Complete List of Yucatan Pueblos Magicos in 2023

Promoted by the Mexico Secretary of Tourism, these magic towns are also welcoming to tourists, and provide something of unique value worth checking out.

Some of the best pueblos mágicos in Yucatan, like Tulum, Isla Mujers, Cozumel and Valladolid, are also some of the most popular Mexico travel destinations.

There are so many things to do in Tulum Mexico — from the beautiful beaches along the Caribbean Sea to Instagram-worthy Tulum art, beachfront hotels, the gorgeous Tulum cenotes, and much more.

For an absolute must-do Tulum activity, head to the Tulum Mayan Ruins.

They are located right on Tulum Beach Road, just 10 minutes or so from Tulum Town (Downtown Tulum), and are considered among the best Mayan Ruins in Mexico.

BEST YUCATAN PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

2. Valladolid, Yucatan

Valladolid pueblo magico is a beautiful colonial city and among the best day trips from Merida, Mexico.

However, you may regret not spending more time in Valladolid Yucatan Mexico, as there’s quite a bit to see and gorgeous yet affordable Valladolid hotels right downtown.

Spend some time strolling the Calzada de los Frailes, a colorful street lined with flower pots, boutique shops and cafes.

The Calzada (Promenade) is one reason Valladolid ranks among the most Instagram-worthy Mexico cities and is one of the must-visit Yucatan pueblos magicos Mexico.

Among the best shops on this street, there’s Kuxtal Galería de Arte Popular Mexicano & Café, a Mexican folk art shop, and Coqui Coqui Perfumeria, a boutique fragrance store.

At the southwest end of the street, don’t miss the 16th Century Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena.

Best valladolid cenotes in yucatan

Located minutes from downtown, you’ll want to visit Cenote Zaci. This partially open cenote (swimmable sinkhole) is popular with locals and visitors alike.

BEST YUCATAN PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

3. Bacalar, Quintana Roo

Bacalar pueblo magico, one of the best pueblos magicos Yucatan, is a quiet town in the southern part of Quintana Roo State,

Its claim to fame is Laguna Bacalar Lake, AKA the Lagoon of Seven Colors, a freshwater lagoon where you can see seven shades of blue, ranging from dark indigo to bright turquoise.

As a very large lake, the best way to experience Bacalar Lagoon is by boat tour, where you’ll visit sites like Isla Pajaros (Bird Island) and Canal de Los Piratas (Pirate’s Channel).

If you have extra time, check out the Costa Maya beach town of Mahahual, Mexico and Kohunlich Mayan Ruins, both located about an hour from Bacalar.

While its popularity grows year after year, Bacalar still feels more low-key than many places in Quintana Roo, like Tulum and Cancun.

For now, you can still enjoy a quiet getaway and inexpensive Bacalar accommodations — though it won’t stay a Mexico hidden gem forever!

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

4. Izamal, Yucatan

Izamal pueblo magico in the Yucatan Peninsula has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Site list — though for now, it remains a Yucatan pueblo magico.

Located about 1.5 hours from Merida, Izamal is one of the best and most popular Merida day trips.

Nicknamed “The Yellow Town,” Izamal is, well — yellow! That’s right: all buildings in Downtown Izamal are bright yellow

💛 Wondering, Why is Izamal painted yellow? No one knows for sure how the paint color came to be, which makes it even more intriguing.

Izamal, Mexico Yucatan is a small town, and you can explore all of downtown in a few hours.

While there, don’t miss the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, and take a calesa tour (horse-drawn carriage) to see the rest of Izamal Yucatan pueblo magico.

There’s also Kinich Kakmo Mayan Ruins that you can climb!

When you work up an appetite, head to Kinich Restaurant (which is located right next to Kinich Kakmo Ruins) or Mercado Municipal de Izamal market to enjoy authentic Yucatan food.

If you eat meat, sample one of the area’s most interesting dishes, dzik de venado. This is a shredded venison and veggie dish that’s similar to salpicon, and served cold, so it’s refreshing on a hot day.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

5. Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo

Isla Mujeres pueblo magico is one of the best places to visit in Yucatan.

To get there, you’ll take the Cancun to Isla Mujeres ferry for the 20-30 minute ride over to the island, which is located just across the Bahia de Mujeres (Bay of Women). 

Meaning “Island of Women,” Isla Mujeres was once a popular pilgrimage site with Maya women who went to the island to worship the Mayan goddess, Ixchel.

This jaguar deity was the goddess of the moon, medicine, childbirth, midwifery and more.

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea at Punta Sur on the southern tip of the island, you’ll find the Ruins of Ixchel Temple.

When you’re ready to swim, head to the Playa Norte on the northern side, which has a long stretch of white sandy beach and calm waters.

swim with the whale sharks in ISLA MUJERES

Besides beaches and Mayan Ruins, one of the best things to do in Isla Mujeres is swim with whale sharks.

They are sharks, but they’re incredibly docile and pose no threats to humans. Whale sharks are also the largest fish in the ocean, averaging an astonishing 35 feet long (10.5 m) 😳

If you visit Isla Mujeres from May 17 to September 17, large groups of whale sharks swim past the island on their annual migration.

During these months time, you can take an Isla Mujeres or Cancun whale shark tour to swim right alongside these gentle giants.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

6. Sisal, Yucatan

In 2020, Sisal was named a Mexico pueblo magico (magic town).

One of the best beaches near Merida Mexico, Sisal is the perfect place to simply enjoy the white sand beach, swim in the calm Gulf of Mexico waters, and eat some fresh seafood in one of the beachfront restaurants.

You can also rent a kayak or SUP paddleboard and explore the Gulf of Mexico or nearby lagoons on the water.

There are some local shops near the beach, a few cafes and restaurants and some economical Sisal hotels — but this is definitely a place to relax on a quiet beach.

When I personally visit Sisal, I rent a beach chair under one of the shaded palapas outside of the Muelle de Sisal restaurant.

Rentals are about $150 pesos (about $9 USD) for the day, and if you order food and drinks from the restaurant, they let you use their bathroom all day.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

7. Maní, Yucatan

One of the more off-the-beaten-path pueblo magicos Yucatan, Maní is a great place to explore if you want to experience true Yucatan culture.

It’s a charming small town with an impressive, historic Franciscan convent, Ex Convento de San Miguel Arcángel, and a small downtown area.

Also known for its colorful buildings, many visit Maní (which means peanut 🥜) on a day trip from Merida. It’s one of the beautiful magic towns in Mexico that you should visit.

Located less than two hours from Merida Mexico, by rental car, the best way to get to Maní is to fly into Merida Airport (code: MID) and drive over.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

8. Isla Aguada, Campeche

Unlike the popular (and crowded!) beaches of the Mexican Caribbean, like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya, the Campeche beaches are peaceful and tranquil.

In fact, you might even have them all to yourself, including Isla Aguada, one of the best Campeche beaches.

There are quite a few fun things to do in Isla Aguada, including just lying on the beach!

You can also check out the mangroves of Laguna de Terminos, a protected nature sanctuary of about 2,700 square miles (7,000 km²), best explored by boat.

This Campeche lagoon has been declared a Natural Dolphin Sanctuary, so you can take a Laguna de Terminos boat tour to see huge pods of wild dolphins 🐬

There’s also the small Isla Aguada Museum of Underwater Archeology, which is located in a historic lighthouse.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

9. Palizada, Campeche

Palizada is located on the western edge of Campeche State, near the border with Tabasco State, where you can see the Great Pyramid of La Venta and the Olmec Ruins.

Located on the Río Palizada River, this town was a commercial route for the Mayans in pre-Hispanic times.

Today, it’s one of the best off-the-beaten-path pueblos magicos in Mexico. The buildings in Downtown Palizada are all very colorful and have the town’s characteristic French tile roofs.

If you can, visit Palizada during the festival Carnival and Semana Santa (Holy Week or Easter Week).

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in Mexico

New Pueblos Magicos Added in 2023

In mid-2023, the Mexican government added about 75 new pubelos magicos to the program. Of these, there were five new Yucatan Peninsula pueblos magicos added:

• Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo State
• Motul, Yucatan State
• Espita, Yucatan State
• Tekax, Yucatan State
• Candelaria, Campeche State

BEST YUCATAN PUEBLOS MAGICOS in mexico

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in Mexico

Yucatan Pueblos Magicos: Frequently Asked Questions

This could be a town’s natural beauty, unique folklore, historical importance, natural wonders, interesting festivals, and more.

The designation of pueblo Yucatan magico is similar to that of a UNESCO World Heritage Site; however, pueblos magicos are limited to just Mexico.

Much like a Mexico UNESCO site, it is a great honor for a town to receive the pueblo magico designation.

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While there are 177 pueblos magicos in Mexico right now, that number can (and likely will) change in the future.

Each year, the Mexico Secretary of Tourism must reevaluate the list; some towns are added, and some get removed.

In the case of San Miguel de Allende, the city was removed from the list once the population got too high for it to be called a pueblo (small town).

You can find the entire list of pueblos magicos here.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in Mexico

If not, their status can be revoked the following year, or the next time the Mexican pueblos magicos list is updated.

Here are the three requirements to be considered for Mexico pueblo magico status:

• The town’s population must be at least 5,000 residents.
• It must be relatively easy to reach from a major city in Mexico via public transportation or well-maintained roadways.
• There must be something unique or magical about it that visitors will want to experience.

As you might imagine, there isn’t an exact definition of magical.

However, some common qualities include a unique annual festival, stunning natural beauty, interesting folkloric traditions, historic Colonial architecture, and more.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in Mexico

These four are still on the list of pueblos magicos, though Tepoztlan and Mexcaltitan de Uribe both temporarily lost the status.

By 2009, there were a total of 35 pueblos magico Mexico.

In 2012, there were 83, with at least one pueblo magico in all 32 Mexico states (except Mexico City, which is actually both a state and a city).

Each year, the program grows as small towns prioritize attaining pueblo magico status. You can find the entire list of pueblos magicos here.

BEST yucatan PUEBLOS MAGICOS in Mexico

You will get a much more authentic experience than in a big-name destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Cancun or Cabo San Lucas, so for culture travelers, Mexico magic towns are the way to go.

Final Thoughts: Best Yucatan Pueblos Magicos in Mexico

This list showcases all the Yucatan pueblos magicos, and there really is a perfect one for all types of travelers.

For beach-goers, head to Tulum, Isla Mujeres, Isla Cozumel, Sisal, Bacalar and Isla Aguada.

If you want to visit some beautiful colonial towns in Mexico, head to Valladolid, Izamal, Maní, Espita and Palizada.