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Major city · Mexico

Izamal

Give Izamal one night or a half-day from Mérida: the monastery, the yellow streets and the Kinich Kakmó pyramid fill 3–4 hours.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Mar
avoid Apr–May (hottest), Sep–Oct (rain peak)
Airports
MID · CUN
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Izamal is a small Yucatán town 70 km east of Mérida, built over a Maya pilgrimage site. Almost every building in the centre is painted yellow, the 1561 Franciscan monastery sits on a Maya acropolis, and three unexcavated pyramids stand inside the street grid. It is a walking town: you can see the core in half a day, and the reason to sleep here is the evening sound-and-light show and the empty streets after the Mérida buses leave.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Izamal, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeM$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerbottle at a restaurant / shopM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or posada bed, a night, per personMX$300 (≈ US$17)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,200 (≈ US$65)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomMX$2,500 (≈ US$140)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$700 (≈ US$40) · Mid MX$1,200 (≈ US$65) · High MX$2,500 (≈ US$140)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Convento de San Antonio de PaduaYellow-painted streetsKinich Kakmó pyramidMaya pilgrimage site
Airports
MID Mérida (Manuel Crescencio Rejón) (About 1 h 30 min by bus or car from Izamal; most arrivals come through here.) · CUN Cancún (About 3–4 h by road; Oriente runs a daily morning bus.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Izamal: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C

17°C

4 rd

Feb

31°C

17°C

3 rd

Mar

34°C

19°C

3 rd

Apr

36°C

21°C

3 rd

May

36°C

22°C

6 rd

Jun

34°C

23°C

12 rd

Jul

34°C

22°C

13 rd

Aug

34°C

22°C

13 rd

Sep

33°C

22°C

15 rd

Oct

32°C

21°C

11 rd

Nov

31°C

19°C

6 rd

Dec

30°C

17°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The centre is flat and small; the monastery, both bus terminals and the main restaurants are within 15 minutes on foot. Calesas (mule-drawn carriages) wait near the plaza for a slow loop of the sights. Taxis sit at a stand by the main plaza. If you drive, park near one of the three plazas around the monastery.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Méridago

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h each way by bus

Oriente bus from the Calle 32 terminal, roughly hourly, or a colectivo from Mérida's Calle 54/52 and 65 stop

The obvious pairing: base in Mérida and day-trip here, or sleep here and day-trip there.

Chichén Itzá

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h by car

Road east via Valladolid; no direct public bus from Izamal, so a car, taxi or tour

Doable by car in a day; by public transport it is a long, awkward connection.

Valladolidovernight

Door to door: About 2 h

Oriente bus, one departure daily around 11:00

One bus a day each way; treat it as a move, not a return trip.

Tixkokob

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Road west toward Mérida, by car or bus

Small town on the Mérida road; only worth a stop if you are driving.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Centro (around the monastery and Parque Zamná)

Everything walkable: monastery, market, restaurants, both bus terminals. Best for one night without a car.

Outskirts on Calle 18 and Calle 22

Garden hotels and the campground, 10–15 min walk from the plaza; quieter, some have pools.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$500–900 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
Mid
M$900–1,600 (≈ US$50–90) excl. bed
High
M$1,600 (≈ US$90)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × MX$1,200MX$1,200
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$1,200MX$2,400
Oriente bus Mérida ↔ Izamal, both ways2 × MX$150 · checkMX$300
Calesa loop of the centre1 × MX$300 · checkMX$300
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$470
Trip total≈ MX$2,585 per person per day, bed includedMX$5,170≈ US$300

2026 estimate in pesos; long-distance buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeM$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
Yucatecan lunch (poc chuc, salbutes, panuchos)M$120–250 (≈ US$7–14)
Beer: bottle at a restaurant / shopM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4) / M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
Taxi Izamal → Méridacheck; agree the fare before you get in.M$700–900 (≈ US$40–50)
Bus Izamal → Mérida, one waycheckM$40–80 (≈ US$3–5)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Izamal is a quiet, low-crime town and the centre is safe to walk in the evening. The real risks are the afternoon heat, uneven stone on the pyramids, and missing the last bus or colectivo back to Mérida.
  • Most restaurants close early; eat before 19:00 or you may not find a kitchen open.
  • The last bus back to Mérida leaves in the late afternoon (about 18:40) and the last colectivo about 18:00 — miss it and you pay for a taxi.
  • The pyramids are unexcavated mounds with uneven stone and no shade: wear shoes with grip and carry water.
  • Afternoon heat from April to May is the main discomfort; there is little indoor shelter in town.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / SECTUR)
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

IzamalIzamal

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Izamal; the US consulate and most other missions are in Mérida (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Oriente bus Mérida → Izamal: about M$40–80 (≈ US$3–5), 1.5–2 h (check)
  • Colectivo Mérida → Izamal: cheaper than the bus, leaves when full; last one back about 18:00 (check)
  • Taxi Izamal → Mérida: M$700–900 (≈ US$40–50) (check)

Say or show

  • Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh)
  • El camión a Mérida, por favor — The bus to Mérida, please (el kah-MYON ah MEH-ree-dah)

Cash is king in Izamal: bring pesos for buses, calesas, market stalls and small restaurants.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Izamal. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Mar · avoid Apr–May (hottest), Sep–Oct (rain peak) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MID and CUN: last Oriente and colectivo departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: the monastery and Parque Zamná, the market and municipal palace, Kinich Kakmó, and the Calle 18 hotel strip.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (monastery atrium, Kinich Kakmó, Centro Cultural, sound-and-light show) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Heat and late-bus fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources