Curving up into the base of the Gulf of Mexico, the capital of the Yucatán Peninsula
has it all. Sumptuous food, Mayan ruins, colonial architecture, and tropical beaches.
Mérida thrums with a creative energy that in recent years has inspired a thriving
expat community. From its sprawling haciendas to its many spontaneous fiestas, Mérida
lives and breathes its culture 24/7, making this corner of Mexico a never-ending
delight.
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EDITION 20 |
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4:11 read time
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Mérida, Yucatan
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@gustavomoguel
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Curving up into the base of the Gulf of Mexico, the capital of the Yucatán Peninsula
has it all. Sumptuous food, Mayan ruins, colonial architecture, and tropical beaches.
Mérida thrums with a creative energy that in recent years has inspired a thriving
expat community. From its sprawling haciendas to its many spontaneous fiestas, Mérida
lives and breathes its culture 24/7, making this corner of Mexico a never-ending
delight. |
Mérida, Mexico |
N 20.96° / W 89.59° |
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#FunFact |
At the heart of Mérida lies San Ildefonso Cathedral, the oldest
cathedral in continental America. It was built by Spanish
missionaries on the site of the Mayan city T’ho in the 16th
century. In fact, many of the stones used to construct the
church were taken from ancient Mayan structures. |
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@jose_a_sima
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October-March |
Climate-wise, Mérida is hot and humid year round. In fact, there are only
a handful of days when the temperature drops below 80F/26C. But don’t
let that stop you from enjoying the city’s many cultural events and festivals.
From
Mérida Fest (a month-long celebration of the city’s birthday), to
Carnaval, to the daily fiestas and concerts that take over every
street corner, the people of Mérida LOVE to party. |
Want to know what’s happening this week? Check out Yucatán’s
weekly calendar of events. |
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BiciRuTa
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@nathanswan
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Because the Mayans Loved Riding Bikes |
Sunday can be a quiet day for most travelers. But in Mérida, Sundays are
for
La Bici Ruta. Paseo de Montejo shuts down on Sundays from 8am - 12:30pm
for bikers. Start your morning with a coffee from
Manifesto and then rent a bike for cheap. Join hundreds of locals
and tourists pedaling past beautiful mansions and iconic monuments, with
live music accompanying you on your way. |
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Chichén-Itzá, Yucatan, Mexico
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@travellust_nl
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Chicken Pizza? |
It’s time to revisit your middle school history lessons. Mayan culture runs
deep in the Yucatán peninsula, and there are plenty of opportunities
to explore this rich heritage. Your first stop should be to
Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, which takes you through the rise and fall
of this mighty nation. Next, hop in the car to explore one of the many
Mayan ruins nearby. The most famous is Chichen Itza (tip: rhymes with
“chicken pizza”), but also worthwhile are Uxmal, Mayapán, and Loltum. |
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Cenote X'keken
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@lettibc
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Into the Deep |
Yes, there are plenty of
beautiful beaches in the Yucatán peninsula, but for those needing
a break from the sand and salt, there’s a different way to cool down
in Mérida. Meet the cenotes (sacred wells). These natural subterranean
pools are famous for their clear, blue water that is naturally filtered
and just plain gorgeous. You can visit the more popular cenotes, like
Cuzamá and Homún, or see if you can find a hidden cave yet undiscovered. |
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#venameridablanca
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@pptotravel
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When the Sun Goes Down |
After a long day of exploring Mayan ruins or swimming in cenotes, relax in
the cool (well, cooler) night air at Plaza de la Independencia. Admire
Mérida’s cathedral all lit up, enjoy one of the many cultural performances,
check out a traditional pok ta pok (Mayan soccer) game, and sip an espresso
from a nearby cafe. This is the heart of Mérida, and a great place to
experience the vibrancy of the city. |
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Melanie's Discovery |
@meltjoeng
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"Wander the historical streets of Mérida, where the buildings are
painted all sorts of colors and designs. I recommend sitting in the
central square and listening to local musicians with a nice cool
beverage in hand."
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La Tradición
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Yucatán Feast |
It’s always a good idea to try the local food whenever you’re traveling,
but sometimes that can mean trading a full stomach for a peculiar experience.
Luckily, you won’t have that problem in Mérida where the local food is
crazy delicious. From panuchos and salbutes, sopa de lima (lime soup)
and of course, tacos, you can’t go wrong with the traditional food here. |
Local discoverer
@juicylola.co has the best recommendations for your trip to the city: |
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Mercado 60 |
"This flea market offers more than
20 restaurants with open-air
live music.”
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Read Reviews
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La Pigua |
"La Pigua has fresh seafood dishes
that satisfy the most demanding
palate.”
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Read Reviews
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La Tradición |
"This is known as the obligatory
stop.”
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Read Reviews
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Rosa Sur 32 |
“The fusion cuisine here is amazing.”
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Read Reviews
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Hacienda Santa Rosa
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Hola Hacienda! |
Scattered throughout the Yucatán peninsula are lavish haciendas, which functioned
as Mexican plantations during the colonial era. After falling into decay
for years, many of these beautiful buildings have been restored into
hotels and resorts that make for a luxurious retreat. |
Haciendas can get a little pricey, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly
option that still lets you take advantage of the gorgeous colonial architecture,
then
Airbnb is your best bet. You can still take a tour of one of the
historical haciendas during the day, then slip into your own little casita
for the night. |
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#meridablanca
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@jose_a_sima
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Travel Tip |
"It is very hot and humid, use hats and sunblock. There will be many
mosquitos, so if possible wear long fresh clothes instead of shorts
and t-shirts when visiting the ruins or anywhere outside Mérida city.
When exploring never go in sandals or open footwear, use tennis shoes
or outdoor shoes." -
@legnalux
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Carla Sánchez |
@callmeita
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Country Count |
Favorite Discovery |
20
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Canadian Rockies
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"I Discover to...not stay in one place because there are so many
amazing, beautiful and inspiring things to see in our world!"
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"One of the best experiences I've had while in Mérida was swimming in
the cenotes. Imagine you're swimming in a cave surrounded by stalactites
and stalagmites and you still have the chance to swim under a jungle-framed
sky and look at the amazing emerald and turquoise shades on the water.
It’s just magical!" |
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