Exploring historic Mayan ruins, swimming in cenotes, taking in cultural performances, and indulging in Yucatecan delicacies. These are only a few of the numerous superb issues to do in Merida. Learn on for a better have a look at all this Mexican metropolis has to supply.
Regardless of being a state capital and common vacation spot for nomads, expats, and retirees, Merida has lived within the shadow of close by Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. In any case, most vacationers who come to this a part of Mexico head straight to the seaside.
With the closest seaside being 40 km (25 miles) away from Merida, this implies the largest metropolis within the Yucatan Peninsula has lengthy been an afterthought.
However, that’s all altering.
Conde Nast Traveler just lately named Merida the very best small metropolis on this planet. Vacationers are lastly taking discover, and Merida is prepared for its time within the highlight.
Though I’ve spent the higher a part of the final three years residing in Mexico, I hadn’t travelled to Merida till just lately.
I’m joyful to say that Merida didn’t disappoint, and it’s the most effective locations to go in Mexico. It’s a vibrant metropolis with quite a few sights and locations to go to.
I’m excited to share among the greatest issues to do in Merida with you on this publish. Vamos, chicos!
1. Discover Centro Historico & The Zocalo
Kicking off our checklist of issues to do in Merida is a stroll across the metropolis’s Centro Historico. Apparently, solely Mexico Metropolis and Havana, Cuba have bigger historic facilities than Merida, so there’s lots to see and do right here.
Be part of a Strolling Tour
I like to recommend becoming a member of the free strolling tour for an informative and entertaining introduction to town. It begins at 10AM day by day in Santa Lucia Park and lasts about two hours.
On this brief tour, you’ll get launched to the historical past, tradition, and traditions of Merida.
Whereas the tour is free, it’s customary to tip your information for a job effectively achieved. tip for a strolling tour like that is 100 pesos (about $5). Head to their website to join the tour.
There are additionally some nice choices on Airbnb Experiences for exploring Merida’s historic heart. You may leap on a 2-hour strolling tour within the night with an area knowledgeable in cultural and pure tourism. Click here to test it out and e-book your spot.
In the event you’re questioning what to do in Merida if you first arrive, becoming a member of a strolling tour is an efficient guess.
Discover The Zocalo Independently
Even when you join one of many excursions, it’s value it to spend some further time exploring the Zocalo by yourself. This tree-lined park may be very a lot the center of town and is the very best place to take in the native tradition.
The park is house to a large Mexican flag and the colourful Merida signal, which is a should to your Instagram feed. It’s additionally surrounded by probably the most well-known and vital landmarks of town.
These embrace the Merida Cathedral, Municipal Palace, Casa de Montejo, and the Governor’s Palace. The latter is house to some unimaginable murals depicting town’s historical past. They’re all free to go to, so take your time and revel in all of them!
There’s additionally a free strolling tour of the Zocalo given by town’s tourism board. It begins at 9:30AM on the bottom flooring of the Municipal Palace, click here for instructions.
2. Swim in Cenotes
Probably the most refreshing issues to do in Merida – a metropolis that’s usually boiling sizzling – is cooling off within the surrounding cenotes. In the event you’re not aware of these, they’re principally pure sinkholes.
These are discovered everywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula and quantity within the hundreds. Through the hottest time of the day, there’s nothing higher than hiding from the solar and swimming in a cenote.
There are numerous cenotes throughout Merida, so, simply take your decide!
An amazing possibility for having fun with just a few cenotes is this tour that visits three — Cascabel, Chaksikin, and Pool Cocom.
The full-day trip begins at 8:45AM and consists of swimming in three cenotes, plus lunch, transportation, information, and entrance charges. Click here to study extra about this high Merida attraction.
One other highly-rated tour is this Airbnb Experience that visits two completely different cenotes together with a fantastic hacienda. The cenotes aren’t on the common vacationer observe and also you’ll almost definitely have them to your self!
Alongside the way in which, your native guides will educate you about Mayan tradition. Meals, transport, information, and entrance charges are included. Click here to study extra.
3. Go Museum Hopping
In and across the Zocalo you’ll discover a number of completely different museums, together with Casa de Montejo. Constructed within the 1540s, it was the mansion of the conquistador Francisco de Montejo. Nowadays it’s a museum that’s free to go to, making it one of the common issues to do in Merida.
Earlier than you head in, be sure you take a better have a look at the facade of the constructing. It depicts the Spanish conquistadores standing on the heads of the native Mayans — a reminder of the horrific realities of colonialism in Mexico.
On the suitable facet of the cathedral, there’s a coated walkway referred to as Passage of the Revolution. That is the place you’ll discover one other fully free museum, this one targeted on the artwork of Fernando Garica Ponce and different Mexican artists.
Finishing the trifecta is the Museum of the Metropolis of Merida, the place you possibly can study all in regards to the metropolis’s historical past from the time of the Maya to the current. It’s positioned only a few blocks from the Zocalo, click here for instructions.
4. Be taught About Mayan Tradition
A typical false impression amongst guests to Mexico is that there are not any Mayan individuals round anymore. I’ll admit that I used to be responsible of considering this after I first traveled there a few years in the past. Nonetheless, this couldn’t be farther from the reality.
It’s estimated that around 60% of the inhabitants of Merida is of Mayan heritage, and this can be a metropolis of almost 1 million. Mayan tradition may be very a lot alive and effectively right here, mixing with Spanish, French, British, and modern-day Mexican influences.
One of many high locations to see in Merida is town’s Great Museum of the Maya World. The constructing itself is kind of a formidable sight, and it holds an unlimited assortment of Mayan artifacts.
The museum is definitely positioned fairly a distance from town heart. You may hop on the bus certain for Progresso and inform them you need to get off on the museum or simply get a cab on the market. Uber can be obtainable right here and works very effectively in my expertise.
It’s open from Wednesday to Monday from 9AM-4:30PM and prices 150 pesos for foreigners. On Sundays, it’s free for residents of the Yucatan, so I’d suggest occurring one other day.
5. Go to Chichen Itza
Visiting Mayan ruins is unquestionably one of many high issues to do in Mexico. A beauty of touring to Merida is which you could simply attain most of the most epic ruins on a day journey.
Unquestionably, probably the most well-known Mayan metropolis of all is Chichen Itza. One of many New Seven Wonders of the World, that is an unimaginable place to go to. Trying up on the large pyramid often known as El Castillo is an awe-inspiring expertise, to say the least.
Being such a preferred vacation spot, it’s very simple to join a tour to Chichen Itza. It’s a bit removed from Merida (about an hour and a half), nevertheless it’s positively well worth the journey!
You may hop on this highly-rated small group tour that features transport, a information, a go to to a cenote, lunch, and extra. Click here to e-book your spot.
One other stable possibility is an Airbnb Expertise with an area man who’s a licensed tour information in historical past and archaeology. His excursions run from 6AM-3PM and are extremely rated. Click here to test it out.
Word: you could be considering that 6am departure is early, however the line-ups and crowds will be big at Chichen Itza, and the solar will be intense — it’s greatest to go as early as you possibly can.
6. Journey the Ruta Puuc
Whereas Chichen Itza is by far probably the most well-known, there are tons of different choices for visiting Mayan ruins within the space. From Merida, you possibly can journey the Ruta Puuc to see a handful of various Mayan websites.
Amongst these, the biggest and hottest is Uxmal. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and one of the vital locations within the Mayan world. Having been to all the massive ones, I can truthfully say Uxmal is my favourite Mayan web site I’ve visited.
You may simply catch an area bus there and again, though you might find yourself ready some time on the facet of the highway for the return bus as we did. The bus prices 80 pesos per individual every manner.
A extra comfy go to will be loved on this Airbnb Experience the place you additionally go to the Choco Museum. It prices simply $30 per individual together with information, transport and a drink, however you’ll have to cowl your entrance tickets. Uxmal prices 418 ($17) pesos for foreigners and the museum is 180.
There are additionally just a few different, smaller ruins within the space like Kabah, Labna, and Xcalak.
One strategy to see all of those is with a rental automotive. In the event you’d quite stick with public transportation, the one possibility is catching the bus at 8AM on Sunday morning. It makes fast stops on the smaller ruins and provides you just a few hours to discover Uxmal.
One simpler and fewer exhausting possibility is that this tour that visits each Uxmal and Kabah. It features a information, transport, lunch and a few pool time at a flowery resort. Excursions begin at 8:30AM. Click here to study extra and e-book your spot.
7. Hit the Seashore
As an inland metropolis, you possibly can’t simply stroll to the seaside in Merida. It takes a little bit of effort, however a day journey out to Progreso is value it when you’re searching for a while on la playa.
Progreso is a significant cruise ship port, so it’s positively received that vacationer vibe. That being stated, the seaside is very nice and it’s an important escape from town to take pleasure in a cerveza or two, and munch on some contemporary ceviche.
In the event you get on the market early sufficient and are motivated, you possibly can rent a driver or join a day tour to discover the realm. You may go to an ecological park, salt ponds, a pink lake, and a small Mayan web site on a half-day tour.
The most cost effective strategy to stand up to Progreso is by catching the native bus. The station is positioned just a few blocks south of the Zocalo, click here for instructions. It solely prices 19 pesos every manner, or about $1.
8. Day Journey to Pink Lagoons
One of many high issues to do in Merida is taking a day journey out to Ria Celestun, a biosphere reserve positioned about 100 km out of town. It’s effectively well worth the journey right here to discover the pristine seashores, mangroves, and low rainforests.
It’s a novel place as its location creates a mix of freshwater from the estuary and saltwater from the ocean. The world is thought primarily for its pink flamingoes, who flock right here within the winter.
To go to the reserve, you possibly can join a full-day tour that features a boat journey by the mangroves and lunch. It departs at 8:45AM from Merida, click here to study extra and to make your reserving.
9. Eat Scrumptious Meals
Merida actually is a foodie’s paradise. There’s a lot scrumptious meals right here that you can plan your complete keep round what you’re consuming. From road meals and native markets to fine-dining, it’s all right here.
Mexico is house to among the greatest meals on this planet, with the Yucatecan meals being well-known all throughout Mexico — and for good motive.
Probably the most well-known native dish is unquestionably cochinita pibil — a dish of pit-cooked pork that’s marinated in an acidic citrus juice and seasoned with annatto. It’s principally like pulled pork solely manner higher, and also you get to make tacos with it!
Different must-try gadgets right here embrace poc chuc (marinated pork), sopa de lima (lime soup), and papadzules — corn tortillas full of hard-boiled eggs and coated in a pumpkin seed sauce. It sounds bizarre nevertheless it’s scrumptious!
Make sure you skip breakfast when you join this excellent food tour. It takes you first to an area market, then a seafood restaurant, and at last to a gelato store. The tour begins at 10:30AM and lasts three hours for $55 per individual.
There’s additionally this common Airbnb Experience the place you go to a market after which pattern a number of vegetarian dishes in an area’s house. It runs from 4-7PM and prices $58 every.
Mexican delicacies is so numerous and scrumptious. Irrespective of the way you select to expertise it (on a tour, road stands, eating places, on the seaside…), simply ensure you pattern all of it!
10. Take a Cooking Class (the most effective issues to do in Merida for foodies)
Have you learnt what’s even higher than making an attempt native meals? Making an attempt native meals that you just cooked your self! Probably the most rewarding issues you are able to do in Merida is taking a cooking class, and also you’ve received a number of choices.
On this half-day tour, you begin by visiting one of many busiest markets in Merida. You’ll study among the most typical substances, together with the spicy habanero chile.
Subsequent, you head to the kitchen to whip up some traditional native dishes that you just’ll get to take pleasure in for lunch. Better of all, you possibly can deliver the recipes house and impress your family and friends! This highly-rated tour begins at 10AM, click here to study extra.
There’s additionally this very talked-about Airbnb Experience which takes you thru a market to get all of the substances for the cooking class. Then, you’ll take pleasure in your 3-course lunch in one of many nicest courtyards within the metropolis. It begins at 9:30AM and prices $78 every.
11. Admire the Structure on Paseo de Mantejo
Strolling across the tree-lined boulevard Paseo de Mantejo, you’ll discover some fairly spectacular buildings. Most of those had been mansions constructed within the late nineteenth century when town was experiencing a big growth due to the henequen industry.
By no means heard of henequen? Neither had I.
This agave plant that in some way thrives right here in a spot with little water or fertilization can be utilized to make rope. The nice occasions didn’t final eternally, although — nowadays a lot of the buildings are both museums or business areas.
Take a stroll alongside the boulevard and be sure you deliver your digicam. You’ll spot attractive buildings just like the Palacio Canton and Quinta Montes Molina, each of that are museums which might be value a go to.
Hold strolling north till you discover the spectacular Monument to the Fatherland. This gorgeous monument depicts the historical past of Mexico and makes for some memorable images.
12. Expertise Ruta Bici
The most effective issues to do in Merida is collaborating within the weekly Ruta Bici occasion. Each Sunday morning, the Paseo de Mantejo is reduce off to motorized automobiles for a number of hours.
Locals, expats, and vacationers alike all come out to take pleasure in strolling, skating, or biking alongside the scenic boulevard.
It’s attainable to hire a motorcycle for a couple of bucks an hour. You’ll simply have to ensure you have an ID on you.
Apparently additionally they do a particular nighttime Ruta Bici on the primary Saturday of each month now, in order that’s positively value testing when you occur to be within the metropolis at the moment.
Don’t miss this vehicle-free time in Merida!
13. See Cultural Performances
Unquestionably, one of many high issues to do in Merida is taking in among the many cultural performances. There’s one thing occurring each evening of the week right here, they usually’re often free.
Among the greatest occasions to participate in embrace the Yucatecan Serenade, which occurs each Thursday evening in Santa Lucia Park at 8PM. There’s additionally the very festive Noche Mexicana (Mexican Evening) each Saturday with tune and dance performances.
Maybe probably the most enjoyable of all, although, is Sundays in Merida. This can be a day-long occasion within the Zocalo and an important cultural expertise. There are meals stalls arrange all day lengthy and performances start later within the day.
14. Catch a Soccer Sport
There’s no denying the significance of soccer in Mexican tradition. It’s extra like a faith right here than a sport as individuals are very passionate in regards to the sport!
That’s why one of many high issues to do in Merida is cheering on the native soccer membership. Venados FC performs within the Liga de Ascenso, which is the 2nd tier league within the nation.
They play over at Estadio Carlos Iturralde with video games happening between January and April. Check out their schedule to see if there’s a house sport if you’re on the town.
15. Go Cantina Hopping
Final however not least, it’s time for some cantina hopping. For the uninitiated, a cantina is a traditional Mexican bar. Suppose swinging doorways, loud music, and loads of tequila.
Historically, a cantina has been considerably of a boys membership. That’s why I often skip out on them after we journey in Mexico, as my spouse doesn’t often really feel comfy going into a spot the place she’s not precisely welcome.
That’s all altering, although, and there are many cantinas in Merida which might be open to each women and men. The preferred is unquestionably La Negrita. Providing complimentary botanas (snacks) and reside music in a pleasant courtyard, this place fills up each evening of the week.
Now You Know What to Do in Merida
There’s a motive Merida was named the very best small metropolis on this planet. It’s an important place to go to with a vibrant tradition, loads of fascinating sights, and countless alternatives for adventures within the space.
Whereas close by Cancun is extra of a Disney model of Mexico, Merida is the true deal. In the event you’re searching for an genuine Mexican metropolis with pleasant locals, scrumptious meals, and raucous nightlife, look no additional.
After years of individuals telling me how cool Merida is, I’m joyful I lastly received to spend a while there. A 2-week digital nomad stint was simply sufficient to scratch the floor of all of the enjoyable issues to do in Merida and I’m positively planning on going again quickly.
Have you ever ever been to Merida? Acquired any suggestions for issues to do, locations to eat, or day journeys? Depart a remark under and allow us to hear all about it!
Photographs on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock. Click here to study extra.
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