About Mérida
The Spaniard Francisco de Montejo founded Mérida on January 6, 1542. When the Spaniards arrived, Mérida was a large Mayan city known as T'ho, situated on what is now the Main Plaza. It was conquered by the Spaniards, who dismantled all the pyramids and used the huge stones as the foundation for the Cathedral of San Idelfonso (1556-1599), the oldest cathedral on the American continent. The Cathedral, situated on the east side of the Plaza, is only one of Mérida's many interesting sites. Directly across the Plaza is the Palacio Municipal (1735), Mérida's Town Hall. On the south side is the Casa de Montejo (1542), the former home of the conqueror of Yucatán. The Palacio de Gobierno (1892), on the north side, houses 27 murals by Fernanco Castro Pacheco illustrating the somewhat violent history of Yucatán.
In the early 20th Century, as a result of the henequen or sisal trade, a plant known as 'green gold' or verde oro for the wealth it lavished upon the hacienda owners in Mérida, made this city the home for numerous millionaires who built their lavish houses on Paseo Montejo, and impressive haciendas throughout the jungle surrounding Mérida.. A walk down Paseo Montejo is a wonderful way to view some of these mansions, many of which are completely restored, and some of whose romantic decay are food for the imagination.
What to Do…
Mérida, Yucatán is a beautiful colonial and cosmopolitan city of about 1 million people. The climate in Mérida during the summer is warm to hot with occasional rain showers, so bring an umbrella and/or light rain coat. With Mérida as your base, you can visit Mayan ruins, popular beaches, museums, haciendas, cathedrals and churches, and cenotes or caves. You'll also find movies, theaters, and plazas for all kinds of shopping. The locals take pride in their city, known as "The White City", not only for the predominance of white limestone as a building material, but because of its streets, plazas and parks that are cleaned daily.
Within Mérida (Map of City)
Strolling, meandering, shopping and people-watching are all components of the Calle 60 stroll. This is a very busy colonial street that is one of the must-sees in downtown Mérida (Map of Downtown). Paseo Montejo, is an elegant, tree-lined boulevard with more stores and gorgeous colonial buildings. At Santa Lucia Park, there is a free Yucatecan serenade every Thursday night at 9 p.m., and across the street is the small but charming Santa Lucia Church. Every Friday night for just a few pesos per person, the University of Yucatán hosts student performances of folkloric ballet. At the start of this magnificent avenue, every Saturday night there is a small street fair with live music and booths selling handicrafts and food. On Sunday visit the handcrafts Market "Lucas de Gálvez"; it has everything, and enjoy Mérida en Domingo, outdoor handcraft markets and food festivals in the Main Plaza, Hidalgo Park and Santa Lucia Park. 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Also visit Museo MACAY (museum) for free. Any weekday you can take the tourist bus at 10:00, 1:00, 4:00, or 7:00 in Santa Lucia Park, and in the evening, enjoy an outdoor concert with traditional Yucatecan dancing and dress at the Palacio Municipal on the main Plaza at 9 pm.. Go shopping at the markets, Pasaje Picheta or the best in the city, Casa de las Artesanias on Calle 63, with handcrafts from Yucatán made by Yucatecans with the best prices in the city.
Take a tour in a calesa, or horse and buggy. Two routes are offered, the traditional and the double. The traditional trip, which lasts about an hour, circles the Main Plaza, heads up Calle 60 passing the Hidalgo, Madre, Santa Lucia and Santa Ana Parks, turns onto the Paseo Montejo passing the twin houses, the museum and the Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Justo Sierra monuments, then up to the huge, impressive, detailed Monument to the Country, where you can stop and get off to take pictures, then return to the Plaza.
The Mayans are one of the first civilizations to master the field of astronomy, so it should come as no surprise that the people of the Yucatán are still fascinated by the heavens. The Arcadio Poveda Ricalde Planetarium, housed on the lower level of the Olimpo Cultural Center, is named after a Yucatán-born astronomer who began his studies in Mérida and the nearby port city of Progreso. Open Tuesday through Saturday with shows at 10 a.m., noon, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays with shows at 10 a.m. and noon, The Olimpo Cultural Center is located in downtown Mérida at the intersection of Calles 62 and 61, just across the street from the Main Plaza.
Day trips nearby Mérida
From tranquil beaches to magnificent Mayan ruins, there are many places to experience in the Yucatán (State Map), on day trips never too far from Mérida.
Departing Mérida early in the morning, there are various Mayan ruins you can't miss. The famous Mayan pyramids of Chichén-Itzá are over 1500 years old and are located only 75 miles from Mérida. While you're there, visit the Caves of Balankanche, located only 6 kilometers from Chichen Itza. These caves were an important ceremonial site for the Mayan with impressive stalagtite and stalagmite formations inside.
Uxmal (OOSH-mahl) means "'built three times" in the Mayan language, and though its name is a mystery, its beauty is not. As a World Heritage site, it is one of the best restored and maintained ruins in the Yucatán, and certainly one of the most magnificent. Uxmal is located about 50 miles south-west of Mérida, and takes a few hours to explore thoroughly.
You can also visit Chelem, Chicxulub, the X-Tampu ruins.and Telchac, another port town located about 30 minutes from Progreso. There are Mayan temples three miles inland and a lighthouse on the small seaside promenade. Perhaps you might like dinner at Hacienda Xcanatun on your way back to Mérida.
Visit Hacienda Teya on the way to the City of Izamal, called the City of Hills, located right in the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula. Izamal may be the oldest city in the Yucatán, and is a jewel of a colonial city, with almost all the buildings painted an egg-yolk yellow.
The Convent Route is a day trip that will take you somewhat off the beaten path and into the heart of the Yucatán, meandering through the country side of the west-central part of the state, you will visit Mayan villages and ruins, colonial churches, cathedrals and convents, dating back centuries. The best way to do this route is by car, but bus trips are available.
Explore the Caves of the Yucatán which were sacred places for the Mayan and are impressive places to visit today. Start the day by visiting the Mayan ruins at Dzibilchantun (tzee-BEEL-chahl-toon), the "place where there is writing on the stones," then explore the underground at the Tecoh Caves and Dzibilchaltun. It is a relatively short trip of some 25 minutes down highway 18 from Mérida.
Or head for the Puuc hills to the Oxkintok Ruins and Calcehtok Caves, and visit an obscure ruin and then go below for a visit to what is thought to be the largest cave in the Yucatán.
Also only an hour outside of Mérida, you can't miss the almost-famous trip to Cenotes of Cuzamá, where an antique wooden buggy type cart, pulled by a horse transports you (holds about four people per buggy) along a 9 kilometers adventure, through the lush sisal plantations of the Yucatán with three wonderful refreshing cenotes.
The state of Yucatán has about 250 miles of beach front property. Near Mérida, the most popular beaches are Chelem, Yucalpeten, Progreso, Chicxulub, Cocal Josefina, San Miguel, Uaymitun, San Benito, and San Bruno. There is pubic transportation from Mérida into Chicxulub and Progreso. Progreso is a tranquil port town where you can enjoy the true flavor of México. It has safe, tranquil beaches with no currents or tides, which makes them great for swimming, floating, windsurfing and jetskiing. Palm trees, fresh seafood, the seaside boulevard called the malecón (mah-lay-CONE) and the friendly local Mayan residents make Progreso a great place to visit.
