Valladolid

Valladolid is the third-largest city in the Yucatán Peninsula and arguably the most charming. Located about 2 hours west of Tulum and just 45 minutes east of Chichén Itzá, this colonial city of 80,000 people has preserved its historic character while developing a thriving food and arts scene that draws increasing numbers of visitors looking for something more authentic than Cancún. The historic center of Valladolid is organized around the Parque Principal — a central square shaded by trees and surrounded by the 16th-century Catedral de San Servacio, colonial-era buildings painted in warm ochre and cream, and a constant stream of local life. Horse-drawn carriages still serve as taxis. Street food vendors operate from the same corner every day. Within the city limits, Cenote Zaci is a partially open-air cenote in a dramatic sinkhole just a few blocks from the main square — you can swim in the clear blue water while bats circle the cave ceiling above. Cenote Samulá and Cenote X'Kekén, both about 4km from town, are reached through a cave system and are among the most beautiful cenotes in the Yucatán. Valladolid's food scene has exploded in recent years. The mercado municipal serves traditional Yucatecan food — cochinita pibil, papadzules, panuchos — from early morning. Several excellent restaurants around the Parque Principal serve updated Yucatecan cuisine in atmospheric colonial settings. The city is a natural base for day trips to Chichén Itzá, Cobá, and the cenotes of the Sierra Papacal area. Many travelers use Valladolid as an overnight stop between Tulum and Mérida.