Discover Merida (Mexico): the must-do activities
Are you planning your travel to Mexico and want to avoid the crowds in Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum? Are you more interested in the cultural and gastronomic heritage of the Mayan territory than in all-inclusive hotels and mass tourism? Why not get off the beaten track and visit Merida, the cuidad blanca** (white city)? It’s close to our kitesurfing school, we’ll take you for a ride! You’ll have plenty of ideas for activities to discover the treasures of our region.
Mérida, where is it?
Capital of the state of Yucatán, the city has nearly one million inhabitants. It is located at 300 km (approximately 4 hours of road) of the very known Cancún. However, the two cities are not in the same state: Cancún is in Quintana Roo (which overlooks the Caribbean Sea) and Mérida, in Yucatán. These two states are part of the Yucatán Peninsula (with Campeche), in the extreme southeast of Mexico.
The city of Merida is 35 km from the coast and the most direct access to the sea from Merida is the port of Progreso. Don’t expect to see translucent, turquoise waters like in the Caribbean: this is the Gulf of Mexico. Although the beaches are very nice and the water is warm all year round, if you want to dive, this is not the ideal destination. There are very few coral reefs and the Gulf of Mexico has the same color as the Mediterranean. But you’ll see later in the article that there are many other things to do!
What to visit in Mérida, Yucatán?
A simple activity: a late afternoon stroll through the colorful streets of Mérida. The locals are always smiling and welcoming. Grab a cold beer with grilled crickets (if you feel like it!) at Casa Chica and watch the passers-by stroll along Paseo de Montejo, the city’s main avenue.
You can also take a tour of the historic center** with an electric carriage: the charm of the old without the exploitation of horses. Your guide will give you many interesting anecdotes about the emblematic places you should not miss. Don’t forget to give him a few extra pesos, you should always have some coins on you, because they give out propinas (the famous tip) everywhere!
Here are some of our secrets for your visit to Merida.
Simply enjoy the Mexican atmosphere
Let yourself be carried away by the sounds (sometimes very present!) and smells of calle 60. This is the shopping street of the historic center and you will surely fall under the charm of the colonial facades** and the small designer boutiques. If the sun is too strong, sit in the confidences: these urban seats are designed so that two people are facing each other and not side by side. They can be found in every park in the White City.
Discover the Yucatecan cuisine
A visit to Merida cannot be done without tasting the local cuisine. Mexican gastronomy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Did you know that chili con carne for example is not Mexican, but American? The texmex (Texan-Mexican) that we know in France is not at all representative of the gastronomic richness that the country offers.
Each state has its specialties, of course. In Yucatán we can mention the brazos de reina, panuchos, salbutes, the relleno negro, the cochinita pibil and many others. You will notice that the food is not the same inland (pork, chicken…) and on the Yucatecan coast (fish, seafood).
Merida offers a great variety of restaurants: the most representative of the tradition are located in the historical center (the Chaya Maya, the museum of the Yucatecan gastronomy…). The more modern restaurants will be in the north of the city, much more urbanized and westernized.
Enjoy the free activities of the white city
You can visit Merida without spending all your pesos since a wide range of free activities is offered. You can find the program in the newspaper Yucatán Today, available everywhere and also free.
Depending on the night of the week, you will be able to discover folkloric dances in the parque Santa Lucia, the Pok Ta Pok (a traditional Mayan game, a real trip back in time) or to attend different concerts.
If you want a guided tour of the city, several organizations offer walking tours for which the price is free. A good way to get more explanations about the emblematic places of Mérida like the San Ildefonso cathedral that dominates the plaza grande or the Cantón palace.
Most of the historical monuments are free to visit. You can also visit the Governor’s Palace, the Casa Montejo Museum, the Casa de los Artistas or the Museum of Popular Art.
If you are in a sporty mood, every Sunday morning the Paseo de Montejo – the Champs-Élysées of Mérida – is transformed into a huge bicycle path forbidden to cars so that tourists and Yucatecs can enjoy the city.
What to do around Merida?
The city is a perfect starting point for many activities** scattered throughout the Yucatán. Whether you prefer swimming in a cenote (a natural pool typical of the Mayan region), discovering archaeological sites full of history or playing water sports, there is something for everyone. If you stay longer on the peninsula, travel to Campeche (west) and Valladolid (east) to further appreciate the culture of the region.
Diving in the cenotes
All around Merida are cenotes where the water is crystal clear and cool. It is a real pleasure to swim in them when the temperatures are hot.
We recommend Santa Barbara or Cozuma, both about an hour’s drive from Merida. They have the advantage of offering bathing in 3 or 4 different cenotes. We go from one to the other thanks to a cart pulled by a horse.
Visiting the Mayan sites
Chichén Itzá is undoubtedly the most famous Mayan pyramid in the region. It is also the most touristy and has lost some of its authenticity.
Go to Uxmal, Mayapan or Dzibilchaltun instead. Yucatán has more than 2,000 archaeological sites and to date, 80 pyramids have been discovered. So you have the choice! Some of these sites are among the most important of the Mayan civilization (Uxmal or Kinich Kak in Izamal in particular).
Drive to Izamal
This is a small colonial city that is not to be missed**. Located about 70 km east of Merida, Izamal is entirely colored with ochre. There are several competing theories to explain this. It is a sacred color for the Maya (linked to the corn), the yellow reflects the rays of the sun and scares away the flies. Or the walls were painted to resemble the Vatican during the visit of Pope John Paul II.
There is a last hypothesis: the henequen is the marine rope made from the agaves, at the origin of the wealth of Yucatán. Not selling as well as before following the appearance of nylon, the government would have decided to tax the publicities on the frontages of the houses to replenish the coffers. But, as the companies refused to pay, everything was finally painted yellow, preventing the ads.
Discover the history of the henequen and the haciendas
This tradition is really important in Merida and its surroundings, as this is where the state got its wealth for many centuries. If you want to learn more about it, we highly recommend a visit to a hacienda**, a relic of the colonial era. These huge buildings are the former homes of large landowners. They functioned as a small town in their own right and all the trades were represented there. It is here that the agave was transformed into rope, shipped all over the world, because it was very strong.
Nowadays, many haciendas are rehabilitated as hotels or restaurants, but they are still worth a visit! You will be able to buy different handcrafted products such as hammocks, hats or lampshades.
Enjoy the beach of Progreso
Very easy to access from Merida, Progreso is the largest port in the region** and offers many nautical activities. You can take a sailboat for a few hours or a few days or go kitesurfing (https://kitesurfprogreso.com/fr/debut/). It is a very famous spot thanks to the ideal weather conditions for this sport. Contact us to know more about it !
You can also take a kayak or stand up paddle tour and discover the mangrove and its inhabitants (flamingos, crocodiles, turtles…).
Progreso is the resort of the rich Yucatecs (and Mexicans) who come to spend the weekend or the summer. Do as they do and treat yourself for a few pesos to a marquesita (a kind of hard pancake) with cheese and Nutella while watching the sunset! Yes, yes, both together!
Whether you’re a seasoned gourmet, a family looking for activities or a digital nomad, a visit to Merida will satisfy you with its diversity and authenticity. A must-see stop on your trip to Mexico, the capital of Yucatán holds many secrets that are waiting for you to discover. Open your eyes, the wonder is hidden at every corner. And if you want to try kitesurfing, don’t hesitate to write us!