Last Updated on February 29, 2024
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Known as the Yellow City ( Ciudad de Amarillo ), Izamal in Mexico, is a small, Colonial town in Yucatán, where most buildings are famously painted yellow. If you enjoy photography, visiting Izamal is a dream. The yellow buildings set against the blue sky and cobble stone streets make Izamal one of the most charming and photogenic places. Besides being visually appealing, the town is also one of Pueblos Mágicos, a status given to destinations in Mexico, that stand out for rich history, culture and beauty. Izamal sure ticks off all the boxes.
Izamal is small and quiet, and there aren’t a ton of things to do there, which makes it a perfect day trip from Mérida or Valladolid ( both an hour away ), or a quick stop on the Yucatán road trip. The biggest attraction, the impressive Convent, is right in the center of town, and anything else worth seeing, just a few blocks away. Once you’re in town, you can cover the entire area on foot. There are also the horse drawn carriages, but honestly, seeing the poor animals stand in the scorching heat,
Even though it’s easily accessible, Izamal is not the most visited spot in the Yucatán Peninsula, which I found a bit surprising. Compared to other very popular stops, the Yellow City is kind of undiscovered. This of course might change one day, but for now Izamal remains free of tourist crowds and kind of off the beaten path. You might see small groups passing through, making a quick stop at the Convent and several day trippers like myself. But for the most part, Izamal is very much a local place, where you’ll be able to experience an authentic Mexican town.
Where is Izamal, Mexico
Izamal is located in the Yucatán state, about an hour away from both Mérida and Valladolid, making it a perfect day trip from both cities. Getting there is very easy, either by car or public transportation. If you are driving through Yucatán Peninsula, Izamal is an easy stop between Mérida and Valladolid.
Why is Izamal yellow?
Pretty much everyone who visits Izamal asks the same question: why is Izamal yellow? Well, there’s not one definitive answer. Some say the city was painted yellow right before the Pope John Paul’s II highly anticipated visit in 1993 to honor the colors of the Vatican flag. Others disagree and claim the city was yellow long before that, and the color represents the God of Sun.
As you see, getting a straight answer is impossible and I guess you can pick whatever version makes most sense to you. Whatever the real reason was, painting most buildings yellow resulted in Izamal being unique and making the town one of the most photogenic places in Mexico.
How to spend one day in Izamal, Mexico
Visit Convento de San Antonio de Pauda
The San Antonio de Pauda Convent, painted a beautiful yellow color, is the biggest landmark in Izamal and the main reason most people visit. It’s located right in the center of town, impossible to miss and it is quite spectacular. As you go through the main entrance, the stone stairway leads you to the Convent and the huge grassy atrium surrounded by 75 columns. The atrium is said to be the 2nd largest in the world, only behind the Vatican.
Before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Izamal used to be one of the most important sites of Mayan civilization. The Convent you see today, was actually built on top of a Mayan ruin called Ppap Hol Chak. They even used some of the stones from the partially destroyed ruin, and if you look closely, you can actually see Maya glyphs on some of them . It took over a decade to build the Convent and the work was finished in 1561.
After walking around the atrium, be sure to pop into the Chapel.
If you happen to be staying in Izamal overnight, you can also catch the video mapping show, which is displayed on the walls of the Convent between Thursday – Sunday at 8 pm. The video tells the story of Izamal from the beginnings through the Spanish conquest. It’s very similar to the video mapping display at Convento de San Bernardino de Siena in Valladolid. The video is in Spanish only, but it’s easy to follow.
Convento de San Antonio de Pauda is open daily 6 am – 8 pm and is FREE to visit.
Get a picture with the Izamal sign in Parque Itzamna
Adjacent to the Convent is one of two parks in Izamal, called Parque Itzamna. It’s small, but very well maintained, with several benches and trees, which you will appreciate on a hot day. There are usually a couple of vendors there selling ice cream or marquesitas.
Like in most Mexican towns, there is the colorful town sign, always a great photo op.
Climb to the top of Kinich Kakmó
Izamal is often called a City of the hills, which refers to the Mayan ruins, that are scattered all over. There are 5 of them left in Izamal, with the largest being Kinich Kakmó, located just several blocks from the main square. The pyramid was built some time between 400-500 BC and is dedicated to the God of Sun. It’s only partially restored, so don’t expect a Chichén Itzá kind of experience. Having said that, Kinich Kakmó was a very important pilgrimage site and is one of the largest pyramids in all of Mexico.
One of the great things about Kinich Kakmó is that you can climb to the top and enjoy great panoramic views of Izamal and the surroundings. Make sure to wear the right shoes, as after the first set of steps, the path becomes steep and uneven, with nothing to hold onto.
The entrance to the ruins is located on Calle 27 and it’s somewhat hidden between the buildings. To get there from the main square, take Calle 28, then turn right onto Calle 27. When you see a metal gate, that’s the entrance to the ruins ( there is also an ice cream store right across from it ). The gate is open from 8 am – 5 pm and the ruins are free to visit.
Walk the streets of Izamal
After checking out the must see attractions, the best way to explore Izamal is just by walking around and getting lost in the streets. In Izamal, this is both figuratively and literally. Not because of the size of the town, but because all the buildings are, well, very similar looking.
As you start walking away from the main square, in either direction, the streets get very quiet and you are very likely to be the only one there. Aside from an occasional VW Beetle driving by or a biker, there’s barely any traffic.
Browse the Mercado Municipal
The open air Mercado Municipal is right in the center of town and is a typical small town market, where you can buy anything from fresh produce, meat and clothes. If you want a quick bite, there are several small places serving tacos, salbutes and cold drinks. Authentic, delicious and cheap.
Whether you buy something or just wander through, the market is a great way to get a glimpse into the daily Mexican life.
Restaurants in Izamal
Despite its small size, Izamal has a few restaurants, where you can try some local Yucatán dishes.
- Muul – is a small, local restaurant, right in the Parque Itzamna. Great place for a cold beer and a snack. It has both indoor and outdoor seating.
- Kinich El Sabor de Izamal– this is the most popular restaurant in Izamal, where most group tours stop for lunch. The dining area is in a beautiful open, garden like setting underneath thatched roofs. The menu consists of the typical Yucatan dishes like Papadzules, Panuchos or Queso Relleno. While this place is definitely popular among the tourists, it does get good reviews for both its food and ambience. You can find Kinich on Calle 27, just steps away from the entrance to the Kinich Kakmo pyramid.
Things to know before you visit Izamal, Mexico
- Bring Cash – make sure to have enough cash for food, bus ticket or whatever else you think you want to buy. There is an ATM in town, but if traveling to Mexico taught me anything, is that you can’t rely on a single ATM machine in a small or remote town.
- Know some Spanish – Izamal is a small, local town, that is not geared towards tourists, so don’t expect to find much English there.
- It gets hot in Izamal – no matter what time of year you visit, it’s very likely to be hot in Izamal, as temperatures tend to stay pretty high most of the year. On top of that, there is very little shade, so come prepared with a hat, sunscreen and lots of water.
How to get to Izamal, Mexico
Mérida to Izamal
Izamal is one of the best and easiest day trips from Mérida and you have several ways to get there. I took a Collectivo there and a bus back to Mérida and Collectivo is my recommendation. Even though it might be a bit cramped, it’s fast and cheap. Buses are cheap as well, but make a lot of stops along the way, which basically doubles the travel time.
- Car – the distance from Merida to Izamal is 41 m ( 67 km ) and it takes around an hour to get there.
- Collectivo – the fastest and cheapest way to get from to Izamal is by taking a Collectivo. These small vans leave frequently throughout the day, but don’t have a set schedule and leave when full. Collectivos to Izamal leave from Calle 50 ( between Calle 63 and 65 ). To be honest, finding the stop was quite difficult, mostly because it’s in a very busy neighborhood of Mérida and easy to miss. Once you are on the stretch of Calle 50 ( between 63 and 65 ), keep your eyes open for a banner, that says Izamal. Once you find it, there’s a small It costs 31 MXN
- Bus – another option is taking a bus from the Noreste Bus Terminal, located on Calle 67×50 and 52. It’s a more comfortable, but much longer journey. Unlike the Collectivos, that go straight to Izamal, buses make several stops in towns along the way. It can take anywhere from 1.30 – 2 hours.
- Organized Tour – since Izamal is small and you only need a few hours to see all the highlights, organized tours usually combine it with another stop. This day trip from Mérida combines a visit to Valladolid and Izamal. If you’d like to visit just Izamal, there’s a great tour leaving Mérida in the afternoon. One of the great things about being there later in the day is, that you’ll get a chance to see the Light and Sounds show displayed on the walls of the Convent. You can book Discover Izamal: City of the Three Cultures here.
Valladolid to Izamal
- Car – the distance between Valladolid and Izamal is 68 m ( 110 km ) and the travel time is about 1 hr 30 min. It’s a very easy drive down 180 D, which is a toll road. You can avoid the tolls by taking local roads, but that will add 15-20 min to your journey. If you plan on driving from Valladolid to Izamal, you can easily combine it with a stop at Chichén Itzá, as you will be basically driving by it. Leave early to get to Chichén Itzá right when it opens, spend a few hours exploring the Mayan site and then continue to Izamal.
- Bus – your options of getting to Izamal by bus are somewhat limited. The first class ADO bus does not offer service between Valladolid and Izamal. You can however catch the 2nd class bus Centro.
- Organized Tour – MexiGo Tours is a local, small tour company, that offers various tours leaving from Valladolid. One of them, Go Wonders Tour, is an all day tour that combines a morning visit to Chichén Itzá with an afternoon in Izamal. Since you really don’t need an entire day to see all of Izamal’s highlights, this is a great combo, especially if you’ve never been to Chichén Itzá.
Where to stay in Izamal, Mexico
If you are on a road trip in Yucatán and plan on staying in Izamal overnight, you have several options of hotels to choose from. All 3 hotels listed below are cute, affordable and they come with a pool, which is a must, as it gets really hot in that part of Mexico.
- Hotel Rinconada Del Convento – this small hotel with just 12 rooms is right in the center, just a block away from the main square. It has a small pool, and a patio, from which you’ll get some nice views of the Convent.
- Posada Ya’ax Ich – if you are looking for a small hotel in a good location, with a pool and free parking on site, Posada Ya’ax Ich offers all that. The rooms are very spacious and you’ll be just a few blocks away from the Convent, less than a 10 minute walk.
- Casa De Huespedes Boutique Los Juanitos – this adults only B&B, located just a couple of blocks away from Parque Itzamna, is a hidden gem in Izamal. It’s very cozy ( only 2 rooms! ) and beautifully decorated. There is a pool and a cute garden area with tables. This place gets especially high praises it for its hospitality.
READ MORE:
- Valladolid in Mexico – a hidden gem in the Yucatán Peninsula
- Best things to do in Merida, Mexico
- Chichen Itza in Mexico – how to plan the perfect visit
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