Mexico is such a place on earth that it’s hard not to fall in love with it. But if you’re interested in more than just beautiful beaches, beach bars and cocktails with small umbrella, this article will help you plan the perfect trip around Yucatan. Meet three wonderful towns in Mexico. Merida, Izamal and Valladolid. Colonial towns full of charm and magic, one of them is even officially Pueblo Magico. Which one? You will find the answer in this article.

But let’s start from the beginning. You will probably land in Cancun, full of great hotels and beautiful beaches, but you want to see more than that, right? Visit the colonial town of Merida first, from there move on to Izamal, to finally visit Valladolid.

Merida is the capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatan and the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a colonial town with narrow streets and buildings painted blue, mint, or peach. All the main attractions are located in the center, so it is very easy to get around on foot.

The main plaza, Plaza Grande, is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. On the Plaza Grande you will find vendors selling Mexican snacks and benches where weary tourists can rest. Right on the Plaza Grande is Merida’s most famous cathedral, the San Ildenfonso Cathedral. It was partly built with stones from Mayan ruins and is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas.

Around Plaza Grande there are also other interesting buildings like: Palacio Municipal de Merida, and Museo Casa Montejo.

Another place on your list should be Parque Hidalgo and Parque de la Madre. A little further on is Parque Santa Lucia with its huge Tu y yo chairs, which in normal size are usually used by lovers, friends, or family members.

Not far from the main square is the Paseo de Montejo. A few kilometers long street with colonial buildings such as G. Canton Palace, Casas Gemelas, El Pinar and the Concept store Casa T`HO where you can find beautiful gifts for family and friends.

At the end of the street is the Monument to the Fatherland. This piece shows us an important part of Mexico`s history from the founding of Tenochtitlan until mid-twentieth century. In the evening, the street turns into a place full of street artists, beautifully lit restaurants often with live music and delicious food of course. On sundays, the street is closed so you can enjoy it by foot or on bike without to be disturbed by cars.

To get from Cancun to Merida you need about 4 hours. You have two options to get to Merida, by car, or by bus. On this trip however we will only travel by bus, but of course you have the option to rent a car.

The ADO bus leaves from the main bus station in Cancun. The fare per person is $23.50. This is our favorite bus company. The buses are clean, the seats are comfortable, there is plenty of legroom. The vehicle also has a toilet, and during our 4 hour trip it was cleaned and disinfected about halfway.

You can purchase any bus ticket before your ride at the ADO terminal, but the easiest way to go is to check the schedule and buy your tickets on the official ADO app.

• Catrin | Best shrimp and beef tacos
• Bisquet | Delicious pastry and coffee
• Nabil | Tasty shisha

The second place which you should visit on your Yucatan trip should be the town of Izamal, otherwise known as “The Yellow Town”. This small town is the smallest of the three you will visit, with a population of only 15’000, but its size should not deter you from coming here, as Izamal is one of 134 Pueblos Magicos (Magical Towns).

What are Pueblos Magicos?

Pueblo Magicos is an initiative led by Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism, with support from other federal agencies. The idea is to promote a series of towns around the country that offer visitors special experiences because of their natural beauty, cultural richness, traditions, folklore, historical relevance, cousin, art crafts, and great hospitality.

The highlight of the town is the Franciscan Convent of San Antonio de Padua, a huge building located on the plateau of the main hill of the town, and like every building in Izamal, it is painted yellow.

And why is the town of Izamal yellow?

There are several theories. The first of which is that the town was painted yellow for the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1993. The second theory is that the town was painted in honor of the sun god. The third theory is that the town was painted all yellow to deter mosquitoes. However, supposedly the residents themselves do not know which of the three theories is true. We, however, like the second one the most.

Izamal also has the Mayan pyramid named Kinich Kak Moo. This pyramid has the largest area in the whole Yucatan Peninsula and is the third largest in all of Mexico. It is located a little further from the center, but can be reached on foot. This pyramid can be climbed, and while we were visiting Izamal, there were many brave people who did climb it.

We got to Izamal from Merida by bus, which started from Noreste station in Merida. This time we took the Oriente bus, which is much cheaper than ADO, but unfortunately, also a bit worse quality. The trip did not last long because it was only 1 hour and for such a journey it was ok.

Buses Oriente do not have toilets on the bus, you should remember about that before starting the journey. The ticket cost $1.50 per person and in these buses you can sit anywhere you want. Be aware of that when you get on the bus.

• Los Arcos | Mexican food
• Kinich | Mexican food

This is the last city to visit on your Yucatan road trip. Like other colonial towns in Yucatan, Valladolid also has a main square with a beautiful fountain in the middle and charming Tu y yo chairs, and the impressive Cathedral of San Servacio.

The city is often chosen by tourists as a base to visit the surrounding cenotes and Chichen Itza, which is only 45 minutes away by local colectivo.

Walking around Valladolid you can easy reach the Calzada de Los Frailes, full of charming boutiques and cafes. A place that will delight all those who are looking for unique gifts for loved ones or for themselves. This street will also lead you to the 16th century Convent of San Bernardino de Siena which is not only a church but also a fortress, it is a second largest Franciscan church in Yucatan after the Convent of Izamal.

In front of the Convent there is the city name written in beautiful big letters. This one is in our opinion the prettiest of all we have seen, because they have beautiful paintings on each letter. Don’t forget to take a picture while you are there!

To get to Valladolid we took the bus from Izamal, again we travelled by Oriente and for 1.5 h of the route we paid only $3.50. The price could also be influenced by the fact that we used the card Ahorro Bus which entitles to a small discount, but it works only on buses of Oriente.

The best place to eat in Valladolid is the Bazar Municial where Sara finally had the opportunity to try the long sought Tortas. This place is very popular not only with locals but also with tourists who are looking for good, cheap, local food.

During our Yucatan visit we’ve stayed in the following accommodations and can recommend them.

• Merida
• Izamal
• Valladolid

The best time to visit Mexico is during the dry season between December and April. The coolest months are between December and February, but the temperature can still reach averages of 28 degrees.

The prices are per person, except for the taxi and the accommodation, which we rent for 2 people.

Accommodation: $25 – $29 / night

Restaurant: $5 – $16 / meal

Snack: $1 – $4 / meal

Pleasure: $5 – $10 / event

Bus: $1.50 – $23.50 / ride

Taxi: $1 – $3 / ride