All about Izamal in Yucatán in Mexico

Izamal (Mayathan: "Pace of the Iguanas") is a historically important small town and one of the most beautiful places (and of course a popular tourist destination) on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Izamal is also called the "Yellow City" ("Ciudad Amarilla"), because in the old town every house is painted in a sunny yellow. The history of the city dates back to the Middle Preclassic (700 - 300 BC).

The most important sight is the monastery of San Antonio de Padua. After the Spanish conquest, the monastery was built on the ruins of a former Maya temple.

The huge atrium is one of the largest in the world. Pope Johannes Paul II visited the place and in his honor a statue of him was erected in the monastery, which can also be visited.

Mayan pyramids

Several Mayan pyramids have been preserved and the special thing is that they are all located in the area of the city. The largest pyramid (Kinich Kak Moo) of Izamal has a side length of 200m and a height of 36m.

In fact, Kinich Kak Moo is the largest pyramid (by surface area) in the Yucatan. You can reach the pyramid on foot from downtown Izamal Calle (27 x 28 and 26). It is allowed to climb the pyramid and so you have a great overview over Izamal.

The other pyramids are:

• Pirámide de Itzamatul (Calle 26, No. 296)

• Piramid El Conejo ("Tu'Ul") (Calle 22 and between Calle 31 and 33)

• Pirámide Habuk (Calle 28 and between Calle 35 and 37)

• Pirámide Kabul (Calle 31 and between Calle 30 and 32)

While the entrance fees of many excavation sites have risen sharply in recent years, all pyramids in Izamal can be explored for free.

The world of archaeology

Some interesting figures about Mayan archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula:

Pueblos Mágicos

Izamal is one of the places designated by Mexico 2002 as "Pueblos Mágicos".

The award has been granted by SECTUR (Secretariat of Tourism in Mexico) since 2001 for unique folklore, a rich history or stunning natural beauty. On the Yucatán Peninsula, there are fourteen places that can call themselves "Pueblo Mágico".

The 14 Pueblos Magicós on the Yucatán Peninsula are (as of 2024):

• Quintana Roo: Bacalar, Isla Mujeres, Tulum and Cozumel

• Yucatán: Izamal, Maní, Sisal, Valladolid, Espita, Motul and Tekax

• Campeche: Isla Aguada, Palizada and Candelaria

How do you get to Izamal from Mérida?

The easiest way is by car. If you want to go by bus: In Mérida, tour buses from Oriente go to Izamal several times a day. The buses start at the Noreste Terminal and take about 90 minutes. Another option are the minibuses of Autobuses Centro. The station is on Calle 65 between Calle 46 and Calle 48.