Part 2 - Mérida

The beautiful Monumento a la Bandera or Monument to the Homeland on Paseo de Montejo. Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Mérida is breathtaking! There is absolutely no city even slightly similar to Mérida in the USA. The list of Mérida’s beautiful qualities is ongoing! It’s a safe city, It’s beautiful, the people are friendly, its affordable, it has a great night life, good health care, and  it has an airport that is easy to navigate for travelers and it is centrally located to a ton of fun activities! 

One of the beautiful store fronts in Merida

What about the Safety!? As always we have to remember that live in the 2020s and there is going to be potential for crime anywhere. NO LOCATION IS PERFECT. The key however is finding a location where you can reduce the chances of having a bad experience and also have peace of mind so you can actually enjoy your time. I’ll be honest, as a US citizen, often times when I have thought of visiting Mexico I’ve thought of armed guards, windows with bars, high crime, shady tourist traps, and unsafe transportation and taxis. Just to be clear there are locations in Mexico where you need to be hyper alert about some of those things but from what I experienced Mérida isn’t one of them. Average traveler's caution should be sufficient for most who visit! 

Accommodations! Mérida has great infrastructure and very nice affordable accommodations. I stayed in a neighborhood where it is possible to get an AirBnB and this is a great idea for a family that wants to travel here and all share a house together. There is a reasonable amount of AirBnBs available, but do your research and plan ahead. If you prefer to stay at a hotel you can find very nice accommodations downtown for $40 to $90 dollars a night. On my next trip here I am planning on making nomore than one nights reservation in advanced, that will allow me explore several different hotels and check out and experience all of their amenities and what they have to offer. 


Nearby Beach

Progreso is just 15KM away from Mérida and it is beautiful. When I went there were very few tourist from the USA. Most of the beach goers were either local or from surrounding central and South American points of origin. This gave the beach a very nice atmosphere, very different and far removed from partying spring breakers from the states. I am told however that it’s best to avoid it during spring breaks.  

Downtown 

There's no shortage of shopping, restaurants, bars and good times downtown. I really didn’t spend all that much time downtown but I did love sampling some amazing Mezcal in the beautiful and quaint Casa Chica. Make sure to check it out if you are nearby. Another item that you must try if you visit is a Marquesitas! OH MY GOSH! These are amazing. The one I had was from the carmolito sanchez’s cart and it was one of the top 10 sweets I’ve ever had! DON”T MISS stopping by! 

Historic sites and Museums. 

There is so much to learn about the history of the area and the Mayan culture. You have to check out the ruins of Dzibilchaltún. The temple and the pyramid are absolutely stunning and provide some great photo opportunities. Also wonderful if you are a history buff is the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya or Mayan World Museum of Mérida. This is a can’t miss as you get up close and personal with many beautiful Mayan artifacts. 

Ok that’s its for now! If you have questions ask in the comments below. I you have been to Mérida then let me know what you found to be amazing and a can’t miss activity.