Ek Balam are nearby, making Valladolid the perfect base for your explorations. If you are planning a trip to Valladolid soon, continue reading this travel guide for all the details you need to plan a successful visit.
Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling and respect the locals—Valladolid is their home :)
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Valladolid Travel Guide
Official Language: Spanish
Official Currency: Peso
Visa:
A valid passport is required for entry into Mexico. Typically, tourists are granted up to 180 days, which cannot be extended. There is no fee for entry. However, the length of stay is at the discretion of the immigration officer. While I have never encountered issues with being granted the full stay, there are stories of others not receiving the same treatment. Expect longer passport control lines and remember to remain patient and courteous! Click here for a list of countries that do NOT need a visa to visit Mexico.
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 main 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.
For more information on how to get to Valladolid from Bacalar, head here!
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.
Note: Colectivos can be small, cramped, and timely. Sometimes they will wait for a full van before departing. They do not always have working air conditioning. If you have a lot of bags or a large bag, they may turn you down for more passengers instead (more money for the driver). There may also be an option from Cancun.
Private Taxi:
A private taxi is always an option but can be quite pricey. I recommend reaching out to multiple companies for quotes before deciding on 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!
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 "coldest" 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. May is the hottest month in Valladolid. The city is prone to flooding during the rainy season, often leaving streets impossible to walk on. When I visited in June, it was extremely hot, making daytime exploration challenging. We also faced a massive hurricane, Hurricane Beryl.
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. For example, to get a Colectivo to Chichen Itza is only around 40 pesos and can be found here. If you google most destinations on Google Maps (i.e. Chichen Itza Colectivo), the Colectivo location should pop up. If it does not, your accommodation should be able to help you locate it!
Where to Stay:
The best area to stay in Valladolid is anywhere 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
Pro Tips For Your Visit:
DO NOT FORGET MOSQUITO SPRAY… especially if you plan to visit Chichen Itza or Ek Balam.
Grocery Options:
There are a lot of smaller options for groceries located centrally in Valladolid. However, I always use delivery with Chedraui to make life easier, especially being gluten-free and vegan.
Chedraui: This is the largest grocery store and chain in Valladolid, offering nearly anything you could imagine or need for the kitchen. I did all of my shopping here because they offer online shopping with shipping, making it easy for me to get my groceries without needing transportation or trunk space. Shipping is usually around 38 pesos and you can schedule for a specific time slot. You can find the location of Chedraui in Valladolid here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do You Need?
The optimal time to spend in Valladolid to avoid feeling rushed and to fully enjoy the city is 2-3 days. However, if you are short on time, you can see all of Valladolid in just one day. If you plan to explore nearby places like Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Izamal, Cenotes, or Uyama, add an extra day for each to your itinerary.
I really enjoyed Valladolid and could have stayed for an entire week to decompress and relax. I prefer places that have everything within walking distance etc., so this city was perfect for me!
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)
Le Kaat
Elela
Le Kaat
Is It Safe?
This is a huge 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.
How To Stay Safe:
This is all opinionated and based upon my experiences only, but you should always stay up to date with your country’s travel advisories regardless. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling, in addition to:
Do not walk around dark areas or non-tourist areas alone at night.
Keep valuables locked up and hidden in your room when you are not there.
Do not leave valuables unattended and do not carry around large sums of money.
Do not swing your phone, money, etc., around while walking or biking.
Do not argue, disrespect, or aggravate the locals. This is their home, to be fair, and you are a visitor.
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
Best Things to Do?
Digital Nomad Community?
Truthfully, I am clueless on this one…
Cost of Living (Monthly) :
I think the cost of living in Valladolid would be quite inexpensive since you would not need daily transportation.
The average monthly accommodation, including amenities like a kitchen, air conditioning, and WiFi, ranges between 400 and 600 USD, though higher-end options are available for a higher price tag.
Groceries could be anywhere from 150-250 USD per month depending on your diet. I would use Chedraui delivery to avoid needing a taxi or vehicle to get to grocery stores.
Laundry was around 18 pesos per kilo.
Water jugs were the usual, costing around 40 pesos per 20-gallon bottle.
