Under $100: Valladolid, Mexico

The quaint, colonial city of Valladolid, Mexico, is centrally located on the Yucatan Peninsula and is a formidable rest stop between trips to cenotes and Mayan ruins. But there’s more to the town than being just a place to crash on your road trip through the Yucatan.

An impressive and inviting city itself, Valladolid is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of pastel, colonial-style buildings. Spend the early hours walking through the narrow streets (in particular, Calzada de Los Frailes) admiring the architecture and how the early-morning light hits the angles and colors. Take yourself on a self-guided walking tour using the plaques placed throughout the city that describe events of the past. You’ll eventually stumble upon Iglesia de San Servicio, a towering, 16th-century church on the south side of Valladolid’s main square.

Before lunch, stop into Mercado Municipal, Valladolid’s local market. With a closing time of around 1 or 2 p.m., getting here early is crucial to getting the freshest foods of the day. Take your purchases to the town square for a picnic.

In the afternoon, find respite from the sun in the Convent of San Bernardo. For a few dollars to enter, wander through the museum where the history of the region’s cenotes is explained.

Although Valladolid itself warrants a visit of longer than one night, the city also makes a good starting point for day or half-day trips to the ruins of Chichen Itza, cenotes or the pink beach in Rio Lagartos.

After a long day of exploring, treat yourself to an affordable and authentic Mexican dinner at La Selva on Street 42, where locals come to feast on tacos, panuchos and tostadas.