In the middle of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is Valladolid, one of the country's Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágicos). Miniature it might be, Valladolid is still the largest tourist town near Chichen Itza, offering a convenient inland base for travelers who don’t want to pay Cancun’s big bucks. And, the lack of coastline here is countered by numerous things to do, from splashing around in cenotes to enjoying crowd-free Maya ruins at Ek Balam and snapping pics of colorful architecture.
As is the case around the Yucatán Peninsula, the best time to visit Valladolid is during the dry season, roughly from mid-November through April. More people visit toward the end of that window, so expect more crowds at top Yucatecan attractions such as Chichen Itza if you visit then. Look out for the Candlemas festival (Día de la Candelaria) in February, which sees processions and folk dances, and the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations in November.
Valladolid is small, and you can manage without a car easily enough if you plan to just visit the main visitor attractions. Shared shuttle vans (known as colectivos) offer an efficient and cheap way to visit Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and some cenotes. If you plan to really roam around the Yucatán Peninsula, renting a car or moped is easy, with options available from Valladolid itself. Taxis and rideshares are also easy to find.
Las Coloradas, home of the Yucatán’s pink salt lakes and flamingos, is within a day-trip distance of Valladolid. There are plenty of organized excursions that cover transport, entry, and a guided tour that gives the lowdown on the salt lakes and the microorganisms that live in them. Note: Swimming, touching the water, and drone flying are all strictly forbidden, and you should visit on a cloud-free day to see the lakes at their rosiest.
