Mexico is the most popular destination for American travelers going abroad, but it’s a known fact a majority of people will flock into one of only four spots:
Cancun, Tulum, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and if a cultural getaway’s their forte, possibly Mexico City. Needless to say, overtourism is taking a massive toll on local communities, as well as negatively impacting the local culture.
Fortunately, not all Mexican destinations are crumbling under the weight of gentrification.
Located in the lesser-explored inland region of Yucatán, under 3 hours by train from Cancun, Izamal is a historic town yet to be spoiled by the masses, and begging to be discovered—literally:
Discover The Magic Of Mexico’s Yellow City
A quaint Yucatanese settlement in the heart of the namesake peninsula, Izamal is popular for its yellow-washed townscape, fascinating combination of Spanish and Mayan heritage, and landmark 16th-century convent.
Let’s start with the ‘yellow’ itself:
If you’ve ever come across Instagram reels of a completely mustard-colored town in Mexico, and you’ve ever wondered where that might be, well, you’ve just found it. All buildings in the historic center of Izamal, which dates back to the colonial period, are painted in this striking hue.
The story behind that is as intriguing as Izamal’s complex past. In case you didn’t know, yellow reflects sunlight and helps keep the inside of buildings cooler, so that’s one reason why.
The other one is that, after Pope John Paul II visited in 1993, many locals repainted their facades, which were already warm-toned, in varying shades of yellow, with white trims, to symbolize the colors of the Vatican.
Happy coincidence or not, yellow is also the color of maize, a staple in Mayan cuisine, and there’s nowhere better to soak up Mexico’s pre-Columbian charm than here:
Why Visit Izamal?
Izamal is a one-of-a-kind destination worth the detour for the aesthetics alone—and trust us, there’s plenty of amazing photo spots to be found here—but its primary appeal is its architectural ensemble.
The aforementioned convent, named after San Antonio de Padua, is a massive Franciscan structure built in the late 1500s on top of a Mayan pyramid base.
It is Izamal’s most iconic building, and it boasts one of the largest enclosed atriums in the world (some say it’s second only to the Vatican).
Pilgrims mainly visit it for the Virgin of Izamal, an icon displayed in the monastery grounds, but if you’re not Catholic, you can still admire the convent for its centuries-old history and richness of detail.
Speaking of Mayan pyramids, Izamal is nicknamed ‘City of Hills‘ due to the Mayan mounds buried under the modern town. The most monumental of those, and most visible, is Kinich Kakmó, a pyramid standing right in the center of Izamal.
Sample Izamal’s Mayan Heritage
Naturally, there’s no Mayan culture without the rich gastronomy, and if it’s indigenous flavors you’re after, make sure Restaurante Kinich Izamal is on your bucket list:
Famous for its Yucatanese dishes, most notably cochinita pibil and poc chuc, it is a traditional spot in the old colonial core frequented by locals and visitors alike, so you know food is reasonably priced.
For generously-sized empanadas and vegetarian-friendly options, La Conquista is the place to go, and on top of hearty meals, you should expect to find a laid-back setting, away from the main tourist flow.
Needless to say, you haven’t really been to Mexico until you’ve browsed a street market, and the Mercado Municipal de Izamal, housed in an arcaded, yellow-tinged, covered hall, has a plethora of stalls selling delicious tacos and tamales, usually for around $1.
Izamal Is Magical
This month, Izamal took a major step in cementing its position as a major tourism destination in Mexico, through the launch of the ‘Izamal Is Magical’ campaign.
Though the city is already classed as a Pueblo Mágico, a designation aimed to highlight culturally-relevant destinations in the country, local authorities are now taking matters into their own hands and actively promoting the town’s wide array of attractions to foreign audiences.
Izamal is, after all, one of the first ‘Magical Towns’ of Mexico, and an important ‘enclave’ of Mayan identity.
According to the regional Director of Tourism, Falú Flores Balam, ‘Izamal Is Magical‘ is a brand that will reach ‘beyond the current administration’, and consolidate Izamal as a tourism epicenter.
In his own words, there has been a ‘limited narrative’ as to what Izamal has to offer. He goes on to add that, in the Historic Center alone, there are over 80 sites of interest, not to mention the contemporary art exhibits and gastronomy scene.
In short, Izamal wants more tourists, and luckily for them, the Maya Train has come to the rescue:
How To Reach Izamal From Cancun This Winter
Since 2023, tourists based in Cancun have been able to board a direct train from Cancun Airport to Izamal.
The journey takes just under 2 hours, or to be more precise, 1 h 45 min, and tickets start from only MX$328, or US$18 on average.
Right now, there are up to 6 departures a day, with a 1.5-hour interval between trains (and a longer 5-hour midday gap). The earliest departure is 8 a.m., arriving to Izamal at 9:44, while the last train leaves at 8:10 p.m., reaching the town at 9:54 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased directly at the Tren Maya website.
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