Second stop of our day tour…read more Hubbers and fam-in-law mentioned maybe going to a cenote during our Merida visit. I felt like it was a daily discussion. Me? Had NO idea what a cenote is, so like a normal person, I googled it. And once I found out what it was, I agreed that we have to check one out. When Hubbers booked the day tour, he made sure a cenote was one of the stops. He's never been to one either, so it'll be a first run for both of us! We paid ahead of time and given our bracelets while we were still on our way, so we didn't waste any time lining up to buy tickets. (We were allotted only an hour for this stop, so that was a plus.) We got our assigned lockers, changed into swim wear and locked up our belongings. There are strict instructions once we got there: you must rinse off thoroughly (loved those rinsing stations, the water pressure was heavy and strong!) then you have to claim your vest, and other than water shoes, no footwear is allowed at the cenote. (They have a store selling them for around $20US.) We made our way to the main attraction and what a sight a cenote is! It's a bit of a trek going down to the water and for a few minutes, I regret not paying for the shoes, but once we got to the bottom, I'd quickly forgotten about the inconvenience. It's an absolute wonder this whole place is. It was almost overwhelming, but in a good way. Water was cool, but we welcomed it most especially after being in the heat the whole day. There's a line to do that high jump, but it went by fast. Jumping off is the best way to get in (for me, at least) and I gotta say that was exhilarating! And fun! We made sure to put our timers on since we were on a time crunch, but we enjoyed every second we were in the water. We could have spent the whole day just being one with nature. It really is like nothing else. TIPS: 1) Bring water shoes. Walking barefoot to the stairs and then going up and down them was a bit of a challenge. Some parts were slippery. So those shoes will be very handy. We had to climb and descend those stairs very slowly while holding on to the rail for safety. 2) If you're on a time constraint (like we were), having your swim gear on before getting there will save you a ton of time. The bathroom and changing stations can get busy and there could be a wait. You would rather spend that time in the cenote. I learned there are thousands of cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula. This first run was amazing. I wouldn't mind coming back to this particular one but will most likely check out others first before coming back. One more tip: not all cenotes allow swimming, so plan accordingly. We loved it. Highly HIGHLY recommending.

Beautiful Cenote and location. Tickets can be bought for general admission or general admission and…read morebuffet. If you don't select the buffet, their Jade restaurant is delicious. If you drive, there will be stops where people will attempt to sell you tickets. Just know tickets can be bought directly on sight or online, no need to stop along the road. You can only wear water shoes into the Cenote, no sandals. If you don't bring water shoes you will walk barefoot. You will only be allowed to bring your cellphone into the Cenote. I recommend a water proof cell phone case.

I didn't realize Chichen Itza was one of the new seven wonders of the world! I don't remember it…read morebeing on the list, but I also didn't know the list can change based on popularity poll...SMH. I believe Chichen Itza is a one of the new seven wonders of the world because it's among the best-preserved and largest archaeological sites in the world. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I'm still glad I got the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza. So much history! The culture of the Mayans; their way of life, the ingenuity and the science are fascinating and amazing. Be prepared to experience some tropical heat. I recommend going as early as you can to avoid crowds and the heat. It gets hot under the glaring Sun. There is no shade around the main Pyramid. A good guide or a tour company also is very helpful. I found the history provided by our tour company to be very inspiring, insightful and interesting, yet sad at the same time. "As one of the most important city-states in pre-Hispanic America, Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico today. Chichen Itza, one of the New 7 Wonders of The World according to UNESCO, since July 7th, 2007" - https://www.chichenitza.com/ Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza "This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centres of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico make Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. Several buildings have survived, such as the Warriors' Temple, El Castillo and the circular observatory known as El Caracol." - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/483/ I had no expectations when I came here, since I hardly knew anything about Chichen Itza. I didn't expect to thoroughly enjoy and love this trip as much as I did. I highly recommend visiting Chichen-Itza if you get the opportunity.

What a pleasure to get to see one of the world's 7 wonders. Using Google Maps can be misleading…read morebecause parking and payments are on the other side of the highway and signage is not clear at all but with some patience and asking locals, you'll eventually find it. Once you finally sort it out though, it's absolutely worth the trouble. Highly recommend!

We chose this one over the one nearby near Cancun because if it's overstimulation of tourist…read more Very pleasant afternoon no staff or volunteers were overbearing we were basically left on our own which was perfect Stunning stone limestone carvings and quite high central pyramid upon a condor was perched as I looked over the whole Yucatán

Love love love this. I loved learning about the history of this place. Be careful climbing up the…read moresteep steps. They didn't look like much until I started getting closer and closer. They are very steep and no railings on either side. Remember, whatever goes up, must come down. Be careful!!! Beautiful area, a lot of history and information given.

It's a can't miss, must-see and a must-explore when in the magical town of Izamal…read more It was the first thing Hubbers and I explored upon arrival of this modest town. How massive this whole place is! I was also impressed at how well maintained the walkways and grass are. Took a minute to truly take in its outer beauty, and we eventually made it inside. I felt a lot of history walking through the main halls and walkways. There was a sense of honor walking the same floors Pope John Paul II had been. The golden wall of the church's sanctuary stood out immediately. Pews and floors were clean. They maintained its simplicity. More exploring and we discovered a museum upstairs for a modest fee (I believe it was $10MX/pp.) I spent a lot of time looking at some historical artifacts and reading through a lot of its history. It was quite educational. Don't forget to stop by the gift shop for a souvenir. Price point is very fair. Five centuries this structure has been here. I can only imagine what it has gone through that whole time and yet, here it remains still standing strong. TIP: It's a bit of a climb via stairs on one side or cobblestoned ramp on the other, but nothing to make you out of breath. If anything, the most bothersome was the heat and humidity, but once you see this majestic structure with your own two eyes, you forget about all that. It really is a sight to see. So glad of the stop. Would do it again given the chance.

We took a tour a couple of days ago that brought us to Izamal, where we explored the Convento San…read moreAntonio de Padua. The monastery was founded in 1549 by Franciscan friars, and when the building's construction began a few years later, it was erected on top of a pre-hispanic, Mayan structure (Paphol-Chac). The building was completed in 1561 (later additions were made). The open atrium of the monastery is still today second in size only to the atrium at the Vatican. Most of the stone used to build the monastery came from the ruins of Paphol-Chac. The monastery was painted yellow when the rest of the city was, and it's a stunning building - and great to photograph! They are preserving and restoring some original frescos on the building, which you can see when you walk up to the exterior. You may walk into the church and other areas of the monastery depending on the day and time of your visit. Pope John Paul II visited the monastery in 1993, and there is a statue of him outside the monastery. Definitely worth a visit to explore and photograph if you're in Izamal!

Safe, entertaining and fun!…read more We stopped here for a half an hour as one of the tour stops from an excursion. I was sad we only had 30 minutes! This little park is in the center of the village and is a beautiful landmark. It's jam packed with history and has a lot to offer. A quick walk around inside the fence will take you less than ten minutes but you can enjoy local vendors, snacks, stray pups, music and seating in a safe area. Each corner outside of the square has something to look into. A beautiful and historic church, shopping, a food market, hotels, bars and novelty shops. Safe for tourists, families and all those traveling. Drivers in the area are careful except tourist buses...they are on a mission and won't break for much.

This park/plaza is so beautiful. The center of the plaza is a beautiful church: La Iglesia de las…read moreCandelarias, and surrounding the church are food vendors, restaurants, heladerias, and cafes, as well as hostels. The park is clean, and obviously well-loved by locals and tourists alike. If you want to participate in a piece of Valladolid daily life then just come to the park around dusk and hang out with locals, or stop by the cafe for some chilaquiles and American-style coffee in the morning and chat with all the travelers and expats.

When we visited Mexico, we knew we wanted to explore some Mayan ruins. Since we were staying in…read moreTulum, we visited some bigger ruins (like Coba), but not far from Tulum are the Muyil Ruins. The ruins are about 2 hours south of Cancun, and for us it was a 20 minute drive from Tulum. This is not like any of the bigger ruins that are overflowing with tourists and busses - we didn't see anyone else there for the couple hours that we spent exploring! We drove our rental car there, and the ruins are easy to find, clearly marked along the highway, and also easy to find using Google Maps. We parked near the entrance, and it seems like there is ample parking. There is a counter where you can pay for your admission to the ruins. One of the things I wish they handed out at Mayan Ruins are maps, but the ruins are small enough to explore on your own. The paths around the ruins are well-maintained, and there is signage around the property. I loved the ambiance of Muyil, as we walked around the jungle. The Muyil ruins date back to 300 BC, and it is very interesting to visit. It isn't a far walk to the first set of buildings, only a minute or so from the entrance of the park. The most impressive structure at Muyil is El Castillo. This is not as large as structures at places like Coba or Chichen Itza, but still very interesting. What a difference from the other crowded ruins we have been to. Although you can't climb on any of the bigger structures, it is nice to really absorb the visit without the crowds. The grounds are not very big, so you can cover the area in a short amount of time. However, we had a nice time walking around. It gave us some time to stretch our legs and get some fresh air, enjoy the jungle and ruins. For the kids, they weren't overly interested, but it was just the right length of time for exploring. You won't find bikes or bike taxis here, as it is not so commercialized or large as other ruins. It was very peaceful morning at Muyil. By the time we headed out, there was only one other group there, of a couple tourists that had driven their own car. Much different than other ruins like Coba or Chichen-Itza, where busloads of tourists are brought in. I recommend taking in the solitude, flora and fauna. We meandered around Muyil for a couple hours, even taking the path to the entrance to the lagoon, although the gate was closed. I would love to go back sometime and add a trip to the Sian Ka'an nature reserve. We simply didn't have time to add a Sian Ka'an tour this time. Tips for your visit: ~ Bring bug spray. The ruins are truly in the jungle and there were lots of mosquitoes! ~ I don't think you need sunscreen, as most of the walkways are through the jungle. ~ There are bathrooms by the entrance. ~ We did not see a gift shop or any items to purchase, although there were some shops across the highway, with foods and local crafts. They looked interesting but we didn't have time to stop.

You want off the beaten path? Want to get away from the tourists? Want to experience some amazing…read morethings? Read on. Thiey have Mayan ruins here. They have bats hanging from ceilings in caves and the bats are a few feet away from you. They have moderately poisonous snakes eating live birds a couple feet from you are walking. This is the real jungle and it's all around you. And best of all, and for a hefty fee (CASH ONLY, by the way, so take a lot), you can take a wild speedboat ride to a natural lazy river where you climb into the water and float along, unguided by anything but the natural current, for about thirty minutes, in lovely, briny water, among the mangroves, small fishes, and birds swooping in and out of the marsh around you. It's a surreal, wonderful experience. No rubber inner tubes, no lifeguards, no guides. Just you and the river and the fish and the birds. Very, very few tourists here. I hesitate to even review this place because I want it to remain real forever. Hopefully, only the adventurers will come here.

Well kept and very nice sculpture. It's hard to cross over but I enjoyed it from afar.read more

Really nice monument it is an easy walk down to the main avenue which is also worth doing. The…read moremonument is part of a roundabout and is very large and easy to see. I need to go back and take some pictures as I circled the monument in an Uber, but it is way too nice to not spend more time there.

Cobá... this is the Mayan ruins that stands above and beyond all others I have visited including…read moreChichén Itzá and Tulum; simple put, it's special. Within the ground/park, we had a guide for the beginning where we viewed various parts of the ruins including multiple pyramids and some ecological interests and some very interesting games that were played by the Mayans called Pok-ta-Pok; if what was described is true, then the games are interesting but also very disturbing as they sometimes sacrifice the captain of the loosing team (sacrifices are typically by beheading). To get to the highlight of the ruins, it is quite a hike but you can use the numerous tricycle taxis. Our first time back in 2016 we took advantage of the taxi and had a 15 year old kid named Wilbur bring us to Nohoch Mul Pyramid. The more recent visit, we took the longer walk/hike. This pyramid is the largest of the mayan ruins and up until 2021 you could climb to the top; or I should say, you can "TRY" to climb to the top. The pyramid appears to look like a stairway but let me tell you, it is NOT and it is challenging. Instead of a handrail, you have a thick, heavy rope clipped to the stairs, so you are hunched over like an ape to use it. Typical stairway in a home are 7 / 11 (each step is 7 inches high and 11 inches deep); the pyramid is not like this... all are much higher and some are considerably higher than others and they are not uniform so it's hard to get any kind of rhythm. About half way up, you must look into the distance and you'll be pleasantly surprised with a view of the top of the forest canopy. I never continued higher but at the top there is a level, open area to walk (or in some cases, a place to gain your composure and catch your breath as going down is definitely not easier). Coba is an amazing experience by stepping into the same footsteps as this ancient civilization.

Climb the pyramid! This ancient Mayan archaeological site…read moreis a wonder! They don't let tourists climb the pyramid in Chtizinitza anymore (Thanks, Justin Bieber!) But you can climb this one! Plus, this one is taller! Arriving here, the parking is quite a ways from the ruins. But for a small charge, you can either rent a bike (it's flat) or pay some guy in a Mayan Limousine (rickshaw) to peddle you out there. We opted for the latter. The guy stopped along the way and pointed out fun facts and things that we'd have otherwise completely missed. Climbing the pyramid was wonderful! The stairs were all kinda helped along by the local authorities with handrails and wooden beams to help make things level and stable. There's some really cool rock carvings of their gods, and be sure to check out the ball court! Still, in the floor are the carvings of the skull and the jaguar! Whoa. These are some of the best preserved ruins I'd seen! Loved it! Watch out for snakes. There was a little tourist shop where you can get magnets, postcards and fun stuff to take home. It was low pressure shopping.

Beautiful Building! Check Out the Murals and Views from the Second Floor!…read more The Palacio Municipal is a beautiful colonial building situated on the east side of Valladolid's central square. It houses the city's government offices. I recommend climbing the stairs to the second floor (it is free), where you will find some lovely murals painted by a local artist along with a row of windows overlooking the central square, providing great panoramic views! I really enjoyed my time here.

Laguna Kaan Luum is a great spot to check out while visiting Tulum. It's a lake with typically…read moreturquoise waters. It has a cenote in the middle, but only scubadivers are allowed to go. This is my second visit here and although it was still beautiful, the water wasn't as turquoise and breathtaking as I remember it being the first time I visited. After conducting some research, I do believe that has to do with the time of year of the visits. Regardless, it's still very enjoyable and worth checking out. It's basically a very calm lake. The atmosphere is calm, relaxed, and completely care free no worries vibe. It's the spot to definitely unplug and take in natures pure beauty right in front of your eyes. In the water are hammocks for swinging. An area for overlook. A few huge docks. There's also a few swings in the water. A bar area to purchase beverages and food items. Note, it does cost to get in. I believe it was $18.00 US dollars. You are not allowed to bring in sunscreen, you leave it at the door, and can take it on your way out. You're required to take a shower upon entering. Staff were friendly and explained everything well even with the bit of language barrier. My friend and I enjoyed our time for about two hours and if I come back in February/March 2026, I'd definitely come back for another visit.

This Laguna is a great spot to go swimming! We came after a long and hot walk through the nearby…read moreTulum ruins, so it felt especially refreshing. The Laguna is only a few minutes of walking away from the parking lot. There is a nice observation tower to look at the shift between shallow and deep water. Regular swimmers are limited to the shallow area on the outskirts of the Laguna (which is very expansive) while divers with equipment are allowed to go to the deep center. In the shallow areas are various swings, hammocks, photo opportunities, and even volleyball nets (bring your own ball). We spent a few hours relaxing in the water and soaking up the sun. The ticket is 300 pesos per person and parking is free (need a small tip).