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Things to do in Mérida

Surrounded by cenotes and bordered by Chichén Itzá, this is the place to kickstart your Yucatán adventure.

Our most recommended things to do in Mérida

From Mérida: Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Valladolid, & Cenote Trip

1. From Mérida: Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Valladolid, & Cenote Trip

Spend a day full of culture, history, and cuisine on a multi-stop guided tour from Mérida to Izamal, Valladolid, Cenote Chichikan, and Chichén Itzá, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Discover traditional cooking during a live demonstration. Enjoy breakfast, a buffet lunch, and entry tickets. After meeting your guide in Mérida, head to the archeological site of Chichén Itzá. Walk through the center of this thousand-year-old place and see highlights like the Temple of the Warriors. For breakfast, enjoy a packed meal. Later, transport your senses to the root of regional cuisine, one of the greatest legacies of the Mayan culture, during a demonstration of the region’s unique gastronomy. Learn about tradition and innovation in the use of plants, vegetables, and wild fauna. Enjoy a buffet lunch of local products, then let yourself be enchanted by the story and cultural richness of two magical towns of Yucatan during the next stops. Explore Valladolid, known for its natural beauty, cobbled streets, coffee shops, restaurants, and delicious food. Stop at the main plaza for some free time to wander before moving on to Izamal. Learn why the town's houses are all painted yellow and fall in love with its colonial architecture, dating back to the 16th century. Spend time at the main landmark: the Convento de San Antonio de Padua. In between the Valladolid and Izamal stops, seize the chance to take a dip in the cool waters of Chichikan Cenote. 

Mérida: Panoramic Sightseeing Tour Bus Ticket with 2 Routes

2. Mérida: Panoramic Sightseeing Tour Bus Ticket with 2 Routes

Discover Méridaand in a flexible and relaxing way with this sightseeing bus ticket. Enjoy 2 routes taking you to the city's main avenues, its Cathedral, the historic center, its beautiful parks, and much more, with the ability to join and leave the bus as you wish. Board one of the distinctive red double-decker buses to uncover the city's Mayan and Colonial heritage. Absorb the atmosphere of a place where colonial residences and beautiful architecture rub up against the vibes and movement of a modern city. Hit the top deck and take in the great views throughout your journey. Learn about the city's ancient past, its traditions, and the ongoing Mayan influence on the present from your audio guide as you go. Board the North Circuit to see sights like the Cathedral, Peon Contreras Theater, Santa Ana Park, G. Canton Palace, Flag Monument, Itzimna Church, Las Americas Park, and Plaza Paseo 60. Alternatively, hop on board the Barrios Circuit to see the Cathedral, the San Juan neighborhood, Ermita, San Sebastian, the Merida Zoo, the Santiago neighborhood, Paseo Montejo Avenue, and the Flag Monument.

From Mérida: Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour

3. From Mérida: Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour

Start the tour with pickup from your hotel in Mérida. Journey to the amazing Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve to discover a jewel of the Yucatán Peninsula declared a wildlife refuge in 1979. Explore the primary site for pink flamingos wintering in the northern hemisphere and get up close to the magnificent birds in their natural habitat. Look for some of the other 300 species of native and migratory birds, along with reptiles, mammals, and different plants. See large colonies of brilliantly colored flamingos feeding in the estuary, and take a boat ride through the mangrove forest that provides food and shelter for shrimp and other creatures.

From Mérida: Uxmal and Sotuta de Peon Hacienda Tour w/Lunch

4. From Mérida: Uxmal and Sotuta de Peon Hacienda Tour w/Lunch

Begin the trip along the Puuc Route, in the ancient city of Uxmal, declared World Heritage. It is one of the most important cities of the Mayan world together with Chichen Itza. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch of local food. Head next to Sotuta de Peón and discover a historic hacienda. Swim in the underground cenote and you will learn about the soda production process based on Henequen.

From Merida to Cancun: Chichen Itza, Valladolid & Cenote

5. From Merida to Cancun: Chichen Itza, Valladolid & Cenote

You will start the day tour from a convenient pickup from your hotel in Merida to journey to one of the most important Mayan monuments. The first stop will be at Chichén Itzá, where you will see the pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo), known for the play of light from the equinox that casts shadows on each step to create an image of a serpent descending, here, you will be accompanied by an expert certified bilingual guide, who will explain the historical significance of all the most important temples of this ancient city before leaving you to enjoy Chichen Itza at your own. After your walking tour, we set off at an ancient cenote, one of the sinkholes that form part of a network of underground rivers sacred to the Maya people; there same, you will enjoy a delicious Yucatecan buffet meal, then take a stroll around the colonial city of Valladolid to complete your experience; Valladolid is one of the most beautiful colonial cities of Yucatan and is known for the majesty of its temples and the ancestry of its old neighbourhoods; today, it is a peaceful city where you can admire beautiful old houses. Then we will proceed to drop you off at Cancun or Playa del Carmen city so that you can relax and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

From Mérida: Chichén Itzá and Cenote Tour with Buffet Lunch

6. From Mérida: Chichén Itzá and Cenote Tour with Buffet Lunch

Experience the mysticism of the historic city of Chichen Itzá with a visit to its archaeological site, named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Take a detour during your trip to Yucatán and join an excursion from Mérida to learn about history, swim in a sacred cenote, and taste authentic food. Head directly to Chichén Itzá on a bus ride from Mérida. Make the most of your travel time by hearing about the Mayan civilization and its history from your expert guide. Reach Chichén Itzá while it's still early before the crowds arrive and the heat sets in. Admire the perfection of El Castillo, recognized as the masterpiece of the complex. Visit the old field where the pre-Hispanic ball game was played, the Mayan astronomical observatory known as El Caracol, and the Temple of the Warriors. Take some time to explore at your own pace. Up next, taste a delicious Mexican buffet lunch with vegetarian options and recharge energies before heading to your next stop. Discover a beautiful cenote, a natural freshwater pool, where you can swim in its cool waters, sacred to the Mayans. Hop back on the bus and return safely to Mérida.

From Mérida: Chichen Itza & Izamal Guided Day Trip

7. From Mérida: Chichen Itza & Izamal Guided Day Trip

Experience the beauty and history of Chichen Itza and explore on a guided day trip leaving from Merida. Learn more about the ancient civilization who built Chichen Itza, take a refreshing swim in a cenote, visit the Temple of Kukulcan, and wander through Izamal. Leave Merida with the guide and travel to the beautiful and historical site of Chichen Itza. Enjoy a two-hour guided tour where you will learn about the history and significance of the site and its most important buildings, such as the Temple of Kukulcan (El Castillo), the ball game court, the Observatory, and its adjacent Temple of the 1000 columns. Take some time to discover the site at your own pace, and admire the monuments and take pictures as you explore. Continue the tour by moving on to the Xcajum Cenote and learn more about the sinkholes that are part of the world's largest network of underground rivers. Indulge in a delicious meal next, and enjoy a variety of local foods. Move on to one of Mexico's most beautiful towns, Izamal. Learn more about the city, known as the "city of three cultures" for its multiple cultural influences. Stroll through the streets and admire the yellow and white buildings for which the town is famous. Finish the tour in Izamal before returning to pickup points in Merida, and relax and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Mérida Cooking Class, taste of Yucatan

8. Mérida Cooking Class, taste of Yucatan

You start your activity by having a walk through Merida’s Downtown. Your guide will give a quick briefing on the most important buildings overlooking the Main Square, and then walk with you to one of the main markets of Merida, Lucas de Galvez. Your guide will talk in depth about the regional fruits and vegetables, as well as the recados, the achiote, the peppers in general and especially the chile habanero and xcatic. All of this while shopping for everything you need for your traditional family lunch. Once you have everything, take a public bus with your guide to the local hostess’s home for the cooking class. Yucatecan cuisine has one of the most varied arrays of delicious dishes amongst the 32 states of Mexico. Some of them are unique to the Yucatan and very hard to find outside of the peninsula, while others are eaten throughout the country. The influence of ancient Mayans, Spaniards, French and Lebanese are specially noted in the cuisine. While you cook, chop, fry, and get the dishes ready, your hostess and guide will explain some of the local traditions, the influence of other cultures in Yucatan and the differences between the Yucatecos and the people from other parts of Mexico. You will also learn some Spanish and Mayan words while tasting the delicious dishes prepared by yourself! You will enjoy a three course meal, including appetizers, main course and dessert. Beer and soft drinks like hibiscus flower tea, or chaya water are included. Please advise in advance if you are vegan or vegetarian, because there are many dishes you will enjoy! Your experience with Yucatecan cuisine comes to an end after a long chat with your host, and its time to say good bye to your new friends. Your guide will take you in a cab back to Downtown. 

Mérida: 3-Hour Walking Food Tour

9. Mérida: 3-Hour Walking Food Tour

Start the tour by meeting on Plaza Grande, the heart of the city of Mérida. Enjoy a small-group tour of no more than ten people with an expert local guide. Discover the traditional cuisine of the city away from the main tourism hotspots. Start by enjoying some traditional refreshing drinks with your first dish of the day, gorditas. Then, try some grilled poc chuc, a dish of grilled meats prepared in citrus marinade. Next, visit one of the main food markets in town. Taste salbutes, tamales and also try some local fruit. Finish the tour by trying some tacos al pastor and carnitas.

From Mérida: Uxmal, Hacienda Yaxcopoi, Cenote Tour

10. From Mérida: Uxmal, Hacienda Yaxcopoi, Cenote Tour

Discover the ancient mysteries of Uxmal, one of the most legendary archeological sites in the Yucatan Peninsula, on a full-day tour from Merida; as you gain insight from your knowledgeable guide, and discover the rich legacy left by the Mayan civilization. Your first stop will be Yaxcopoil Hacienda where you can visit the interior of the hacienda, it has its origin in the parcels on the arrival of the Spaniards, it is usually included houses of important value architecture and other minor buildings focused on the works of the field, built in the age of splendor of green gold. Next visit Uxmal, known to many by way of legend, myth, or anecdote, and visit the pyramid of the Magician, and the Governer’s Palace. Afterward, you will visit a cenote which is an underground type of water deposit, where you can enjoy its crystalline waters.

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Chichén Itzá

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What people are saying about Mérida

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 216 reviews

Hermoso Lugar

One of the best guided tour experiences ever! The tour was very good organized: we got breakfast and water, the group was not big, the bus was comfortable, with air condition, our driver, Pablo, was good and professional. Our guide Hector made our day really perfect: he is very knowledgeable, polite and professional, we learned a lot about Mayan culture, colonial culture, Mexican traditions and food, he answered all of our questions and gave a lot of recommendations. All locations we’ve visited were amazing! We arrived to Chichén Itzá at the right time in the morning and it was not crowded, the lunch was delicious, cenot was beautiful and not very touristic, with a very nice chill zone. Highly recommend!

This is a wonderful tour! Uxmal is the most beautiful ruin site and it was great to be basically the first tour group there while it was cool in the morning. The buffet lunch was excellent and again, we were the first group there. The location of the restaurant was beautiful! Then on to the hacienda which was very interesting. Our guide was very dramatic and his enthusiasm really added to the fun. I loved seeing how the henequene was processed into the fibres and made into ropes. Then we had a unique ride on a mule driven train car to the cenote for a very refreshing hour to cool off. All in all, the best overall tour I’ve had in Mexico and very good value for the money.

GUide from Elinor tours was excellent, though day was long. GYG gave me wrong information about pickup/drop off. They told me only one location was possible and that was some distance from my hotel. In fact, they picked up passengers about a block from my hotel and luckily I was able to be dropped off there. To get to the pickup spot, I had to take a cab. I specifically asked GYG about pickup/drop off and they gave me wrong information. They even told me they’d contacted the tour provider about the issue, but if they had, they would have learned about the alternative pickup/drop off info.

Great experience! Quite a long day but so much was packed into this tour. Our guide, Carlos, was very informative and well-organized; he made sure we stuck to our schedule and we made it back to Merida on time. Of course, people will say that not enough time was spent in Vallodolid or Izamal but those deserve separate trips of their own. However if you have limited time and are ready for a long day, then this is a wonderful tour. The cenote was also very beautiful.

This trip takes you to 4 of great places to visit in the Yucatan Ouf guide was the best - Carlos spoke on both spainish and English and was so well versed on the areas he shared with us - it was a long but so worth while day - would highly recommend this tour