The main reason I traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico was to visit Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. I was pleasantly surprised by the numerous other wonders I came across. Although Chichen Itza is spectacular, there are other sites with Mayan ruins that are worth a visit. There are also over 6,000 cenotes, many of which you can swim, snorkel, or dive within.

To start our first trip to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, my husband and I flew into Cancun. Cancun was the cheapest airport to fly into likely due to the numerous tourists the city attracts to its all-inclusive hotels. Upon arrival at the Cancun airport we rented a car and headed south west to the city of Valladolid, about a 2-hour drive. Before leaving the airport, we made sure to exchange USD for pesos, which was important since many places did not accept card.

Valladolid

As the closest tourist city to Chichen Itza, about a 40-minute drive, it was the perfect spot to stay. Valladolid is a pueblo magico (magical village) of Mexico. Villages in Mexico are awarded this designation for maintaining traditions, architecture, and mythical qualities.

Immediately in the city, as we do on most trips, we joined a free walking tour group. Taking this tour gave us a lay of the land in this very walkable city. There are boutique hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops all within the most colorful colonial style buildings. A few of my favorites were Rooftop Onza Coffee, Casa Ancestra bakery, Rua Cafe, Le’ Kaat vegetarian restaurant.

A unique brewery we visited was Idilio Folklore Cervecero. This brewery is within the home of Ramon Mendoza, a local painter. It features a museum with some of his artworks at the entrance. Another popular museum, at the center of town, is the Convent of San Bernardino de Siena. At night, a light show is held against the building that details the history of the building, with bright visuals and sound.

Chichen Itza

Any first trip to Mexico’s Yucatan must include visiting the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Although you can get tickets in advance for a higher cost, we had no issues getting a ticket at the gate. We arrived right when it opened, at 8 AM. This early arrival time is beneficial to beat the big tourist rush; typically, around 10-11 AM due to group tour buses arriving from Cancun. It was easy to get a guide at the entrance and we joined a group guided tour. I would definitely recommend paying for a guide at this site to get the most out of it. The main pyramid, El Castillo, became even more incredible after hearing about the astronomical architecture. After our tour, we took some time to walk around the extensive grounds on our own, spending about 5 hours total at the ruins.

Semi-Open Cenote: Ik Kil Cenote

To cool down in the afternoon, after visiting Chichen Itza, a popular nearby cenote to visit is Ik Kil. There are three types of cenotes: open, semi-open, and closed. Ik Kil Cenote is a semi-open cenote. It is quite spectacular looking up at the circular opening of the earth, while swimming in the turquoise water. At most cenotes, life vests are included or available for an additional fee. I would recommend wearing a swimsuit and water shoes; and don’t forget a towel.

Coba Ruins

On our first trip to Mexico’s Yucatan we also planned to stay in Tulum. Along the route from Valladolid to Tulum is the city of Coba, which made for a perfect mid-day stop. The Coba Mayan ruins are connected by a long network of roads, called sacbes. There are three options to explore the ruins: walk, bike, ride on a tricycle pedaled by a local. You can also hire a guide at the entrance. The most popular pyramid at the Coba ruins is Nohoch Mul Pyramid. It is the second tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, at 42 meters high. Unfortunately, you can no longer climb it.

Closed Cenote: Choo-Ha Cenote

A pretty close drive from the Coba Ruins are three Cenotes. We opted to visit the Choo-Ha Cenote to experience a closed cenote. This cenote is unassuming from the entrance. However, once you take the winding wooden stairs down, the walls open up into an incredible cave. Swimming in the green hued water with stalactites above was a very unique experience.

Tulum

On any first trip to Mexico’s Yucatan a common stop is to the city of Tulum. Although travelers previously raved about the tranquility and beauty of the area, more recently I heard it lost its spark. I detected the reason for this right away with the commercial businesses present. We stayed downtown, but I would stay at one of the many beach resorts if I went again. I was impressed by the amount of cute vegetarian restaurants downtown. One of my favorites was Co.ConAmor. Another delicious option is Burgerito for burritos, loaded fries, and creative cocktails.

Tulum Ruins

If visiting Tulum on your first trip to Mexico’s Yucatan you need to go to the Tulum Ruins. I was a little disappointed that the entrance did not feel authentic, felling as if I was entering an amusement park. Also, FYI there is currently construction and it is very confusing where to buy tickets. If you are not going with a group tour, make sure to research this ahead of time so you do not get scammed with fake tickets.

Once inside there are many signs to read along the marked paths explaining the Mayan ruins. Some of these ruins sit along the cliffside overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It is a breathtaking site seeing such old ruins against the natural ocean backdrop. It was quite sandy and windy because of this so consider that with your outfit choice. Many people opt to go to the adjacent beach after visiting the ruins.

Open Cenote: Cenote Encantado

A local recommended Cenote Encantado, saying it is the most beautiful cenote in the area of Tulum. The surrounding foliage was very lush and the water was a pretty dark blue. Classified as an open cenote, it felt like a small lake. I had to go for a swim since I was there, but I was a little unnerved after the person who sold us our entrance tickets said there is a crocodile in the water. Thankfully the only wild life we encountered was a large lizard.

The trip ended with a drive up to Cancun, stopping in Playa del Carmen on the way. It was a quick, but satisfying, first trip to Mexico’s Yucatan. There are many more Mayan ruins and cenotes to explore, but with the itinerary I followed I got a good taste of the culture and vibe! If alternatively, you are more interested in the Incas, check out my post on Peru!