If you're planning a trip to Mexico and want something more soulful than the usual beach resort experience, head to Yucatán — a region where every detail feels considered, yet completely unforced.
Whether you're drawn to historical sites, slow living, or spaces that feel as thoughtfully crafted as they are beautiful, Yucatán quietly delivers. This is a place where architecture works with the environment and where culture shapes the way people live.
Mérida: The Cultural Heart
Start in Mérida, the capital of Yucatán. It is a city layered with history, but not frozen in time. Wander the historic center and you will see Spanish colonial buildings softened by time — faded pastels, adorned wooden doors and tiled entryways.
What makes Mérida worth more than a quick stop is its balance of heritage and modern creativity. Local cafes, boutiques and galleries breathe new life into old structures, often without stripping away the imperfections. Spend time walking, especially in neighborhoods like Santa Lucía and Santiago, and take in the details: courtyards dappled with filtered sunlight, handwoven hammocks in shaded terraces and quiet plazas where time feels slower.
Tip: Visit Casa de Montejo and the Palacio Canton Museum to get a sense of how local design evolved — from Mayan foundations to colonial influences.
Izamal: The Yellow City
A short drive from Mérida, Izamal is one of Mexico’s magical sights. Almost every building is painted a golden yellow, which catches the light in a way that makes the entire town feel like it's glowing. Beneath that yellow is a centuries-old dialogue between Mayan and Spanish history.
You can climb Kinich Kakmó, a massive pre-Hispanic pyramid in the middle of town, then walk over to the San Antonio de Padua Convent, built on Mayan ruins. It's a rare case where different histories aren’t separated. They coexist, layered into the town's structure.
Valladolid: Colonial Calm and Cenotes
Valladolid is one of the best places to feel the warmth of local life. The streets are lined with colorful, low-rise buildings. It is a gateway to some of the most stunning cenotes in Yucatán, natural sinkholes used by the Maya for water and rituals. Cenotes like Suytun, X’Keken, and Ik Kil are naturally designed spaces, where geology, light and water create a hidden jungle sanctuary.
Uxmal: Ancient Design, Timeless Principles
Chichén Itzá gets the crowds, but Uxmal may be the more rewarding visit for design lovers. Less commercial and beautifully preserved, this ancient Mayan city is a masterclass in form, proportion and adaptability.
Structures like the Pyramid of the Magician or the Nunnery Quadrangle show how space was shaped with purpose, aligned with the sun, built for ceremony and detailed with symbolic carvings.
Tip: Visit early in the day for cooler temperatures and softer light, and notice how shadows define the architecture.
Celestún: Nature’s Architecture
For a total change of pace, head west to Celestún, a quiet fishing village and home to a large biosphere reserve. Take a boat through the mangroves, watch flamingos gather in flocks and swim in a freshwater spring tucked into the reserve. Everything in Celestún feels untouched, simple and in harmony with the rhythms of the land.
Go Slow and Pay Attention
Yucatán isn’t a place you rush through. It is not about grand statements. It is about subtlety and grounded design that reflects real life.
If you are looking for a destination that offers not only rich culture and unforgettable food, but also an unspoken lesson in how to live and build with purpose, Yucatán quietly delivers.
The rhythms of Yucatán, from sunlit courtyards to shadowed cenotes, inspired Odrie’s Dancing with the Sun and the Moon collection, where light, texture and shape define each piece.