The differences
| Izamal | Valladolid | |
|---|---|---|
| Magical Town since | 2002 | 2012 |
| Best known for | Yellow streets, San Antonio de Padua convent, Kinich Kakmó | Colonial center, San Bernardino convent, San Servacio church |
| Maya roots | A Maya city occupied for more than 2,500 years | Founded on the Maya town of Zací |
| Distance | About 72 km from Mérida | Further east, near Chichén Itzá |
Izamal: the city of three cultures
INAH describes it as the City of Three Cultures: Maya, colonial and contemporary. Its archaeological zone, woven into the town layout, includes Kinich Kakmó and complexes such as Itzamatul, Habuc, Tu'ul and Chaltún Ha. The Franciscan convent sits on an ancient Maya platform.
Valladolid: the colonial city of the east
Yucatán's tourism department describes it as founded in 1543 on the old town of Zací and highlights its colonial and historical legacy. INAH lists the San Bernardino convent as a historic monument. Downtown you'll find the main square and the church of San Servacio.
According to the tourism department, Yucatán has seven Magical Towns, and Izamal and Valladolid had their designations renewed in 2023.
How to see both
The Mary Tours Chichén Itzá, Izamal, cenote and Valladolid tour starts in Izamal in the morning, continues to Chichén Itzá, stops at a cenote and ends in Valladolid before returning to Mérida. If you're only interested in one, Izamal also pairs with Homún cenotes on other, shorter tours.
Fun facts
- Valladolid was founded on the old Maya town of Zací.
- Yucatán has seven Magical Towns.
- In Izamal, Maya pyramids stand right in the middle of town.
Related tours
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Towns · 9 h
Izamal and two cenotes
Izamal’s yellow first, then two cold cenotes
from $1,300 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road. The guide uses it to explain where Izamal comes from before you arrive.
- 9:00 AM The yellow town — The convent and its atrium, among the largest on the continent, the baroque altarpiece, and then free time around the streets.
- 10:20 AM On to the Homún ring — Forty more minutes to the cenote area.
- 11:00 AM Yaxbacaltún cenote — The first swim, landing right after the morning’s walking.
- 12:15 PM San Antonio cenote and lunch — A semi-closed cenote that feels nothing like the first one, and lunch served right there.
- 3:15 PM Back to Mérida — Back to Mérida, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Guide, Entry to both cenotes, Lunch
Not included: Drinks
Cenotes · 9 h
Izamal and the Santa Bárbara cenotes
Izamal early, and the whole afternoon in four cenotes
from $1,550 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal.
- 9:00 AM Izamal — The San Antonio de Padua convent, raised on a Maya platform, the Kinich Kakmó pyramid and the yellow streets.
- 10:30 AM On to Homún — An hour and a quarter through small towns to the cenote grounds.
- 12:00 PM Santa Bárbara cenotes — Five hours inside: Cascabel in a cavern, Chaksikín with its shaft of light, and Xooch and Pool Cocom in the open. You move between them by bike or cart, and lunch is served on site.
- 5:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back.
Included: Transport, General culture guide, Entrances, Lunch
Not included: Drinks
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Izamal or Valladolid?
Izamal stands out for its color and visible Maya past; Valladolid for its colonial center. The classic route visits both.
Since when have they been Magical Towns?
Izamal since 2002 and Valladolid since 2012.
When was Valladolid founded?
In 1543, on the old Maya town of Zací, according to Yucatán's tourism department.
How many Magical Towns does Yucatán have?
Seven, according to the state tourism department (2023).
