🗺️ Complete Guide to Yucatán: What to See, What to Do, and How to Travel Consciously 🌿
Yucatán is much more than Chichén Itzá. It's a state full of colonial cities, sacred cenotes, nature reserves, vibrant Mayan communities, and some of the most authentic cuisine in Mexico. This guide will help you explore it with depth, respect, and a sustainable vision.
🌆 1. Mérida: The White Capital
What to do:
Paseo Montejo: inspired by the Champs-Élysées, ideal for a sunset stroll.
Historic Center: San Ildefonso Cathedral, Plaza Grande, Casa de Montejo.
Museum of the Mayan World: modern architecture with one of the most important collections in the country.
Lucas de Gálvez Market: authentic flavors, textiles, and colors of the city.
Bonus:
Every Sunday there's "Mérida en Domingo": street closures, music, dance, and traditional food.
Many cafes have good Wi-Fi and quiet tables for digital nomads (Pola, Voltacafé, Bengala, Latte Quattro Sette).
🌄 2. Puuc Route and off-the-radar archaeological sites
🗿 Uxmal
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Puuc architecture: elegance, symmetry, and carved details.
Much less touristy than Chichén, but just as impressive.
Climb the Pyramid of the Magician and explore the Quadrangle of the Nuns.
Other archaeological gems:
Kabah: monumental arches and friezes dedicated to the god Chaac.
Sayil, Xlapak, and Labná: connected by the so-called Puuc Route, ideal for a day trip by car or tour.
Dzibilchaltún: just 20 minutes from Mérida, with a cenote in the middle of the site and a temple aligned with the equinox.
🌀 3. Cenotes to Explore (Beyond the Touristy Zone)
Easily accessible from Mérida:
Cenote Xlacah (in Dzibilchaltún): perfect for swimming after visiting the ruins.
Cenotes of Cuzamá: Accessed by horse-drawn trucks. Three cavernous cenotes: Chelentún, Chacsinicché, and Bolonchoojol.
Cenote San Antonio Mulix: In the middle of the jungle, excellent for bike trips from the route to Uxmal.
Further afield:
Cenote Suytun (near Valladolid): famous for its zenithal light. Recommended to go early to avoid the crowds.
Cenote Ik Kil (near Chichén Itzá): Impressive but touristy. Ideal as a strategic stop if you arrive early.
🏛️ 4. Valladolid and Eastern Yucatan
Valladolid – Pueblo Mágico:
Vibrant and well-preserved colonial architecture.
San Bernardino de Siena Convent and the nighttime light show (free).
Calle de los Frailes: Sustainable shops, cafes, and bohemian hostels.
Nearby cenotes: Zací (downtown), X'Keken and Samulá (in Dzitnup), Suytun.
From here:
Chichén Itzá: One of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Arrive early to avoid the heat and crowds. Bring cash (payments are double: federal and state).
Ek Balam: Lesser-known, but you can climb the structures. It has a more natural feel, surrounded by jungle and with a nearby cenote.
🌿 5. Nature and experiences with a positive impact
Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve:
Pink flamingo watching (best between November and March).
Boat rides, petrified mangroves, and freshwater springs.
Suitable for responsible tourism if you choose a local cooperative.
Ría Lagartos Reserve:
More remote than Celestún, ideal if you're looking for adventure.
Las Coloradas: pink lagoons due to a high concentration of salt and microorganisms. Swimming is not permitted.
You can explore the area by bike or on eco-tours.
Loltún Caves:
Spectacular underground formations with human footprints dating back thousands of years.
Visits are carried out with a certified local guide (recommended for safety and context).
🧵 6. Mayan Communities and Cultural Tourism
Tihosuco and the Caste War Route: a rarely told Indigenous story.
Yaxunah: A Mayan community that manages tourism to Chichén Itzá through an alternative entrance, avoiding the crowds.
Embroidery workshops, traditional medicine, and wood-fired cooking.
Communal temazcales, family-run lodgings, and experience exchanges.
🍽️ 7. Yucatecan Cuisine You Have to Try
Cochinita pibil: pork marinated in achiote, cooked underground.
Panuchos and salbutes: fried tortillas with beans, meat, and vegetables.
Lime soup: light and flavorful.
Papadzules: tortillas with hard-boiled eggs and pumpkin seed sauce.
Stuffed cheese, relleno negro, and Valladolid sausage.
Traditional drinks: chaya water with pineapple, xtabentún (anise liqueur and fermented honey).
🌱 Many restaurants offer vegetarian/vegan options. Check out local cooperatives or projects like Lo Que Hay Café, Ki' Bok, or Apoala.
🚲 8. Sustainable accessories and practical tips
Bring:
Reusable bottle with filter (ideal in rural areas)
Biodegradable shampoo/solid soap and sunscreen
Cloth bag and reusable cutlery
Lightweight, quick-drying clothing
Microfiber towel and natural repellent (many cenotes are in the jungle)
Physical or downloaded guidebook (in communities, signal is weak)
🚐 9. Getting around
ADO buses: connect Mérida, Valladolid, Tizimín, and major towns.
Vans and colectivos: practical