Worth a DetourHeritageColonial townsCaves

Valladolid

A colorful colonial town between Cancún and Chichén Itzá, with a sunny main square, a fortress-like convent and swimmable cenotes nearby.

Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin · CC BY 2.0
Best Time to Go
Nov–Mar
Our full guide to Valladolid is being written. It's on the Yucatán Peninsula list as Worth a Detour.

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1–3 of 18
Must-See
Heritage · UNESCO

Chichen Itza

Yucatán
About 24 miles away

The great Maya city and its stepped pyramid, El Castillo, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Beaches · Maya

Tulum

Quintana Roo
About 60 miles away

White sand, Caribbean water, and a Maya town on a cliff, with freshwater sinkholes called cenotes inland.

3 Sights
Worth a Detour
Beaches · Diving

Cozumel

Quintana Roo
About 85 miles away

One of the world's top places for reef diving and snorkeling.

Guide Coming Soon

The Full Short List

Yucatán Peninsula

Chichén Itzá, Tulum and Caribbean reefs.

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