What to see
Start at the main square with its cathedral, then walk the Calzada de los Frailes, a restored street of pastel houses leading to the Convent of San Bernardino. Cenote Zaci sits right in town, and the small museum and craft shops make for an easy half day on foot.
In the evening the square comes alive with food stalls and marimba music. Time your Chichen Itza visit for the early morning, then return to Valladolid for lunch and a relaxed afternoon exploring its cenotes and streets.