Things to Do in Valladolid

Valladolid is a Pueblo Mágico and the most practical base in the Yucatán for visiting Chichén Itzá, the cenotes, and the Ek Balam ruins. The town itself is small and walkable, so you can cover the historic center in half a day and spend the rest of your time on day trips. All prices below are in Mexican pesos and are current for 2026, part of our Valladolid travel guide.

Things to Do in Valladolid: Mayan Ruins

Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá is 42km east of Valladolid, a 40 to 45 minute drive, and is the main reason most people base themselves here. The site opens at 8am and closes at 5pm, with last entry around 4pm. Foreign adults pay 697 MXN total, split between the federal INAH fee (about 105 MXN, cash only) and the Yucatán state CULTUR fee (about 592 MXN, card accepted). Go at opening to see El Castillo before the 10am tour-bus rush; the best time to visit Valladolid guide covers the best months and times to visit.

Ek Balam

Ek Balam is 28km north of Valladolid, about a 30 minute drive, and unlike Chichén Itzá its 30-meter Acropolis is still open to climb. The site runs 8am to 5pm with last entry at 4pm, and foreign adults pay about 530 MXN (INAH plus state fee). The top of the Acropolis looks out over flat jungle, and the stucco jaguar frieze near the entrance is one of the best-preserved carvings in the region. The climb has no shade, so check the Valladolid weather by month before you go and pair it with Cenote X’Canché across the road (about 150 MXN).

Things to Do in Valladolid: Cenotes (Swimming Holes)

Cenote Zací

Cenote Zací is the only cenote inside the town center, a 5 minute walk north of the main plaza on Calle 36. It is a large open cenote with a steep limestone wall and a walkway down to the water. Entry costs about 150 MXN for adults and 75 MXN for children, and it is open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm. Life jackets are available, and there is a small restaurant at the rim. It sits in the Candelaria side of the center, covered in our Valladolid neighborhoods guide.

Cenotes Xkekén and Samulá (Dzitnup)

These two cave cenotes sit side by side in the village of Dzitnup, 7km southwest of Valladolid on the road toward Chichén Itzá. Xkekén has a single beam of light that cuts through a ceiling hole around midday, while Samulá is shallower with a tree root hanging from its ceiling. Entry is 150 MXN per cenote or about 230 MXN for both, open 8am to 5pm. They are the busiest cenotes near town, so come before 10am; most hotels in our where to stay in Valladolid guide can arrange a taxi.

Cenote Suytun

Cenote Suytun is 8km east of Valladolid and known for its circular platform in the middle of the water, lit by a skylight. The light beam hits the platform around midday, which is also when it is most crowded. Entry is 250 MXN for adults and 200 MXN for children, open daily from 9am to 5pm. Bring water shoes for the smooth limestone floor, and see the Valladolid travel tips article for taxi fares to the cenotes.

Things to Do in Valladolid: Historic Center

Convento de San Bernardino de Siena

The 16th-century Convent of San Bernardino, in the Sisal barrio at the end of Calzada de los Frailes, is one of the oldest Franciscan buildings in the Americas. It is open daily, and entry is free or a small voluntary donation. Inside, faded murals cover the walls and the original well is still visible. A free light-and-sound show projects onto the facade several evenings a week; the schedule is in our Valladolid events and festivals guide.

Calzada de los Frailes

Calzada de los Frailes is a cobblestone street of restored pastel colonial houses that runs from the main plaza north to the San Bernardino convent. It is the town’s most photogenic stretch and is lined with boutique hotels, mezcal shops, and small cafes. Walk it in the late afternoon when the low sun hits the facades, then finish at the convent for the evening show.

Parque Francisco Cantón Rosado and Iglesia de San Servacio

The main plaza, Parque Francisco Cantón Rosado, is the town’s center, ringed by the Iglesia de San Servacio (a 16th-century church rebuilt after the 1847 Caste War) and dozens of restaurants. Come at dusk when locals fill the benches and food carts set up around the edges. The church is free to enter and holds mass daily.

Casa de los Venados

Casa de los Venados, on Calle 40 just off the plaza, is a private home holding one of Mexico’s largest collections of folk art, with more than 3,000 pieces from every state. It opens for free tours at 10am daily, led by the American owners, and runs about 45 minutes. Entry is by donation, and you should arrive 10 minutes early as groups fill up.

Things to Do in Valladolid: Local Experiences

Mercado Municipal

The municipal market on Calle 32 sells produce, spices, and cheap loncherías where a plate of cochinita pibil or poc chuc costs 80 to 120 MXN. It is the best place to try Valladolid’s signature dish, longaniza (a smoked, achiote-rubbed sausage), and to buy vanilla, honey, and habanero sauces to take home. Most stalls open by 7am and wind down by 4pm.

Xkopek Beekeeping Park

Xkopek, 2km south of town, is a small park focused on the stingless melipona bee, a species the Maya have kept for centuries. A 45 minute guided visit costs about 120 MXN and includes a tasting of melipona honey. It is a good stop if you want something quieter than the cenotes and only have an hour to spare.