Allgemein EN

The cenotes Samaal and Samula are relatively close to cenote XKekén, which is also the reason why I visited them. One of them is also in the same area as XKekén. Meaning you've already paid for it anyway. But even the one outside the Xkekén area isn't really expensive or anything - at least it wasn't at the time I was there. Cenote Samaal is pretty plain and simple. It's basically a pool with a very high edge and can only be accessed via a staircase that leads into the cenote from above. Here you swim through the cenote with the help of something like a string. However, there is a small waterfall here where the light refracts in sunny weather and creates a beautiful rainbow. Cenote Samula is a little quieter and the atmosphere in the cenote is also calmer. It's a bit like an enclosed cocoon where you can relax, take a deep breath and enjoy some time to yourself. As I said, neither is stunning or super special, but Samula in particular is perfect for a relaxing dip and getting away from the hustle and bustle of tourism. Go, yes or no? I'd say that's up to you. If you have time yes, otherwise not 😊

The Convent of San Bernadino of Siena is part of the cityscape of Valladolid like no other monument. The lights show is projected onto the convent and the city's name sign stands in front of it. So it's anyways quite special and pretty much pass by it without really needing to go inside. However, my small group at the hostel and I still had some time left and wanted to go and see the inside. So we went and had a look at what was hidden behind the walls of the convent. I was actually pleasantly surprised. You should know that whenever I visit something that isn't in everyone's mouth, I always know beforehand that I can't expect anything spectacular. That's why I wasn't surprised that the Convent isn't like... over the top. It just has a cute little church, a courtyard and a few other rooms. But what I liked was the structure of the building. I mean from the inside. The corridor upstairs and downstairs, as well as the corridor before you get directly into the inner courtyard of the convent, is painted reddish pink, which creates a really great photo spot. I don't know how many photos I took of it, but there were quite a few :D I also find broken things or something that is just a bit run-down very interesting to photograph. So the photographer in me was really happy here. But if you only like to take photos of Instaspots or only want to see the high-end spots, the convent is not for you. For all those who want to get to know a little more than what everyone else is looking at, who like to take photos of sometimes not classically beautiful motifs or simply want to experiment a little with perspectives... the convent is pretty good for that. The rest can just skip it 😉

This cenote is truly unique. At least I've never been to another one where you can see so many large stalagmites and stalactites and swim in the cave at the same time. Cenote XKekén is basically like a cave with a pool. And beautiful too. Apart from the cenote itself, XKekén also includes another small mini cave, which you can also visit but is not worth mentioning here, and on top another cenote in the same area. But more on that in another post. You walk to the cenote via a kind of path that leads to stairs going downstairs. These might seem a bit steep, narrow and slippery, but... just hold on tight 😉 Mexicans get up and down there too - some of them unsporty - and survive :D Entry to this cenote costs a bit more than to the others because you're entering a kind of terrain and not just driving to a cenote. XKekén is also really special. I really haven't seen anything like it anywhere else. Because yes, of course there are caves and sometimes it's damp etc., but Xkekén is something else. The only thing that is of course the case due to the closed nature of the cenote: little light. Everything is lit exclusively by spotlights and lights. Accordingly, swimming here is not for people who are easily scared. However, the atmosphere is not scary at all, so that should be fine😊 I don't think I need to say much about this. If there's one cenote that you definitely have visit when in Valladolid, is XKekén. Simply because, in my opinion, it really is the most special one.

Eating out in Mexico is.... A little different than in Europe. Probably also than in any other first world country. I'm German, so I'm used to certain standards of cleanliness and what a good restaurant or a place where you can get decent food that's good and tastes good should look like. It's like codes that you know. In Mexico, however, other codes prevail. Completely different ones. If you go for the fanciest, cleanest and most European, American or whatever looking place, I promise you it will be more expensive and at the same time worse than you could have. In Mexico, most of the places that are really good look like nothing. They are usually not very big and sometimes they are served by older ladies who then show off their skills - absolutely delicious! Also, you shouldn't necessarily go for the busiest place - the most crowded. Simply because everything in Mexico is full at peak times - although the expensive places aren't :D But jokes aside. The best and most amazing places to eat are usually the most inconspicuous places of all. Valladolid is no exception. I've been to this market 3 or 4 times - the first time almost with more luck than sense - and it hasn't disappointed me once. Super tasty and really cheap! I still remember how my hostel mates and I were really hungrily looking for food and it felt like there was very little or nothing left open. We had asked at our hostel where we could get a good and cheap Mexican meal. The directions were okay, but not really accurate, so we ended up standing in front of this building that really didn't look like anything. I even remember that I only saw the taqueria at the very end of the market by chance and we went in more to like see if it was by chance the right one. We thought ‘Hey, this could theoretically be it.’ Inside, almost everything was already closed. Tables and chairs were deserted. Everything was tidy. Only two shops were still open at the very back. One taquería on the left, one on the right. Because we hadn't seen any names, we compared the prices. Almost the same. And then I asked the guy behind the counter straight ahead and at the same moment finally saw the sign with his name. We had found it. As we didn't know how many tacos would fill us up, we each got a round first. The guy - super nice - recommended a few things to us. Including the tacos with crunch. Honestly, guys? I have rarely eaten a better taco in my life. The meat was tender and perfectly plucked, the taco was crunchy and the whole thing cost just 35 pesos for 4 tacos. It was.... Really insanely good! I mean, we even shared another portion (and no, after 3 to 4 tacos you're actually really full - at least I was - but I was so hungry.... I had 6 that day :D). I don't think I need to mention that we came back. PS: he also had really cool drinks that were super tasty and fresh. I remember a horchata de coco - I've only had a better one in Chiapas. 😊 Should you go to this market? You definitely should. No matter where you go, it will be very tasty and cheap. And if the taquería isn't open at the moment - which can happen - head to Lonchería el Amigo Casiano (the one in the picture).

Cenote Oxmán is actually one of the coolest cenotes of all. It's really beautiful and very interactive. When I was on my way to Cenote Oxmán, I had just come from Cenote Suytun and was accordingly sweaty, exhausted and at the end of my strengths (the journey on the long dusty road in the middle of heat if anyone remembers). Cenote Oxmán, on the other hand, can be reached via an equally dusty path, but it leads through and over a bit of greenery and the area is not quite as deserted as the one at Cenote Suytun. And I think what also played a part here was that it was in the afternoon and therefore not quite as unbearably hot as on the way to Cenote Suytun. The reason why Cenote Oxmán is one of my favourite cenotes is quite simple: you can jump over the water from the edge with a rope like Tarzan and then let yourself fall. Awesome, isn't it? There are also life jackets for visitors on the edge and Cenote Oxmán is generally much busier than Suytun. When I arrived and walked into the cenote, there was still a large group splashing around in the cenote. I waited a short while, had a proper drink and then a nice Mexican offered to take photos of me jumping in. He probably saw me taking a photo of the cenote and thought to himself ‘That kid will probably want a photo with herself in it too’. Well, that's how I got my Jane pictures of me swinging into the water on a liana and then getting the refreshment I'd been waiting for the whole time. It was AWESOME!!!Seriously just awesome. And right at that moment I asked myself why I hadn't already jumped into the pool in Suytun :D Well, you never stop learning... :D :D Should you go? Definitely! You can also plan a whole day here. Especially with a group, you'll never get tired of taking turns swinging into the water on the liana and there's plenty of space to store your things, chill out and eat something. Highly recommended! :D

There is what I called a ‘light show’ at the Convento San Bernadino de Siena. The light show is basically images that are beamed through a projector onto the convent and tell a story. The story of Valladolid. The first time I passed the convent in the evening, completely by chance, I was immediately mesmerised. I mean, there are pictures painted on the façade of a beautiful building in the dark that are virtually animated. How cool is that? :D Unfortunately, I arrived quite late. Which is why the light show was almost over. So I asked about it. It turned out that the light show takes place every evening - except Mondays - at 9 in Spanish. At half past nine in English. So the next day at half past nine I went back from the hostel to the convent with my former mates and was enchanted - this time from start to finish. I admit I don't remember the details of the story. Mainly in the surrounding area - Valladolid, Mérida and so on - the story is also told of how the Spanish invaded and basically deconstructed the Mayan pyramids and built houses from the same ones. I love Spain - I really do - but when you realise what the Spanish did in Latin America back then and how much cultural heritage they destroyed, you're very glad you're not Spanish, at least while you're there. But well, I'm German, I shouldn't lean too far out of the window.... Back to the Light Show. It's really great! A wonderfully animated projection takes you on a journey where you learn more about the city you are in. And therefore also about the Mayan culture. But even if history isn't your thing - which it isn't in my case - it's still worth it. It's also free and, to be honest, there's just something magical about it. And so: let's go! :D

Cenote Suytun is one of the most special and unique cenotes of all. Why? Because the sun shines inwards through a single hole in the ceiling, which is reflected by the water and then shines back to the ceiling and! A footbridge leads into the centre of the cenote. If that wasn't enough, take a look at the pictures. They are pretty self-explanatory. 😊 My personal story with the cenote is quite sweaty. I remember the first time I saw the picture on Google and knew: I have to go there! Then I found out where it was... At the end of the world - I can tell you that much. No, of course not quite. But it's just too far away to simply walk there. As the distance didn't seem that far though, I did some research to find out how far it would be by bike. 20-30 minutes. Doable then. So I rented a bike from my hostel and off I went. Well, what I hadn't realised was that it can be really hot in Valladolid from 10/11am and that the whole shitty route leads over an open, dusty road - sometimes with a few potholes - with no shade and therefore under the blazing hot sun. In addition, this bike was sa bit crappy  and I could either shift very low or fucking high. As the road wasn't always perfect for a bike and I had to ride on the side of the road to avoid being run over, I had to keep braking and then trying to go halfway fast again, because riding slowly wasn't any better than pedalling hard - believe me I tried both. I'm used to cycling, but this... I think it was the most exhausting bike ride of my life. `:D Not because of the distance or the bike, but because in Valladolid you're already dripping with sweat when you're still in the shade... So I arrived with my head red, sweaty from top to bottom, completely exhausted and probably extremely overheated. As I had planned to visit three cenotes that day and didn't want to walk around in wet clothes all day just to get sick later - I was travelling by bike (airstream and all) - I didn't take a bath. Stupid I know. I instead just took photos, cooled off in the shade of the cenote and then went on my way. If you're shaking your head at me for being so stubborn and unwilling/unable to change my plan - you're absolutely right. And therefore the following: Don't do what I did. Instead, do it with time, early, a decent bike and no plans to cycle to two more cenotes. And preferably with people, of course. Then cenotes are always more fun because you don't have to worry about your stuff. Because Cenote Suytun is really worth it: it's ‘only’ a footbridge and ‘only’ a light spectacle, but to be honest it's really cool. Although I was fucked, I was also really happy that I went because you can take really nice photos and the cenote has something fascinating about it. It's just something special with the footbridge and the play of light and I would definitely recommend going there. Just not like me :D So a big YES for Cenote Suytun too! 😊

Valladolid's Park is actually one of the first things I noticed in the city. It's a quiet and relaxed, yet lively place where you can get snacks, sit down and escape the heat in the shades. It's a very relaxed place where also locals like to sit in the shade and just take in the atmosphere. To be honest, the cathedral is not so clearly visible because there are roads around the park and the cathedral is on one side. However, as it doesn't rise above anything, it melts in with the ambience, the park and the surroundings. Inbetween us, I only really noticed the church after I saw it illuminated at night - a cool sight. Much more chic than during the day. Nevertheless, it is very cute and quite pretty. Park and cathedral, yes or no? Yes, definitely. The park is part of the flair of Valladolid and if you're already there, it would be rubbish not to take a quick look at the cathedral too.

Cenote Zaci is the only cenote in Valladolid that is located IN Valladolid and not in the neighbourhood of Valladolid. Accordingly, it is basically treated like a public swimming pool and is usually well attended. So it's not overcrowded, but you can usually find someone chilling out, swimming or just wanting a quick dip. As I think the entrance fee is or was around 40 pesos, you will meet many locals here as well as tourists. I still remember my first visit to Zaci very well. Basically, you arrive at a completely nothing saying entrance and walk down a narrow path that leads you into a hidden jungle paradise. It's really beautiful. Zaci is a semi-open cenote with a large pool that you can jump into from a platform :D - awesome, right? 😊 There's also a little place in the rocky part of the cenote where you can leave your things and chill out. On the other side of the cenote is the reason why I just said jungle paradise. Everything crawls and paws and I was allowed to observe and photograph an iguana 😊 Well, they're more common in Mexico, but it was still cool :D Unfortunately, I wasn't in the water itself because I was alone at Zaci and was scared about my things - today I am firmly convinced that this was unfounded. But I did go swimming in other cenotes, so I can tell you that a dip in Zaci is probably very refreshing and chilling down. :D Because Valladolid can certainly get hot :D There, yes or no? Definitely! Cenote Zaci is not only located right in the city, but is also one of the most beautiful cenotes I've been to. So let's go there! 😊

Valladolid is an incredibly cute, small and pretty town. It's quiet but still lively, the people are very friendly and yeah... Valladolid simply has a sunny character. This is probably due to the many cenotes around the small town. You have to imagine it like this: Valladolid itself doesn't have super many or super insane sights, but it does have its charm and a bunch of beautiful cenotes in the surrounding area. Cenotes are mini bathing lakes or pools in an open cave. Depending on the cenote, they may be wide open or very closed and only accessible via a staircase or a peephole. There are quite a few cenotes in Mexico and there are several in and around Valladolid. Apart from that there is a cute market, a cute pretty park, some charming sights and Chichén-Itzá, which is a short bus trip away and really nice to reach for a day trip from Valladolid. If you ask me, however, you should visit the pyramids "Ekbalam". They're really cool and much more interactive - but that's for another post. As a last little teaser, I would like to give you Izamal. A cute little town - even smaller than Valladolid and probably even more of a village - that is quite close to Valladolid and definitely worth a daytrip Valladolid, yes or no? Definitely YES! The city is simply very welcoming and sunny and I simply had a great time there. I also felt very safe on the streets off the beaten track and always had the feeling that I could go my own way without having to worry about anything. And I have rarely seen a more beautiful city sign than the one in Valladolid. A beautiful building sits enthroned in the background. A really nice view! 😊