See Why Travelers Are Raving About This Stunning Colonial City in Mexico

Valladolid, Mexico, located in Yucatán state, is an increasingly popular Mexico travel destination.

It is also one of the country’s 175 or so pueblos magicos (Mexico magic towns), and known as one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico — so get that camera ready.

Aside from all the pretty pictures you can take in Downtown Valladolid, there’s also great shopping on the gorgeous Calzada de los Frailes, amazing restaurants in Valladolid to sample authentic Yucatecan cuisine, cenotes near Valladolid, Mayan Ruins just outside of town, and much more!

Though many only visit Valladolid as a day trip, this town deserves at least two or three days to explore and appreciate.

Ready to discover Valladolid, Mexico? Let’s go!

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1. Stroll the Caldaza de los Frailes

The Calzada de los Frailes (AKA Calle de los Frailes) is known as the prettiest street in Valladolid. It is located a few blocks from the main square and makes the perfect place for Instagram-worthy photos of Valladolid, Mexico.

On one end of the street, you’ll find the Convento de San Bernardino de Siena and the sign with the big, colorful Valladolid letters.

From the convent, walk northeast down the Calle de los Frailes, stopping for photos and in all the boutique shops and cafes along the way.

Highlights on the Calzada de los Frailes include:

• Restaurante El Jardin de los Frailes for a casual bite to eat
• Kuxtal Galería de Arte Popular Mexicano & Café to buy Mexican folk art and enjoy a coffee
• Coqui Coqui Yucatan, which is the next can’t miss Valladolid site on this list

2. Have a spa day at Coqui Coqui Valladolid

Coqui Coqui is a perfume shop, that also a has the Meson de Malleville, a boutique one-room Valladolid resort, and the Coqui Coqui Spa.

🛀 Email spa@coquicoqui.com to book.

Everything about Coqui Coqui is exclusive — you even need an appointment to enter the perfume shop itself — and with only one room, the resort is often sold out far in advance.

For many, the best way to see Coqui Coqui is by booking a spa treatment. They offer everything from massages and facials, to entire holistic healing rituals, which make the perfect relaxing complement to any Valladolid trip.

3. Swim in the best Valladolid Cenotes

Valladolid is hot for most of the year, but luckily, there are gorgeous cenotes nearby to cool off in.

About 6,000 Yucatan cenotes are the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth.

Some of them are completely above ground, like a swimming pool, some are partially covered with a limestone rock roof above them, and some are located underground in caves.

Though all the cenotes are beautiful in their own ways, some of the most beautiful and most popular are located in Valladolid or within 45 minutes of town.

These include the six best cenotes in Valladolid seen below.

1. Cenote Zaci: Located only a few blocks from downtown Valladolid, this is a popular cenote with locals and visitors alike. 💸 Entrance cost: $30 pesos ($1.50 USD)

2. Cenote Maya: More of a whole Mayan cultural experience than just a cenote, visiting the Cenote Maya Native Park is a daylong experience, complete with an authentic Mayan blessing ceremony, a traditional meal, rappelling, rope swings, the cenote itself, and more! 🎟 BUY YOUR TICKET HERE

3. Cenote Xkeken (AKA Cenote Dzitnup): As far as underground cenotes go, this one is unique in that you can host a party with all the cool, colorful lights! 💸 Entrance cost: $80 pesos ($4 USD)

4. Cenote Ik Kil: One of the most famous cenotes in Yucatan, pair your trip to Ik Kil cenote with the trip to Chichen Itza, as they are right next to one another. 💸 Entrance cost: $80 pesos ($4 USD)

5. Cenote Oxman: Located at Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman, this cenote offers the beautiful Cenote Ik Kil look, but with a much smaller crowd. 💸 Entrance cost: $80 pesos ($4 USD)

6. Cenote Suytun: This Instagram-famous cenote is located underground in a cave, with a platform in the center for taking beautiful photos. 💸 Entrance cost: $120 pesos ($6 USD)

4. Visit the Parque Principal & Iglesia de San Servacio

If you’ve ever seen photos of Valladolid, Mexico, you’ve likely seen one of its gorgeous Iglesia de San Servacio, the large Valladolid church towers over downtown.

To see it in person, head to the center of downtown to the picturesque Parque Principal (Main Park).

Here, you’ll also find the iconic Iglesia de San Servacio church, several shops, cafes, restaurants, and even the Choco Story Valladolid chocolate museum!

While many photograph the outside, you can also take pictures inside — provided there’s no service, and you’re quiet and respectful.

If you need a break from walking around, this park is perfect. Sit on one of the pretty white benches and be on the lookout for vendors selling nieves (sorbet), the perfect treat on a hot day.

5. Admire the art in Casa de los Venados

Love art — especially colorful, festive Mexican folk art? Then save some room on your Valladolid itinerary for the Casa de los Venados (House of the Deer).

This is a private home-turned-gallery, which is said to house a collection of Mexican folk art so large that it rivals some museums in the country.

Home owners Dorianne and John Venator, open their home once a day at 10am for a tour to see their 3,000-plus piece collection.

The tour of Casa de los Venados is FREE, but donations are accepted; all proceeds are donated to local charities.

6. Buy some art at Kuxtal Cafe & Mexican Art

If after touring the Casa de los Venados, you decided you want to take some Mexican art home with you, head to Kuxtal Galería de Arte Popular Mexicano & Café on Calzada de los Frailes.

This boutique shop is filled art pieces representing all types of Mexican art from many of the states and regions in throughout the country.

While there are plenty of tourist shops around the Parque Principal (Main Park), Kuxtal Gallery is the place to buy authentic Mexico souvenirs in Valladolid.

If you get hungry after shopping, there’s Kuxtal Café right in the store — which is known as the best cafe in Valladolid.

7. Visit the San Bernardino Convent & Photograph the Valladolid Sign

The Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena is an ancient Franciscan Monk church and convent from about 1555.

It is the second-largest convent in the Yucatan Peninsula, with architecture reminiscent of medieval fortresses.

Outside the church, you’ll find a beautiful park and the Valladolid letters sign. You’ll see similar signs in cities and pueblos (small towns) throughout Mexico, each spelling out that town’s name.

Valladolid video mapping at the cathedral

On Thursdays and Tuesdays, enjoy the free video mapping in the Valladolid show at the San Bernardino Convent building.

Head to the convent, blanket in hand, grab a seat in the grass and enjoy this impressive, colorful light and sound show that explains the history of Valladolid, Mexico.

Shows are 25 minutes long and take place in English from 9:25 p.m. to 9:50 p.m. (Spanish shows are from 9 p.m. to 9:25 p.m.). There are no shows on Wednesday nights.

8. See the Mayan Ruins Near Valladolid: Chichen Itza & Ek Balam

As one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichen Itza likely needs no introduction!

It is one of the best Mayan Ruins in Yucatan, among the most important ruins in Mexico, and located only about 30 minutes from downtown Valladolid.

As one of Mexico’s most important and historic sites, you’ll want to hire a tour guide at Chichen Itza.

When you’re paying for your entrance ticket, there will be several English-speaking guide there who you can hire for about 1,000 pesos ($50 USD).

Chichen Itza admission is 486 pesos ($25 USD).

Besides Chichen Itza, there are the lesser-visited Ek Balam Mayan Ruins.

With limited travel time, many have to choose between the two, and it’s often in favor of Chichen Itza. However, don’t overlook Ek Balam simply because it lacks the name recognition of Chichen Itza.

🗿 Planning to climb some Mayan Ruins in Mexico? Don’t forget to purchase Mexico travel insurance before your trip!

Ek Balam is a smaller site that provides a totally different experience than Chichen Itza for four reasons:

1. The temples look very different than anywhere else
2. You can climb the ruins at Ek Balam but not Chichen Itza
3. Ek Balam is less crowded and less touristic
4. Ek Balam admission is $413 pesos ($21USD), so it costs less than Chichen Itza admission

9. Dine at the best Restaurants in Valladolid

While tacos and Mexico go together like milk and cookies, tacos aren’t technically a part of traditional Yucatan cuisine.

Now, don’t worry. You can eat tacos in Valladolid; they aren’t what this region of Mexico is known for!

In fact, most people don’t know just how regional Mexican food is until they visit Mexico—case and point: Yucatan food.

In Valladolid, make sure to try local specialties like sopa de lima (lime soup), cochinta pibil (slow-cooked sucking pig) and papadzules (egg enchiladas in pepita sauce).

Here are some of the Valladolid restaurants where you can try those, and more:

• La Casona de Valladolid: This Valladolid restaurant serves up traditional Yucatecan cuisine, in an old school hacienda-style restaurant. After eating, head outside to see giant talavera tile fountain.

• IX CAT IK: Located 15 minutes from Downtown Valladolid, Ixcatik is worth the trip! Pronounced eesh-ka-teek, and named after a sweet Yucatan chili pepper, Ixcatik is a foodie favorite, where you’ll get a true taste of Yucatan flavors and cuisine, all made by hand the old school way.

• Yerbabuena del Sisal: Enjoy an eclectic style menu with local Yucatecan and Mexican favorites, and also several healthy vegan choices. In fact, Yerbabuena del Sisal is known as the best vegan restaurant in Valladold, a town with only a few vegan options.

• El Atrio del Mayab: Beautiful restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating in their lovley atrio, which mean atrium. Enjoy classic Yucatecan cuisine at El Atrio, located right next to the Iglesia de San Servacio Valladolid cathedral.

• El Jardín de los Frailes: For a quick meal in a cute setting, head to El Jardín de los Frailes, an outdoor cafe-style eatery on the Calzada de los Frailes. They are known for their quesadillas, so make sure to order one of those.

10. Do some Valladolid Day Trips: Las Coloradas & Izamal

izamal “the Yellow City”

Izamal has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, and like Valladolid, is one of Mexico’s 177 amazing pueblos magicos (magic towns).

The Yellow City of Izamal Mexico, is, well — yellow — as in the whole downtown City Center is painted just one color!

Izamal is about 90 minutes from Valladolid, but makes for such a fun day trip if you have the time.

As one of only a handful of monochromatic cities in the world, Izamal is truly a site to see on a day trip when visiting Valladolid.

Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos

Located only about one hour from Valladolid, the pink lakes of Las Coloradas are Instagram-worthy.

These lakes occur naturally because of the red algae, plankton, and brine shrimp that live in the salty water.

Wondering, Can you swim in Las Coloradas? No, it’s illegal to do so.

💖 The easiest way to see Las Coloradas is on one of these Pink Pools Tours.

To access Las Coloradas alone, you must take a boat from the closest town, Rio Laragtos, Mexico.

Rio Laragtos means “Alligator River” in Spanish, and you will likely see a gator or two on a boat cruise around the river.

There are also plenty of birds, including flamingoes 🦩 if you get lucky!

Final Thoughts: Traveling to Valladolid Mexico

The Valladolid pueblo magico, or magical town, really earns its name.

As more and more people discover it through colorful Instagram photos and YouTube videos from travel vloggers, Valladolid is quickly becoming a must visit Yucatan Peninsula destination.

For now, though likely not for long, it still retains a small town feel.

Those vacationing in nearby Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum and Playa del Carmen who want to experience Mexican culture off-resort and in a more authentic way, will absolutely fall in love with Valladolid.

Though downtown is quaint at only about 35 square blocks, there are still many fun things to do in Valladolid.

After about two days, however, you’ll may to head to other parts of the Yucatan, like Merida, another amazing colonial city, or even Isla Holbox, a Mexican Caribbean island.