Car Hire Valladolid - Mini guide to Valladolid

In the Yucatan, half-way between Merida and Cancun and only 46kms east of Chichén Itzá, is where you’ll find Valladolid, a city built out of stone. The city dates back to the early days of the Spanish Conquest and was built in the 1500s. Valladolid is also famous for its fascinating cenotes (caves), including Zací, located in town, and X'keken and Samula, just outside town in Dzitnup.

Valladolid is a great place to get away from the hustle of the tourist ridden beach towns and see some of authentic Mexico. You can enjoy some of the colonial flavour of Valladolid near the zócalo (main square). Additionally, visit the sculpture museum (Museo Nacional de Escultura Religiosa), where outstanding Spanish Renaissance works are on display.

Founded in 1552, the convent and church of San Bernardino de Siena is the oldest church in the Yucatan and one of the oldest in the Americas. Here, you can walk through the archways, visit a few shops and restaurants, or people-watch from one of the many stone benches. The weathered Spanish coats of arms above the doorways of some of the older buildings are interesting.

The now open-air Cenote Zací is located three blocks from the main plaza. This enormous and stunning cenote was covered by a roof of stone as recently as 200 years ago. In the 1600s, Mayan warriors spoke of this hidden spring which also provided cover from the Spanish. During the war of the Castes in 1847, Mayan invaders convened here to discuss battle plans and eventually ran the Spanish out of town.

If you’re feeling energetic, you can hop on a bicycle and head to nearby Cenote Dzitnup. Alternatively, visit Chichén Itzá; the second-class bus heading to Merida will take you to the small town of Piste, 2.5kms from the ruins. From Valladolid, there is frequent bus service east to Cancun and west to Merida. Additionally, the Mayan ruin of Ek-Balam is worth exploring, and is located just 20 minutes north of Valladolid on the road to Tizimin.

From Cancun or Merida, follow either the toll highway number 180 (taking the exit for Valladolid) or the freeway. It takes 2.5 hours to get to Valladolid from Playa del Carmen by road. There are several daily buses to Valladolid from Playa del Carmen, Merida and Cancun. The airports nearest to Valladolid are in Cancun and Merida, both about two hours away by car.