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30 Photos That Will Inspire You To Visit Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula
Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is a magical place for its culture, food, and unlimited natural wonders. Here are 30 photos to inspire your visit!
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If you’re a nature-loving, curious traveler, there is no shortage of things to entertain you on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula! From the Yucatan’s beautiful and relaxing coastline, to its lush jungles and ancient ruins, to the “white city” and the “yellow city” and everywhere in between – you can find a variety of activities to suit every traveler on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
Here are 30 photos to inspire your visit to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula!
Table of Contents
Mayan Ruins
There are around 200 ancient Mayan sites located in Mexico. One of the most famous and popular Mayan sites on the Yucatán Peninsula is Chichen Itza, but there are many other beautiful and interesting sites — each with its own charm — that you can explore.
We’ve really enjoyed exploring ancient civilizations. From the ruins in Belize and Peru all the way to Italy, Albania, and Morocco.
Have you visited any ancient civilizations? If so, what has been your favorite?
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Valladolid
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, Valladolid is refered to as the “Pearl of the Mayan Orient.” Its colorful streets, historic churches, and delicious food (try the sopa de lima and the Valladolid sausage) make Valladolid a must-see stop on the Yucatan Peninsula.
After an afternoon of exploring Valladolid take a stop by a cenote! Cenotes are crystal clear natural watering holes that are scattered all over the Yucatán Peninsula (there are so many that an aerial view of the peninsula looks like swiss cheese!). There are 10 cenotes in Valladolid alone.
Of all the towns we visited while traveling throughout the Yucatán Peninsula, Valladolid was my favorite. There’s a real vibe to the city and the colorful streets just sucked me in!
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Mérida
Mérida is such an incredible city! If you want to get away from the beaches, I highly recommend a stop in the Yucatán’s “White City.”
Recommended Guided Tours
It’s so incredible, in fact, that it’s been named an American Capital of Culture two years!
As with a lot of cities in Mexico, Mérida’s culture is a blend of traditions from the ancient Maya and the Spanish conquistadors who arrived in the area in the 16th century.
Mérida is also known for its gastronomy! Some of the best food that we ate while in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was here in Mérida. I highly recommend dining at Manjar Blanco (featured on Netflix’s “The Taco Chronicles”) and La Chaya Maya.
Try the popular drink Agua de Chaya con Lima and get an order of tacos de cochinita pibil, salbutes, papadzules, queso relleno, and sopa de lima.
If you want to try your hand at cooking the local cuisine, there are several chefs and talented home cooks who offer classes in the Mérida.
Check out these gorgeous boutique hotels and homes in Mérida !
- Luxury Colonial Villa in Historic Center ($130/night)
- Casa Jirafa, Lovely Loft in Santa Lucia (peep that amazing tile work!!) ($111/night)
- Modern luxury villa at the Casa de las Palomas Boutique Hotel ($115)
- Beautiful grounds at the Hacienda Xcanatun ($181/night)
- Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel ($198/night)
Izamal
Izamal “The Yellow City” is easily one of the most Instagrammable travel destinations you’ll find.
From the city painted almost entirely in yellow, to the cute horses in hats that trot around the city center, you’ll find plenty of photo spots in Izamal.
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It’s safe to say that Izamal is relatively undiscovered at this point. We saw very few other travelers while we were visiting for the afternoon. It definitely gives off a small town vibe; there is very little traffic so it almost feels as if you have the town to yourself!
Since we only spent the afternoon in Izamal, check out this post from AwayWeGo for more information on hotels and restaurants in the area!
Cenotes
Mexico is home to many cenotes, but maybe the best ones are found on the Yucatan Peninsula — there are over 6,000 in this region alone!
Over centuries, cenotes were formed as rain broke down the limestone which caused the ground to cave inwards. This created a hole which, over time, fills with water.
Some cenotes get their water from rain while some others fill up with water from underground rivers.
Cenotes come in all shapes and sizes — and not all of them have crystal clear water.
And if you’re planning to stay near Cancún, you’ll find that many of the cenotes are located in that area.
If you’re interested in suba diving the cenotes, you’ll find that there are many dive shops located near Cancún that will take you on a tour inside the areas top cenotes.
About Sarah
Sarah hails from the land of fried chicken, sweet tea, buttered biscuits, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet…Alabama! She loves exploring undertouristed locations and sharing them with you.
Outfit Ideas
Keep cool and stay stylish when you visit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula with this outfit ideas.
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Resources to Help Your Travels
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- Tours by Locals and GetYourGuide.com – For finding high-quality tours around the world.
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