Temozón

Temozón is a small town of some 15,000 people just eight minutes north of Valladolid, and even closer to the Tren Maya station. Visitors pass on their way to Tizimín, and in lesser numbers on their way to Ek Balam. But the town is smaller than Valladolid and offers a unique small-town experience with all of the warmth and color for which Yucatan is so rightly famous.

The town name means place of the whirlpool, likely an early reference to one of the great cenotes. There are many in the area. The community is known across the peninsula for the traditional smoked meats and for the manufacture of truly fine cedar goods, especially furniture. The main street in town is an orchestrated display of the many things on offer including artisan works, beauty and hygiene products, and all made from traditional recipes. 

People visit to experience the nearby archaeological sites (Ek Balam most prominently) but the Hubiku Cenote is likely even more popular. A semi-open cenote, it's surrounded by the limestone that holds up most of the peninsula, but for swimming and cooling off it's unbeatable. There is a restaurant, museum, and artisan shop, and plenty of greenery to keep people coming back. And it's still just one of multiple sink holes that can be visited in the area, each one more divinely inviting than the last. 

Temozón offers a whole variety of lodging options, from the budget conscious to the truly opulent. For those arriving on the Tren Maya, the town is an integrated part of the Valladolid metro area and one can easily visit both towns while staying nights in just one. Visits to Valladolid are always a must if you've never been there. Temozón is a little quieter, and certainly, quite a bit smaller. But the colors are just as bright, and it may be a little more easily walk-able.