Valladolid offers a perfect blend of culture, history, and natural beauty that makes it an ideal base for exploring the Yucatán Peninsula while experiencing authentic Mexican life.
Welcome to Valladolid, a charming colonial city located in the eastern part of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Often overlooked in favor of more famous destinations like Cancún or Mérida, Valladolid offers authentic Mexican culture, stunning architecture, and proximity to incredible natural wonders.
I was joined by eight remarkable friends for a week of working with the Rotary Club of Valladolid Magico on their water and oven projects. Here are three of us enjoying our first dinner.
This restaurant has a fantastic rooftop bar that shows off the best of old-town Valladolids main square.
The San Bernardino de Siena Convent is one of the most significant historical and cultural treasures in the Yucatán Peninsula. Built between 1552 and 1560 by Franciscan friars shortly after the Spanish conquest, it stands as a remarkable example of colonial architecture and religious history in Mexico. As the second largest Franciscan construction in the Yucatán (after the Convent of Izamal), this impressive complex served multiple purposes throughout its history – from religious center to defensive fortress during tumultuous times.
We visited the convent in the evening and were able to experience this remarkable light show:
Later that evening, our other six friends arrived. Here are five of them (the sixth is taking the picture!)
