21 iconic Instagram spots in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Let’s explore the most iconic Instagram spots in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico! After a three-month trip around the whole peninsula, I feel like I have found the most iconic photo-perfect places to visit in this part of Mexico.
From ancient Mayan ruins and gorgeous underground cenotes in the jungle to vibrant colonial towns and turquoise white-sand beaches – there are plenty of iconic Instagrammable places in the tropical land of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.
In this blog post, you will find the best Instagram spots in the Yucatan peninsula with descriptions, photos, and locations on the map. No matter where you travel around Yucatan, there are iconic places just around the corner. Happy travels!
Read more » 27 best places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
1. Yellow City – Izamal
Welcome to one of the most photo-perfect places in Mexico – the Yellow City, Izamal! This Pueblo Mágico was one of my favorite places we visited and it proved to be one of the most iconic Instagram spots in the Yucatan Peninsula, too!
The colonial town attracts visitors with its yellow color as all the buildings in the center of this magical town are painted yellow. We arrived at Izamal in the morning and spent there half a day exploring everything Izamal had to offer.
The most famous attraction in Izamal is the Convento de San Antonio sitting atop a hill (there once was an ancient Maya pyramid) in the heart of the town. Next to it, you will find the second-largest atrium in the world surrounded by a beautiful yellow arcade.
You can explore the unique convent and walk around the atrium for free. It does have working hours so check those before coming! The best time to arrive is early morning before the town heats up to scorching degrees.
Other must-do things in Izamal include climbing the Mayan pyramids – Kinich Kak Moo and Itzamatul. If you only have time for one, I highly recommend visiting the Kinich Kak Moo pyramid as you can see the whole town of Izamal from the top!
Don’t forget to explore the local market, Mercado Municipal de Izamal, try the yellow corn ice cream, walk around the 5 de Mayo Park, and, for lunch, I suggest trying Mayan dishes at Restaurant Kinich. This was one of my favorite towns in Yucatan!
Location: Convento de San Antonio in Izamal
2. Temple of Kukulcan at Chichén Itzá
Chichen Itzá is the most famous of all the best Mayan archaeological sites in the Yucatán and it is one of the most visited places in Mexico. It was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and voted among the New 7 Wonders of the World.
What now is a popular tourist destination, historically was one of the largest Mayan cities dating back to 600 AC. It existed as a major regional center for many centuries until its decline by the 12th century.
The most famous structure is the great El Castillo pyramid (the castle) which is also known as the Temple of Kukulcan. The pyramid with the temple on top of it is 30 meters high and was built sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries.
Visiting the Chichen Itza is one of the bucket list things to do in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. You can’t visit this part of Mexico without seeing Chichen Itza! Due to its popularity, it gets crowded so come here first thing in the morning!
The site opens at 8 AM, the parking next to the entrance opens at 7:30 AM. We arrived even before that so that we could be amongst the first ones in. At 8 AM there was already a long line of people so it is best if you have a rental car and arrive early.
Location: Chichén Itzá
3. Pink lakes of Las Coloradas
The bright pink salt lakes Las Coloradas is one of the most beautiful places in the Yucatán Peninsula! The attractive lakes offer unique photo opportunities as it is not too often that you get to see naturally pink lakes!
It is important to time your visit right. We visited on February 4th and had the perfect weather conditions – it was sunny, no clouds, and the lake was screaming pink color at us! So what is the best time to come here?
The lakes won’t be pink if there was a storm or a lot of rain over the previous days, you will see a bright pink color only on sunny days (no clouds) and the best angle of the sun will be around midday. And a little bit of wind will make the color pop!
So how to get there? The right place to go is marked on Google Maps as Las Coloradas Parque Turistico. There you will find the ticket office, the observation tower, and the entrance to the pink salt lagoons.
You can choose between a 45-minute walking tour, a bike tour, and a jeep tour. We chose the cheapest option (~350 pesos per person) and went on a walking tour. At first, we climbed the observation tower and then walked along the pink lake.
Overall we really enjoyed visiting Las Coloradas – it is definitely one of those iconic Instagram spots in the Yucatan peninsula. However, I highly recommend checking out the latest reviews on Google Maps before you come!
Location: Las Coloradas
4. Follow That Dream in Tulum
Follow That Dream street sign is one of the best Tulum Instagram spots and one of the most famous ones in the Yucatan peninsula. Thanks to the publicity on social media, this simple sign has become a symbol for travelers from around the world.
Once this sign was part of a local boutique shop business housed in the nearby building. As of 2024, the business has moved to a different location in Tulum downtown but the iconic sign remains in the same spot at the side of the street in Tulum hotel zone.
Location: Follow That Dream
5. Cenote Suytun
Another iconic place that has gained its popularity on social media is Cenote Suytun. It is amongst the most famous Instagram spots in the Yucatan peninsula and Mexico and has to be on every traveler’s Yucatan bucket list!
The place is known for its unique stone pathway leading into the middle of a large underground cenote with a hole in the ceiling right above it. If you time it right, there will be a light beam shining through the hole and illuminating the whole place.
Tip! We visited this cenote on March 9th and the stone platform was dry. However, the water level can be higher or completely cover the platform after rainy periods. The best way to make sure how it looks is by checking recent reviews on Google Maps.
Location: Cenote Suytun
6. Uxmal Archaeological Zone
Uxmal archaeological site dating back to the 10th-11th centuries is one of the most impressive Mayan ruins in the Yucatan, Mexico. It is known for its 40-meter-high Pyramid of the Magician – the main pyramid in the Uxmal Mayan ruins.
Not visiting Uxmal is like traveling to Cancun and not going to the beach – it is simply a thing you must do! So we rented a car and visited Uxmal on a day trip during our three-week stay in the city of Merida.
Uxmal is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the Yucatan, Mexico. The whole archaeological zone is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its significance and it features stunning Mayan architecture.
The Pyramid of the Magician is the most famous structure in Uxmal and one of the best Instagram spots in the Yucatan peninsula. The legend says that the pyramid was built in one night. I’m not so sure, tho, haha!
The pyramid has a unique feature – if you clap your hands in front of the pyramid the structure creates an echo of the clap that sounds like quetzal – a strikingly beautiful and colorful bird that is sacred to Mayan people. Such a unique experience!
Uxmal at its peak was a city of 25 thousand people so the pyramid is not the only impressive building here. Definitely check out The Governor’s Palace located on a hill, Casa de las Palomas as well as the Nunnery Quadrangle. Totally worth it!
Location: Uxmal Archaeological Zone
7. Beach swings in Isla Mujeres
I don’t know if a more dreamy scene is even possible – you sitting on the swings in the Caribbean Sea and feeling the warm waves of the sea on your skin. It has to be the ultimate tropical dream!
Isla Mujeres island is known for its many beach swings that you can find all around the island. The ones pictured here we found at Albatros Beach Club but you can find other places with swings on my blog about the best photo spots in Isla Mujeres.
Location: Albatros Beach Club
8. Church of Uayma
In case you are traveling to places like Chichen Itza or Cenote Suytun consider making a short detour to Uayma town to see one of the most colorful photo-perfect places – Convento de Santo Domingo or Church of Uayma.
The beautiful building is a former convent built by the Franciscans in the middle of the 17th century. It was built by using stones from Mayan sites. Yes, including from the nearby Chichén Itzá.
During the second half of the 19th century, the church was burned down during a Mayan rebellion. Only more than 100 years later the roofless church was finally restored and was officially reopened to the public in 2004.
The captivating building stands out with its unusual decorations – the white roses and stars symbolize the veneration of the Virgin Mary but the red color represents sacrifice and martyrdom. There is also a green color that symbolizes hope.
There isn’t much to see in Uayma so there’s no need to plan a longer stay here – 1 to 2 hours will be plenty to take unique photos and check out the beautiful church! We arrived on Saturday at 11 AM and it was open (entrance from the side street!).
Location: Church of Uayma
9. Cenote Atik Tulum
Cenote Atik Tulum is one of the most gorgeous cenotes near Tulum and amongst the most Instagrammable places in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico.
It is actually more than a cenote and features a jungle park filled with hidden sculptures, art objects, and photo spots. More and more surprises are waiting behind every bend in the trail. One of the most photo-perfect places near Tulum for sure!
Entrance to Cenote Atik Tulum was 350 pesos per person which is something you get used to near Tulum – prices here are higher! But you get extra value – besides all the necessary facilities you also get to visit fun objects in the jungle.
We visited Cenote Atik Tulum right before closing time so we did not get a chance to swim in the cenote. But it looked wonderful – like an oasis. It is an open cenote surrounded by high walls and a waterfall in one of the corners.
If you look deeper there are other stairs where you can enter the crystal clear waters apart from the obvious stone staircase at the entrance. To get to the secret stairs you have to walk a jungle path along many sculptures and art objects.
There were walls covered with skulls, fountains, a pool with a large bust above it, and many more unique objects for unique photos. If you are looking for a gorgeous cenote with picturesque surroundings near Tulum – look no further! This is it!
Location: Cenote Atik Tulum
10. Ven a la Luz sculpture in Tulum
Sculpture park ‘Ven a la Luz’ (‘Come to the Light’) is one of the most iconic tourist attractions in Tulum and one of the most popular Instagram spots in Tulum as well!
The impressive 10-meter statue was created by a South African artist for a festival that took place in Tulum in 2018. It symbolizes the deep connection between humans and nature.
The sculpture and other art installations are located in a closed area in the Tulum hotel zone that you can visit for an entrance fee. When we visited, it was 80 pesos per person. Simply iconic!
Location: Ven a la Luz
11. AZULIK City of Arts
Located in the jungle a 30-minute drive from Tulum, AZULIK City of Arts is an out-of-this-world handmade artisanal creation that takes you on a journey through never-seen-before spaces. In simpler words, it is a contemporary art museum.
When I first entered this place my first thoughts were about the The Lord of The Rings movie where elves lived in those otherworldly places in the trees. It was hard to fathom how they built and how they even came up with all of that!
The City of Arts is a massive building all connected in one space – there are wooden pathways built to explore the upper side of the building and then lead you down to the floor. The ground level is connected with other rooms and spaces.
Every room and space features something unique and creative. Once you are done exploring you get your shoes back and can walk outside to explore the surroundings. There is a pool, a restaurant, and more hidden nooks to explore.
The whole place felt like I was on a different planet. The entrance costs 400 pesos per person and it was worth it. An added bonus are those endless photo-perfect Instagram spots all around the building!
Did you know? There is another museum in the Tulum hotel zone – SFER IK Tulum. From what I gathered from reviews it is a much smaller place for the same price and thus feels not as price-worthy. Check out more about all SFER IK has to offer here!
Location: AZULIK City of Arts
12. Cenote Ik Kil
Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most iconic cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula and a visit to this place is often combined with visiting Chichen Itza – both sites are located just 5 kilometers (3 miles) apart.
This cylindrical cenote stands out with its circular shape and 26-meter walls covered with hanging plants and tree roots. The cenote itself is 40 meters deep and served as a place for sacrifices for ancient Mayan people a long time ago.
The cenote is located within the territory of a hotel and a restaurant so you can not only go for a swim here but buy a combined ticket that offers a buffet-type catering. That’s why it is a popular place amongst tour buses. Arrive early to avoid them!
Did you know? Ik Kil from Mayan means ‘place of the winds’.
We visited Ik Kil Cenote on the same day we went to Chichén Itzá. The entrance fee to the cenote was 200 pesos per person. This gorgeous cenote is definitely amongst the most iconic places in the Yucatan peninsula. And a great spot for photos too!
Location: Cenote Ik-Kil
13. Muyil Archaeological Zone
Located just a 20-minute drive from Tulum is a wonderful Mayan pyramid and ancient ruins – Muyil Archaeological Zone. It is one of the longest-inhabited ancient Mayan cities in the area, and some artifacts there date back to the 4th century BC.
Muyil pyramid stands out with its unique shape – it has characteristics of an architectural style typical in the Peten region in modern-day Guatemala which signifies close ties with ancient Mayan cities in the South.
The archaeological zone features a group of different structures and temples and a big pyramid deeper into the jungle. You won’t see a pyramid like this anywhere else in Yucatan – definitely worth a visit!
Location: Muyil Archaeological Zone
14. Leaning lighthouse in Puerto Morelos
This beautiful leaning lighthouse at the shores of the Caribbean Sea is a symbol of strength and resilience in Puerto Morelos. It is one of the most unique places and amongst the most iconic Instagram spots in the Yucatan peninsula.
The lighthouse was hit by a hurricane in 1967 that left it tilted like you see in the photo. Although a new lighthouse was built next to it, this one was left standing there as a symbol of the resilience of the small fishing town of Puerto Morelos.
Location: Leaning lighthouse in Puerto Morelos
15. Calzada de los Frailes in Valladolid
Calzada de los Frailes (Friars Causeway from Spanish) in the colonial town of Valladolid is probably the most beautiful street in the Yucatan peninsula and it was one of my favorite places to visit in Valladolid, Mexico.
Valladolid is one of the most charming colorful cities in the Yucatan Peninsula in this street is a true testament to that. Built in 1801, the little street is dotted with colorful and photogenic houses and doorways.
If you have time, I highly recommend walking this charming street all the way from one end to the other. It starts just two blocks away from the main square in Valladolid and ends about 600 meters later at Parque Sisal Park.
Overall this street was only one of the many colorful Instagram spots in Valladolid. Because we stayed in Valladolid for three weeks we got to explore many cute spots around the city. Valladolid is definitely worth stopping by!
Location: Calzada de los Frailes
16. Cenote Calavera
Located just a 5-minute drive from Tulum downtown Cenote Calavera is not only one of the closest but also one of the most popular cenotes near Tulum and in the Yucatan peninsula.
This iconic cenote got its fame on social media thanks to its unique looks – a big circular hole in the ground with stairs and a swing. Next to the big hole, there are two smaller ones where you can jump through and get inside the water.
Calavera means a skull in Spanish and this cenote supposedly resembles one. The big hole is meant to be the mouth and two smaller ones are supposed to be the eyes. See it for yourself! There might be some truth to it!
The biggest downside to this cenote is that it is rather small. There simply isn’t enough space for too many people but it does get crowded during the day. If you want to truly enjoy it then come here in the morning. It might not be worth it afterwards.
Entrance to the cenote was 250 pesos per person which is actually one of the cheapest prices amongst cenotes near Tulum. However, considering the small space for jumping into the water it seems rather adequate.
Location: Cenote Calavera
17. Playa Delfines in Cancun
Cancun – one of the most popular places in the Yucatan peninsula – is all about gorgeous white-sand beaches and warm turquoise waters so exploring the most beautiful beaches is one of the top things to do in Cancun.
If you ever go to Cancun, you must include Playa Delfines in your itinerary!
Playa Delfines is amongst the most beautiful public beaches in Cancun and the whole Yucatan peninsula. It is easily accessible as no hotels are blocking access to it. Plus it features cute parasols and swings.
Tip! If you stay in Cancun for at least a couple of days one of the must-do things in Cancun is watching sunrise in the Caribbean Sea. Cancun faces the sea to the East making it the pergfect place for a sunrise at the beach.
We too went on a sunrise mission during our stay in Cancun and headed to the beautiful Playa Delfines. The sunset was gorgeous and this stayed as a wonderful memory from our trip! Plus you can take cute photos while there!
Location: Playa Delfines
18. Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote located just a 10-minute drive from the center of Tulum downtown is one of the closest cenotes to Tulum. And over the years it has become one of the most popular ones as well.
The beautiful Gran Cenote boasts gorgeous turquoise water and different swimming areas all connected in one big crystal clear pond. There is one part out in the open but there are also two cave tunnels that lead to other swimming areas.
Here comes the best part – there are small turtles that live inside the cenote! Part of the cenote is restricted where you are not allowed to swim because turtles usually live there. But sometimes they wander off and I got to swim together with a turtle!
Entrance to the cenote was 500 pesos per person. We visited more than 30 cenotes around the Yucatan Peninsula and this was the most expensive cenote out of all but this is what you get near Tulum – prices are quite steep.
Location: Gran Cenote
19. Monumento a La Patria in Merida
Monumento a La Patria is one of the most iconic landmarks in Merida, Mexico. It is a large Mayan-style monument dedicated to the history of Mexico. It is located in the middle of a large traffic roundabout at the end of Paseo de Montejo Avenue.
The monument was constructed in the middle of the 20th century and depicts the most important events in Mexico’s history. The entire monument was hand-carved from stone and took more than a decade to create.
This was probably one of my favorite Instagram spots in Merida and in the Yucatan peninsula! The monument is massive 14 meters high (46 ft) and 40 meters in diameter (131 ft) and features more than 300 hand-carved figures!
We rented an apartment nearby so we walked to the monument on foot. However, it will be a bit of a walk if you are staying in the center of the city so you might want to take a taxi here. Be careful when crossing the busy roundabout!
Location: Monumento a La Patria
20. Lagoon of Seven Colors in Bacalar
While staying in Tulum we decided to go on a weekend trip to Bacalar and its pride and joy, the Lagoon of Seven Colors! It turned out to be one of my favorite memories from our travels around the Yucatán Peninsula!
The spectacular Lagoon of Seven Colors is often regarded as the Maldives of Mexico thanks to its turquoise crystal-clear shallow waters! It is said that the lagoon boasts seven different shades of blue but I didn’t count!
Some of the must-do things to do in Bacalar include a boat trip to the famous Channel of the Pirates, having lunch at a waterfront restaurant (I recommend La Playita), exploring the old fort in downtown, and floating the river at Los Rapidos.
Bacalar is just a short ride away from three incredible Mayan sites – Chacchoben, Dzibanché, and Kohunlich archaeological zones. I liked the three massive pyramids in Chacchoben the most but in Dzibanché you are allowed to climb the pyramids!
After a day full of adventures and swimming I recommend stopping by the central square of Bacalar – Zócalo. It is often full of activities including some dancing, singing, and lots of street food stands. Here I got the best marquesita I have ever eaten!
Location: Lagoon of Seven Colors in Bacalar
21. Portal Maya in Playa del Carmen
One of the most popular spots to visit in Playa del Carmen is the seaside Parque Los Fundadores – a square right in front of the Caribbean Sea which is a popular meeting place amongst locals and tourists.
The seaside park boasts a massive (50 ft. or 16m high!) arched sculpture – Portal Maya. It is one of the best places to watch the sunrise in Playa del Carmen and a famous photo spot as well.
Basically, you can’t visit Playa del Carmen and not have a photo at this square. The sculpture depicts a man and a woman holding hands and leaning out of a spiral of water and wind. This sculpture symbolizes the beginning of a new era.
The park also features colorful Playa del Carmen letters. We came here at sunrise and got the sunrays beaming through the holes in the letters and palm trees hanging above! Magic! Try to come early for the best photos and to avoid crowds!
Location: Portal Maya
Happy exploring!
Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula is one of the top travel destinations around the world. It offers a balanced mix of tasty food, a tropical climate, Mayan culture, gorgeous beaches, secret cenotes, ancient ruins, and vibrant cities.
We have spent two winters or six months traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, including the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and exploring all the beautiful places this peninsula had to offer.
From white-sand beaches to dark underground cenotes, and ancient pyramids – there’s just so much to see! I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did and I hope you get some travel inspiration from this blog post for your travels! Happy exploring!