Photography by Jen Roberts
Stroll the Plaza. Plaza Grande, the main square in Mérida, is a hub for activity in the evening hours. Promenade the park’s bordering streets to take in some of the city’s historic architecture, including the Cathedral of San Ildefonso that dates back to the 16th century, the Governor’s Palace, and Casa Montejo. Grab a sorbet from Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón before heading into the park, where you can dance to live music, watch kids feed the pigeons, or pose for a picture in front of the Mérida sign.
Photography by Jen Roberts
Enjoy Yucatan cuisine. With innovative takes on traditional Mexican food and the unique flavors of the Yucatan, Mérida is considered a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO. Cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork marinated in citrus and an achiote seeds paste) is the Yucatan’s most famous dish, but don’t miss sopa de lima (a light lime soup with chicken). La Chaya Maya has an extensive menu of Yucatan dishes and fresh tortillas, made in the dining room by women in traditional Mayan dresses. At award-winning Kuuk, you can find a sampling menu of Yucatecan dishes. For alfresco dining and fresh, local food, head to Kinnich in the nearby town, Izamal.
Take a walking tour of the Central Historic District. If you’re interested in learning more about Mérida, you can take a free walking tour. (Tips are welcome.) The hourlong tours begin on the east side of the square at 9:30 a.m. daily.
See Mercado Lucas de Galvez. The city’s main market has more than 2,000 vendors selling everything from fruits, vegetables, and meat to baskets, clothes, shoes, and even animals. Sample fruits that are unique to the area, and eat lunch in one of the many food stalls. If you don’t feel like going alone, you can take a food tour that begins at the market.
Shop local boutiques. Beautiful Mexicana sells traditional Mexican clothing, purses, hats, and other goods made in Oaxaca and Chiapas. (The owners used to live in Kirkwood before they returned home to Mexico, so you can talk to them about all things St. Louis.) Located in a 19th-century mansion, Casa T’hō houses several boutique stores and art galleries. You can find jewelry, perfume, clothing, and local textiles.
Admire the Museum of Contemporary Art. Mérida is home to the only contemporary art museum in the Yucatan Peninsula. Located in a building that dates to the 1500s, the museum hosts 45 shows per year in its 15 temporary exhibition halls.
Observe the artifacts at the Mayan World Museum of Mérida. With a collection of more than 1,160 artifacts—textiles, religious objects, engravings, and more—the Mayan World Museum of Mérida provides an overview of Mayan Culture from ancient times to current day. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday.
Photography by Jen Roberts
Photography by Jen Roberts
Ride along the Paseo de Montejo. With French-style mansions and historic monuments, this main street in Mérida is worth exploring by foot or by bike if you’re visiting on Sunday mornings, when the road is closed to traffic. (You can rent a bike on the corner of 62nd and 63rd streets.) Don’t miss Casas Gremelas (the twin houses), Palacio Canton, and Casa de Peón de Regil.
See the cenotes. Just outside of Mérida, in Homún, there are 16 cenotes. These fresh-water pools were created when limestone bedrock collapsed and exposed the groundwater below. The Mayans used them as water supplies. Today, they are popular swimming holes.
Take in the natural sights at the Celestún Biosphere Reserve. With mangrove forests, pink flamingos, and turquoise waters, the reserve is a popular day trip from Mérida. Visitors can boat through the mangroves with a guide, who points out birds along the way. There are always a few flamingos in the water, but if you go in the morning between November and April, you might see thousands.
