Merida to Valladolid and Cenote Yokdzonot: Private day trip

Founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Montejo in 1543 at a lagoon called Chouac-Ha, Valladolid was moved to its current location in 1545 because of mosquitos. Despite being one of the largest cities in Yucatan, Valladolid has a laid-back atmosphere and preserves both its Colonial and Mayan roots. At the heart of the city, dominating the main square is the Iglesia de San Servacio, which was built in 1706 after the Bishop Pedro De Los Rios Reyes ordered the destruction of the original 16th-century cathedral. The Convent of San Bernadino de Siena is another notable Colonial landmark, which is filled with colorful frescoes dating back to the 16th century. For Mayan culture, don’t miss the Casa de los Venados, which exhibits the Mexico’s largest private collections of pre-colonial art. But the top activity here is just wandering the streets, starting with the colorful Calzada de Los Frailes, to enjoy the atmosphere.

With a diameter of 40 meters, Cenote Yokdzonot is one of the largest in the Yucatan. Surrounded by lush jungle, the roots of ancient trees hang over the 18-meter-high walls of this “open” cenote, creating a waterfall of wood. Unlike many cenotes, the area around Yokdzonot hasn’t been built up. Rather, two women from the local community laid each stone in the walking path and cut the wooden railings by hand to preserve the site’s natural beauty. They only buildings here are the palapa-roofed bathrooms and a small restaurant cooking traditional local food. As usual with cenotes, don’t use sunblock or bug repellent before getting in the water!