Valladolid is a vibrant and authentic Mexican city that’s a bit of a hidden gem. It’s one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos, i.e., special towns that offer tourists cultural richness, history, excellent food, and great hospitality.
Now, I’ll be completely honest, we mainly decided to stay in Valladolid because of how close it is to Chichen Itza. It’s around 45 minutes from the world wonder, by the way. And so we didn’t do much research into the city before we got here. But that turned out to be a good thing because we came here with an open mind.
Anyway, we are so glad we chose to visit Valladolid (pronounced vai-uh-duh-lid), as it turned out to be one of our favorite cities from our trip around the Yucatan.
As I said, Valladolid is famous for being the gateway to Chichen Itza, but there are also several cenotes here that are all a must-see. And there’s a really amazing art museum in someone’s house, you’ll see what I mean when you read further.
Is it worth visiting Valladolid, Mexico?
Yes, yes, and YES!
As you can see, I am very enthusiastic about this lovely city! It’s such a gem, and it seems to be passed over by many tourists who just drive through it to get to Chichen Itza nearby. And that’s such a bad move, because Valladolid turned out to be the city that impressed us the most during our month long trip in Mexico.
What to do in Valladolid, Mexico?
Wander the city
The first thing I do when I arrive in any new city is spend a couple of hours wandering around aimlessly – that way I find I can get a true feel for the city and make a mental note of the places and restaurants I want to check out during my stay.
And this is exactly what I recommend you do before you do anything else in Valladolid. But, if you don’t want to wander around without an itinerary (like we did), then let me help you out – start at Parque Francisco Canton Rosado, which is essentially the city’s main square. It’s peaceful, green, and a popular hangout spot with locals (those are always the best places, aren’t they?!)
Next, make a beeline for the Mercado Central – this big, covered market is the perfect place to get a taste for how the locals live in Valladolid. You can buy heaps here from fruit & veg to handcrafted souvenirs.
Also, be sure to check out Iglesia de San Servacio – this Catholic church has a rich history dating back to the 16th century. Originally built in 1545, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1706, giving it the Baroque design that can be seen today. The church’s facade, with its two imposing bell towers and ornamental details, is a great example of Spanish colonial art.
Swim in a cenote
Formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, these natural sinkholes reveal a hidden world of subterranean rivers and caverns beneath the Yucatán Peninsula. The cenotes here are not only a paradise for swimmers and snorkelers, but also hold significant historical and cultural importance, as they were considered sacred by the ancient Maya civilization.
Worth checking out are:
- Cenote Suytun – the most popular and perhaps most photogenic cenote because of how sunlight comes through a hole above the cenote at certain times of the day.
- Cenote Samaal – This one has a waterfall! It’s very unique, but it can get very busy.
- Cenote Zaci – This one is right in the middle of town. We spent a lovely afternoon here on our second day.
Casa de los Venados
One of our favorite things we did while in Valladolid was checking out Casa de los Venados. This is a private home that contains the biggest private collection of Mexican folk and contemporary art in the world. It’s owned by John Venator, an American (from Chicago), who bought the house around 20 years ago and filled it with over 3,000 pieces of art.
This was honestly our favorite thing we did in Valladolid, and I spent the whole time here saying to my husband, “I want our future house to look like this” – the art was so colorful, quirky, and eye-catching.
Check out the nightly parade
Every night in Valladolid, there’s a parade of traditional dancers who dance through Parque Francisco Canton and the surrounding streets. It starts at around 5:30 pm, and you won’t miss them as they’re dressed in so much color!
Day trip to Chichen Itza
We visited Chichen Itza from Valladolid. We got an early ADO bus from the bus station in Valladolid, which got us to the gates at 8:30 am. Which was perfect as it meant we had around an hour to ourselves before the guided tours from Cancun arrived.
Alternatively, you could join this guided tour from Valladolid. It is a small group tour (limited to 10 people), so it means you’ll get a more personalized experience. It includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle and a certified guide to take you around Chichen Itza. You’ll also get to visit Cenote Yokdzono and one of Mexico’s “Magical Towns,” the yellow city of Izamal. It costs from $179 USD per person.
As you probably already know, Chichen Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it’s one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Mexico. Around 2.5 million tourists visit Chichen Itza every year. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was a Mayan City that was the most important city on the Yucatán Peninsula thousands of years ago. It was home to around 30,000 people at one point. And as you can imagine, the site is huge – around 3.2 square kilometers.
The iconic pyramid, El Castillo, is the most famous structure here, but the Great Ball Court, the largest of its kind in Mesoamerica, and the Temple of the Warriors, are well worth checking out too.
Visit the Convent of San Bernardino of Siena at night
Why at night, I hear you asking?! Well, from around 9 pm on Tuesday through Sunday, this 500-year-old building is lit up with a cool light show. The show is called Sisal.
Worth noting is that the Spanish show is first at 9 pm and the English show a little later at around 9:25 pm.
Where we stayed in Valladolid:
We booked Hotel Casa Bamboo on Calle 46 for 3 nights, and we loved it. The rooms are decorated in a boho style, and our room was light-filled and airy. There’s also a small outdoor pool in the central courtyard.
Getting to Valladolid:
The closest major airport is Cancún International Airport, about a two-hour drive away. From there, you can rent a car, or take a bus from the ADO terminal in Cancun town, which offers affordable and comfortable services directly to Valladolid. For those already in the Yucatán region, several buses and colectivos (shared vans) connect Valladolid with nearby cities like Mérida, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen.
How long to spend in Valladolid?
We recommend spending 3 days in Valladolid, as that way you’ll get to see the city’s top sights, take a day trip to some cenotes, and visit Chichen Itza.
When to visit Valladolid?
The best time is the dry season, which typically runs from November to April. During these months, you can enjoy pleasant temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 24-30°C) and minimal rainfall.
However, if you prefer fewer crowds and don’t mind a bit of rain, visiting during the shoulder months of May or October can also be a good option. Just be prepared for warmer, more humid conditions and occasional showers.
We had an amazing time in Valladolid, it’s definitely an underrated gem, and we can’t wait to return with our daughters in the near future.
P.S. An eSIM is something we found very handy when traveling through Mexico – we went with the one from Lotso Travel. Which is great because the one eSIM works for 17 countries in Latin America, including Mexico.
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Last Updated on February 11, 2026 by snaphappytravel