If you're planning to travel to Mexico and you'd like to see cenotes, get to know the Mayan Culture and want to admire the colonial buildings of its capital, Mérida, then this guide is ideal for you.
Here I'll be sharing the best places to see, amazing activities and personal tips to move around Yucatán, the top province of the cenotes and Mayan ruins of Mexico. with you the best The guide also includesthings restaurants, and some accommodations.
Did you know that Mérida is Yucatán's capital and the safest city in Mexico? It also is the second safest one in the whole American continent! And after living here for 5 months, I can say that it's true. It's a super safe place to live, and a beautiful one, too.
That's the main street full of colonial buildings, restaurants, accommodations... is the most "luxurious" part of the city, and a really beautiful one to walk around.
Add to
Details
The streets of Mérida are colourful and beautiful, walking around the city you can see streets like the ones below
My favorite coffees in Mérida -
The reality is that Mérida is full of cozy and good coffees, it's a matter of walking around and discovering them.
This is definitely my favorite coffee in the city and I regularly go. It is a library concept coffee shop where you can buy books but also read books while you are in the coffee place.
The oat milk cappuccino is my favorite, but they have a wide range of beverages and delicous sandwiches and toasts that you can also personalize. to your taste.
It's a perfect place to work from your laptop! You can even play board games, too.
This coffee is very good, and the space is perfect for working, or having a relaxing time. There are two floors in the cozy space and you accompany your coffee with a toast.
The best pizzas are here!! The owner is Italian and you can tell when you eat the pizzas.
My favorite ones are the truffle one and the jamón serrano!
The options of pasta are also incredible, and the whole menu looks delicious.
A buffet place which has delicious Brazilian food. This is a perfect option if you are a meat lover.
The price of the buffet is $300mx .
Add to
Details
And you shouldn't miss to try a Marquesita in the food trucks that you'll find along the city's streets. I had to try it because it is an interesting combination of salty and sweet I've never heard about before, and it is a typical desert of Yucatán.
You can choose many flavors, but the classic one might is with cheese, then you can add chocolate, peanut butter and whatever you want! There are no limits.
EVA'S TIP ❗: if you only have time to visit 1 mayan ruin, go for this one instead of Chichen Itzá. Chichen Itzá is more touristic (too much), and I felt that it is a place just to take an Instagram picture. My guided tour was much more better and complete in Uxmal than in Chicen Itzá. But this might also depend on the guide itself.
Uxmal is usually a preferred option rather than Chichen Itzá over the tourists because it's less crowded, the space has more trees and shade, so it is less hot, and it is a full village, so you can have the same guided tour as in Chichen Itzá.
EVA'S TIP ❗: if you have the chance to go to both ruins, go to both, but I think with one is enough as the history is the same one.
Chichen Itzá is the iconic symbol of the Mayan culture in Mexico, but as I mentioned before, Uxma might be a cheaper and better option.
Sisal is around 2 hours by colectivo from Mérida, and is a place to see flamingos, do kayaking through the mangroves...
You can contact to local companies to take these tours, here I share with you the one I did it with:
This is a very interesting place, as the water is literally pink (although the intensity varies depending on the season).
You can take a 1-day tour from Mérida to Coloradas
Progreso is the "main" beach of Mérida, you can take a colectivo from the city and it will take around 40/45 minutes drive.
The beach has nothing in special, but there is Isla Columpios (I've never been to but people visit it), and the longest pier in the world, a Record Guiness!
For those looking for something less touristic, more local, and isolated, Río Lagartos could be a good option.
What I loved the most of this place is that tour guides can take you to a literally private beach, where you can be alone as long as you want, and that was precious.
Here you can do tours to see crocodiles and animals, mangroves, and more
Add to
Details
Cenotes -
Yucatán is a special place of Mexico specially because of the cenotes (although in Quintana Roo you'll also find them).
EVA'S TIP ❗: if you are certified diver, dive in a cenote, is incredibly beautiful and it is my highlight in Mexico so far.
❗ When visiting cenotes, bare in mind that you'll need to pay entrance as usually are private own.
Homún is a small town around 1 hour drive from Mérida, you can take a direct colectivo.
In Homún there are a lot of cenotes, but I visited 3 of them, one opened and 2 underground:
- Tres Oches
- Kaay Can Che
- San José
I recommend to visit these cenotes!
This is the most known "instagrammable" cenote in Yucatán, located nearby Valladolid.
I've never been there (at least not yet), but I add it to the guide so you know its name and location in case you are interested in visiting it.
Valladolid can be considered as the small sister of Mérida, as it is very alike, but in a smaller size.
It is a nice alternative if you don't stay in Mérida.
Campeche has the same colonial style which is worth a visit. But perhaps you can leave it for the last option, it is located a bit further west,
*pictures not mine
I cannot recommend more this hostel, is like home as here is where I did my volunteering experience in Mérida.
The team is great and the installations, too. So you'll enjoy your stay while having fun and meeting people from all around the world in this party hostel.
For those looking for something more sophisticated... Piedra de Agua Boutique hotel is located right in downtown and it has a beautiful roftoop restaurant.
Add to
Details
There are a wide range of an amazing Airbnb's offer in Mérida. I truly recommend this one for a couple.
I also invite you to read about “My Story” if you are interested in knowing more about living abroad, being nomad, or other destinations, and to get to know more about me and how I started moving around!
📍Currently in Australia
If you love exploring beyond your comfort zone, you are adventurous and you enjoy immersing yourself into other cultures and adapting to different environments, without prejudices, and with open mind, you just found a like minded person, me!
I'm living nomad since 6 years ago and now I'm sharing my knowledge, experiences and advice about my experience and destinations with you! Book a call with me if you want to travel, move abroad, do volunteering... but money or fear is stopping you. I can help you do that, because that's what I've been doing until now! Travelling almost for free around the world!
In addition to that, I have been always working in the tourism industry or doing volunteerings, that's why I feel fully empowered to give the best tips and guides of each of the destinations, .
Follow my journey on my Instagram & TikTok @evarios14, and don't hesitate to reach me out!
