Mérida vs Valladolid: Which Yucatán City Won Me Over
After at least two nights in both Mérida and Valladolid, I compare hotels, walkability, prices, safety after dark and access to ruins, cenotes and beaches.
The Yucatán Peninsula is a culturally rich region in southeastern Mexico known for Mayan ruins, cenotes, colonial cities, Caribbean beaches, tropical landscapes, and popular destinations such as Cancún, Tulum, Mérida, Valladolid, and Chichén Itzá.
After at least two nights in both Mérida and Valladolid, I compare hotels, walkability, prices, safety after dark and access to ruins, cenotes and beaches.
A detailed, real-world guide to renting a car in the Yucatán Peninsula, with costs, routes, hassles and alternatives compared over a 10-day trip.