This article contains affiliate links. When you book a hotel, a car rental or an activity through these links, we receive a commission from the advertiser at no extra cost to you 💕. By using them, you support us while paying exactly the same price 🙏. We earn a commission from the advertiser at no extra cost to you 💕. Thank you!
Our partners
CONTENTS
WHAT TO DO IN VALLADOLID: OUR VISITS DOWNTOWN 💥
We truly fell in love with Valladolid 💕! It’s close to lots of stunning places to see. The town is peaceful and fairly human-sized; you can do everything on foot in a day 🥾. It’s an excellent stopover on a road trip like ours.
This town is strategically located just 40 minutes from Chichén Itzá, about 30 minutes from Ek Balam… If you love a change of scenery and discovering fantastic places, you’re in the right place 😍!
Discover our best tips, deals and tricks, whether you’re traveling as a family, with friends or as a couple. Mexico offers a total change of scenery if you’re willing to go on an adventure 🤞.
👉 Planning your trip? Also read our 10 things to know before visiting Mexico.
THE MAP OF OUR MEXICO ROAD TRIP 🗺️
To help you plan your itinerary, we’ve gathered every place from our 30-day road trip in Mexico 🇲🇽 on an interactive map: cenotes, Mayan sites, beaches and stopover towns, from Yucatán to Quintana Roo. Click on each pin to discover the place in detail 📍. And to keep it handy during your trip, open it in Google Maps: you’ll find it easily on your phone 📱.
Our itinerary
Our trip to Mexico
1 month8 stops2 states: Yucatán & Quintana RooCar + ferry to the islands
The stops, in order
- 1
Cancún
1 night
Arrival by plane, then last night before the flight home
- 2
Holbox
3 nights
Beaches, sunsets and a timeless vibe
- 3
Valladolid
5 nights
Suytun, Oxman, Ik Kil, Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam
- 4
Mérida
3 nights
Uxmal and the 3 cenotes of Cuzamá
- 5
Bacalar
5 nights
The lagoon of seven colors and its cenotes
- 6
Tulum
4 nights
Ruins, Coba, Sian Ka'an, Cenote Azul and Calavera
- 7
Cozumel
4 nights
Scuba diving and snorkeling
- 8
Isla Mujeres
3 nights
Jet skiing, beaches and the end of the road trip
FRANCISCO CANTÓN ROSADO PARK, THE HEART OF VALLADOLID
In the center of Valladolid, you’ll find Francisco Cantón Rosado Park, with a fountain dedicated to the women of the Yucatán, which has become an emblem of the town and of hope, called La Mestiza ⛲. This square is very beautiful, with a park that’s pleasant to hang out in, where lots of Mexicans gather to chat and catch up 💬.
There are lots of souvenir kiosks and street food stalls, and this is where we tasted our first marquesita. It’s a traditional Yucatán dessert found in many towns, like Valladolid. Personally, it’s not the best dessert, since it looks a lot like a crêpe but doesn’t taste the same 😂. There are also cinnamon churros; just like the marquesita, they’re not as good as in France 😎.
In the evening, there’s sometimes entertainment with traditional music. All around the square are lots of buildings, cafés and restaurants. The benches are just as original; it’s a great idea 💡!
THE CHURCH OF SAN SERVACIO
This church in Valladolid is a few steps from Francisco Cantón Rosado Park; you can’t miss it 🔎! It’s the most important church in Valladolid. It was inaugurated in 1545 and rebuilt in the early 18th century. When we visited, the church only opened its doors late in the day, from 6 p.m. ⏳.
CENOTE ZACÍ, A CENOTE RIGHT DOWNTOWN
It’s rare, but Cenote Zací sits right in the middle of Valladolid’s historic center. This cenote is fairly large, semi-open and very pretty, surrounded by lots of rock walls, plants and insects 😊.
When we passed through in October 2021, the cenote was under renovation 🚧: no way to get in or swim. To admire it, you had to go through the restaurant overlooking it, and we looked at it from the restaurant without ordering anything.
Good news: it has since reopened, and you can swim there again. Entry went up to about 150 pesos in 2025 (a price that may change), with daytime opening hours, roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s still a good option if you don’t have a car, but there are even more beautiful cenotes around Valladolid 😍.
THE CONVENT OF SAN BERNARDINO AND THE CALZADA DE LOS FRAILES
From downtown, stroll up the pretty Calzada de los Frailes, a colorful street lined with colonial houses, to the Convent of San Bernardino de Siena, one of the oldest buildings in the region. We only saw it from the outside.
🌙 In the evening, a free sound and light show (“Noches de la Heroica Valladolid”) is projected onto the convent’s facade, in Spanish and then in English. We didn’t see it: schedules change, so ask locally.
THE CHOCO-STORY EXPERIENCE
Cacao was of huge importance 👊 to the Maya! There are several Choco-Story museums in Mexico tracing the importance of cacao for the Maya. It’s an interactive museum with more than 12 rooms and storytelling scenes, with the option to listen in French 🤗!
The museum is fairly quick to visit, 30 minutes to 1 hour. At the end, as in every museum, you can buy chocolate from a wide selection 🍫. When we visited in 2021, entry was 150 pesos per person (€7.50), and 110 pesos for students. Today, expect about 210 pesos per adult (check the price on the official website), with opening hours every day from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. It was a lovely discovery, pretty fun to do 😉.
AN EXCELLENT RESTAURANT IN VALLADOLID
If you read my articles, you probably know we love to eat well. There’s one restaurant in Valladolid we fell for, since we ate there twice in less than 3 days 🍕. It’s San Giovanni Trattoria; as the name suggests, it’s an incredible Italian restaurant 😋! A stunning setting, carefully prepared dishes and the pleasure of eating something other than fajitas and tacos now and then 🌮.
OUR FIRST MEXICAN SUPERMARKET 🛒
A little story: it was in Valladolid that we walked into our first Mexican supermarket. A real moment of discovery, browsing the aisles to find local products, brands and flavors you don’t get in France 😄. A simple tip, but perfect for diving into everyday Mexican life!
WHAT TO SEE AROUND VALLADOLID: CENOTES AND MAYAN CITIES 👀
Valladolid is a lovely town to visit, but its real potential lies in the many tourist sights in the surrounding area! Mostly, there are lots of cenotes and Mayan cities. If you’re in the middle of planning your trip, you’re in the right place to plan your stay as well as possible, and above all to set aside plenty of days here, because it’s fabulous 😍!
CHICHÉN ITZÁ – ONE OF THE 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD
When you visit Mexico and especially the Yucatán, this is the place you absolutely can’t miss, because Chichén Itzá is one of the 7 Wonders of the World! Since Valladolid is very close (40 minutes), it’s a central base for lots of people wanting to explore the area 😀.
Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an absolute must on a trip to Mexico. This Mayan city was the greatest power on the whole Yucatán Peninsula. It’s a very touristy place, so it’s important to come early to enjoy it in peace. Feel free to read my article on Chichén Itzá, which gives you all the practical info for making the most of this magical place 😍!
CENOTE IK KIL – OUR FIRST CENOTE
It was our first cenote, and honestly, no disappointment at all! It’s a very beautiful place near Valladolid and just a few kilometers from Chichén Itzá. It’s super touristy, so arrive early or late to avoid the crowds as much as possible.
It’s also very close to Valladolid and simply magnificent. The vines, the opening of the cenote, the walk down the steps… Really a very beautiful cenote. Feel free to read my article on it for tips and deals on Cenote Ik Kil.
CENOTE SUYTUN – A VERY INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT
Cenote Suytun is famous worldwide, because it’s indescribably beautiful 😍! Lots of influencers have been there and turned it into a super touristy cenote. Cenote Suytun is just a few kilometers from Valladolid.
A walkway in the middle of the water, an opening at the top letting the light in, and you get breathtaking scenery. If you want to know more about this place, just read my article with our tips and deals for Cenote Suytun.
EK BALAM – THE BLACK JAGUAR
When I tell you that Valladolid is really a town that lets you discover unique places, it’s because you’re close to everything 🤪! Ek Balam is a Mayan archaeological site just 30 km from Valladolid. The site was discovered recently and excavations are still ongoing. The biggest advantage is that you can climb one of the temples for a magnificent view over this immense jungle 📸!
A place with lots of history, heat and above all lots of fun 😊. Feel free to read my article on Ek Balam, which will teach you loads about this place.
CENOTE X’CANCHÉ – PARADISE ON EARTH
And that’s for real, since this cenote is just 1 km from Ek Balam. All you have to do is grab some bikes and ride toward Cenote X’Canché. We were very lucky, because there were very few people when we visited 🥰. We almost had the cenote to ourselves 😝!
It’s one of the most beautiful cenotes we’ve done. The weather that day was incredible; in short, pure joy 🥳. Feel free to read my article on Cenote X’Canché to discover this paradise on Earth.
CENOTE OXMAN – IN THE DEPTHS OF MEXICO
Cenote Oxman is a huge bottomless well where you go down almost 70 steps to finally reach this unique place 😍. It’s at Hacienda San Lorenzo, with lots of facilities nearby, like a restaurant and a pool. What makes this cenote so charming is that enormous cavity where light comes in throughout the day.
Feel free to read my article on Cenote Oxman to find out how to get there. Discovery, happiness and above all the urge to travel: there’s nothing better!
CENOTE HUBIKU – THE CAVE OF THE YUCATÁN
Cenote Hubiku is super touristy! Luckily, on our very early visit (9 a.m.) to avoid the crowds, we were the first ones there 💪. We got to enjoy the place with no tourists at all, and it’s so nice to be alone in places like this.
It’s a cenote worth doing a few more kilometers from Valladolid. Feel free to read my article on Cenote Hubiku for the best tips on this place.
THE XKEKÉN AND SAMULÁ CENOTES (DZITNUP)
A few kilometers from Valladolid, the village of Dzitnup is home to two underground cenotes often mentioned by travelers: Xkekén and Samulá. We didn’t do them, but they’re easy to add to a cenote day if you have a car.
HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY IN VALLADOLID? 📅
We stayed 4 days, and it wasn’t too many! With the car, we could go wherever we wanted, with no schedule. Here’s what we did:
- Day 1: exploring the town (the central park, San Servacio, the Choco-Story…).
- Day 2: the Mayan site of Ek Balam and Cenote X’Canché, right next door.
- Day 3: Chichén Itzá and Cenote Ik Kil.
- Day 4: the Suytun and Oxman cenotes, and the surrounding area.
If you have less time, allow at least 2 days: one for the town, one for Chichén Itzá or Ek Balam with a cenote.
PRICES OF SIGHTS IN AND AROUND VALLADOLID 💸
Here are the current prices we found for foreign visitors. They change regularly (often every January): check them before you go.
- 🏛️ Chichén Itzá: about 676 to 697 pesos (single ticket since 2026).
- 🏛️ Ek Balam: about 691 pesos.
- 💧 Cenote Suytun: about 250 to 280 pesos.
- 💧 Cenote Ik Kil: about 200 pesos (last checked late 2024).
- 💧 Cenote Zací: about 150 pesos.
- 🍫 Choco-Story: about 210 pesos.
💵 Bring pesos in cash, as many sites don’t take cards. To get organized, read our article Where to withdraw money in Mexico.
HOW TO GET TO VALLADOLID: CAR, ADO BUS OR TREN MAYA ⏳
To get to Valladolid, you can go:
- By car 🚗: allow about 2 hours from Cancún on the toll highway, 2¼ to 2½ hours from Playa del Carmen, and about 2 hours from Mérida. We were staying in Valladolid with our rental car. Don’t forget that Mexico is big: if you want to be free and independent on the road, a car is a great compromise. Feel free to check out my article on renting a car in Mexico.
- By bus 🚌: lots of ADO buses go through Valladolid (about 2.5 to 3 hours from Cancún). The tricky part is then getting to the cenotes and sites: colectivos leave from downtown for the closest ones.
- By Tren Maya 🚆: Valladolid has its own station, about 5 km north of downtown. Prices for foreign tourists change: check the official website.
- By taxi 🚕: there are lots of taxis in Mexico, but they can be very expensive 💰 depending on where you’re coming from.
👉 For us, the car was essential during our trip: it let us be 100% independent and visit Valladolid and its surroundings without depending on public transportation.
RENTING A CAR IN MEXICO 🚗
To explore Yucatán and Quintana Roo, we think a rental car is the best option: you’re free to string together cenotes, Mayan sites and beaches at your own pace, without depending on bus schedules or organized tours 🌴.
We did our whole one-month road trip by car, and everything went really well. Here’s the agency we used and recommend, plus an alternative if you’d rather compare 👇
Our rental tip
Renting a car in Mexico
The agency we used, and an alternative to compare.
TouraCancun
Car rental in Mexico
We rented with them for our whole road trip: we recommend them without hesitation!
Our budget€95028 days, insurance included · ~€34/day
- Tested for 1 month
- Pick-up in Cancún
- Our go-to in Mexico
DiscoverCars
Rental comparison site
To compare several rental companies in a single search.
Excellent rating290,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- 1,000+ rental companies compared
- Free cancellation
- 24/7 support
To compare before you choose
Good to know before you rent
- Third-party liability insurance is mandatoryIn Mexico, it's often not included in the price shown online: check before you pay.
- A deposit on a credit cardAn amount is held on your card for the whole rental. Bring a card with a high enough limit.
- Your French driving license is enoughIt's accepted for tourists. The international driving permit is optional: only if you want one.
- Photos and video at pick-upFilm the car from every angle when you collect it, to avoid any dispute when you return it.
- Filling up at the gas stationCheck that the pump meter is at zero before the attendant starts.
- Watch out for “topes”These speed bumps are everywhere, sometimes without a sign: slow down as you enter villages.
WHERE TO STAY IN VALLADOLID? 🏨
We stayed at Hotel Boutique Sayab, and it was incredible 😍: a very big room, a pool to cool off after sightseeing, and a perfect, easy-to-reach parking spot, ideal when you’re getting around by car. The only small drawback: the hotel is a bit far from downtown, but with the car, that wasn’t a problem.
👉 Find your hotel in Valladolid on Booking, ideally with parking if you have a car.
Finally, if you’re continuing your road trip north, Holbox isn’t far: the port of Chiquilá, where the ferries leave from, is about a 2-hour drive from Valladolid.
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT VALLADOLID ❓
These are the questions people often ask before visiting Valladolid. Feel free to ask yours in the comments, and I’ll add to this FAQ 💬.
Stroll around Francisco Cantón Rosado Park, see the church of San Servacio, then walk up the Calzada de los Frailes to the Convent of San Bernardino. Right downtown, Cenote Zací lets you swim without a car, and the Choco-Story tells the history of cacao.
Allow at least 2 days: one for the town and one for Chichén Itzá or Ek Balam with a cenote. We spent 4 days there, which let us combine Mayan sites and cenotes without rushing.
Yes, it has since reopened. When we passed through in 2021, it was closed for renovations and we only looked at it from the restaurant. Entry has cost about 150 pesos since 2025, a price that may change.
For foreign visitors, expect about 676 to 697 pesos, federal and state shares included. This price goes up almost every year: check it before your visit.
By car, it takes about 2 hours on the toll highway: that’s the option we chose with our rental car. The ADO bus takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, and the Tren Maya also serves Valladolid (station about 5 km from downtown).
Suytun is the most photogenic, with its walkway and its light shaft. X’Canché, near Ek Balam, was one of our favorites because it was almost empty. Ik Kil, Hubiku and Oxman easily round out a day.
Downtown can be explored on foot. For the cenotes and Mayan sites, a car gives you much more freedom: for us, it was essential. Without a car, colectivos, taxis and tours are still options.
We loved Hotel Boutique Sayab: a very big room, a pool and convenient parking, a bit far from downtown. If you have a car, go for a hotel with parking.
The “Noches de la Heroica Valladolid” show is projected for free in the evening onto the facade of the Convent of San Bernardino. Schedules may change: ask locally.
WHERE TO STAY IN MEXICO 🏨
During our one-month road trip in Mexico 🇲🇽, we stayed in 8 different towns, alternating between Airbnbs and hotels. And we were always very happy with where we stayed 😇.
We deliberately avoided “All Inclusive” packages. It’s not our idea of travel: we’d rather be in the heart of towns and villages, eat local and discover the country at our own pace 🌮.
OUR TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE TO STAY
- 📅 Book ahead in high season: the best places go fast and prices climb.
- 🚗 Private or secure parking if you’re traveling with a rental car. You’ll see, it’s not always available, but depending on the town it can be really worth having.
- ❄️ Air conditioning: essential in Yucatán and Quintana Roo, where it’s hot all year round.
- 🏊 A pool: up to you whether you want one at some of your stays, because it can quickly push the price up.
- 📍 A place close to the center: so you can do everything on foot in the evening. That said, if you like places outside town and you have the car, nothing forces you to stay near the center
- ✅ Free cancellation, to keep your itinerary flexible.
AIRBNB OR HOTEL IN MEXICO?
Both have their advantages. An Airbnb is ideal for more space, a kitchen and living like a local. A hotel is more convenient for one or two nights passing through, with a reception desk and often breakfast included. As for us, we liked both. It all depends on what you want, whether you’re with family, solo or as a couple, and how you like to travel.
HOW MUCH DOES ACCOMMODATION COST IN MEXICO?
There’s something for every taste and every budget. We paid between €40 and €100 a night for two. To be completely transparent with you: €1,800 for 29 nights, or about €62 a night on average (that was in 2021, prices may have changed since).
👇 Here are the 8 places where we slept during our road trip, with our review of each one.
Tested during our road trip
Our 8 places to stay in Mexico
AirbnbHotel
-
AirbnbHolbox
An incredible room, with the pool right next door to cool off. Just perfect!
- Room
- Pool right next door
- Incredible room
- Hotel
Valladolid
A stunning setting and a super spacious room, ideal for catching your breath between two cenotes.
- Very spacious room
- Pool
- On-site massages
- Airbnb
Mérida
A whole house just for us, with a small pool to relax.
- Whole house
- Small pool
- A bit out of the way
- Hotel
Bacalar
A gorgeous place right in the town center, with a superb pool.
- Hotel
- Superb pool
- Town center, far from the lagoon
- Airbnb
Tulum
A whole place with a pool, but very far out: you'll need the car.
- Whole place
- Pool
- Far out, car essential
- Airbnb
Cozumel
A clean, well-located studio, so you can do everything on foot from the town center.
- Studio
- Clean and well designed
- Close to the center
- Hotel
Isla Mujeres
A beautiful seafront hotel with a magnificent pool.
- Hotel
- Magnificent pool
- Seafront, a bit out of the way
- Hotel
Cancún
Right next to the airport: perfect for the first or last night of the trip.
- Hotel
- Close to the airport
- Ideal for the 1st or last night
MY MUST-HAVE TRAVEL GEAR 🧳
It’s a question that comes up a lot when preparing a trip “What should I bring?” That’s why you’ll find below some essential travel accessories to set off on vacation with peace of mind (your documents kept safe) 🛡️ . Planning ahead and getting these items in advance helps you save money and avoid paying for some of them on the spot, where they’ll cost you much more 💸 These are the accessories we took to Mexico and still use for every destination we travel to 👇.
Our road trip checklist
What to pack for Mexico?
Most of these items came with us throughout our 30-day road trip.
0 / 12 in my suitcase · check what you already have
- Essential
ElectronicsUniversal travel adapter
In Mexico, outlets are the American type: French chargers won't fit.
- Essential
ElectronicsPower bank
Long days between ruins and cenotes: your phone lasts until evening.
- Essential
Health & protectionBiodegradable sunscreen
Mineral and biodegradable, kinder to cenotes and reefs.
- Essential
Health & protectionMosquito repellent
Mosquitoes are everywhere, especially in the evening and near the jungle.
- Essential
Cenotes & beachWaterproof phone pouch
To film in cenotes and at the beach without any risk.
- Recommended
Health & protectionFilter water bottle
Tap water isn't drinkable in Mexico: filter it and avoid plastic.
- Recommended
Health & protectionTravel first-aid kit
Band-aids, painkillers, anti-diarrhea meds: enough to handle small issues.
- Recommended
Cenotes & beachWaterproof bag
Papers and keys kept dry on boats, at the beach or by the cenotes.
- Recommended
Cenotes & beachWater shoes
For slippery cenote steps and rocky seabeds.
- Recommended
Cenotes & beachMicrofiber towel
Light and quick-drying: perfect for swim after swim.
- Bonus
Travel & securityTSA lock
To lock your suitcase on the plane, with no risk of it being broken at security.
- Bonus
Travel & securityAirTag
To track your suitcase if your luggage is delayed or lost.
OUR YOUTUBE VIDEOS IN MEXICO 
During our 30-day road trip in Mexico 
, we filmed everything! From Holbox to Cancún, by way of Valladolid, Mérida, Bacalar, Tulum, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, we take you along with us step by step in our vlogs.
You’ll discover the cenotes we swam in, the Mayan sites we explored, the beaches that made us dream, our places to stay, our favorite spots to eat… and above all our honest take on each place: what amazed us, and what disappointed us a little 
.
If you’re planning your trip, or simply dreaming of getting away, these videos will give you a real glimpse of Mexico, far from the tourist brochures.
Our road trip on video
Our YouTube videos in Mexico
Now watching: Episode 1 · Discovering Mexico & Holbox
21 minEpisode 1Discovering Mexico & Holbox- 17 minEpisode 2Cenotes & Mayan cities
- 9 minEpisode 3Mérida, Uxmal, Cuzamá & the bats
- 13 minEpisode 4Bacalar, a hidden paradise
- 12 minEpisode 5Tulum, Coba, Sian Ka'an & Cenote Azul
- 12 minEpisode 6Cozumel, diving & snorkeling
- 17 minEpisode 7Isla Mujeres, jet skiing & the end of the road trip
21 min
17 min
9 min
13 min
12 min
12 min
17 minTHANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK
Thanks for reading this article all the way to the end 🙏! We hope it helps you plan your trip.
A question, a doubt about your itinerary, or simply want to tell us what you thought? Write to us in the comments. Your messages also help other travelers plan their trip, and they always make us very happy 💚.
And if our articles are useful to you, a quick review on Google or Trustpilot helps us enormously to spread the word about the blog ⭐. Thanks for following us!