Valladolid! 16th century colonial Spanish city that was a…read moreMayan city before this - this place has been around forever. This town park has such a history behind it. Like a typical town square, it has the church on one side of it, and a fountain in the middle of it. The fountain has a woman pouring water from a vase, with frogs on all sides of her spitting water at her. Weird. When we went, some locals came out in their Sunday best (it was Palm Sunday) and did a little dance in front of the fountain to some recorded music. It looks like the park might close in the evenings or so, they have big ol' iron gates and a fence that circumnavigates the park. They have these unique S shaped benches where two people can sit and face each other and still be a respectable distance away. Surrounding the park are lots of little shops and stores full of souvenirs. We got dumped off here by the tour operator while the bus basically did laps around the square and gave us enough time to stick our heads in the various shops. Don't avoid the Valladolid!

It's a square in the main town of Valladolid. Close to many hotels and pretty much next to the…read moreshopping blocks, it's a good place to relax. We went here as a part of the tour. Many tour buses are parked here. In 15 minutes we didn't get much time but the park is good. There are many benches to sit. The two-person seats are very interesting - very much photo-worthy. We got some locally made chips from a vendor which was good - quality and quantity - for 15 pesos. The shops around are good to purchase gifts and souvenirs. I suppose they'd bargain too if you can. Other than that, there are many restaurants, eateries, and hotels around to roam. The park is heavily patrolled for some reason as we saw heavy police deployment with automatic weapons even on a seemingly regular day. Overall, very much recommended.

Lovely Church and Beautiful Park in a Peaceful and Charming Neighbourhood!…read more During my time in Valladolid (November 15-18), I stayed at Hostel La Candelaria, which was situated on the north side of La Candelaria Park/Square. The square was beautiful, with lots of bench seating, a small playground for children, and lots of large shade trees. It was always very quiet and peaceful, and was a great place to sit and relax in the afternoon and evening. The Iglesia de la Candelaria is located across the street from the square/park and is painted a bright red colour. It was a really pretty and charming small church. I enjoyed relaxing and spending time in this park/square and admiring the church. La Candelaria is a lovely neighbourhood in Valladolid and I cannot wait to return here someday!

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.

I have had a lot of amazing experiences in my lifetime, but Cenote Hubiku is quite possibly one of…read more my favorites ! From start to finish, this tour was both very educational and entertaining. I would suggest any and everyone traveling close to Yucatán visit this site. Our visit to Cenote was the first stop of a bus tour. We were greeted by a shaman who blessed and prayed over our entire group. We purchased a few souvenirs and then dined on some amazing food at the outdoor restaurant and enjoyed a little show while we ate. We then walked the grounds to explore and learn more about the Mayans. The Cenote was truly an astonishing sight. While I didn't get to take a dip in the water, just standing inside this amazing wonder was super breathtaking! I've seen pictures of cenotes, but never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be standing inside of one. After visiting the cenote, we headed over to the tequila tasting! Literally each and every tequila we tasted was smooth and quite delicious! I ended up purchasing four bottles of flavored tequila, which I cannot wait to share with my friends back in the states.

If you love to find hidden treasures, this place is a one a kind place. As soon as you descend the…read moresteps into the underground cave and pool you are mesmerized by the wonders and beauty of nature. It is a beautiful and unique experience!

The food was great (traditional options) and the cenote didn't feel very crowded even though there…read morewas a tour bus. We arrived about 11:00 and when we left at 1:00 the parking was full.

This is the only cenote I was able to make it to during my short Cancún trip. My fiancée and I came…read morehere after visiting Chichen Itza. Yokdzonot is just a 10 minute drive away from Chichen Itza. If you're not on a group bus tour, this is a must visit. When we came here, we were the only people. It was an amazing experience. This cenote is maintained by locals and not many tourists know about it. When we got here, we saw some 3-4 locals got into the water and cleared up the fallen leaves. It is much cheaper than any of the other cenotes we were considering. While some cost at least 50-100 USD, this cost about 3.5 USD. And that included life vests. They also had a rappelling line above the cenote. The water was a clear turquoise blue and had mangrove roots along the edges.

We had an amazing time at Cenote Taak Bi Ha, located just north of Tulum. If you haven't been to…read morethis cenote, I highly recommend it. This is a cave / underground cenote. We visited Taak Bi Ha through My Quest Concierge Private Tours, booked through Viator as "VIP Tulum Private Tour." Taak Bi Ha was the last of three stops on our day tour. My wife and I couldn't have been happier with My Quest. For details, including how much we paid, see My Quest's Yelp page here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/my-quest-concierge-private-tours-playa-del-carmen In regard to Taak Bi Ha, My Quest took care of transportation to and from, parking, tickets, translation with on-site staff, pictures, and a personalized guided tour. We entered the cenote just after 12:15pm on a Monday. We stayed until about 1:30pm. During that time, the cenote wasn't crowded at all. There were other groups, but not many. The cenote opening is narrow and steep (watch your head). As soon as you enter and take a look at the cenote from the first elevated platform, the view is stunning. This cenote is an example of nature at its finest. Cenotes have formed over millions of years. Inside, there are man-made platforms which are great for taking pictures. We put on life vests, provided at the check-in shack, and we had our own snorkeling gear and flashlights from My Quest. We got into the water and our My Quest guide gave us a full tour of the cenote, including a pitch-black section where our flashlights and my phone light were our only sources of light. We also swam through a tiny hole to get there. It was wild: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4_KKkAOYzd/?hl=en The water was cold. Bring water shoes to protect your feet. Snorkeling with flashlights is definitely the way to go as you'll be able to see the amazing caves, flowstones, stalagmites, etc. underwater. There's also beautiful coral and stalactites. Bring a waterproof camera. I used a waterproof phone pouch to take my pictures and videos. The water was so clean, clear, and blue. In addition, we saw bats. My wife absolutely loved the experience. She was incredibly happy and thought the cenote was so cool from a nature and science perspective. For her, this cenote was one of the highlights from our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. I agree. She described the cenote as "other-worldly" and "like being on another planet." Cenote Taak Bi Ha has an official Instagram page @cenote_taak_bi_ha: https://www.instagram.com/cenote_taak_bi_ha/?hl=en They've even done weddings here! https://www.instagram.com/cenotetaakbiha/?hl=en Funny enough, inside the cave as soon as we entered, there was a sign posted with a QR code to connect to the cenote's Wi-Fi network. Restrooms and changing rooms are available outside.

Taak Bi Ha is a underground/cave ceynote that is privately owned by a Mayan family. It's deep in…read morethe Dos Oros ceynotes area - you'll turn off the main highway and go for several kilometers, past several other (larger, more commercial) ceynotes. When we arrived, we were the only ones there. Like other places, you need to shower off any sunscreen etc before entering. No bug spray either so move quickly because the short walk through the jungle will have you swarmed! The entrance is through a small cave opening with a very steep flight of steps - wear water shoes and watch your head! Once inside, you'll be in a wonderland! Crystal clear blue water, swooping bats (lots of them!!) and beautiful stalagtites and stalagmites everywhere. I understand why these spaces were considered sacred to the Maya - it is truly another world. We didn't swim but you certainly can. This is an especially good place for divers - we were told that the caves here connect to a much larger system (and ultimately the largest underwater cave system in the world). Really happy we had the opportunity to check this place out!!

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.

Our 2nd time to Tulum Ruins was great! We joined a tour this time and enjoyed it. Our guide was…read moreknowledgeable and very accommodating when questioned. We went on a March weekend and was surprised it was not crowded which was great. I would love to come back during sunset next time - the dramatic scenery, combining ancient ruins with a beautiful beach and the ocean view, will definitely be worth it!

Absolutely worth the visit. The setting is hard to beat, ancient ruins perched above turquoise…read moreCaribbean water with a steady ocean breeze the whole time. The walking paths are easy, the grounds are well kept, and there are plenty of viewpoints where you'll stop every few minutes just to take photos. It does get hot and crowded, especially mid-day, but if you go earlier or later it feels much more relaxed and you can really take in how unique the location is compared to other archaeological sites. The beach access below the cliffs is a huge bonus and makes the experience more than just a history stop. Bring water, sunscreen, and patience, but the views alone make it worth it. You will see plenty of iguanas. :)

This is the largest cenote we went to and was also the most expensive, however, the price also came…read morewith a life jacket which was mandatory for entering the pools. It made it a lot easier to swim in and the rocks and landscape were stunning. Lots of turtles and bats and birds were all over and the water was clear. I was a bit annoyed that were told they closed at 4:45 and at 4:20 Security was ushering everyone out.

First off, do not use Apple maps to find this place as it will divert you to some dive shop in the…read moremiddle of town. You'll need to use Google maps to get you to the exact location. This was our very first cenote on this trip. It's 500 pesos for adults and 250 pesos for kids that are less than 4'5" or so. Cash only. (If paying in US dollars, it's $30 US and $15 for children.) Be sure to collect your ticket. There is free parking out front as well. Once you go in, there are outdoor showers that you are expected to use to rinse off. No sunscreen is allowed. And before you get your Personal Flotation Device (PFD), they will check that you have showered. However, no one is actually watching you as you rinse off as some reviews have mentioned. They'll also provide a snorkeling mask too. You'll need to walk down some stairs and there's an option to rent a locker for 30 pesos. Some people left their belongings unattended, but you'll get a key for your locker and they'll hold your ID card until you return the key. It's a small area to snorkel around and you'll see a lot of turtles. There are some darker areas, and a waterproof flashlight would have been very useful during those parts. The water is super clear, so let's keep it that way. There's a large grassy area to dry off and relax. I would suggest bringing some snacks if you want to relax out in the sun because it does get cold in the water after awhile. There are no in and out privileges though. Overall, it's a nice little cenote to visit. I would recommend 1-2 hours depending on how much time you want to swim around. Park hours: 8:10 am to 4:45 pm, last entrance at 4:15 pm.

Sian Ka'an will forever be a special place. Not just because it's an UNESCO world heritage site,…read morebut because of it's natural beauty, biodiversity and the fact that I got engaged here. I highly suggest getting out on a boat to tool around the reserve, photograph the Beautiful birds, check out the manitees, and float in the Mayan channels. It's a special place!

This review is for Punta Allen, at the end of the Sian Ka'an bioreserve. Holy moly where do I…read morestart? We were thinking about a day trip to Holbox, but we met a local Yucatan couple at a cenote one day that said Punta Allen would be a much better option. The main deterrent is the road to get there, and that's what keeps the place such a hidden gem. They told us we would be fine in our little tiny rental car, but every blog/article online said you needed a 4x4. I read horror stories about getting stuck in the sand and the idea of getting a flat on a tiny strip of land in the middle of the ocean with nobody around for miles definitely scared us. We proceeded to ask local people, and they pumped us up to go, so off the hell we went! It was definitely the craziest drive I've ever experienced. There are so many dips everywhere, if you're not a good driver or a nervous driver it might not be a good idea. It is also one of the most beautiful drives through the jungle with glimpses of the ocean every now and then and watch out for the iguanas crossing the road. And then finally you reach the little town of Punta Allen, with no cell phone service and electricity only at certain times of the day. Amazing. There are plenty of eco tour options in the area, they're all connected so you're going to get the same price and tour. We were having lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach, and one of the tour boats was right there, so we finished up our super fresh seafood lunch and got right on the boat. Our host was amazing and man can he drive a boat! He's a local that's dedicated to this and knows this part of the ocean like the back of his hand. He took us to see dolphins, then to see sea turtles, then to snorkel around the coral reefs, and finally to the "natural pool." This was such an amazing experience! This was one of the most magical experiences in Tulum, which is already magical. The hardest roads sometimes lead to the most beautiful places. I don't know whose bumper sticker I read that on but it fits. The rough journey makes it that much sweeter, and I'm so glad we made it.