Merida Travelers Recommend

With three days to dedicate to the capital of Yucatán state, you can explore nearby jungle, escape to the coast, and visit an ancient archeological site. Plus, you’ll still have time to tick off colonial highlights and sample local cuisine. Here’s how to make the most of 72 hours in Mérida.

Day 1: Sightseeing in the City

Get your bearings in Merida by kickstarting your stay on a walking tour that covers Zocalo (Central Square), which is encircled by several free-to-enter buildings such as Merida Cathedral and Casa Montejo. This is also the ideal place to grab a cup of coffee or breakfast from a street vendor. Then, dedicate the afternoon to Yucatan cuisine during a street food tour, market visit, or cooking class.

When night falls, make your way to the Mérida plaza that’s hosting the evening’s musical performance—each day sees a different spot hosting the shows and night tours ensure you get to the right place for the right time. Round out the evening by snacking on a cheese and Nutella-filled marquesita (Mayan crepe).

Day 2: Explore Mayan Ruins

Mérida is a great jumping off point for wider exploration of the Yucatán, due to it being within day-tripping distance of archaeological sites such as Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun, and Chichen Itza—one of the New7Wonders of the World. Make the most of limited time in the region on a private or group tour that lets you skip the stress of car hire by taking care of round-trip transportation. Tours typically include lunch and tend to stop at cenotes, haciendas, Mayan villages, and beaches depending on the itinerary.

Once you’re back in Mérida proper, immerse yourself in cantina culture on a cantina crawl around some of Mérida’s most traditional watering holes. Beer and bar snacks are typically included though bring cash to continue your night out in Mérida after the excursion ends.

Day 3: Return to Nature

Take the opportunity to get back to nature on day three. Mérida’s privileged position close to the tip of the Yucatán peninsula makes it the ideal base for outdoor adventures such as caving, snorkeling, cenote diving, and encounters with flamingos at Celestun National Park.

Other options for day three include touring some of the Yucatán’s typical haciendas or taking a day trip to nearby towns and cities, such as Campeche and Izamal. Known as the Yellow Town, you can explore Izamal on foot or by carriage before catching the evening light show. Otherwise, get further off the grid on full-day excursions to lesser-known destinations such as Mayapan, Homun, and Acanceh,. Alternatively, combine culture with adventure during joint cenote and hacienda excursions.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is renowned for its sun, sands, Maya ruins — and cenotes, underground sinkholes filled with swimmable fresh water. Explore these secret aquatic worlds, which are accessed through caves, from the town of Merida. Here’s how.

What is a Cenote?

Cenotes are natural underground swimming holes that are formed as sinkholes when porous limestone bedrock collapses. These deep pools of fresh groundwater have been filtered by the surrounding soil, leaving them so crystal clear that tiny fish and plants are often visible dozens of feet below. Cenotes were revered in the ancient Maya culture because they were a source of fresh drinking water — the word cenote means “sacred well” in the Mayan language. Swimming in a cenote is a wonderful way to cool off from the oppressive jungle heat; snorkeling, scuba diving, and rafting through the underground caves are popular activities too.

Top Cenotes Near Merida

• Ik-Kil, one of the area’s most popular cenotes, is just two miles (three kilometers) from the UNESCO-listed Maya ruins of Chichen Itza. With hanging vines and waterfalls surrounding an iridescent swimming hole that’s more than 130 feet (40 meters) deep, it’s easy to see why the blue waters of this picturesque natural phenomenon — known as the Sacred Blue Cenote — are visited so often.

• Though Cenote Dos Ojos is most often accessed via the Maya ruins of Tulum, the world-famous scuba diving spot can also be visited from Merida. Certified divers will enjoy exploring more than 1,640 feet (500 meters) of underwater caves here — and might recognize the area from the 2001 IMAX film Journey into Amazing Caves.

• Cuzama, about 45 minutes southeast of Merida by car, is a small town known for its large number of cenotes, each of which is accessed in different ways. Cuzama’s three main cenotes are Chelentun, Chacsinicche, and Bolonchojol — all recognizable by their incredibly clear waters and otherworldly stalagmite and stalactite formations.

Two days in Mérida give you ample opportunity to see the best of the city’s art, culture, and cuisine, as well as time to escape to a nearby village or archaeological site. Here’s how to see the best of Mérida in just 48 hours.

Day 1: Enjoy the Sights and Sounds of Mérida

**Morning:**Wake up early to explore Mérida on a walking or bike tour, which provide a great introduction for first-time visitors. Staple stops include Zocalo (Central Square), Merida Cathedral, Casa de Montejo, and the Municipal Palace. Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to stroll—or ride in a carriage—down Paseo de Montejo.

**Afternoon:**Pick up some souvenirs and snacks from the Lucas de Galvez Market in the afternoon or get to grips with the city’s street food culture during a food-and-walking tour, market visit, or cooking class. If you’re into history, make time for a visit to the Mayan World Museum.  

**Night:**Combine a show at the Peon Theater with traditional Yucatecan fare by opting for a dinner-and-show package. Alternatively, tour the city’s many cantinas during a guided tour of Mérida’s most interesting options. Beer and bar snacks are typically included.  

Day 2: Explore Mayan Ruins

**Morning:**No trip to Merida would be complete without visiting some Mayan ruins. Choose between day trips that visit Chichen Itza, Uxmal, or Dzibilchaltun—if you can’t decide, some excursions include stops at more than one archaeological site.

Afternoon: If you’re not interested in archaeology, opt instead for tour of Celestun, a national parks home to a flamboyance of pink flamingos. Or, get more adventurous still with a cenote snorkeling experience.

**Night:**After a busy day, stop by one of the city’s main squares to catch a game of pok ta pok (a traditional Mayan ball game), live dancing, or a musical performance. There’s an open-air concert, production, or show held each night, though the location varies. Then, relax in the Parque Santa Lucia and snack on a marquesita (rolled and stuffed crispy crepe).

Merida is an excellent base from which to explore the Yucatan Peninsula’s ancient Maya ruins. Experience the temples and pyramids of these architectural marvels, including UNESCO-listed Chichen Itza. See below for how to see the ruins from Merida.

Dzibilchaltun — 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Merida

A small town and the closest Maya ruin to Merida, Dzibilchaltun is noted for its pleasant surroundings and deep cenote—a big swimming draw on a hot day. The on-site Museo del Pueblo has some well designed exhibits tracing the Maya people’s history from ancient times to the present. Another highlight is the Temple of the Seven Dolls, named after the effigies inside. It’s designed so the rising sun shines through it twice a year on the summer and winter solstices, showing the Mayas’ astronomical and mathematical prowess. Visiting the ruins on a private tour can give you deeper insight into the area’s history.

Kabah — 65 miles (105 kilometers) from Merida

Kabah is the second-largest site in the Puuc region (after Uxmal), with its most notable building being the Palace of the Masks, aptly named after the hundreds of stone masks that pay homage to the rain god Chaac. Because the two ruin sites are connected by an 11-mile (18-kilometer) pedestrian causeway, a tour of Kabah is often combined with one of Uxmal, allowing visitors to see two of the most important ancient Maya cities on the Yucatan Peninsula in one day.

Uxmal — 52 miles (84 kilometers) from Merida

These impressive ruins are as noteworthy as Chichen Itza but are not flooded with crowds visiting from Cancun. Located on one of the best-restored archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula, the ancient city’s architecture is characterized by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with sculptural elements and details. Uxmal was the main city and religious center during the Maya late classical period, and today two of its main pyramids remain. For an unusual experience, take an after-dark tour of the UNESCO-listed site with a dazzling light and sound show.

Chichen Itza — 75 miles (121 kilometers) from Merida

The most-visited Maya ruin on the Yucatan Peninsula is Chichen Itza, an architectural site of stone buildings and sacbeob (paved causeways) anchored by a flat-topped pyramid with stairs on all four sides. On the equinox, shadows cast through the pyramid create a serpent pattern on one side. Other notable structures include a ball court, an observatory, and several temples in various states of reconstruction. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is usually packed with visitors arriving on tour buses from Cancun. From Merida, the trip is shorter—and you can avoid the peak crowds by taking a morning or late afternoon tour.

Popular among expats and visitors alike, laid-back Mérida is a compact and walkable city that’s easy to explore in just one day. With 24 hours to spare, you’ll have time to sample local cuisine, see architectural highlights, and discover traditional Yucatan culture. Here’s how. 

Morning: Explore the Colonial Center

Beat Mérida’s midday heat by exploring the city’s historic center on a morning walking tour. Tours typically cover the Zocalo (Central Square), Merida Cathedral, Casa de Montejo, and Municipal Palace, and provide cultural and historical context that’s crucial to understanding Merida’s past and present. 

If you have time, consider taking a trip to the city’s outskirts to visit the impressive Mayan World Museum—it’s especially recommended for history buffs and those who want a deeper understanding of Mayan culture.

Afternoon: Delve Deeper into Merida’s History

Spend the afternoon seeing a different side of the city on a bike tour, which allows you to cover more ground in less time. Stop by the Municipal Market for lunch or buy a traditional snack from the many street vendors before squeezing in a guided tour the Casa Museo Montes Molina—buying your admission ticket in advance saves time on the day.

Alternatively, food lovers can dedicate the afternoon to a food-focused tour or cooking class, which typically involve an immersive market visit and reveal the secrets of Yucatan cuisine.

Night: Catch a Show

Mérida comes alive when the sun goes down, so ensure you hit up the best nightlife spots on a cantina tour. Stop by several of Mérida’s most interesting watering holes, sampling beers, spirits, and typical bar snacks along the way. Then, if you’re still hungry, enjoy a dinner of traditional Yucatecan fare at a restaurant in the historic center before relaxing in one of the city’s plazas. There, locals come out to dance after dark.

Alternatively, escape the city center for a sunset kayaking excursion to one of the nearby mangrove lagoons—ideal for birdwatchers and couples looking for a romantic end to their stay in Mérida.