What to do in Tinum

Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most beautiful of the natural wells that stud the jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula. Tour the incredible Mayan ruins of nearby Chichén Itzá and then cool off with a dip in these vibrant turquoise waters. Get a sense of why the Mayans considered the cenotes to be sacred places.

The Cathedral of San Gervasio, sometimes also known as the Church of San Servacio, is one of Valladolid’s most instantly recognizable buildings. See it from a distance and its high twin towers are still unmistakable. It is perfectly located for orienting yourself on a walking tour of this lovely city. Start your explorations of Valladolid here and find many of the town’s greatest attractions within easy reach.

El Castillo is known by a variety of names, including the "Pyramid of Kukulkan” and the "Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl." Whatever you decide to call it, it is clear that this is one of the most famous Mayan structures in the world, if not the most famous. Find this remarkable, well-preserved stepped pyramid in Chichén Itzá, the huge Mayan archaeological site that draws countless visitors to the Yucatán Peninsula each year.

Find Cenote Zací in the heart of Valladolid, in a convenient spot for taking a casual dip during a tour of this colonial town. Join tourists and locals alike as you swim in the turquoise waters of the pool. Look up and see the stalactites and hanging vines over some parts of the cenote. And leave time to browse for souvenirs once you have dried off.

Be sure to spend some time exploring the impressive Group of the Thousand Columns during your visit to Chichén Itzá. Of all the remarkable structures that make this vast Mayan ruin one of the world’s most famous archeological wonders, the Group of the Thousand Columns is among the most instantly recognizable. Wander between the 200 pillars that give it its poetic name and imagine what this place looked like when it was first built more than 1,000 years ago.

Visit El Caracol to gain some insight into how the ancient Mayans developed such an incredibly advanced understanding of the stars. Although parts of its roof have collapsed, this beautiful building is still in very good condition. It remains one of the most famous features of the spectacular Chichén Itzá archeological site, probably the world’s best-known Mayan ruin. El Caracol is widely believed to have been an observatory of a sort, helping provide the Mayans with the astronomical knowledge that helped them structure so many of their buildings.