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Major city · Mexico

Valladolid

Base here 2 nights to see Chichén Itzá and Ek Balam without tour buses, plus a cenote swim; skip if you only want beach.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Mar (dry, cooler)
avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season, hottest May)
Airports
CUN · MID
Nights
2
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.

Valladolid is a small colonial city in Yucatán, about 45 minutes from the east entrance of Chichén Itzá and 30 minutes from Ek Balam. It works as a quieter, cheaper base than Cancún or Playa del Carmen for the ruins, with its own cenotes, a 16th-century convent and a walkable centre. The Tren Maya station opened in 2023 and put the town firmly on the tourist circuit.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Valladolid, 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)
  • Street or quick mealStreet torta or tacosM$30–80 (≈ US$2–5)
  • Taxi, about 5 km2 km taxi rideabout M$35 (≈ US$2) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personMX$250 (≈ US$14)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,400 (≈ US$80)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomMX$3,000 (≈ US$170)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$700 (≈ US$40) · Mid MX$1,300 (≈ US$75) · 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.

Chichén Itzá baseEk Balam ruinsCenote Zací and nearby cenotesConvent of San Bernardino de SienaCochinita pibil and lomitos de Valladolid
Airports
CUN Cancún International (About 2 h by ADO bus or Tren Maya; free shuttle to the on-airport train station) · MID Mérida International (About 2 h 15 min by ADO bus)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Valladolid: 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

28°C

18°C

4 rd

Feb

30°C

18°C

3 rd

Mar

32°C

19°C

3 rd

Apr

34°C

21°C

4 rd

May

36°C

23°C

7 rd

Jun

34°C

23°C

13 rd

Jul

33°C

22°C

14 rd

Aug

33°C

22°C

14 rd

Sep

32°C

22°C

16 rd

Oct

31°C

21°C

12 rd

Nov

30°C

19°C

6 rd

Dec

28°C

18°C

4 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

The centre is small and flat: walk it. Taxis have no app-based competition (no Uber, DiDi or InDrive as of 2024) and drivers rarely speak English, so agree the fare before you get in. Bicycles and scooters can be rented for cenotes and nearby sights. Colectivos (shared vans) leave from fixed stops for Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam and Tizimín. There are no city buses.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Chichén Itzá

go

Door to door: About 1 h

ADO or colectivo from Calle 39, about 45 min; or Tren Maya to the Chichén Itzá station

Go at 08:00 opening; entry about M$571 (check current price).

Ek Balam

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Colectivo or taxi from Calle 37, about 30 min

Climb the tallest ruin for a 360° view; far fewer people than Chichén Itzá.

Cenotes X'keken and Samula

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Colectivo or taxi west on Highway 180, about 15 min

About M$150 for one, M$226 for both; lifejackets included.

Izamal

caution

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

ADO or colectivo via Chichén Itzá, about 2 h 30 min total

A long day; better as an overnight stop between Valladolid and Mérida.

Rio Lagartos

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Bus or colectivo north via Tizimín, about 2 h

Flamingo and biosphere boat trips; start early to make it back by dark.

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 Parque Francisco Cantón)

Walk to the plaza, cathedral, Casa de los Venados and Cenote Zací; most hotels and restaurants are here.

Calzada de los Frailes / Sisal

Quieter colonial street east of the centre, 10–15 min walk to the convent; good for a slower stay.

Near the Tren Maya station

Convenient if you arrive or leave by train, but about 5 km north of the centre: you will need a taxi for everything.

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$900–1,800 (≈ US$50–100) excl. bed
High
M$1,800 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × MX$1,400MX$2,800
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MX$1,300MX$5,200
Chichén Itzá entry2 × MX$571 · checkMX$1,142
Ek Balam entry2 × MX$150 · checkMX$300
Cenote Zací entry2 × MX$60 · checkMX$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$1,006
Trip total≈ MX$2,767 per person per day, bed includedMX$11,068≈ US$600

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

Prices of common things

CoffeeM$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
Street torta or tacosM$30–80 (≈ US$2–5)
Mercado food-court mainM$80–110 (≈ US$5–6)
Mid-range restaurant mainM$200–350 (≈ US$11–19)
2 km taxi rideabout M$35 (≈ US$2) (check)
Scooter rental, per dayup to M$400 (≈ US$25) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Valladolid is a small, walkable town and generally safe for tourists; the real risks are heat, unlit streets after dark and unlicensed taxis. Use 911 for emergencies and 078 for tourist help.
  • Agree taxi fares before boarding; drivers generally do not speak English.
  • No app-based ride-hailing in the city (no Uber, DiDi or InDrive as of 2024).
  • Cenote Zací limits swim time to about one hour when busy.
  • Chichén Itzá is hot and shadeless: go at opening, carry water and a hat.
  • Some cenote and ruin tickets are cash-only; carry pesos and small notes.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance
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.

ValladolidValladolid

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Valladolid; the US consulate is in Mérida, most other countries' embassies are in Mexico City (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Colectivo Valladolid → Chichén Itzá: about M$40 (≈ US$3), 45 min (check)
  • Colectivo Valladolid → Ek Balam: about M$70 (≈ US$4), 30 min (check)
  • Taxi in town, 2 km: about M$35 (≈ US$2), agree before boarding (check)

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde está el cenote? — Where is the cenote? (DON-de es-TA el se-NO-te)
  • Quiero un boleto a Chichén Itzá — I would like a ticket to Chichén Itzá (KYE-ro un bo-LE-to a chi-CHEN it-SA)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWE-do pa-GAR kon tar-HE-ta)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRA-syas)

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 Valladolid. 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 (dry, cooler) · avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season, hottest May) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for CUN and MID: last ADO and Tren Maya departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: plaza and cathedral, Calzada de los Frailes and convent, Cenote Zací, bus and colectivo stops.
  3. Place pages with verified opening hours and cash-only notes (Casa de los Venados, Cenote Zací, convent, Museo de San Roque).
  4. Cenote and ruin fixtures with current entry prices so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources