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Valladolid, a charming colonial town in the Yucatán Peninsula, is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the region. Located approximately 97 miles (156 kilometers) west of Cancun, and 102 miles (164 kilometers) east of Merida, it offers a perfect blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Notably, it's also close to the iconic ruins of Chichen Itza, making it a popular stop for travelers visiting the famous site. Here’s your guide on how to get to Valladolid from both Cancun and Merida, along with some tips for an enjoyable journey. From Cancun to Valladolid Private Transport For a truly comfortable and stress-free journey, why not opt for a direct private transfer from Cancun to Valladolid? This option allows you to travel at your own pace, making it perfect for groups or families. With 24/7 service available from any location in Cancun, including Cancun International Airport, a private van can accommodate up to 10 people. While the cost may be slightly higher at $350 per van transfer, it offers a convenient and direct route to your destination. You can book your private transfer here. By Car If you prefer to drive, renting a car is a great option. The journey takes approximately 2 hours. There are two routes: a toll road and a free road. If you're in a hurry, the toll road is the way to go, while those with more time may prefer the scenic free road for a more immersive experience. Toll Road : This well-maintained road is the fastest option when driving to Valladolid, this is the route that the ADO bus, and private transport services will take. Although there’s a toll to use the road, the efficiency and comfort it offers are often worth the price. Free Road : This scenic route takes nearly an hour longer but is perfect for those wanting to explore. You can stop at various cenotes along the route, making it a great choice for adventurers, it passes through local towns with many stalls along the route selling local food, produce, and souvenirs (often for a better price than you can find in Valladolid, Cancun, and other towns and cities more popularly visited.) By Bus The ADO bus service operates regularly from Cancun's bus station to Valladolid, taking about 2 hours. The comfortable buses are air-conditioned, ensuring a stress-free experience, this is the most 'budget-friendly' option when traveling from Cancun to Valladolid with tickets costing approximately 190 MXN - 250 MXN pesos ($10 - $13 USD) per person. They have coaches, as well as smaller shuttle buses available. The bus station in Valladolid is just two blocks from the main square. By Train The Tren Maya®, "Mayan Train” offers a modern and scenic way to travel from Cancun to Valladolid, taking approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The service not only offers a contemporary, and comfortable journey but also provides panoramic views of the lush Yucatan landscape, enhancing the travel experience. Prices range from 472 MXN - 756 MXN (depending on the seat type that you choose) per person for international tourists, this is approximately $24 - $49 USD per person. Taking the train to Valladolid, you will arrive at the train station just outside the city, from here you can take a taxi to your destination. From Merida to Valladolid By Car The drive from Merida to Valladolid is approximately 2 hours. Like the Cancun route, you can choose between using the toll road or driving the more scenic route on the free road. Toll Road: The toll road between Valladolid and Merida is a quick and efficient option, taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes to drive. Free Road: The free road provides an opportunity to explore beautiful cenotes and experience local scenery along the route, it takes a little longer than the toll road, at approximately 2 hours 20 minutes. By Bus The ADO bus service runs frequently from Merida's historic center to Valladolid, with a travel time of approximately 1 hours and 15 minutes. The buses are comfortable and feature air conditioning, ensuring a relaxing journey. Both coaches and smaller shuttle buses are available. This is the most 'budget-friendly' option when traveling from Merida to Valladolid with tickets costing approximately 168 MXN - 336 MXN pesos ($8 - $17 USD) per person. They have coaches, as well as smaller shuttle buses available. By Tren Maya Traveling from Merida to Valladolid on the Tren Maya®, "Mayan Train" is a fantastic choice. Departing from Teya Station, just outside the city, the journey takes 1 hour 50 minutes with two departures daily. The train provides a comfortable and scenic ride, making it a delightful way to see the region. Prices range from 506 MXN - 809 MXN (depending on the seat type that you choose) per person for international tourists, this is approximately $25 - $41 USD per person. If you're coming from Cancun or Merida, getting to Valladolid is easy, with different options, and routes. Whether you choose the efficiency of a private transfer, the convenience of the ADO bus, or the scenic Tren Maya®, "Mayan Train", your journey to Valladolid will be as memorable as the destination itself. You can choose the option that best suites your budget and timing. Make sure to explore Valladolid’s rich cultural offerings once you arrive, and consider stopping at cenotes along the way for an unforgettable journey!

Valladolid is a city rich in culture and with an abundance of dining and eating opportunities. With a selection of delectable foods and dishes from the town, and the local Yucatan region on offer, we have 10 of the best and most famous delicacies and plates available, and where you can find them here… Valladolid is a city in Mexico’s eastern state, the Yucatan, a region with a wealth of culture and history. The area and city draw many Mayan traditions from the pre-Hispanic era into their modern culture, and cuisine. Some of the delectable dishes available use traditional cooking techniques and utilize ingredients that are often locally grown, and sourced in the area. Citrus fruits, maize, pork, chaya, and achiote, as well as other ingredients, are often used in much of the cuisine in the Yucatan, and Valladolid. 1. Longaniza de Valladolid One of the most popular delicacies to try upon a visit to Valladolid is the Longaniza, this long and thin, smoked, pork sausage is one of the most favored dishes in Yucatecan cuisine. Typically prepared with achiote (giving it a bright red color inside), garlic, onion, pepper, and cloves. This pork sausage has been prepared since the nineteenth century, originally made with venison, it has an aromatic and unique flavor of spices and chili. Longaniza de Valladolid is often served with breakfast in scrambled eggs (huevos con longaniza), crumbled in tacos, or as a whole sausage, with a side of refried beans, and a salad garnish. At Restaurant Zaci they have a lot of regional foods on offer, and sometimes have someone traditionally preparing tortillas by hand for you to watch. Why not try the longaniza here, with a side of guacamole, and some tortilla chips? Enjoy the atmosphere, and views of the gorgeous freshwater cenote. 2. Lomitos de Valladolid Another original recipe from, and famous in the city of Valladolid is Lomitos de Valladolid. This is a dish that delivers a lot of flavor, it's a popular and traditional plate and easy to find in the city. Lomitos de Valladolid Is prepared using pork loin (usually cut into small cubes), with crushed tomatoes, chilies, and garlic, it is typically garnished with a chopped boiled egg and served with a side of refried black beans. It can also be served in tortillas, as tacos. You can find Lomitos de Valladolid at several restaurants in the city, we recommend a visit to Yum Ka'ax El Buen Sabor, with lots of regional food options available on their menu, you can try this dish here, it's yummy, and you can get it for a great price. Order a selection of different things to try here during your visit. 3. Cochinita Pibil Cochinita Pibil pronounced ‘kow-chee-nee-tah’ (cochinita - meaning baby pig, and pibil - meaning buried), is one of the Yucatan’s most famous dishes, typically served in the region at the weekends. This slow-roasted pork dish is like pulled pork, but even tastier! Originating in the Yucatan, this Mayan-influenced recipe is prepared originally with a baby pig, marinated in achiote paste and sour orange juice before being wrapped in banana leaves, and slowly roasted, traditionally in a pit dug into the ground. Some people still stick to the original methods of preparing this dish, while others will slow roast pork in the marinade in more modern ways today. Cochinita is often served in tacos, a torta, or in other ‘antojitos’, Mexican street food style snacks, such as empanadas, panuchos, and salbutes. Add pickled, purple onions, and a big splash of habanero sauce for an extra kick. Why not head to the food market, opposite the main square for a breakfast with cochinita at one of the food stands? Or check out the famous food cart El Tigrillo, always found with a long line for their flavorsome cochinita. 4. Papadzules Papadzules, the Yucatan region’s answer to enchiladas, is a traditional breakfast dish that is said to be of ancient origins. Papadzules, pronounced ‘papa-tsu-les’, are made by dipping corn tortillas in the dish’s green sauce, then filling them with hard-boiled eggs, and rolling them, before being covered in the green sauce made from pumpkin seeds, and epazote (‘Mexican tea’ - A herb native to Mexico). They are then topped with a sauce made of tomatoes and chili. We recommend the papadzules at the restaurant El Sazon de Valladolid, located four blocks from the city’s main square. 5. Chaya Chaya, or Mexican spinach as it is also referred to, is a leafy green vegetable, often used in regional cuisine in the Yucatan and Valladolid. You can find agua de chaya, empanadas de chaya, scrambled eggs with chaya, and so much more. We recommend you try the Crema de Chaya at the restaurant Las Campanas opposite Valladolid's main square and the cathedral. This soup is a great, healthy appetizer, and a yummy way to try Chaya. 6. Marquesitas In Valladolid’s main square, you will find the park, Parque Francisco Canton, which comes alive with locals relaxing in the late afternoon, and into the evening, you will also find some street food vendors … and the MUST try delicious, crunchy crepe-like marquesitas. Marquesitas pronounced ‘mar-kay-see-tas’ are a street food snack from the region that are prepared at a small cart on a unique waffle/crepe-like iron. These sweet and savory snacks and prepared with a batter that is poured onto the iron, and pressed together, while being turned over a flame. Fillings typically available to choose from include Edam cheese, condensed milk, Nutella, caramel, and bananas, once the filling is added on top, the marquesita is rolled up into an easy-to-easy, handheld snack, for you to enjoy on one of the park’s famous ‘Love Seats’. Go for a mixture of sweet and savory, with Nutella and Edam cheese in your marquesita, this blend is a favorite for locals. 7. Sopa de Lima Chicken soup with a citrus kick, Sopa de Lima, or lime soup in English, is a very popular dish from the region. This fragrant, lime-flavored soup is created with local limes (those specifically grown in the Yucatan region) and is usually made with shredded chicken (sometimes turkey), onions, spices, chiles, and cilantro and tortilla chips on the side. This combination of ingredients in this dish, and the local limes that are used in it, make it a popular soup for many, and it can be found at restaurants, and the food stands in the market. Try the sopa de lima at the restaurant El Atrio del Mayab, a traditional Mayan restaurant in the heart of the city, with a cute courtyard area to relax and enjoy their regional cuisine. 8. Panuchos Panuchos are a type of antojito (Mexican street food style snacks) from the Yucatan region and popular in Valladolid. Panuchos, pronounced ‘pan-ew-ch-ows’, are the Yucatan’s tacos. These refried tortillas are stuffed with refried, black beans, and topped with meat (cochinita and chicken are popular), as well as tomatoes, pickled red onions, and sliced avocado. You can find panuchos at many of Valladolid’s loncherias, and restaurants. We recommend heading to La Selva, the perfect location to try some regional antojitos. This local restaurant is delicious and budget-friendly. 9. Salbutes Salbutes, similar to panuchos, are a taco-like antojito from the Yucatan region. Salbutes, pronounced ‘sal-boot-ey’, are made with a deep-fried tortilla that is also typically topped with meat (cochinita and chicken are popular), cabbage, pickled red onions, sliced avocado, and tomato. The main difference is that there are no refried beans with salbutes. When you are at La Selva trying a panucho or two, why not order some salbutes here too? … For a filling, and economical meal. 10. Poc Chuc Are you looking for a mouthwatering BBQ/grilled taste while visiting Valladolid? Poc Chuc (poc - meaning to toast, and chuc - meaning charcoal), is a traditional recipe, with a Mayan name that refers to the way that the meat (typically pork) is cooked over fire. This dish is typically prepared by marinating a filet of pork in a mixture of sour orange juice, and achiote paste, before being cooked over a grill. The pork is served with onions, rice, tortillas, and beans. In front of the main square in Valladolid, you will find El Meson del Marques, a restored colonial mansion that now acts as a hotel, and restaurant with a beautiful courtyard to dine in. Go here for their Poc Chuc, it is raved about by many.

The popular colonial and picturesque city of Valladolid is rich in history and full of culture and traditions. This Pueblo Magico “Magic Town”, in Mexico’s state of Yucatan, was once the location of rebellions and several battles between the native residents, and the Spanish conquerors. Find out more about Valladolid’s history, and why so many people enjoy visiting this beautiful town today … Valladolid, Mexico has a rich and fascinating history that dates back centuries. This city, which was founded in the 16th century by Spanish conquistadors, is located in the state of Yucatan, it is one of Mexico’s Pueblo Magicos, or magic towns, due to its colonial architecture, colorful buildings, and the culture and history of the city. Valladolid is surrounded by cenotes, with the prehispanic archaeological sites of Chichen Itza, and Ek Balam located close by. During the night there is a 25-minute light and sound show that is shown on the side of the Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, in the neighborhood of Sisal. The English show starts at 9:25 PM, and goes through some of the history and story of Valladolid, but why not learn a little before your visit? Prehispanic Valladolid Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century, the Yucatan Peninsula in the southeastern region of Mexico was occupied by some of Mexico’s indigenous cultures, including the Mayans. The Mayans built grand cities and towns, the ruins of which still stand today, including Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Coba, Tulum, and others. The Mayan village that the city was built atop was called Zaci, meaning “white hawk” in Maya, this was a site on a crossroads that connected Mayan cities such as Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Coba. Conquered In the 16th Century when the Spanish landed in Mexico and conquered its indigenous groups, the colonisation of Mexico steadily began. They landed in the Yucatan Peninsula in 1517, but did not attempt to conquer until 1527 when they failed, facing pushback from the indigenous groups, they tried several more times and eventually founded several towns in the Yucatan Peninsula, including Valladolid in 1543. The name of the conquistador was Francisco de Montejo. Valladolid was named after the capital city of Spain at the time. Valladolid was the second city built by the colonizers, after Merida (the capital of the state of Yucatan). During the construction of the city, the Spanish ended up using some of the stones of the temples and buildings in the town in their own buildings, to this day some of the corners of the colonial buildings that stand in Valladolid have rocks from the previous Mayan buildings. The conquistadors faced much resistance from the Mayans, so they set to work congregating the scattered native population and setting about evangelizing them, and teaching them the Catholic religion. This is where the Franciscan friars come in, they set about constructing the Convent of San Bernadino de Siena in Valladolid, a building that can still be visited today in the historic city, and one of the oldest buildings in the city, it is here at night that you can watch a light and sound show at 9:25 PM, and learn about the history of Valladolid. The construction of the convent was completed in 1560 and it became a refuge during some of the battles that Valladolid witnessed. War and Rebellion Valladolid played an important role during the region’s Caste War which began in 1847 when the native Mayans in the region rioted and revolted against the Spanish settlers. The Mayans won during the initial riot, but the Spanish took back the city, and the conflict lasted for over half a century. As well as the Caste War, Valladolid is also the setting of another of Mexico’s most significant events as it is thought that the” first spark of the Mexican Revolution” was ignited here in 1910. The coup was initiated by the independent electoral center against the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz at the time. The rebels consisted of laborers from local haciendas, they took the city and removed railroad tracks connecting to Meridam they fought in a bloody battle which sparked the revolution and a new era. Due to its centricity in these disputes, Valladolid has several nicknames including “Heroic Zaci”, “La Sultana de Oriente” (The Sultana of the East), and the “Pearl of the Orient”. 21st Century Valladolid Nowadays you can visit Valladolid and learn about some of the history of this city, which has been growing in popularity over the years, take a trip to the nearby local ruins of Ek Balam and Chichen Itza, and watch the historic light and sound show. Enter the Convent of San Bernadino, and walk down the Calzada de los Frailes - the colorful street that leads from the city center to the neighborhood of Sisal (where the covent is). There are also free walking tours in the city which can teach you a little more about certain areas, and the history of specific buildings. Take a trip to Mexico’s ‘Pearl of the Orient’, this magic town, and experience the culture and traditions for yourself.