Our most recommended things to do in Izamal

From Mérida: Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Valladolid, & Cenote Trip

1. From Mérida: Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Valladolid, & Cenote Trip

Spend a day full of culture, history, and cuisine on a multi-stop guided tour from Mérida to Izamal, Valladolid, Cenote Chichikan, and Chichén Itzá, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Discover traditional cooking during a live demonstration. Enjoy breakfast, a buffet lunch, and entry tickets. After meeting your guide in Mérida, head to the archeological site of Chichén Itzá. Walk through the center of this thousand-year-old place and see highlights like the Temple of the Warriors. For breakfast, enjoy a packed meal. Later, transport your senses to the root of regional cuisine, one of the greatest legacies of the Mayan culture, during a demonstration of the region’s unique gastronomy. Learn about tradition and innovation in the use of plants, vegetables, and wild fauna. Enjoy a buffet lunch of local products, then let yourself be enchanted by the story and cultural richness of two magical towns of Yucatan during the next stops. Explore Valladolid, known for its natural beauty, cobbled streets, coffee shops, restaurants, and delicious food. Stop at the main plaza for some free time to wander before moving on to Izamal. Learn why the town's houses are all painted yellow and fall in love with its colonial architecture, dating back to the 16th century. Spend time at the main landmark: the Convento de San Antonio de Padua. In between the Valladolid and Izamal stops, seize the chance to take a dip in the cool waters of Chichikan Cenote. 

From Mérida: Chichen Itza & Izamal Guided Day Trip

2. From Mérida: Chichen Itza & Izamal Guided Day Trip

Experience the beauty and history of Chichen Itza and explore on a guided day trip leaving from Merida. Learn more about the ancient civilization who built Chichen Itza, take a refreshing swim in a cenote, visit the Temple of Kukulcan, and wander through Izamal. Leave Merida with the guide and travel to the beautiful and historical site of Chichen Itza. Enjoy a two-hour guided tour where you will learn about the history and significance of the site and its most important buildings, such as the Temple of Kukulcan (El Castillo), the ball game court, the Observatory, and its adjacent Temple of the 1000 columns. Take some time to discover the site at your own pace, and admire the monuments and take pictures as you explore. Continue the tour by moving on to the Xcajum Cenote and learn more about the sinkholes that are part of the world's largest network of underground rivers. Indulge in a delicious meal next, and enjoy a variety of local foods. Move on to one of Mexico's most beautiful towns, Izamal. Learn more about the city, known as the "city of three cultures" for its multiple cultural influences. Stroll through the streets and admire the yellow and white buildings for which the town is famous. Finish the tour in Izamal before returning to pickup points in Merida, and relax and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Izamal, Yokdzonot & Tsukán (Oneday)

3. Izamal, Yokdzonot & Tsukán (Oneday)

We start the tour when our guide arrives for you at the lobby of your hotel, we will go to see one of the most impressive cenotes in the Mayan World due to its size and depth. Our first stop will be at the open type Yokdzonot cenote where we will enjoy its turquoise blue waters. It has an opening of 40 meters and approximately 35 to 45 meters. deep, it is one of the largest cenotes in the state of Yucatan. We continue our journey to the TSUKÁN Sanctuary of Life cenote where our mission is to preserve nature, traditions and culture, through experiences that connect our visitors with our beautiful state of Yucatán. It offers you lovers of tourism focused on nature and Mayan culture; Unique experiences in a natural environment, where the architecture that combines with the essence, the local flora and fauna stands out. We delighted in a delicious Yucatan meal in a Zamná restaurant, to then start the city tour of Izamal (magical town) located right in the center of the peninsula, 72 km east of Mérida. The City of the Three Cultures is known, because three historical periods coexist in it: its pyramids witness to the greatness of the Mayans, its convent; whose charm derives from the silence of the majestic walls that forever marked the mark of Spanish influence, and its streets, buildings, squares, houses and churches, all in a harmonious visual rhythm of a single color: yellow. Return to Merida.

From Merida: guided tour to Chichen Itza, Izamal & Cenote

4. From Merida: guided tour to Chichen Itza, Izamal & Cenote

Venture on an unforgettable journey to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá, and witness the ancient splendor of this once-thriving city. Discover the intricate architectural masterpieces that define Chichén Itzá, including the iconic Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. Marvel at the Temple of the Warriors, the Ball Game, the Astronomical Observatory, and the Complex of the Nuns, each showcasing the city's grand ceremonial character and rich history. As the day unfolds, escape the heat and take a refreshing dip in a crystalline cenote, immersing yourself in the enchanting beauty of this natural wonder. Continue your journey to the Magic Town of Izamal, a captivating blend of three distinct cultures. Experience the harmony of pre-Hispanic heritage as you explore Mayan temples and palaces, with Kinich Kakmó standing tall as a testament to the city's ancient splendor. Discover the indelible mark of Spanish heritage through the colonial-era Franciscan convent, a symbol of the city's colonial past. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, ceremonies, and traditions of Izamal's proud inhabitants, who embody the spirit of the present. With convenient round-trip transportation from your hotel in Mérida, entrance fees, a knowledgeable professional guide, and a satisfying lunch included, this tour ensures a seamless and immersive experience. From the awe-inspiring ruins of Chichén Itzá to the rejuvenating waters of a cenote and the vibrant cultural tapestry of Izamal, this journey offers an enchanting exploration of Yucatan's history, nature, and traditions. As the tour concludes, relax and reflect on your captivating experiences as you return to your hotel in Mérida.

Bike, Swim, Stroll: Cenotillo, Cenote Xooch & Izamal Tour

5. Bike, Swim, Stroll: Cenotillo, Cenote Xooch & Izamal Tour

During this adventure, enjoy a 4-kilometer bike ride from downtown Cenotillo to the Xooch Cenote, a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath.  This incredible natural formation is distinguished by its particular shape similar to a wide-bottomed pitcher of water, making it a unique landscape to discover. After swimming in the crystalline waters of the cenote, savor a delicious lunch in a local home. On the way back to Merida, stop in Izamal to discover its cobbled streets and yellow facades, as well as the convent of St. Anthony of Padua and the archaeological site of Kinich Kakmó.

Izamal & 5 cenotes

6. Izamal & 5 cenotes

The best way to start this tour is to visit the unique yellow town, where you can climb the ruins that are located in the middle of the town, visit the convent and walk through Izamal capturing incredible yellow buildings! Then we will visit the cenotes of Santa Rosa where you can put your swimsuit on and get ready for the adventure. Explore 2 different cenotes and swim in the cold and amazing waters full of history and traditions. After Santa Rosa, we will go to the Cenotes of Santa Barbara, you will have to decide between taking a bike to go to the 3 cenotes or taking the truck (cart pulled by mules). You will have time to spend in each of the cenotes, everyone is unique and fantastic. You can relax, explore and take pictures!! When you are ready you will have time to eat lunch in the Santa Barbara restaurant! There will be several options for you to choose from.

Add dates

Things to do in
Izamal

Izamal
16 activities found
Sort by:

Go beyond Izamal

Explore all

Other Sightseeing Options in Izamal

Want to discover all there is to do in Izamal? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Izamal

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 57 reviews

Hermoso Lugar

One of the best guided tour experiences ever! The tour was very good organized: we got breakfast and water, the group was not big, the bus was comfortable, with air condition, our driver, Pablo, was good and professional. Our guide Hector made our day really perfect: he is very knowledgeable, polite and professional, we learned a lot about Mayan culture, colonial culture, Mexican traditions and food, he answered all of our questions and gave a lot of recommendations. All locations we’ve visited were amazing! We arrived to Chichén Itzá at the right time in the morning and it was not crowded, the lunch was delicious, cenot was beautiful and not very touristic, with a very nice chill zone. Highly recommend!

I spent a very good day! Hector is an excellent guide, you can see since the beginning that he is very prepared and that he puts a lot of energies in his job. I really enjoyed the typical buffet lunch with cochinita pibil. The only thing: there a nicer cenote in the area, the one we saw was not really nice, pity. Please be aware that you will have to pay 30 US dollars more in order to enter in Chichen Itza. I would recommend this experience!

Chichen is closed at the moment and they offered us the tour to Ek Balam, it is an Archaeological zone where one can climb the buildings, very beautiful, the cenote is beautiful and the buffet is very complete and rich, the visits to the cities are short, but very informative, our Guide Carlos is highly recommended

Great tour. Carlos - the guide - made sure we understand. Good English from him and driver.

Great tour- well organised , great tour guide, good driver. A very full day.