Things to do in Valladolid

The list of things to do in Valladolid is much longer than you might imagine at first. Its stone churches, squares, old Franciscan convents and colourful streets invite you to explore the historic centre without rushing. Furthermore, in its surroundings you will find some of the most famous cenotes in Mexico and several of the most important archaeological sites of the Mayan culture.

Due to its proximity, you can also take advantage of your stay in Valladolid to get to know Chichén Itzá before anyone else.

 

Francisco Cantón Main Square

The Francisco Cantón Main Square is the heart of Valladolid. It is a square full of gardens that has a famous fountain known as "La Mestiza".

It is a perfect place to take a break on your trip and protect yourself from the high temperatures. In fact, at nightfall, the square transforms into the space with the most life in Valladolid.

 

San Servacio Church

Presiding over the square is the San Servacio Church, originally built in the 16th century and rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century after the event known as the "Crime of the Mayors", an episode that occurred in 1705 which caused the partial demolition of the original temple by order of the colonial authorities.

One of the oldest and most representative buildings in Valladolid, it quickly draws attention due to its two towering twin towers and because its main façade is oriented towards the north and not towards the west, as dictated by the ecclesiastical rule of the time.

 

San Bernardino de Siena Convent

Located in the Sisal neighbourhood, the San Bernardino de Siena Convent is an old Franciscan convent that boasts of being one of the best-preserved colonial buildings in Yucatán.

Founded in 1552, in addition to exploring its austere church, cloisters full of colonial frescoes and gardens, at nightfall, it offers a spectacular light and sound show that narrates part of the history of Valladolid in the most original and dynamic way.

 

The cenotes of Valladolid are one of the city's great attractions. Cenotes are natural freshwater wells sacred to the Mayans, which are found both in its urban area and in its surroundings. These are some of the most famous and easiest to visit.

 

Cenote Zací

Located just a few minutes' walk from the historic centre of Valladolid, the Cenote Zací is one of the city's greatest symbols. It is an impressive semi-open cenote approximately 45 metres deep, partially covered by a large rock vault from which stalactites and tree roots hang down to reach the water. It has deep waters that vary between shades of green and turquoise blue where you can swim, cool off from the Yucatecan heat or contemplate the tropical vegetation and the turquoise-browed motmot birds. A tip? Don't leave without trying the traditional food restaurant at the top.

 

Cenote Suytun

About 10 minutes by car from Valladolid is the Cenote Suytun, one of the most famous and photographed in all of Mexico. It is a completely underground cenote (cavern type) that stands out for a circular stone walkway built artificially in the centre of the water mirror, which is illuminated spectacularly thanks to the beam of natural light that enters through the opening at the top at certain times of the day.

 

Cenote Xkekén and Samulá

Located inside the Dzitnup ecopark very close to each other, Xkekén and Samulá are two sister cenotes that will quickly capture your attention with their impressive stalactite formations, their transparent waters and the unique atmosphere they offer underground.

While Xkekén is located in a more enclosed cave and artificially illuminated with colours that highlight the geology of the place, Samulá makes an impact with the gigantic roots of a poplar tree that descend from the surface outside to touch the water in the centre of the large cavern illuminated by a beam of natural light. Because of their proximity, my advice is that you take advantage of the same excursion to visit both in the same morning.

 

 

Casa de los Venados

The Casa de los Venados is a historic private colonial home of more than 1,700 square metres restored by its owners. Inside it houses one of the most important private collections of Mexican folk art in the country, with thousands of pieces from practically every state in Mexico. Visits are carried out via guided tours.

 

Donato Bates Municipal Market

Walking through the Donato Bates Municipal Market will allow you to discover the day-to-day life and commercial customs of the most contemporary Valladolid. Here the senses are awakened as you find tropical fruits from the region (such as dragon fruit or mamey), local spices such as 'recado negro' and 'rojo', straw handicrafts, typical hand-embroidered clothing (huipiles) and multiple traditional food stalls where you can taste authentic Yucatecan cuisine at the most competitive price.

Chichén Itzá

Less than an hour by car is Chichén Itzá, one of the main archaeological treasures of Mexico and one of the new wonders of the world. Many travellers use Valladolid as a base to visit the Chichén Itzá archaeological site first thing in the morning, avoiding tourist crowds and the high temperatures that are reached at midday.

 

Ek Balam

Although it is not as famous as Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam is another impressive Mayan site that is much quieter and less crowded. Its main structure, the Acropolis, preserves in perfect condition some stucco sculptures that represent winged warriors and the huge mouth of a jaguar, considered masterpieces of classical Mayan art.

Furthermore, Ek Balam has traditionally allowed climbing the Acropolis to enjoy magnificent views of the Yucatecan jungle. However, access to the structures can be modified for conservation reasons, so it is advisable to check the current restrictions before visiting.

 

Río Lagartos and Las Coloradas

If you have plenty of time, I recommend you go to the north coast of Yucatán.

There you will find the famous salt lagoons of Las Coloradas, whose characteristic pink colour is due to the combination of halophilic microorganisms, microalgae and a high concentration of salt. The intensity of the colour can vary depending on the time of year and environmental conditions.

Furthermore, I encourage you to book a boat trip through the Río Lagartos biosphere reserve to observe colonies of thousands of American pink flamingos in their natural habitat.

Here are some plans for things to do in the city of Valladolid with which you can have different experiences during your trip:

• Swim in the Cenote Zací at midday.
• Watch the night-time videomapping show at the San Bernardino Convent.
• Try the traditional gastronomy at the municipal market.
• Discover the art collection at Casa de los Venados.
• Explore the historic centre at sunset.

 

The Yucatecan cuisine is one of the city's great attractions. It combines ingredients of Mayan tradition with techniques and influences introduced during the Spanish colonial era, resulting in a gastronomy with a very distinct personality. Among the most representative dishes are:

• Cochinita pibil: Pork marinated in achiote and sour orange juice, wrapped in banana leaves. It is traditionally cooked underground in an oven called a "pib" and served with pickled red onion.
• Lomitos de Valladolid: Diced pork cooked slowly in a thick tomato and garlic sauce. It is an iconic recipe of the city that is usually accompanied by chopped hard-boiled egg and refried beans.
• Smoked longaniza: A pork sausage seasoned with achiote and local spices that give it an intense flavour. It is traditionally smoked with local wood and served grilled together with roasted tomato sauce and sour orange juice.
• Papadzules: Corn tortillas rolled and filled with chopped hard-boiled egg, bathed in a smooth pumpkin seed sauce. They are decorated on top with a fried tomato sauce and a few drops of pumpkin seed oil.
• Panuchos: Hand-made corn tortillas, filled with black bean purée and lightly fried so they are crispy. They are served covered with lettuce, shredded chicken or turkey, avocado, tomato and pickled red onion.
• Salbutes: Corn tortillas that are fried directly until they puff up a little, remaining very soft and fluffy. Unlike panuchos, they are not filled and are covered on top with the same traditional ingredients.
• Marquesitas: A crispy street dessert similar to a thin crepe, rolled up and cooked to order on an iron griddle. The traditional filling combines the salty touch of Dutch Edam cheese with something sweet such as cajeta (dulce de leche) or chocolate.

In many traditional restaurants in Valladolid you will be able to enjoy these specialities in old colonial buildings with a very special charm, tropical plants and stone fountains.

 

 

Valladolid preserves an enormous cultural heritage that is strongly reflected in its different traditional celebrations throughout the year. The famous patron saint festivities in honour of San Servacio (celebrated in the month of February) fill the main streets with 'vaquería' music, solemn religious processions, traditional jarana dances, as well as busy gastronomic festivals.

The Mexican city of Valladolid is a perfect destination to go to with small children, both for its safety and for the multiple activities it offers for all ages.

The possibility of swimming in cenotes that are semi-open or in caves will be an unforgettable adventure for the little ones. Furthermore, as it is not a very large city and has a practically flat layout, they will be able to walk through its streets without getting tired and without having to travel too far.

When looking for how to get to Valladolid, you will find that the city is perfectly connected by road with Cancún, Mérida, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Chichén Itzá.

It is possible to arrive by rental car, by bus with companies such as ADO or via organised excursions from Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Mérida. The city is also connected by the 180D toll motorway and the 180 federal highway.

So that you don't miss anything and can properly organise your travel itinerary, we have created a map with all the tourist points of interest in Valladolid.

The best way to visit Valladolid in Mexico is to walk through its streets without rushing and combine the colonial heritage with some of the natural wonders that surround it. Although many travellers use it only as a stopover on the way to Chichén Itzá, in my opinion, spending time getting to know its historic centre, its cenotes and its gastronomy will allow you to discover one of the cities with the most personality in Yucatán.

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