Quick answer
Yucatán has seven Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns): Izamal, Valladolid, Maní, Sisal, Motul, Tekax and Espita; the last three since June 2023, according to Mexico's Tourism Ministry. From Mérida, Motul (43 km), Sisal (53 km) and Izamal (72 km) fit in half a day; Maní and Tekax pair up to the south, and Valladolid with Espita call for a night away. KORU doesn't rent in Yucatán yet: today it only has vehicles in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
How many Pueblos Mágicos does Yucatán have, and which are they?
Seven. Izamal joined the program in 2002, Valladolid in 2012, Maní and Sisal in December 2020, and Motul, Tekax and Espita in June 2023, when the federal Tourism Ministry (Sectur) named 45 new ones and Mexico reached 177. Many lists online still stop at four or five. And don't confuse a Pueblo Mágico with an archaeological site: Uxmal and Chichén Itzá aren't on the list, even if they sit near one of these towns.
Which one is closest to Mérida, and how long is each drive?
Motul is the closest, 43 km away. The distances and times below come from OpenStreetMap routing on November 7, 2026, without stops; add about 20% for the speed bumps (topes) in every town and the traffic leaving Mérida. They're ordered from near to far, and each card says what that town has that the others don't.
Can you see two Pueblos Mágicos in one day?
Yes, if they're in the same direction. From Mérida, three one-day combinations work well, plus one over two days. What doesn't work is mixing south and east: Maní and Izamal, for example, are on opposite sides, and you'd spend the day driving. Sisal goes on its own, because it's to the west and isn't on the way to any other.
Routes from Mérida (OpenStreetMap km, Nov 2026)
Where to stop along the way?
Each route has a stop worth the detour. Toward Izamal, the Aké archaeological site charges 145 MXN general admission and 80 MXN for Mexican visitors (Por Esto, Jul 1, 2026). Toward Maní, in Tecoh, the Sotuta de Peón hacienda shows how henequen was processed and has a cave cenote, Dzul-Há (Yucatán Today). And in Motul, cenote Sambulá is minutes from the center.
For families
At INAH sites, Mexican children under 13 don't pay, and on Sundays Mexican visitors and foreign residents get in free (INAH, bulletin 388). Some sites in Yucatán also charge a state fee. The Homún and Cuzamá cenotes are close to the southern route, but they already have their own guide: Mérida to Uxmal and the cenotes.
Tren Maya or car for the Pueblos Mágicos?
For Izamal and Valladolid, the Tren Maya is a real option: both have a station. Motul, Sisal, Maní, Tekax and Espita have none, so a car or regional buses are the practical way to go and come back the same day. A car also lets you combine two towns and a hacienda in one outing, which would take two days by public transport.
Can you rent with KORU in Mérida?
Not yet. KORU is a Mexican platform where verified local providers rent out their vehicles, and today the only published fleet is in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. For Mérida you can leave your email on the destination page and we'll let you know if vehicles arrive. Meanwhile, our Mérida car rental guide explains what to check when renting from another company.
Our advice
Yucatán's Pueblos Mágicos aren't seen in a single loop: you see them two at a time, in the same direction, with the afternoon free for a cenote or the town square.
KORU in Mérida: destination and waitlist
Leave your email and we'll tell you when vehicles reach Yucatán.
Car rental in Mérida
What to ask for, where to park downtown and how to get out of the city.
Mérida to Uxmal and the cenotes by car
The Puuc Route and the Homún and Cuzamá cenote ring.
Cancún to Chichén Itzá and Valladolid by car
Valladolid, its cenotes and Ek Balam via the 180D.
Frequently asked questions
Seven: Izamal, Valladolid, Maní, Sisal, Motul, Tekax and Espita. The last three were added in June 2023, when Mexico's Tourism Ministry named 45 new Pueblos Mágicos nationwide.
Motul, about 43 km and 45 minutes northeast. Next come Sisal, 53 km away on the coast, and Izamal, 72 km to the east.
From Mérida, take Highway 180 east to Hoctún, then the state road to Izamal: about 72 km, a little over an hour. Izamal also has a Tren Maya station.
Yes, if they're in the same direction: Motul and Izamal to the east, or Maní and Tekax to the south. Valladolid and Espita are better with a night in Valladolid. Avoid mixing south and east on the same day.
Sources
Sectur: Mexico with 45 new Pueblos Mágicos
The 2023 release naming Motul, Tekax and Espita (Spanish, external site).
If you're planning a Yucatán trip, go to korurent.com and leave your email on the Mérida page to hear when vehicles arrive. And if you head down to the Oaxaca coast afterwards, search Puerto Escondido and enter your dates: there, available cars show up with their price per day.