Guide To Merida

About Merida

Merida is known as the “white city”; it’s also the Capital City of the State of Yucatan, famous for its rich Mayan history and of course some of Mexico's most important archaeological sites.

Because of the large peninsula on Mexico’s southern region, Merida is actually a few degrees further north than the nation’s Capital, even though people in Mexico City talk of traveling “south” to Merida. It’s difficult to get lost in Merida itself; the city is laid out in a grid with even numbered streets running north-south; odd numbers east-west.

As the State's Capital, Merida is a hub of activity and extremely well connected by land and air to other parts of the region and the country. The city has a considerable charm and buzz about it; and it's contrasts help this to come about: Merida is cosmopolitan and quaint; Mexican but with a strong Mayan influence.

The city is an excellent base from which to explore the rest of the region, including the Archaeological wonders of Chichen Itza and Uxmal and many other less well known, but equally important ruins in the vicinity.

There are hotels and amenities here to suit every budget, style and taste and there is always something happening in Merida: concerts, festivals, parades and celebrations are almost a constant feature in this vibrant city.

Getting around is easy; the streets are laid out in a grid format and you can walk to most of the main attractions in the centre; and even taking a cab to the places further away from the heart of the city is good value thanks to the well managed taxi system introduced by the local government here.

Historically, Merida's wealthy inhabitants were land barons; the scale of their wealth can be seen today on Paseo Montejo, an avenue which was inspired by the "Paseo de la Reforma" in Mexico City and which is host to large, opulent white stone mansions, which today house, in the main, public buildings, museums and corporate offices. Today Merida's wealth is built around the maquiladoras (assembly plants) and tourism, both of which have grown significantly during the last two decades.

In recent years, Merida has seen and continues to undergo an explosion of art and culture. If you're traveling around Mexico's southern peninsula, a visit to Merida is a must; better still as a base from which to explore the region, but even if you've only come to this part of the world to see beaches or archaeology; spend a day or three in Merida, you won't leave disappointed.

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Key Attractions

Colonial Center

The central plaza, Plaza Grande, is dominated by the Catedral de San Idelfonso; it’s not the most striking in Mexico, but its size is immediately apparent when you arrive at the main square.

The Municipal Palace is on the opposite side of the square while the Government Palace, which looks alright on the outside but is stunningly attractive inside, features some wonderful paintings and murals that depict Yucatan’s rich Mayan history, in contrast to the murals and paintings in Government Palaces in central and northern Mexico, where it is the Aztec indigenous cultures that feature.

On the south side of the Plaza Grande is the Casa de Montejo which locals sometimes refer to as the “Palacio de Montejo”. It was a private home, inhabited by the descendents of its creator (and Merida’s founder), Francisco de Montejo until 1980. Most of the building is closed to the public; today it’s a working bank branch for Banamex and also offers currency exchange.

Paseo de Montejo

The “White City” title that Merida has derives from the stately homes and mansions that adorn the sides of Paseo Montejo, about 10 blocks north of the centre, standing opulently in gleaming white stone. The Paseo de Montejo is a tree-lined boulevard, which was supposed to be as grand as Mexico City’s “Reforma Avenue”. There are still some private homes along here, although many of the buildings have been turned into banks, offices and one of the most majestic buildings is now home to Yucatan’s Museum of Anthropology (see below).

Gastronomy Tours in Merida

Launched in December 2005, the Gastronomy Tour in Merida offers visitors a unique experience in local food and beverage tasting. The tour begins at the restored 17th Century "Hacienda Vista Alegre", to taste authentic regional foods and the second to taste the local rum, made from fruits harvested locally, distilled and aged at the Hacienda.

Yucatan is known throughout Mexico for its diverse and exquisite cuisine and the second stop on the tour takes you to the award winning "Hacienda Teya", which hosts the culinary part of the tour, and offers the best in local gastronomy. High profile guests to the Hacienda include Queen Sophie from Spain, Hilary Clinton, the Luxembourg Dukes.

The Tasting and Gastronomy tour offers you the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the region's finest cuisine surrounded by the charismatic and authentic colonial setting. Book ahead and enjoy a truly authentic experience in Merida!

Museums

Merida has a number of fine museums, the most significant is the impressively housed Museo de Antropologia (Anthropology Museum) which is situated at the majestic Palacio Canton on Paseo de Montejo. This museum holds many of the fine artifacts from the Mayan ruins and also explains much about the history of the region going back to age of mastodons. Note that much of the information is provided in Spanish only.

The Museo Nacional de Arte Popular (National Popular Arts Museum) is a few blocks northeast of the Plaza Grande and offers displays of fine art and crafts from the locality.

On Calle 61 you'll find the Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum) which displays a history of the city and the region.

Learn Spanish in Merida

There's no better way to learn Spanish than by becoming immersed in it at a language school in Mexico. Merida is well-known as a cultural and historic city and there are number of fine language schools here. Read our guide to Learning Spanish in Mexico for more details and to find a language school in Merida.

Parks, Gardens and Zoo

To see a park full of trees, one from each country on the American Continent, visit Parque de las Americas which is Avenida Colon.

There's a children's playground, zoo, botanical gardens visit Parque Centenario. The zoo features some exotic species of animals as well as fauna from the region.

Health Spas

Good Health Spas are available in Merida/Yucatan; For more information about Health Spas, and how to get access to a magnificent health experience in Mexico, connect to the Mexperience Section about Health Spas.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air - Merida has a modern Airport, just 5 miles from the city centre. You can get to Merida from Mexico City and Cancun as well as cities in the USA: Houston & Miami.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines

By Bus - To get to Merida from Mexico City, your best bet is to fly there (see above); the bus journey from Mexico City to Merida takes about 24 hours.

By Car - If you're planning to drive to Merida as a part of road trip in Mexico, expect the journey from Mexico City to take you around 24 hours. You will need to take highway 150D, 145D, 180D (then 180), then 180D again, then 180 and then 180D. The D indicates toll roads, there are free alternatives; consult your map! See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Getting Around

From the Airport - The airport is about 5 miles southwest of Merida. Terrestrial Transport is available from the airport into town; if you're traveling alone or with just one or two other people, ask for the lower fare option which will mean you share the cost with others in a suburban van. If you want to rent a car, agencies have desks inside the main airport terminal building - note that booking in advance is likely to save you money (see below for car rental).

Local Buses - Local buses are available, consult the local tourism office for details or ask locally for nearest bus stop. However, The local area bus route infrastructure in this region is very limited in comparison to other regions (e.g. the colonial heartland) in Mexico, so renting a car (see below) is the most flexible way to see the surrounding area, although if your budget is tight, some local buses are available connecting Merida, the Mayan ruins and other villages nearby, although schedules are limited.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses.

Taxis - Local taxis are widely available, and they are all fitted with colored discs which set a fixed rate depending on which zone you started and end up in. They are plentiful, friendly and excellent value.

Rent a Car - If you want to see all of the surrounding area including the famous Mayan ruins independently, your best bet is to rent a car locally.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Car Rental in Merida.

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Local Events Calendar

February is a busy month for events in Merida. This when the local University celebrates its anniversary and provides a range of free concerts and performances including folk ballet and music reaching back to its Afro-Caribbean roots.

Merida's Carnival takes place just before Lent (exact dates depend on when Easter takes place) and is an explosion of art, music, costumes dancing and processions.

Every Weekday - Something happens every day of every week in Merida... Sundays the centre of town is closed off to traffic between 9am and 9pm for the weekly fair Merida en Domingo; Mondays is the Vaqueria Regional which has its roots in the cattle ranching communities, the festival offers music and dancing; Tuesdays from 9pm at Parque Santiago you can hear live bands playing; Wednesdays the local theatre puts on a play (admission fees apply); Thursdays music and dance is presented the Parque Santa Lucia from 9pm; Fridays from 9pm the Ballet Folklorico at the local university performs typical regional dances; Saturdays the Noche Mexicana (Mexican Night) featuring Mexican music and dance starts from 9pm.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of Merida. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in Merida.

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Restaurants

We have no specific restaurant recommendations at this time.

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When Night Falls

Merida has a good selection of cafes, restaurants, bars and night clubs that will keep party goers going to the early hours of the morning.

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What to Buy in Merida

Merida is the perfect place to buy Yucateca arts and crafts and 2 other items in particular: Panama Hats and Hammocks.

Although the centre of the Hat weaving trade in a town in the State of Campeche south here, there is nevertheless a good trade in Panama Hats in Merida, which are made from the leaves of the Jipijapa Palms. The weavers work in caves where the air is humid so the leaves are soft are pliable. Once exposed to the dryer air and heat, they provide an excellent protection against the ravaging sun in this part of the world.

If you only buy one thing in Merida make sure it's a GOOD hammock; they make them here – and many of the hammocks you’ll buy in Mexico will have originated in Yucatan.

Here’s the advice for buying a good hammock in Merida - You can buy a cheap hammock made from nylon with a “wide weave” – that is, the holes are big when you stretch it. These are very uncomfortable. If you really want something you can sleep in, you need to make sure the weave is tight. If you live in a wet climate, then a nylon hammock may be of better use, but make sure the weave is a tight one. Cotton hammocks are okay, but the best are the ones made from cactus string – they’re also the most expensive. Remember: the closer the weave, the more comfortable it will be; and the cactus string material is without question, the best.

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Local Climate

From April to October the weather in Merida is hot; exceedingly hot in the summer months of June-September. The rainy season is July-October, and often manifests itself as strong, sudden and gushing tropical showers or storms in the afternoon. November to March the weather is cooler and sometimes breezy.

Live Weather Report:

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