Cancun to Iglesia de Uayma and Cenote Oxman: Day trip

Main attractions

• The Church of San Francisco de Asís in the village of Uayma is considered the most ornate Franciscan colonial facade in the Yucatán — a Churrigueresque eruption of carved saints, angels, floral motifs, and indigenous symbolic forms that covers the entire church front in a program of such exuberance it appears almost baroque in excess
• The church sits in a quiet Maya village entirely unaccustomed to mass tourism — the contrast between the elaborate facade and the ordinary village life around it is part of what makes the stop so compelling

Take note

• Uayma is a working village and an active parish church — dress modestly and visit respectfully; the facade is best photographed in morning light

Main attractions

• A large open cenote on the outskirts of Valladolid — a circular pool of intensely turquoise water open to the sky, its walls draped in hanging tree roots descending from the jungle above to the water surface in a curtain of living vegetation
• The water is exceptionally clear and deep, with a constant temperature of 24°C — swimming among the hanging roots in the shaft of open sky light is one of the most visually distinctive cenote experiences in the Yucatán
• A wooden platform and rope swing above the water offer a more active entry for those who want it

Take note

• Biodegradable sunscreen only — apply at least 30 minutes before entering; bring a towel and change of clothes; the cenote is within easy reach of Valladolid's colonial centre if combining with a brief town visit