Valladolid - The Sleepiest Place in the World

Before coming to Mexico I thought I knew what a sleepy town was. I mean, some parts of South America are pretty laid back. However, they were positively buzzing compared to Valladolid.

The whole town feels like it's in a repose, where nothing need be done and rushing is a foreign concept. Very quaint, very hot and very, very relaxed. In this part of Yucatan, time passes lazily and the urge to chill is almost irresistible in the heat of the day and the cool of the night. There are only a handful of bars in town, and those that exist are very cosy. Most people drink in the comfort of their homes and hammocks, plunging the depths of relaxation and zen.

Ek'Balam Mayan site

That said, there are a great many things to do in the area if you are so inclined. There is of course Chichen Itza, which I visited first. However, there are many other ruins in the area that you can visit, so we took a trip to another spot called Ek' Balam. This site is not as large as Chichén Itzá, but it is much more jungly, less touristy, and you can actually climb some of the buildings.

"I've got a bad feeling about this one Indy"

If you go outside the main area, you can see buildings that have yet to be uncovered from the jungle which all looks very Indiana Jones.

The flat ground and the even flatter tree canopy gives a spectacular view

The tallest structure is truly amazing: known as the Acropolis, it has a steep set of stairs that pokes above the trees, from which you can see across the endlessly flat plains of Yucatan. On a clear day, you can even see Chichen Itza in the distance!

At the foot of the Acropolis - Lukas for scale

The steps are very steep, designed that way to keep your head down in a humble pose in front of the Acropolis. If you raise your head, you fall backwards!

I'm pretty sure the angle is at least 60 degrees, and each step is about a foot high

Cenotes are another great part of Valladolid and the surroundings. Cenotes are unique to Yucatan: under the dry surface of the peninsula, large underground rivers flow and occasionally form circular sinkholes 20m to 40m wide. They are deep too - the water level may be 10-20m below the ground level, but the bottom of the cenote could be a much as 200m below that!

This one is literally in the middle of Valladolid!

They are great for a swim in the heat of the day, though I'll admit it can be a little eerie when you realise that you are being suspended in a hole big enough to fit a large skyscraper. You can rent a bike for a few dollars and spend a day touring the local cenotes and villages which is a fun way to spend a day. Some cenotes also have platforms to take a dive off if you want to add a bit of excitement to your swim.

We were also lucky enough to see another Paseo de Almas like the one we saw in Merida, though this one was much more formal. A procession led by a couple in wedding clothes and skull paint was followed by others in suits and Spanish dresses, then by hundreds of women and children dressed in white carrying candles, all with painted faces. A woman was narrating the procession, which I believe involved the story of the dead couple, but unfortunately it was too distorted for me to understand.

El Matrimonio Muerto - The Dead Wedding

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen to the Lately Betrothed

Un Mar de Almas - A Sea of Souls

It was all very beautiful, and we only caught it because we decided to get tacos in the main square at the right moment!

All in all, this is a great little town and possibly the most zen place I have ever visited. Next stop is Tulum and the white beaches of the Mayan Riviera!

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