Firstly, a warning as a last aside- if you go to the Yucatan, don’t stay at an all-inclusive resort- you may be tempted to, because of the inclusion of food and drink, and the enticement of having kid/teen centers as a welcome distraction for your little ones- but in my experience, the quality was so much worse than finding food, drink and lodging on your own- and you may call me snobby, but I don’t really want (or need) to spend my vacation rubbing elbows with incredibly sunburnt people from the great state of Minnesota. But maybe that is just me.
A small aside to emphasize the point of why you should take extra pains to find your food and accommodation: Twenty-five miles from Chichen Itza, we stopped in a small town called Valladolid— home of several gorgeous cenotes (that, sadly, we didn’t go to see on this trip) and we were told the food there was among the most excellent on the peninsula. Having only one meal there, we were not disappointed in the slightest, and there is a reason that the Mexican Tourism Board labeled Valladolid as part of its “Pueblo Magico” series of towns known for culinary and artistic significance.
Vallodolid is a Spanish town built on the dismantled homes of local Mayans and is home to at least three bloody uprisings by Mayan people towards their colonial oppressors in the 16th, 18th, and 19th centuries. It seems to have settled down somewhat in the last 200 years and become a lovely, quiet town of 50,000 or so inhabitants. Most of my time outside of the restaurant was walking around the town square and admiring its picturesque cathedrals- so business as usual for me, I guess.
For Yucatecan food (which is usually made with more habaneros, sour oranges, and pumpkin-based things than you find elsewhere in Mexico), it would truly be hard to top our meal in Valladolid at the much-vaunted El Mesón del Marqués- located next to the picturesque central square of Valladolid, this restaurant/hotel boasted some of the best food in my entire time in Mexico- which, after being in Mexico City (and eating at places like Contramar) is no small feat. With food like this available- highlights included an absolute beast of a meat stew called molcajete Mexicano, as well as queso relleno (a soup that uses Dutch edam cheese), staying at a resort (even when you have kids, and all you want is a quiet, nice beach, and you want to just relax) is foolish- local accommodation and food is the only way to go. For quiet beachside hangouts and gorgeous cenotes, it seems difficult to beat Playa del Carmen.
Next time, Rio and Carnival.
Man, the colors you captured in these photos are amazing. I appreciate your cynicism! I get why Dan likes you.
Model definitely Minnesotan