Photo Diary: Chichen Itza & Valladolid

I went on a tour that included a visit to Suytun Cenote, Valladolid, and the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza. I bought tickets for this tour at a stand in Playa del Carmen. Although I wasn’t in love with the tour operator, I’m happy to have seen one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. I wanted to share the images I took while on this day trip.

Suytun Cenote

The Suytun cenote is probably one of the most photogenic cenotes in the Yucatan. In the center of the cenote, there’s a pathway lit up from a hole in the cave. You can swim in the cenote but are required to wear a life jacket, although the water isn’t deep. I’d recommend coming early to this cenote to avoid the tour companies that come around 11am-noon. Also, the stairs in this cenote are fairly steep so you should take your time going down and up.

Valladolid

Roughly a two-hour drive from PDC, Valladolid is a beautiful city worth visiting when heading to, or from, Chichen Itza. In fact, I’d recommend spending a day or two here if you have time. In the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, Valladolid feels like I stepped into a Spanish colonial town. The central town square, known as Parque Francisco Canton Rosado, is surrounded by colorful buildings and the Cathedral of San Gervasio. The town square is very lively with people hanging out in the park or grabbing food in nearby restaurants or one of the many food carts.

I stopped at Marquesitas El Tio Batman’s cart in the town square. The owner, known as Uncle Batman, makes delicious marquesitas – rolled crepes filled with fruits, cheese, and other toppings. I got one filled with strawberries, mangoes, and condensed milk.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. With these credentials, it’s no wonder why it’s a popular tourist attraction.

The history behind the Mayans and Chichen Itza is also fascinating and makes you want to see Chichen first-hand. This is especially true during the summer solstice. The Mayans designed the main pyramid, El Castillo, as a calendar. There are four sides to the pyramid. Each side hosts 91 steps, which totals 365 (including the platform) and represents the total number of days of the solar year. El Castillo was designed so the sun completely illuminates the north and east sides during the summer solstice, while the south and west are shaded. During the summer solstice, the pyramid looks split diagonally in two from up top.

Chichen Itza Tips/Advice

• Head to Chichen early in the morning, or towards closing time to avoid the crowds that come through tour operators around noon. Luckily, my tour operator took us toward closing time so it was fairly empty
• Bring sunscreen! There is ZERO shade when visiting the Mayan ruins, so you’ll get a tan. Yes, even if it’s cloudy.