Valladolid, Yucatan: the best pueblo magico!
We left Cozumel via ferry and in Playa del Carmen we took a ADO bus to Valladolid.
It took around 3 hours, as it went down to Tulum first, but the ride was smooth and not too uncomfortable.
You can also get to Valladolid via bus from Cancun or Merida.
You can book your tickets here: https://www.ado.com.mx/
I recommend booking in advance as there are not many services and they fill up fast even in low season.
Valladolid, pueblo magico
Valladolid is part of the Pueblo Magico scheme, a government project to incentivize tourism and the growth of rural towns. Towns that promote traditional culture, traditional cuisine, arts, music and hospitality can apply to the scheme.
We visited other pueblos magicos in Yucatan but Valladolid was our favourite.
Actually, Valladolid was our favourite place in the whole Yucatan.
Located on the Yucatan peninsula between Cancun and Chichen Itza, it is usually the last part of a tour when visiting Chichen Izta. However it certainly deserves its own spot.
We saw many tour buses stopping, discharging hordes of tourists, quickly filling the souvenirs shops on the main square and leaving again within 20 minutes.
Blissfully leaving the town back to its own rhythm, peace and laid back attitude.
There are several hotels to choose from to suit any budget.
We stayed two nights at the Hotel Los Fundadores and we would not hesitate to go back!
More about our hotel at the end of this post.
Touring Valladolid begins from its main square with its colourful and imposing colonial buildings, its church and park.
Stroll around the square to take in the kaleidoscopically vibrant buildings and visit the small park in the middle. Discover the “kissing chairs”, or in Spanish “Sillas tu y yo”.
The “kissing chairs” seem to have originated from a very protective father who did not want his daughter, out strolling with her husband to be, to have any physical contact with the beloved.
Whether they worked or not, it’s anybody’s guess.
A short walk of about 15 minutes from the square will bring you to the Calzada de los frailes, the road of the friars, that connects the square to the convent of San Bernardino de Siena.
It is a beautiful walk, the road is pretty much straight with colourful banners, multicoloured and bright buildings and trendy bars.
The convent of San Bernardino is open to visitors from 9am to 7pm,and although it is not grand, it is interesting to see.
Convento San Bernardino
Constructed between 1552 and 1560 by Franciscan monks, the Convento San Bernardino was part religious centre and part a defensive fortification.
During high season, there is often a Sound & Light show, typically around 9pm, that provides a fun spectacle.
Valladolid has also its own cenote, right in the middle of the town. Cenote Zaci is open from 9am to 5pm, it can get a little busy, but one can look from the top to see how busy it is before paying in.
Day Trips from Valladolid
There are numerous day trips possible from Valladolid, both on organised tours or by hiring a scooter/car.
Chichen Itza and Suytun and Ik Kil cenotes are popular choices but we wanted to see something different.
We hired a driver from Merida (see separate post to have his contacts), to bring us around for 5 days in the Merida/Valladolid area. He also organises trips in the Valladolid area.
We went to Ek Balam with him and to the most beautiful cenotes: see details here on the most beautiful and unknown cenote!
Where to stay
We stayed at the Hotel Los Fundadores, on a side street from the main square and quite central.
The hotel is located around a central courtyard with a beautiful swimming pool and rooms are large and comfortable.
Bathroom was clean and WIFI worked perfectly.
Where to eat
There are numerous eating options in Valladolid but a must is a typical Mayan restaurant a little taxi ride (40 pesos one way) away from the square.
Ix Cat Ik is an authentic Mayan restaurant with typical recipes and handmade tortillas roasted in front of you.
The menu is varied and there are several vegan/vegetarian options.
The setting is lovely, a shaded garden surrounded by a stone wall, an authentic hut where the tortillas are roasted on a ground fire pit, the waiter grinds a sauce at your table for your complimentary starter, cocktails are very good and the whole experience was great.
The price is unbelievably reasonable: for one cocktail, one water, three mains we paid around 500 pesos/£20.
It is a must!
And it is included in my other article “The best five restaurants in Yucatan”.
We also ate at restaurant Ahal, with vegetarian empanadas were pretty good and generous in portions.
For breakfast, we liked this café’ just metres from our hotel. It’s called La casa natural, bright and airy with lots of choice for healthy or luxurious breakfast.
And shopping is good too!
For more Mexico blog posts: https://blog.worldswithout.net/north-america/mexico/
For Valladolid tours: https://www.getyourguide.com/valladolid-mexico-l101556/
