The seven
Yucatán's tourism ministry (SEFOTUR) reported in 2024 that the state has seven Pueblos Mágicos:
- Izamal and Valladolid, the first two.
- Maní and Sisal, added in 2020.
- Espita, Motul and Tekax, added in 2023.
Xcalachén was presented as Mérida's first Barrio Mágico (Magic Neighborhood), not a town.
What sets some apart
- Izamal: the City of Three Cultures, a Magical Town since 2001, with a Franciscan convent and pyramids downtown.
- Valladolid: the Pearl of the East, with the convent of San Bernardino de Siena.
- Sisal: the old henequen port, with beach and wetlands.
- Motul: the attributed birthplace of huevos motuleños.
- Espita: a 1906 market and the kots'oob tamal.
Lodging
In June 2024, SEFOTUR counted 2,335 rooms in 156 hotels across the seven towns. It's a dated figure and may have changed.
Tips
- Each town has different attractions and services: read up before you go.
- Explore downtown on foot and try local food.
- Buy crafts directly from the makers.
Magical Towns on day trips from Mérida
With Mary Tours you can see Izamal and Valladolid on the Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid trip; Izamal also on Izamal and two cenotes; and Sisal on the kayak, flamingo and beach trip. Beyond Yucatán, the Bacalar trip leaves free time in that Quintana Roo Magical Town. Trips leave from Calle 61 in downtown Mérida.
| Town | Added |
|---|---|
| Izamal | First (2001) |
| Valladolid | First |
| Maní | 2020 |
| Sisal | 2020 |
| Espita | 2023 |
| Motul | 2023 |
| Tekax | 2023 |
Fun facts
- Izamal has been a Magical Town since 2001.
- Three Yucatán towns joined in 2023.
- Mérida has a Barrio Mágico: Xcalachén.
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
Beach · 9.5 h
Sisal: kayak, flamingos and beach
A magic town that is still a fishing port
from $1,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half on the road to the port.
- 10:00 AM Kayaking in the coastal wetland — A paddle by kayak or flat-bottomed boat through the mangrove, with birdwatching — pink flamingos included — and a dip in a freshwater spring.
- 11:45 AM Sisal beach — Over four hours free. There are seafood places along the shore and palapas you can rent for shade.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour and a half back.
Included: Transport, Kayaking in the coastal wetlands, Free time on the beach
Not included: Food, Drinks, Palapa rental
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Bacalar, the lagoon of seven colours
Seventeen hours for water that changes colour every metre
from $2,800 MXN per person
See itinerary
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 5:30 AM Drive to José María Morelos — Two hours. Fifteen minutes there for toilets and to stretch your legs.
- 7:30 AM Drive to Bacalar — Two and a half hours more, now crossing into Quintana Roo.
- 10:15 AM Boat trip on the lagoon — Pirates’ Channel, Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda and Bird Island, with an explanation of the stromatolites and the ecosystem.
- 12:15 PM Lunch — Lunch in the town, beside the lagoon.
- 1:30 PM Bacalar magic town — Three and a half hours free: the San Felipe fort, the square, the piers, the cafés and the crafts.
- 5:00 PM Back to Mérida — Five hours back, with a stop halfway. Arriving around ten.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat trip, Lunch
Not included: Drinks
Frequently asked questions
How many Magical Towns does Yucatán have?
Seven, according to SEFOTUR (2024).
Which are they?
Izamal, Valladolid, Maní, Sisal, Espita, Motul and Tekax.
Which is closest to Mérida?
Izamal and Sisal are about an hour to an hour and a half away by road, based on Mary Tours itineraries.
Is Xcalachén a Magical Town?
No; it was named Mérida's first Barrio Mágico.
