Tips & Guide for Visiting the Yellow City of Izamal, Mexico
Most tourists that visit the Yucatan Peninsula are familiar with Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum and Chichen Itza. However, behind these more familiar tourist destinations you can find the romantic golden city of Izamal. It is nicknamed the “Yellow City” for the traditional colonial yellow buildings that make the layout of the city. This ancient Mayan city is a great example of how colonialism established itself over the local native culture. Visually prevalent around every corner and towering the city is Mayan pyramid of Kinich-KakMo. Kinich-KakMo is the largest pyramid in the Yucatan, by its height and volume. This Mayan temple is higher and larger than Chichen-Itza, Coba, Ek Balam and all the others in the region. It is the 3rd largest pyramid in all of Mexico. It is just 4 blocks from the main square and is free for entry, from morning till after sunset. Taking a self-tour by foot is the best way to visit the city, as all the Mayan ruins, churches, city streets, restaurants, buses, etc. are within walking distance from each other. Wandering this city taking photos of all the romantic colonial golden yellow buildings, ruins and churches that bud out from the center of town like a honeycomb is truly the best way to explore and embed yourself within the local culture.
Best Things to Do & See:
1. Climb to the top of Kinich-KakMo
2. Eat Relleno Negro
3. Visit the Atrium of Franciscan Convent San Antonio
4. Explore the Yellow city by foot during the day & night
5. Sit and enjoy sites/sounds of Parque Zamna in the center of town
2. Eat Relleno Negro
3. Visit the Atrium of Franciscan Convent San Antonio
4. Explore the Yellow city by foot during the day & night
5. Sit and enjoy sites/sounds of Parque Zamna in the center of town
Best Guides Available Online:
Brittany Thiessen - Great guide with loads of information on restaurants, hotels, buses, pics, etc.
Everything Playa Del Carmen - Smaller guide from a website in Playa, but has some good information on Izamal.
The Spanish atrium of Franciscan convent San Antonio is the largest in the Americas and 2nd in the world behind the Vatican. The monastery sits at the heart of the town, however the head of this ancient Mayan city is Kinich-KakMo that sits on watch above the rest of the buildings. No matter how much the Spanish colonialists tried to destroy or build over the Mayan temples, they were unable to completely wipe clean their civilization and these towering ruins are an example of their persistence. The town has a local dish only found in the Yucatan and is native to Izamal. Relleno Negro (black turkey stew) is a savory dish that will have you googling the recipe to see what exactly what it was you just ate. This is the type of dish perfected and made by generations of Izamal town’s people, this is a culinary masterpiece and it could most definitely be a plate on a 5 start restaurant’s menu.
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How to Get to Izamal, Mexico:
It is recommended to have a rental car for arriving to Izamal, it is around 3.5 hours from Cancun or an hour from Merida. If you have more time to travel slowly, you can take the bus system from Valladolid or Merida. These will take a significant amount of more time for travel, but they do have daily buses going from both cities to Izamal.
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