The colonial city of Mérida is the cultural capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, the capital city of Yucatán state and a vibrant, festive and fun place to visit. Once a year the city hosts one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the country. It’s also a great base for exploring the rest of the region.
Travelers arriving in the Yucatán from the southern Mexican states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Tabasco will immediately notice the contrasts between these two regions of Mexico. The Yucatán Peninsula has been a favorite tourist destination since the 1980′s and over the years the influx of foreign tourists has encouraged improvements in infrastructure and services in this part of the country. Today, Mérida is a cosmopolitan tourist city and the main center of business and commerce on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Mérida has a festive atmosphere year-round and there are special events taking place in the city every day of the week as well as a thriving nightlife scene. The Mérida en Domingo fair takes place every Sunday from 9am to 9pm in the plaza. Performances of regional music and folk dancing take place at locations throughout the city during the week. Beginning at 9pm on Saturdays the city hosts its Noche Mexicana fair in the park located just off of the Paseo de Montejo. Noche Mexicana features traditional music, dancing and delicious street foods.
La Virgen on display in the local market
Throughout the remainder of the year the city attracts large crowds during the impressive Carnival celebrations, the Festival de Trova Yucateca in March, the Semana Santa celebrations and Passion Plays, and the Dia de los Muertos celebrations in early November.
The city’s major attractions include the Grand Plaza, the San Ildefonso Cathedral, the Paseo de Montejo and several fine museums. Free guided walking tours of the city center depart daily at 9:30am from in front of the Municipal Palace. There are numerous lodging, dining and entertainment options at all price points in Mérida and many cater to English-speaking tourists.
Mérida’s market district is a great place to browse local handicrafts, folk art and pick up that perfect piece of kitsch. In late February and early March a large artisans market takes over the Plaza Grande in the center of Mérida. Known as Kihuic, the market features crafts and folk art from all across Mexico. Popular items include hammocks, embroidered huipiles (blouses), guayaberas (men’s Yucatecan shirts) and panama hats.
Favorite side trips and day excursions from Mérida include the Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Kabah and along the Ruta Puuc, the wildlife reserve at Celestún, the nearby cenotes (sinkholes), the beach town of Progreso and the small towns and villages just outside the city. The walled city of Campeche in neighboring Campeche state is a 2-3 hour bus ride from Mérida. The beach resorts at Cancun and Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo are both roughly 4-6 hours by bus along well-maintained highways.
Mérida is easily reached by air. Most international flights to Mérida connect through Mexico City or Cancun, although there are a limited number of direct flights that travel to select cities in the U.S. Mérida is the Yucatán region’s major transportation hub and there are frequent daily first class bus departures to destinations throughout the Yucatán Peninsula as well as connections to cities throughout Mexico.
Photo: via flickr
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Thanks for the info about Mérida
Maybe next year I might see it
thanks