🌵 For budget accommodation with boho vibes in the very heart of Valladolid, then you need to read our review on the Oryx Hostel!
The Oryx Hostel in Valladolid is new, it’s organised, clean and full of shiny, happy people! We think it’s the bees knees for a number of reasons… like the location, the price, the private ensuite rooms, the funky design ideas and breakfast. But it doesn’t stop there – so read on to find out what makes the destination of Valladolid and the Oryx Hostel so special.
If you’re looking for unique destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, then you are going to want to check out Valladolid. This little destination is rapidly gaining in popularity, so it won’t remain off the beaten track forever. Only 90 minutes from Tulum, or two hours from Cancun… we encourage you to embrace those intrepid travel feels, jump on an ADO bus and head to the beautiful Mexican town of Valladolid.
This destination is the ideal base to visit Chichén Itzá – wonder of the world and to find the best cenotes – without the crowds. And the Oryx in Valladolid is the ultimate base for your stay. Suited to couples, to solo travellers and even a family or two… the Oryx is the perfect all rounder!
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Oryx Hostel at a Glance
📍 Location – Calle 37, Valladolid – 3 minutes from the ADO bus terminal
🗿 Reasons to Visit Valladolid – Wonder of the world Chichén Itzá and stunning cenotes
💵 Approximate Rates – 14 – 60 USD per night, depending on the season
🛏 9 Private Rooms, 1 Triple room & 2 Shared Rooms with Bunks
🛁 Ensuite Bathrooms with Towels
🚲 Amenities – Inclusive breakfast, strong Wifi, swimming pool, Functional Training, bike rental, onsite ATM
🎞 Shared Spaces – Cinema room, fully equipped shared kitchen, boho indoor dining table, outdoor dining and hammocks and spaces to chill
Location
You arrive at the ADO bus terminal in Valladolid and your backpack feels heavier than it should be. Your journey took it out of you, and now you just want to get to where you’re going. Yup… we’ve been there.
Well thank goodness for the Oryx Hostel! Because it’s ONLY a three minute walk from the bus station. Today your weary body gets off lightly, as you walk around the block and hey presto – you arrive at the entrance to Oryx.
Yes – the location of Oryx Hostel is ideal! Not only is it a stone’s throw from the bus station, but it’s a mere three blocks away from the heart of town. In a nutshell, Oryx hostel is the perfect location. We know this because we’ve returned to Valladolid a couple of times and have stayed in very different parts of town.
🎺 And so we can say for sure that their location trumps all others.
The Overall Vibe
Oryx Hostel in Valladolid is kind of Boho! And we like that vibe. The greens from the garden, the wall art and the chilled hammocks slung up in the outdoor courtyard were our kind of jam.
What’s more, given the large number of private rooms, Oryx Hostel is not just a hostel – not in the typical sense of the word. So if you’re one of those kind of travellers that doesn’t vibe with the shared sleeping arrangement, then you’ll be happy to know you have options here.
We encouraged friends to go and stay at the Oryx and they confirmed what we noticed about our stay – the super friendly atmosphere. Guaranteed, if you book at Oryx you’ll meet super cool people and be welcomed by an awesome team.
From the quirky little design touches, the friendly dog – Quesadilla, the multiple spaces to find a place to just chill, then we give these guys a 10 out of 10.
♡ The Oryx is the absolute best place to stay when visiting Valladolid – of that I’m convinced!
The Rooms
There are total of nine private rooms each with their own ensuite bathroom, and two shared dorms with bunk beds.
We stayed in a private room upstairs in the central part of the hostel. It was everything we needed for a comfortable stay in Valladolid and more. Digital nomads will love the convenient little workspace available for those moments when a quiet place is needed for work.
Having an ensuite bathroom was ideal. We have travelled around the world for years, in and out of hostels and the shared bathroom situation is always a sticky point. So to have our own space to shower at the end of the day, felt pretty good.
Amenities
The facilities of the Oryx Hostel in Valladolid were among the best we’ve seen and experienced.
Inclusive Breakfast
A lovely variety of fresh fruits, toast, jams, spreads and hot drinks was prepared for all guests. Served each day between 7.30am and 10.00am, it was a perfect way to fuel up for a day exploring Valladolid.
Come back for seconds, and enjoy your breakfast outside in the tranquil garden under the trees. This is also the perfect opportunity to meet other travellers. Take time to chat, and to learn about others’ experiences of the local cenotes and get their recommendations on what to see and do in and around Valladolid.
💎 A relaxed breakfast time is always one of our favourite times to discuss with other travellers, who have come and explored just days before! It’s a great way to find the local hidden gems.
Swimming Pool
When it gets hot and sticky in Valladolid, then you’ll be glad for the swimming pool. Set towards the back of the hostel premises the pool isn’t central, which gives you added privacy. The banana palms create a tropical backdrop and a peaceful place to cool off.
You can also take advantage of the strong Wifi and hang out at the pool with your laptop. Alternatively, you might prefer to grab a local cerveza, pull up a chair and enjoy some Mexican sunshine.
The pool got the big tick from our two youngest intrepid travel experts and critics!
The Shared Kitchen
And the kitchen got the big tick from the oldest members of the family! When it comes to full-time travel we always opt for self-catering.
What made this kitchen stand out from all the rest? Well there were a few things that made it ideal:
- Ample availability of shelves and fridges – normally we struggle to find space to put our food. But this was not an issue at all!
- Two entrances into the kitchen – one space opening into the outdoor courtyard, then other into the indoor shared space.
- Fully equipped, for cooking – all the pots, pans and utensils you’ll need to cook a dinner!
- Dual stove top spaces – room for multiple groups cooking in the kitchen at one time.
- And just the general overall layout – the kitchen was open plan and easy to navigate among other guests.
The TV / Cinema Room
Yes there is even a space for when you feel the need for a little screen time! Grab a beanbag and the remote control and make the most of the free Netflix available at the Oryx Hostel in Valladolid.
Bike & Scooter Rental
Probably one of the best ways to get around in Valladolid, is by bike – and the Oryx Hostel has thought of that too. Rent one of the hostel owned funky bicycles complete with front basket and visit some of the nearby cenotes. There are at least four you can visit within a 30 minute bike ride radius of central Valladolid.
And if you plan to visit some of the more remote cenotes a little further from Valladolid, then book your scooter through the front desk at Oryx Hostel. They’ll arrange everything, at a competitive if not cheaper rate, than if you were to try source it on your own.
🛵 Read our full guide to visiting the cenotes of Valladolid by scooter.
Functional Training & Zumba
For the fitness enthusiasts, there is a Functional Training session most mornings, which takes place across the road. For a small fee you can join the team and keep up with your fitness routines and workout. In addition to this, the Zumba team run a lively session most mornings. If you don’t join them, you’ll hear them from a couple blocks away. It’s honestly a lot of fun!
The Oryx Hostel WhatsApp Group
And to stay up to date with everything that happens in the Oryx Hostel in Valladolid is this ingenious idea! A WhatsApp group!
On registration at the hostel, scan the QR code and you won’t miss a beat. During our stay we were kept notified of the availability of fitness programs, scheduled maintenance, unscheduled Chichén Itzá closures and timings, in-house celebrations and itinerary ideas. They also let the guests know about availability options for the following night.
Opening this platform to all, meant that guests could extend tour invites to others staying in the hostel. Or to plan a drink at a nearby bar outside. It created a sense of community and transparency in terms of communication.
☎️ Well done Oryx, for thinking of this one!
Oryx Hostel with Kids
We took our kids, and I felt a section here on staying at Oryx Hostel with kids was relevant. Not every hostel environment is right for kids, but in this case… it was. The triple room is perfect if you are a small family, or for larger families then the Oryx team will likely offer two private rooms.
The best thing about staying at Oryx with kids, is that you don’t need to walk far looking for dinner places. The pretty Calzada de Los Frailes street is only an 8 minute walk and the Convent de San Bernardino de Siena only 12 minutes walking distance. And within the hostel, kids are made to feel at home in the TV room, by the pool, or enjoying hammock time.
Our kids are super social and loved meeting other guests in the hostel as much as we did! And everyone was welcoming, patient and friendly with them.
Things to Do in Valladolid Near Oryx Hostel
We have multiple dedicated guides (coming very soon), with things to do in Valladolid. So stay tuned and sign up to our mailing list.
Valladolid is a very pretty colonial Mexican town in the Yucatan Peninsula. Perhaps the prettiest in the Peninsula, if I’m to be so bold. If you are wanting to get away from the big resorts of Cancun, to get a more traditional sense of Mexico, then Valladolid is perfect.
And there are so many places to see and experience, that we could easily justify staying more than a week. But to list just a few of the key things to do, then see below –
- Wonder of the world – Chichén Itzá. It’s a must do if you’re visiting this part of the world. Very touristy, but still warrants a visit.
- Ek Balam Ruins – Much more laid back ruins with a fraction of the tourists.
- Explore hidden cenotes north of Valladolid – Sac Aua Cenote or Secreto Maya Cenote
- Visit the best cenotes in the region by tour or scooter such as Saamal Cenote or Dzitnup Cenote.
- The Convent de San Bernardino de Siena and light show.
- Free walking tour of Valladolid.
These are just some of our favourites, but there is a LOT more!
Oryx Hostel in Tulum
It’s worth mentioning that Oryx Hostel in Valladolid has a sister hostel in Tulum. So if you’re cruising through Tulum book your stay at Oryx here.
They have daily yoga sessions and tours of Tulum for free. As well as kite school classes that guests can register for. The hostel is larger than the Oryx in Valladolid, catering for this popular holiday destination, but it comes with the same boho vibes!
Volunteers
Thinking about staying for longer?
The Oryx takes volunteers on a working for accommodation and meals arrangement. They can accept up to three volunteers at a time. So if you’re travelling full-time or looking for budget travel alternatives we thoroughly recommend you get in touch with the Oryx team.
Book Your Stay at Oryx Hostel in Valladolid
In summary, I think you can tell how much we loved our stay at Oryx Hostel in Valladolid. And the photos tell the rest of the story!
This new hostel had all the right elements for the perfect stay. It’s clearly well thought out… and created by someone who truly knows hostels in and out.
The Oryx isn’t just a place to rest your head, it’s a little oasis in the heart of Valladolid. One where you’ll meet good people and have incredible experiences. It’s the kind of place you recommend to friends and family. The kind you know will deliver every time!
I’m grateful to the team at Oryx Hostel for offering a two night hosted stay and allowing me to write this honest review. Please note I always research a location, before choosing to take a hosted stay to ensure their values align with My Free Range Family travel values around sustainability and slow travel. All photos and views shared here are my own.
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