Best of Valladolid

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Valladolid
Once hailed as the “Sultaness of the East,” the small city of Valladolid is best known for its colorful colonial buildings, its exquisite handicrafts and ideal location near major archaeological sites of the Mayan culture. It’s an easy hop to Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam and Cobá, while gorgeous cenotes (natural pools) within walking distance of town make for some rewarding days of travel. You’ll also find some worthwhile attractions inside the historic center, including a superb collection of Mexican folk art in the Casa de los Venados and plenty of show-stopping architecture, like the 16th-century Convent of San Bernadino.

Previous kimkim travelers have spent the day wildlife watching at Ria Lagartos, a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve home to diverse wetlands ecosystems. The coastal lagoons, estuaries and savanna harbor many plant and animal species, including hawksbill turtles, peregrine falcons and American flamingos. After a visit to the reserve, lunch is served at the home of a local fishing family. For insight into ancestral traditions, kimkim travelers have visited a Mayan community where they learned about hammock weaving and agro-ecology. From here you can also discover a cenote accessible by bicycle along a jungle trail.
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A cenote on the Yucatán Peninsula
Map of Culture & the Great Outdoors on the Yucatán Peninsula - 7 Days
Culture & the Great Outdoors on the Yucatán Peninsula - 7 Days

On this colorful trip plan, you'll experience Mexican culture in an authentic way. See the highlights of the Yucatán Peninsula, visit the archaeological sites of Chichen Itzá, Cobá, and  Xcambó, and view flamingos at Río Lagartos before finishing up in Mérida, where you'll go on a kayak tour and relax on the beach.

Hammocks on a beach in Puerto Morelos
Map of Treasures of the Yucatán Peninsula with Beach Stay - 10 Days
Treasures of the Yucatán Peninsula with Beach Stay - 10 Days

This 10-day itinerary starts and ends in Cancún. In between, you'll enjoy a journey through the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, learning about Mayan history at Chichén Itzá, visiting colorful seaside villages, relaxing on the beach, snorkeling around the coral reef off Puerto Morelos, and taking a boat to Holbox Island for a few days away from civilization.

Chichen Itza
The Archaeological Maya Journey - 5 Days

Take a step back in time to explore ancient Maya cities shrouded in mystery—some of which were inhabited since around 1800 BCE—on this five-day adventure. You'll visit Chichén Itzá, one of the New Wonders of the World, as well as Izamal and Mérida, which will offer insight into the transition from ancient Maya civilization to contemporary Maya ways of life.

Maya ruins near Tulum
Map of Explore the Real Riviera Maya – 8 Days
Explore the Real Riviera Maya – 8 Days

Discover authentic Mexican life on this sustainable tour of the Riviera Maya. Take a road trip from Valladolid to Tulum, stopping at sparkling forest cenotes, biosphere reserves, and ancient Maya ruins like the UNESCO-listed Chichén Itzá. Along the way, you'll meet corn farmers, rap groups, and the founder of a wildlife conservation project. Soak up some Mexican culture with a traditional steam bath and mariachi evening, then finish up on the white-sand beaches of Playa del Carmen.

Yucatán
Map of Highlights of the Yucatán & Diving in Cozumel - 6 Days
Highlights of the Yucatán & Diving in Cozumel - 6 Days

In less than a week, you can experience the historical highlights and natural beauty of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. This includes visiting Spanish-colonial cities like Mérida as well as the Maya pyramids at Chichén Itzá and Tulum. You'll also hop in the water for a day of diving in the crystalline waters of Cozumel Island—no certification necessary.

The Church of San Servacio in the city of Valladolid
Map of Mexico City & Riviera Maya - 10 Days
Mexico City & Riviera Maya - 10 Days

This off-the-beaten-track adventure kicks off in Mexico City where you'll learn the area's pre-Colombian history and visit mysterious temples built by the Aztecs and Mayans. From here, fly to the Riviera Maya to ramble in the colonial streets of Valladolid, dine on fresh cuisine, and chill out on the Caribbean Sea. Expect private guides and transportation throughout (except for your free day in Tulum).

Discover the vast Mayan city of Uxmal on the Puuc Route
Map of Highlights of Mexico: From Mexico City to the Mayan Riviera  - 14 Days
Highlights of Mexico: From Mexico City to the Mayan Riviera - 14 Days

Step back in time on this two-week itinerary featuring ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins of Morelos and the Yucatán Peninsula. Along the way, you will explore Mexico City, the colonial towns of Valladolid and Mérida, and the turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya. You will snorkel in freshwater cenotes, climb stone steps of Aztec pyramids, and meet with indigenous locals to learn about Maya history and culture firsthand.

Piñata in Mexico City
Map of Make Family Memories in Mexico City & the Yucatán Peninsula - 10 Days
Make Family Memories in Mexico City & the Yucatán Peninsula - 10 Days

This family-friendly adventure starts in Mexico City. You'll take a walking food tour through the center, ride the carousel at Chapultepec Park, and experience the wonders of ancient Teotihuacán from the birds-eye view of a hot air balloon. Then, it's off to the Yucatán to dive into the blue waters of cenotes, spot pink flamingoes at Ría Lagartos Reserve, and stroll the beaches of Holbox Island. End your tour with a once-in-a-lifetime swim with whale sharks, the largest fish in the world.

Riviera Maya
Map of Highlights of Mexico City & the Riviera Maya - 11 Days
Highlights of Mexico City & the Riviera Maya - 11 Days

Explore two of Mexico's highlight regions: historic Mexico City and the beautiful Yucatán Peninsula. In the former, you'll hike up Aztec pyramids and stroll the cobbled streets of its Centro Histórico—all while indulging in delicious street food. Then you're off to the white-sand beaches of the Yucatán, where you'll tour ancient Maya ruins, participate in indigenous workshops, and snorkel marine reserves.

A cenote in the Yucatan
Map of Hidden Mexico: Explore the Yucatán Peninsula - 12 Days
Hidden Mexico: Explore the Yucatán Peninsula - 12 Days

With 12 days to spare, you can discover the best of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula with plenty of time to relax and soak up the beach life. Start in Valladolid to learn about traditional cuisine and Maya cities such as Chichen Itz. Swim in little-known cenotes, explore the Cobá archeological site by bike, and while the day away on Playa del Carmen's beaches. Finish your trip with four days on Holbox Island, where you'll swim with whale sharks, observe exotic birds, and cruise through mangroves by kayak.

Laguna Chunyaxche
Map of Mexican Culture & Beaches: Tulum, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 9 Days
Mexican Culture & Beaches: Tulum, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 9 Days

From Mexico's Caribbean coast to the colonial streets of Valladolid, this nine-day trip showcases thousands of years of history and culture while leaving ample time for rest and relaxtion. Dive into cenote lagoons, marvel at the great pyramids of Chichén Itzá, and relax on the white-sand beaches of Holbox Island. Along the way, take part in cultural exchanges to learn about indigenous Maya customs as you meet local families and enjoy traditional home-cooked meals.

Valladolid, Mexico
Map of History, Nature & Gastronomy in Mexico City, Valladolid & Isla Holbox - 13 Days
History, Nature & Gastronomy in Mexico City, Valladolid & Isla Holbox - 13 Days

Experience the best of Mexico's food and culture and still find time to relax on the beach on this 12-day trip from Mexico City to the Yucatán Peninsula. Start in the capital and explore the past, from Frida Kahlo's house to the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Then, head to Yalcobá to swim in freshwater cenotes and learn about Mayan milpa farming before taking the ferry to Isla Holbox, where you'll fish, kayak in bioluminescent water, and chill in a hammock.

Chichen Itza
Mexico's Culture & Beaches: Tulum, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 10 Days

Explore ancient Maya ruins, kick back on the beach, and visit the rainforest on this ten-day trip to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Start the trip in Tulum for swims in cenotes, then head to Valladolid to see Chichen Itza and other archaeological sites. End the trip on Holbox Island, a car-free oasis of sprawling beaches and quiet cafes.

A Maya Riviera turtle
Map of Yucatán Adventure: Mexico City, Valladolid, Puerto Morelos & Holbox - 15 Days
Yucatán Adventure: Mexico City, Valladolid, Puerto Morelos & Holbox - 15 Days

From tacos and mezcal shots in Mexico City to lazing on the beaches of Holbox Island, this tour offers it all in just over two weeks. Start in Mexico's capital, where you'll learn the city's history while floating on the canals of Xochimilco. Head to Valladolid and discover the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza and Yalcoba, then venture along the Maya Riviera and snorkel in Puerto Morelos. Finish it all up by relaxing on the beaches of Holbox with some bird and whale shark watching thrown in.

Ancient Maya ruins of Ek'Balam
Map of Highlights of Southern Mexico: Chiapas &  Yucatán - 12 Days
Highlights of Southern Mexico: Chiapas & Yucatán - 12 Days

This family-friendly itinerary of southern Mexico combines cultural activities with plenty of natural exploration. The first half of your trip will see you exploring Chiapas' Sumidero Canyon, el Chiflón and Misol-Ha waterfalls, and the impressive ruins of Palenque. From there, you will head to colonial-era Campeche where you will pick up your rental car and tour the Yucatán: from modern Mayan communities to ancient ruins, from refreshing cenotes to the white sands of Holbox Island.

Traditional meal
Mexico Culture & Beaches: Tulum, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 11 Days

Swim in a hidden jungle cenote, explore the Playa Ruinas near Tulum, and more on this eleven-day exploration of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. You'll go caving underground to see ancient geologic formations, visit the archaeological site of Coba, and end the trip by relaxing on Holbox Island's beautiful sand beaches.

Visit  the Francisco Canton Park in Valladolid to explore the many Spanish colonial buildings
Map of Discover Mexico from the Capital to the Beach: Mexico City, Valladolid & Mérida - 11 Days
Discover Mexico from the Capital to the Beach: Mexico City, Valladolid & Mérida - 11 Days

Spend 11 days immersing yourself in the culture, history, cuisine, and beauty of Mexico. You'll start in Mexico City, where you'll experience all the highlights, from visiting the historic center and the Frida Kahlo Museum to enjoying the city's famous street food. Then you're off to the Yucatán Peninsula, home to incredible Maya ruins, thousands of cenote lagoons, and some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the Caribbean.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Map of History, Culture & Beaches: Riviera Maya & Valladolid - 11 Days
History, Culture & Beaches: Riviera Maya & Valladolid - 11 Days

Escape to the Yucatán Peninsula, a region in southern Mexico known for its unparalleled beauty. On this adventure, you'll spend a lot of time on the famed Riviera Maya, a section of the Caribbean coast lined with white-sand beaches fronting turquoise waters. Aside from beach time, you'll also explore ancient Maya ruins, swim in underground rivers, and hike around nature reserves in and around Valladolid and the coast.

Sample plenty of eats on this food and culture themed itinerary of Mexico
Map of Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 11 Days
Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 11 Days

Dive into Mexico's rich culture over 11 days and enjoy some of the country's best activities (and most delicious food). It begins with tours of Mexico City's historic cobbled streets and a visit to the awe-inspiring ruins at Teotihuacán. Then jet off to the Yucatán Peninsula, where you'll take a traditional cooking class plus visit mystical cenote lagoons, ancient Maya ruins, and colonial cities.

Relax in sun-kissedBacalar in the Yucatán
Map of Yucatán Road Trip: Tulum, Bacalar, Valladolid, Mérida, Holbox & Puerto Morelos - 12 Days
Yucatán Road Trip: Tulum, Bacalar, Valladolid, Mérida, Holbox & Puerto Morelos - 12 Days

Get ready for a 12-day road-trip adventure across Mexico's famed Yucatán Peninsula, known for its Caribbean beaches, underground cenotes, and ancient Maya ruins. You'll see all of it, starting at the fortress ruins in Tulum and then visiting biosphere reserves and exotic turquoise lakes. Next, you'll venture north to enjoy cultural exchanges in indigenous communities, visit Spanish-colonial heritage cities, and descend into underground caves sacred to the Maya people.

Holbox Island
Map of Nature & Maya Culture in the Yucatán - 12 Days
Nature & Maya Culture in the Yucatán - 12 Days

From the colonial streets of Valladolid to the peaceful beaches of Holbox Island, this 12-day itinerary delivers plenty of adventure and relaxation in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Tour ancient Maya ruins, go swimming in underground rivers, and enjoy some R&R on the white-sand beaches of Holbox Island. And that's just the start.

Relax on the pristine beaches of La Paz on the Baja California peninsula
Map of Mexico City, Baja & the Yucatán - 13 Days
Mexico City, Baja & the Yucatán - 13 Days

Over 13 days, you'll visit some of Mexico's most naturally beautiful and culturally rich areas. Experience the food, culture, and history of Mexico City, hike the pyramids of Teotihuacán, then immerse yourself in indigenous culture on the Yucatán Peninsula. You'll also go off the tourist trail in Baja, California, with a boat tour of Isla Espíritu Santo, hikes through desert mountains, and snorkeling at Cabo Pulmo.

Take a dip in the Caribbean Sea after exploring the Tulum Archaeological Zone
Map of Cultural Highlights of Mexico - 13 Days
Cultural Highlights of Mexico - 13 Days

A great thing about Mexico is that its cultural highlights also make for some of the most fun activities. You'll experience many such adventures over 13 days as you tour the historic center of Mexico City, hike the pyramids of Teotihuacán, and visit colorful neighborhoods like Xochimilco. Then you're off to the famous Yucatán Peninsula to tour the ruins of ancient Maya cities, participate in indigenous cultural exchanges, and enjoy beach time on the Caribbean coast and the Holbox Island.

Scuba diving in the Yucatan
Explore the Mayan World: Tulum, Chichen Itza, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 21 Days

Fully immerse yourself into Mexican history and culture on this comprehensive three-week trip. From the colonial cities of Merida and Valladolid to the ancient Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Chichen Itza, this trip covers millennia of history and leaves room for relaxation and food. End the trip on Holbox Island for some of Mexico's loveliest beaches and plenty of sunshine

Drink refreshing "cocos" (coconuts) on a Mexican beach
Map of Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 15 Days
Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 15 Days

When you combine the incredible sights of Mexico with its delicious flavors, you have a recipe for the perfect vacation. This grand tour starts with Mexico City's highlights and includes copious samplings of tasty street food and famous spirits. From there, you'll travel to historic landmarks and natural wonders throughout the Yucatán Peninsula, from the pyramids of Chichén Itzá to the white-sand beaches of the Riviera Maya to the remote islands of the far north.

Join a boat tour through captivating Sumidero Canyon
Map of Highlights of Chiapas & Yucatán - 13 Days
Highlights of Chiapas & Yucatán - 13 Days

This 13-day adventure covers the highlights of two of southern Mexico's most historic and naturally beautiful states: Chiapas & Yucatán. In the former, you'll tour natural wonders like Sumidero Canyon and the Agua Azul waterfalls. In the latter, you'll visit its most famous archeological sites, like Palenque and Uxmal, while also enjoying the white-sand beaches of Holbox Island and Playa del Carmen.

Tulum beach, Yucatán
Map of Relaxation on the Yucatán Peninsula - 8 Days
Relaxation on the Yucatán Peninsula - 8 Days

There are few better places for a quick recharge than Mexico's stunning Yucatán Peninsula. Over eight days, you'll travel down the famous Riviera Maya, hike around fortress ruins in Tulum, visit indigenous Maya communities, swim in exotic lagoons, and stroll around historic cities. However, you'll really kick back and relax during a couple of free days on the remote beaches of tranquil Holbox Island.

Maya Temple
Map of Mexico's Maya Roads: Temples, Waterfalls & Lagoons - 15 Days
Mexico's Maya Roads: Temples, Waterfalls & Lagoons - 15 Days

This 15-day adventure blends ancient Maya sites with stunning secluded scenery for an off-the-beaten-path journey through Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula. Venture through the Sumidero Canyon to the colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, then take a raft along Lake Montebello to see incredible wildlife. Explore the Maya cities of Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak, get your hands into clay during a pottery class near Nahá, and cool off along the way in hidden waterfalls and turquoise lagoons.

Agua Azul Waterfall
Map of Family Trip to Chiapas & the Riviera Maya - 14 Days
Family Trip to Chiapas & the Riviera Maya - 14 Days

On this family-friendly two-week itinerary, you'll discover the diverse state of Chiapas, with its jungle waterfalls, colonial cities, and Mayan communities. Then you'll pick up a rental car and drive yourself around the Yucatán Peninsula, stopping to relax on the beach, swim in cenotes, and visit archaeological ruins perched high above the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Morelos
Explore the Mayan World: Tulum, Chichen Itza, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 19 Days

Drive from city to beach on this nineteen-day immersive trip through the Yucatan Peninsula. From the colonial cities of Merida and Valladolid to the ancient Maya ruins of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, you'll explore the best that the region has to offer. Tour historic sites, sample local fare, relax on beaches, and more as you make your way through the jungles and roads of the area.

Flamingows at Ría Lagartos Reserve
Map of Family Fun on the Yucatán Peninsula - 10 Days
Family Fun on the Yucatán Peninsula - 10 Days

This 10-day tour of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is the family trip of a lifetime. Start in the village of Puerto Morelos, where you'll snorkel among the coral beds, colorful fish, and the occasional shy octopus of Puerto Morelos Reef National Park. Visit Mérida to tour ancient Chichén Itzá, then cruise Valladolid's Ría Lagartos Reserve while the kids count flocks of pink flamingoes. See the ruins of Tulum, take a jungle adventure with ziplining and cenote swims, and explore the peaceful waters of Sian Ka'an Reserve.

A close up of Mexico City's "tacos al pastor"
Map of Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 12 Days
Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 12 Days

Over 12 days, you'll experience the cultural highlights of Mexico City and the Yucatán Peninsula, from the cuisine to the historic landmarks to the natural beauty. It starts with a whirlwind tour of Mexico's capital, during which you'll nibble on street food, stroll the colonial streets of Coyoacán, and hike the pyramids of Teotihuacán. Then it's off to the stunning Yucatán region to laze on white-sand beaches, visit biosphere reserves, and hike around ancient Maya ruins.

Bacalar lagoon
Map of Highlights of Chiapas and Quintana Roo - 14 Days
Highlights of Chiapas and Quintana Roo - 14 Days

Take in the views from atop ancient Mayan pyramids and underneath waterfalls with this two-week trip through some of the region's top spots. You'll wander through complex Mayan ruins, along turquoise shores, and into jungles as you learn about Mexican history and ecosystems.

Exploring the Cenotes
Explore the Mayan World: Tulum, Chichen Itza, Valladolid, Holbox Island, & More - 18 Days

Take eighteen relaxing days to drive through the Yucatan Peninsula as you explore the best that Mexico has to offer: colonial cities, indigenous communities, white-sand beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins. Start the trip in Tulum for a dip into a turquoise cenote, then head to Bacalar for a sail on the lagoon. End in Valladolid and Holbox Island for sunrise at Chichen Itza and a couple days on the beach.

Other popular travel destinations in Mexico
Yucatán Peninsula · Mexico City · Tulum · Oaxaca · Holbox · Puerto Morelos · Chiapas · Mérida · San Cristobal de las Casas · Palenque · Cancún · Playa del Carmen · Cholula · Bacalar · Puebla · Campeche · Chunhuhub · Uxmal · Calakmul · Guadalajara · La Paz · San Miguel de Allende · Morelia · Querétaro · Guanajuato · Cabo San Lucas · Pisté · Los Cabos