Mérida

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For history and culture enthusiasts, this beautiful colonial city is one of the Peninsula’s major treasures. The historical center of the city is essentially a large outdoor museum overflowing with colonial architecture, including churches, cathedrals, and haciendas. The Museum of Anthropology offers a window into the past of the Maya, as do the neighboring Mayan ruins. The Paseo del Montejo, Mérida’s widest and busiest street, is lined with trees and elegant old mansions. It leads to the neighboring beach town, Progreso, located along the Gulf Coast of Mexico.

Mérida was originally the site of the Mayan city, Th’o, until Francisco Montejo claimed it in 1542 for Spain. Th’o was soon decimated, and the stones of its ruins were used to erect the Cathedral of San Idelfonso, one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas, as well as the first colonial hacienda. Although Th’o was obliterated, the Palacio Cantón, which houses the Regional Museum of History and Anthropology, showcases several significant Mayan vestiges. The Yucatán Museum of Modern Art, located adjacent to the cathedral, exhibits the works of several renowned Mexican, Yucatecan, and foreign artists.

Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun, and Mayapan are four of the most visited Mayan ruins in the peninsula. There are over 700 registered cenotes, most within a short distance of the city center. Xlacah, for example, is located at the site of the Dzibilchaltun ruins, 20 minutes from the Mérida center; Ik Kil, located in the ecoarchaeological park of the same name, is just under two miles from the Chichén Itzá ruins.

Mérida is a safe and dignified city, and the greatest hazards to tourists are sun exposure and heat exhaustion, both in the town and, in particular, when visiting the pyramids, which are extraordinary sun traps. Visitors are advised to try to follow local custom and start the day early, disappear into the shade at midday, and make the most of the slightly cooler evenings. Be prepared for extreme heat when visiting the pyramids and remember to bring and use two essentials: #15 strength sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat.