The Mayan ruins of Ek Balam in the Yucatan.

7 Best Day Trips From Valladolid, Mexico You Don’t Want To Miss

ByVanessa Shields Updated on

Looking for the best day trips from Valladolid, Mexico? You’re in luck as there are several unique Valladolid day trips that will take you to breathtaking cenotes, ancient Mayan ruins, and pink lakes to name a few.

Most people skip visiting Valladolid and continue on to either Merida or Cancun but I challenge you to stay a few days in Valladolid as it makes the perfect base to some of the most bucket list worthy sites in Mexico!

Over a period of a week, I enjoyed alternating between touring the colonial city of Valladolid with venturing out to find adventure that only the Yucatan can provide.

Many of these places are likely ones you have never heard of such as Izamal, the “Yellow City” and others that don’t need much of an introduction such as Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world.

So, join me as I share everything you need to know about each day trip, how to get there, and other tips for exploring the Yucatan Peninsula from Valladolid.

A white stone arch on a cobblestone street in Izamal with every building painted in yellow one of the best day trips from Valladolid, Mexico.

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Best Day Trips From Valladolid, Mexico

1. World Famous Chichen Itza

Although there are several ancient Mayan ruins throughout the Yucatan Peninsula to visit, Chichen Itza is the most famous of them all.

It’s reputation is known all over the world as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Why is it considered so important? Well, one look at it when you arrive will undoubtedly make it clear.

The most famous structure at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, a pyramid known as El Castillo near Valladolid, Mexico.
A close view of the main center of the stone El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico.

It is without question an impressive sight but it is one of the best preserved Mayan sites considering its age.

And the focal point of it is none other than the towering pyramid of El Castillo that you see in all the iconic photos.

Estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,600 years old, the structures are intact and clearly don’t show the years it has weathered.

It’s hard to believe something could be built that well to withstand all the elements over time.

Rows of stone columns that used to support a roof years ago at the archeological site of Chichen Itza, outside of Valladolid, Mexico.
A close up view of a stone staircase with a serpent carved into stone on each side at the famous Chichen Itza in Mexico.
A amazing stone structure with a tower surrounded by lush trees while walking the grounds at Chichen Itza, world famous Mayan ruins.

You can expect to spend 2.5 and 3 hours exploring the magnificent archeological complex and even more if you are into photography.

Chichen Itza makes for the perfect Valladolid day trip as Valladolid is the closest city about 45-55 minutes away.

You can get there from Cancun, Tulum, and Merida but it will make for a much longer day.

For a complete guide on visiting Chichen Itza, when to visit, cost, and the different modes of transportation to get there, take a look at:

A Complete Visitors Guide To Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza Cultural Tour

If you want to know what tour I took, I can’t recommend enough this Chichen Itza Cultural Tour with pickups from Valladolid, Cancun or Tulum.

The owner Adrian has an extensive knowledge of the Mayan culture and history. I loved going deeper and learning all about the Mayans, more so than you would get on most tours.

A local Mayan woman explaining the various Yucatan dishes we are about to eat in her home in a Mayan village near Chichen Itza.
A plate of delicious Mayan food primarily Conchinita Pibil tacos made from Mayan locals near Valladolid, Mexico.

In addition to Chichen Itza, the tour includes having lunch with a local Mayan family tasting the most delicious Mayan dishes in their home.

Clau and Beto were the most gracious hosts sharing their incredibly made food and culture with us, which was priceless.

And after lunch, you’ll get to cool off and swim in a cenote!

Distance From Valladolid: ~ 30 miles (48 km) and takes about 55 minutes.

2. Cenote Suytun

It is quite amazing the sheer volume of cenotes that are located throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

They are practically everywhere with an estimate between 5,000 to 10,000 cenotes with around 1,500 or so that the public can visit.

If you have never had the opportunity to see a cenote, it is a breathtaking site as it is a swimming hole in the middle of a jungle that looks straight out of a National Geographic documentary.

The front entrance to Cenote Suytun with huge colorful letters with pics of the cenote that spells out SUYTUN near Valladolid, Mexico.
The beautiful dirt path lined with lush vegetation and trees leading to the entrance of Cenote Suytun a fun Valladolid day trip.

Cenotes range in size and layouts but essentially, they are natural sinkholes that have the most pristine clear water with temperatures ranging from very cold to mildly warm bath temps.

All of the ones I have been to are deep underground with manmade stairs leading to the mystical swimming oasis below.

Some cenotes are completely open at the top, some have a small hole, and others are caves with no opening at the top.

Cenote Essentials To Bring

Cenote Suytun is just 15 minutes from Valladolid and probably one of the most photographed cenotes in the Yucatan for its distinctive platform that juts out into the swimming hole.

Looking down a stone staircase with a yellow rope leading down into the cave of Cenote Suytun and access to swim in the water just outside of Valladolid, Mexico.

Suytun is a cave-like cenote with a small opening at the top that lets sunlight shine down like a beam into the greenish hue water.

Usually during midday, you will see the most amount of light shining through.

Since it is so close to Valladolid, you can take a taxi, drive, or take a bus. There are even tours that include it so you don’t have to worry about transport.

When you arrive, they will let you know that there are changing rooms, lockers (extra cost), life jackets (included and must be worn if swimming).

At the top of the stairs inside the cave of Cenote Suytun looking down at the gorgeous clear and emerald green water with a stone platform jutting out to the middle and people standing on it.
A wide angle of Cenote Suytun with its beautiful swimming hole inside a cave with clear emerald green water and a platform jutting out for people to take photos and stalagmite forms hanging down over the water in Valladolid, Mexico.

If you are just going to take photos on the platform, you don’t need to wear one. Plus, there are lifeguards on duty if you need them.

When I visited, the water level was higher than average, so the platform was a few feet under the water hitting about waist level.

You could easily spend a half day or more here as they have a restaurant, a bar, a gift shop with items in case you forget (like water shoes), and overnight cabins.

Cenote Suytun Hours: Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:00 pm).

Entrance Fee: 200 MXN (pesos)

Note: You are required to shower to rinse off any sunscreen or lotions before entering the cenote.

3. Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve

Going out to Ria Lagartos Biosphere is an outdoor adventure where you can hop on a boat and cruise along the dense mangroves in search of wildlife.

The UNESCO biosphere covers almost 150,000 acres of natural habitat where the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico converge.

In addition to mangroves, Ria Lagartos is made up of swamps, estuaries, and lagoons with the water being fairly shallow throughout.

Palm trees framing the walkway along the marina lined with small boats that take people on the water to explore Ria Lagartos Biosphere along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan.
A small boat cruising through the shallow waters to see pelicans and flamingos in Ria Lagartos along the Yucatan coast.

You aren’t guaranteed to see any specific animals but if you are lucky, you’ll have the chance to witness various birds, crocodiles, and flamingos in their natural habitat.

The birds I enjoyed seeing up close were the pelicans. They seemed giant and such beautiful birds to watch.

The eye catching flamingos are a treat to see as I had only ever seen them in a zoo. They are fascinating to watch in various shades of pink from pale rose to a deep salmon colored pink.

A crocodile swimming in the water near mangroves in Ria Lagartos Biosphere in the Yucatan Peninsula coast bordering the Caribbean Sea.
Watching a group of flamingos in the shallow waters in the Rias Lagartos Biosphere in the Yucatan of Mexico.

When born, flamingos are white, then gray and gradually become more pink as they age due to eating certain crustaceans (sea monkeys).

Closer to the dense mangroves or in the more swampy areas, you’ll get a glimpse of crocodiles as they move through the water almost completely unnoticed. They are definitely stealth in their movements.

The main activity is to take a tour of the biosphere by boat and usually lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Book A Ria Lagartos Biosphere & Las Coloradas Day Trip!

Take A Mayan Bath

Before heading back to the docks, your boat driver will see if you want a Mayan Bath.

The “bath” involves rubbing a white mud (clay) onto your arms, legs, and face. The white clay is full of benefits for your health and skin as it contains salts, minerals, algae, and more.

Holding a handful of white clay on a boat in Rias Lagartos along the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

After rubbing the clay in, let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes before washing off. I was surprised at how soft and silky my skin felt after!

Distance From Valladolid: ~ 70 miles (112 km) and takes about 2 hours to drive straight to the coast.

Note: The town from where you catch a boat is Rio Lagartos but the biosphere is Ria Lagartos.

4. Las Coloradas

Las Coloradas is famous for its vivid pink lakes! Yes, these lakes or lagoons bordering the Caribbean Sea not far from Rias Lagartos Biosphere are 100% real.

If you’ve seen a photo, you might think it is some fake or highly edited photo, but the pink lakes at Las Coloradas are pink due to microorganisms in the water.

But the real surprise comes when these microorganisms in combination with a high salt concentration create the prettiest hues of pink.

In this area of the Yucatan along the Caribbean is unique as it produces some of the highest quality salt known as Sal Sol.

Huge brown letters spelling Las Coloradas standing on the bank of a beautiful pale pink lake along the Yucatan coast of Mexico.
Standing on top of an observation tower looking out at the gorgeous pale pink lake at Las Coloradas in the Yucatan of Mexico, a popular day trip from Valladolid.

Each lagoon you see has various levels of salts and those that are the most pink have the highest concentration of salts ready to be harvested.

Note: But contrary to what you might think, the salt is white NOT pink.

When you arrive at the Las Coloradas visitor center, you’ll pay an entry ticket and then pay for a guide depending on whether you want it in English or Spanish.

The guide will take you up to a tower to get an aerial view of the different pink lakes and explain the process of why each lake has varying shades from blue to pale pink and finally vibrant pink.

A large pink lake used to harvest top quality salt at Las Coloradas in the Yucatan coast of Mexico.
A small pyramid structure resembling Chichen Itza made of white salt along the shores of a pink lake at Las Coloradas, Mexico.

Visiting Las Coloradas seems unreal even in person but it is an amazing sight as there are only a few places in the world where you can witness this phenomena.

It takes about 10 months for salt to be ready to be harvested so depending on when you visit, the lagoons might be very pink or hardly at all.

The tour lasts about 1.5 hrs where you get to walk out among the pink lagoons and take a ton of photos with many fun props.

Distance From Valladolid: ~ 70 miles (112 km) and takes about 2 hours to drive straight to the coast.

Tip: Since Las Coloradas is next to Ria Lagartos, combine these two places on the same day trip from Valladolid.

Book A Las Coloradas & Ria Lagartos Biosphere Day Trip!

5. Ek Balam Ruins

Another incredible Mayan site and day trip from Valladolid is Ek Balam (Black Jaguar) just outside of the small town of Temozon.

From Valladolid, Ek Balam is a 30 minute drive towards the Caribbean coast where Las Coloradas and Ria Lagartos are.

Adding Ek Balam to your day trip with these two destinations makes a for a very long but awesome day.

Even though Ek Balam doesn’t get many visitors compared to Chichen Itza, I thought it was just as impressive but with some key differences.

What I really liked about Ek Balam is that it seems untouched.

A well preserved and small stone structure with arched entry way and bordered by a stone wall at the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
Side view of three small stone structures on a platform above stone steps part of the preserved Mayan ruins of Ek Balam in the Yucatan, Mexico near Valladolid.

Meaning there is a dense jungle surrounding it and each structure is almost hiding within the lush vegetation.

Historically, Ek Balam is older and more powerful than Chichen Itza as it was a political and spiritual hub of the Yucatan.

From 100 BC to 800 AD, the civilization of Ek Balam thrived and for no reason that we know of for sure, the site was eventually abandoned.

As you make your way through the portion of the archeological zone that has been excavated, they truly save the best for last.

Approaching the largest pyramid ruin at Ek Balam archeological site with steep steps that people can climb up for better views in Yucatan, Mexico.
Standing at the base of the very steep stone steps of the biggest pyramid ruin at Ek Balam and that people can carefully climb up.
Ancient Mayan ruins with intricate carvings on one tier of the large pyramid at Ek Balam surround by a lush jungle in the Yucatan of Mexico.

At the farthest point from the entrance is the mighty Acropolis. It is the largest and most impressive structure at Ek Balam. One glimpse and your mouth might drop in wonder…

Standing at 480 feet high there is a wide staircase at the center where you can climb to the top although I made it up 2/3 of the way before my fear of heights kicked in.

The stairs are steep so watch your step and go slowly. Of course, the views are magnificent as you can see the thick blanket of jungle around each ruin below.

Book An Ek Balam, Las Coloradas & Ria Lagartos Tour!

Distance From Valladolid:  17 miles (27 km) and 30 minutes away.

Entrance Fee: 531 MXN (pesos) or ~ US $27 for foreigners and 211 MXN for Mexican citizens.

6. Xkopek Bee Keeping Reserve

I was surprised to find out the Yucatan is known for its honey, specifically from the Mayan bee known as Melipona.

What makes the Mayan honey so special is that these bees are stingless and produce a honey that is more liquidity in texture than honey you may have at home.

Up until the Spanish came in the 1500s, the Mayans only had indigenous bees with the most famous the Melipona (no stingers).

A box painted with the stripe colors of purple, yellow, and pink with a bee on it serving as a beehive at Xkopek Beekeeping Park in Valladolid, Mexico.
Inside the dry cenote where bees form natural hives both in the ground and in pockets of the old cenote stone wall at the Xkopek Beekeeping Park a few minutes from Valladolid, Mexico.

The honey from the Melipona was used for an assortment of daily items including food, medicine, and lotions.

At the Xkopek Bee Keeping Reserve, you can see the entire process of beekeeping and how it evolved once the European bees (with stingers) were introduced.

Besides learning about the history of bees in the Yucatan Peninsula you get to walk the beautiful grounds and see bees up close in their natural habitat.

One treat is walking down into a dry cenote where some of the natural bee hives can be found.

Inside a protected section at Xkopek Beekeeping Park where guests on the tour can see different types of bees in the hives.
A delicious honey infused drink in a hardened shell of a fruit to sample on the Xkopek Beekeeping Park tour in Valladolid.
The various types of honey and honey products that are sampled at the end of the Xkopek Beekeeping tour in Valladolid, Mexico.

It was also fascinating to see how different all the bees looked. Many I would have thought were a fly as they don’t resemble the typical bee.

And you can watch a fun video of the “honey stealing bees”, Limon Kaab in action. Yep, they steal honey from other types of bees.

I thoroughly enjoyed the honey tasting after the tour to sample different types of honey, both from European and native Melipona bees including a delicious honey drink.

Tip: There are set times for the tours, so you can walk around the grounds, go inside the tiny museum or order lunch if you get there early.

Distance From Valladolid: 1.6 miles south of downtown Valladolid and takes 10 minutes to reach by taxi or car.

Get Your Xkopek Bee Keeping Tour Ticket!

Tour Fee: 280 MXN (pesos) or ~ US $14 for foreigners

7. Izamal

Izamal may be small but definitely worth visiting as the entire town is painted a bright yellow from shades of pale yellow to a deep sun kissed hue.

Known as the Yellow City (and a Pueblo Magico), you can’t help but smile and enjoy the cheery, laidback vibes.

There is no question that the pace of life slows down here with a tranquil ambiance that is quite welcoming.

Walking in the main square looking up at the bright yellow colored walls and arches of the beautiful convent in Izamal known as the Yellow City which lies between Valladolid and Merida, Mexico.
Standing under arch leading to the convent with every surface painted in yellow with white trim and a stone arch into the city in the background in Izamal in the Yucatan, Mexico.

These days it is famous for its eye-catching yellow décor but it was an important site for the Mayans and later the Spanish.

It is thought that it was the site to worship the Mayan sun god, Kinich-Kakmo and possibly why it was later painted yellow.

I don’t think anyone knows for sure but this is a common theory. Regardless, it is a fun city to explore even though there isn’t a ton to do.

Besides strolling the quaint streets, the main attraction here is the Convento San Antonio de Padua, a Franciscan convent.

Standing on the perimeter looking at the bright yellow painted convent surrounding walls and arches in the Yellow City of Izamal in Mexico.
A vertical close up of the ramp and arched windows in the brightly painted yellow with white trim leading to the convent in Izamal, Yucatan which is a short drive from Valladolid.

It is in the center of town right above the main square and the playful letters spelling out “IZAMAL” are.

It is peaceful to walk around the grounds, take photos, and admire the architecture of the town below.

Before the Spanish conquered the area in the 1500s, Izamal was home to several Mayan pyramids.

One of the few still remaining is Kinich Kak Moo (Kinich Kakma) and just a few blocks north on foot from the convent.

It is free to visit and offers great views of the city from the top. Although not too hard, watch your step as the top portion has uneven sized rocks to navigate.

Walking on a street with view of 3 buildings in the shot all painted in yellow, with white and black trim in the Yellow City of Izamal in the Yucatan, Mexico.
The ancient Mayan ruins or pyramid known as Kinich Kak Moo in Izamal, Mexico.

Once you park your car, you can explore all the main sites in Izamal on foot as it is a very walkable city. I would recommend 3 – 4 hours which includes getting something to eat.

If you are visiting earlier in the day, grab a delicious breakfast at Restaurante Los Arcos which sits along the main square.

Or if you are in Izamal later in the day, make a point to dine at Kinich. At either restaurant you’ll have several yummy Yucatan dishes to choose from.

You could visit Izamal from either Valladolid or Merida as it is about half way between the two colonial cities.

Tip: If you are driving, make a point to spend a few hours here on your way between Valladolid and Merida.

Distance From Valladolid: 69 miles (111 km) and takes about 1 hour and 20 mins.

Where To Stay In Valladolid

Here are my top hotel picks for comfort and prime location next to the main town square and attractions in Valladolid.

Tip: When booking make sure you are selecting Valladolid, Mexico and NOT Valladolid, Spain!

Two tall plastic pink flamingos along the shore of a pink lake at Las Coloradas on the coast of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

Items To Bring On Your Yucatan Day Trips

Stone ruins wall and tiered structure around a grassy area on top of a pyramid at the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam near Valladolid, Mexico.

Valladolid Day Trips Map

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Vanessa Shields

Vanessa Shields is the founder of Traveling Ness helping people with trip ideas, itineraries, travel planning, and boosting confidence for female travelers to take a solo trip. She has been a travel writer and content creator since 2019.

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