This All-Yellow Mexican Town Looks Straight Out of a Fairytale – You Won’t Believe It’s Real!

Izamal, Mexico, is both unspoiled and flying under the radar (at least for now!), so you can still enjoy this hidden gem before it becomes wildly popular.

As a small town centrally located in the Yucatan Peninsula, it’s easy to get to and perfect for a day trip.

Wondering what Izamal means? In the Maya language, the word Izamal means dew that falls from the heavens 💛

Ready to learn more about this incredible city? Let’s go.

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Izamal is a Pueblo Magico (Mexico Magic Town)

This small town — Izamal has a population of 15,000 — is one of the 135 or so pueblos mágicos (magic towns).

🤔 So, just what is a pueblo magico? Mexico’s Tourism Secretary awards this prestigious designation to exceptional small towns in the country.

To qualify for the Mexico Pueblo Magico program, towns need good infrastructure and plenty of things to do that visitors will enjoy.

These pueblos also need to be safe and have something noteworthy about them—like Izamal being completely yellow.

🕌 City of Three Cultures

Izamal showcases a fascinating blend of pre-Columbian (Mayan), Spanish Colonial, and modern-day Mexican culture. For this reason, it’s often called the City of Three Cultures.

Ancient traditions still flourish here, from the ancient Mayan Ruins in Izamal to seeing women in traditional dress (called huipil and pronounced wee-peel) and even hearing Maya spoken on the streets.

Mixed with Spanish Colonial architecture, Izamal will fascinate you! It is truly one of the most unique Yucatan destinations.

⛰️ Town of Hills

Izamal is in the Yucatan Peninsula, which is pretty flat with no mountains or even large hills.

It is still pretty flat in Izamal, though the numerous pyramids and Mayan archeological sites in Izamal which are the “hills” in this Ciudad de los Cerros, or Town of Hills.

Why is Izamal Yellow?

One of the most fun Izamal Mexico facts is that no one knows for sure! That’s right — no one knows exactly why Izamal is painted yellow.

However, there are a few theories about why this Yellow City in Mexico is yellow. Here they are:

🟡 Mayan Sun God

Some say this color honors the Mayan Sun God, Kinich Kak Moo (meaning, fire macaw with the sun face) — the same deity the Kinich Kakmó Ruins were built for.

🟡 The Pope’s Visit

The town was painted its current shade of bright yellow right before Pope John Paul II visited Izamal in 1993 — so some say it was to honor his visit.

🟡 Yellow was a Neutral Color

In 1993, neither of Mexico’s two ruling parties used the color yellow.

This made it “politically neutral” and a color that wouldn’t accidentally show support for any one party.

🟡 It Keeps the Mosquitoes Away

The last and most practical reason some say locals painted Izamal yellow is because the color supposedly repels mosquitoes.

Best Things to Do in Izamal, Mexico

1. Stroll Downtown Izamal

Izamal is such a small town that you can really just show up and wander around with no agenda!

On my first visit, I didn’t have many expectations, but I just walked around smiling going from one yellow street to the next — as it’s just such a happy color.

At just four square miles (10.5 km²), Downtown Izamal is walkable in a day. It is, however, very hot most days of the year.

To combat the heat, wear a sun hat and cool clothes, and don’t forget your sunscreen and this Water To Go Bottle, which filters your drinking water in Mexico.

2. Convento de San Antonio de Padua & Atrio del Convento

Built in 1561 on the site of the destroyed Ppap Hol Chak Mayan temple, the former Franciscan Convento de San Antonio de Padua is one of the oldest Catholic monasteries on the Americas Continent.

To this day, pilgrims head to this site in Izamal to seek blessings from the Saints.

You can walk the grounds, or hire a guide for about $200 pesos ($10 USD), and support the locals.

There are no signs on the site explaining anything, so a guide will be able to tell you just why this Izamal church is special.

Inside the convent, there’s a small museum with memorabilia from the Pope’s visit to Izamal in 1993.

For $10 pesos, you enter the Santuario de la Virgen de Izamal, where the Pope left a statue of Nuestra Señora de Izamal, patron saint of Yucatan State, which he blessed.

⛪️ El Atrio del Convento de Izamal

The outdoor atrium at the Convent is the second largest in the world — after the Vatican!

While strolling El Atrio (The Atrium), don’t miss the sundial and 16th Century fresco paintings.

Inside, there’s the Santuario de la Virgen de Izamal, where the Pope left a statue of the Virgin.

🗿 Monumento a Fray Diego de Landa

Located in a roundabout behind the convent, you’ll see the statue of the Fransiscan Friar Diego de Landa.

A controversial figure, he is credited with spreading Catholicism after the Spanish seized control of the Yucatan Peninsula in about 1545.

3. Parque Itzamna

Parque Itzamna is the park in Izamal’s Zocalo (Main Square), located in the center of downtown.

At this lively park, there are benches to sit and relax on, the Izamal letters sign (see image above) to take photos of, and vendors selling street food like marques itas, agua fresca, and esquites.

🌳 To visit other parks in Izamal Mexico, head to Parque 5 de Mayo and Parque de Los Cañones (AKA Plazuela de la Cruz, or Park of the Canyons).

🛍️ best Shopping in Izamal Mexico

Head to Hecho a Mano, a charming shop on the park’s southern edge. They sell folk art and handicrafts like wood carvings and embroidered textiles made by locals — which make great souvenirs.

Another great place for shopping in Izamal is Raíces Mayas.

4. Kinich Kakmó Pyramid

There are many pre-Hispanic sites in and near Izamal, but none more impressive than the Kinich Kakmó Pyramid, named after a Mayan solar deity.

Kinich Kak Moo, meaning “fire parrot,” had a macaw’s head and flew to Earth to accept offerings when the sun reached its apex in the sky.

The pyramid is still an important pilgrimage site for the Maya, and a popular place for Izamal visitors.

At 700,000 m³, it’s one of the biggest pyramids in Mexico by volume (the largest is in Cholula). Unlike other Mayan Ruins near Merida, you can climb Kinich Kakmó Pyramid.

🤑 Kinich Kakmó Pyramid is FREE to enter. It is open daily, from 8am to 5pm.

This is the tallest pyramid in Yucatan state, and the climb to the top is a bit steep — so use caution, and make sure you buy some Mexico travel insurance!

When you reach the top, you’ll have great views of the San Antonio de Padua Convent, Izamal and the Yucatan jungle.

🗿 Archaeological Zone of Izamal

If you want to see the other Mayan ruins in Izamal, check out Izamatul, El Conejo (which means The Rabbit), Chaltun Ha, Habuc, and Kabul Ruins (seen in the photo above).

5. Try Authentic Yucatan Food

Traditional Yucatecan cuisine is not what many know as traditional Mexican food! When you’re in the Yucatan Peninsula, you’ll absolutly want to try Yucatan foods.

While there’s some overlap between Yucatan and Mexican foods, the most popular and best Yucatan dishes, cochinita pibil, sopa de lima (lime soup), panuchos, salbutes, queso relleno and relleno negro, are endemic to the region.

You can head to these best Izamal restaurants or the local Mercado Municipal to sample some.

Even if not in Izamal, do sample some authentic Yucatec dishes, which feature local ingredients like naranja agria (sour orange), chaya (tree spinach), and achiote (annatto).

6. Mercado Municipal de Izamal

When you want to do some shopping, or work up an appetite, head to the Mercado Municipal De Izamal.

This lively local market is located in the center of town and is the perfect place to shop for Yucatan souvenirs and have cheap food with the locals.

At the mercado, look for one of the area’s most interesting dishes, tzic de venado.

This is a shredded venison, similar to salpicon, and served cold so it’s refreshing on a hot day. Tzic de venado is a local delicacy, and one of the best traditional Yucatan foods.

7. Take a Caleza Tour (Horse & Buggy)

Final Thoughts: Reasons to Visit Izamal Mexico

I have lived in Yucatán since 2019, and Izamal is still among my favorite places! It’s just so charming, and the yellow color will put a big smile on your face.

Besides the gorgeous Colonial architecture, the Mayan history makes Izamal a must-add to your Merida itinerary.