15 Best Things to Do in Merida, Mexico
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The Yucatan peninsula’s largest metropolis has by no means been almost as common a vacationer vacation spot because the Riviera Maya or Cancun, however for vacationers searching for tradition and historical past over resorts and all-inclusives, Merida is the place to be. Although Merida is architecturally colonial, the grand plazas and cathedrals don’t disguise the town’s Mayan previous and current for too lengthy. Visit historic Mayan ruins, be taught extra in regards to the indigenous world on the Great Museum of the Mayan World, after which take pleasure in the very best Yucatec delicacies on the peninsula. Here are the very best issues to do in Merida, Mexico.
Related Article: 3 Days in Merida: The Perfect Merida Itinerary
1. Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya – or the Great Museum of the Mayan World – is without doubt one of the prime issues to do in Merida. This extravagant museum is devoted to the Mayan world, and it’s fittingly in Merida, the place numerous Mayan languages are nonetheless spoken to at the present time.
The museum takes you again to prehistoric occasions when the Yucatan Peninsula was inhabited not by people however dinosaurs, as a result of it’s thought that the asteroid strike that worn out the dinosaurs struck right here, creating the cenotes that the area is so well-known for within the aftermath.
After the dinosaurs, the museum explores virtually each identified side of Mayan historical past and tradition. From the rise of cities similar to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam – to their downfall – the museum spans a number of flooring earlier than you even get to the Spanish conquistadors, colonialism, and the fashionable period.
Leave a couple of spare hours for this museum, as a result of it’s a giant one!
2. Free Walking Tours
Head to the vacationer workplace within the zócalo at 9.30 a.m. to affix a free strolling tour courtesy of the town. It’s among the best free issues to do in Merida, after all, and it’s a good way to get your bearings should you’ve simply arrived.
Tours final round 90 minutes, taking you across the zócalo and into the broader metropolis, previous Merida’s grand colonial structure. At the identical time, the guides clarify extra in regards to the significance of the town’s well-known landmarks, together with how the cathedral and plenty of different historic buildings have been constructed from the rubble of the Mayan metropolis that the conquistadors destroyed.
It’s a captivating perception into Merida and completely freed from cost!
3. Merida Cathedral
Standing tall above the zócalo is the Catedral de Mérida, the town’s imposing Catholic church. Merida Cathedral seems to be spectacular, most likely as a result of it was constructed to topic and convert the Mayans.
The cathedral was constructed with stone taken from the prevailing Mayan metropolis that the conquistadors conquered within the mid-Fifteenth century, and it was one of many first cathedrals to be constructed anyplace in Mexico.
Work started within the 1560s however wasn’t accomplished till 1598. On the stone facade, you’ll be able to see statues of St. Peter and St. Paul, whereas contained in the cathedral, there are many vivid depictions of Christ and all of the saints in sometimes colourful, Catholic fashion.
4. Sundays within the Square
Sundays aren’t only for churchgoers in Merida, as a result of exterior the cathedral within the Plaza Grande, a grand Sunday market is held each week.
Sundays are finest spent within the sq., the place vacationers and locals alike may be discovered having fun with the stay music and searching by way of the market stalls.
Best of all, although, are the meals stalls. You can strive all of the native specialties – similar to lime soup and slow-roasted pork – for just some {dollars} a dish!
The market goes on all day from the early hours, however it’s finest within the morning and early afternoon. Have a browse, eat some nice meals, then take a Sunday afternoon siesta.
5. Watch a Pok-Ta-Pok Game
Saturday nights within the metropolis are energetic, and among the best enjoyable issues to do in Merida is watch a stay match of Pok-Ta-Pok, an historic Mesoamerican ball recreation
A skillful but harmful recreation, Pok-Ta-Pok was performed in purpose-built ball courts by the Aztecs and Mayans. On Saturday evenings, the zócalo hosts stay music and leisure, together with a reenactment of the sport.
Since the foundations have been misplaced throughout the Spanish conquest, some artistic license goes into the eventful video games performed in Merida; however it’s actually a novel solution to spend a Saturday evening.
6. Palacio de Gobierno
The fundamental sq. – variously referred to as the zócalo or plaza grande by the locals – is surrounded on all 4 sides by grand colonial-style mansions, outlets, buildings, and naturally, Merida Cathedral.
Many of those buildings confide in equally grand courtyards and plazas, hiding a wealth of artwork and historical past that vacationers can usually wander freely round.
One of the very best buildings to go to is the Palacio de Gobierno, or the Government Palace. This is the place you’ll discover the vacationer workplace, and though it’s very a lot a working authorities constructing, you’re allowed inside to see the murals and work within the corridors.
The murals primarily depict the Spanish conquest of the Mayans and the Mayan struggles thereafter.
7. Paseo de Montejo
To see extra of Merida’s colonial structure and historical past, take a stroll alongside Paseo de Montejo.
This lengthy boulevard is definitely one of many grandest locations to go to in Merida, and at six kilometers in size, it’s one the town’s longest roads. Named for Francisco de Montejo, the Spanish conquistador who based Merida, the avenue has historically been the house of the town’s most prosperous households.
Mansions line the Paseo de Montejo whereas bushes shade the walkway from its place to begin close to the zócalo proper as much as its ending level by the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya on the outskirts of the town.
8. Museo Casa Montejo
In the primary sq. – and never on Paseo de Montejo because the identify may counsel! – you’ll be able to go to the home of the Montejo household, the “founders” of colonial Merida.
Now a museum, the home dates again to 1549 and is without doubt one of the oldest buildings within the metropolis. It’s in a central location proper in the primary sq., and should you take a look at the facade of the mansion, you’ll see fading art work depicting the Spanish conquest of the Mayans.
Inside the museum, you’ll be able to be taught extra in regards to the Montejos and see many examples of previous colonial furnishings, art work, and décor from when the constructing was used as a house by the numerous generations of Montejos.
9. Museum of the City of Merida
If you’re concerned about studying extra in regards to the metropolis’s intriguing historical past, then among the best vacationer points of interest in Merida is the Museum of the City of Merida.
Although nowhere close to as giant because the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, that is nonetheless among the best museums in Merida, and it’ll solely take up an hour or so of your time.
The museum seems to be on the pre-Hispanic cultures that lived right here however focuses totally on how Merida grew from a small colonial outpost right into a rich buying and selling middle within the nineteenth century.
10. Mercado Lucas de Galvez
When visiting Merida, it’s a must to take a stroll by way of Mercado Lucas de Galvez, one of many busiest markets within the metropolis.
Mercado Lucas de Galvez is just some streets over from the zócalo, however it’s far faraway from the colonial mansions and cathedrals of historic Merida.
This is the place you’ll be able to have a short but hectic style of the native life that’s packed into a big market and overflowing onto the encircling streets, and luxuriate in a recent refresco as you stroll previous leatherworkers, clothes retailers, butchers, and vegetable stands.
Stop to discount for a couple of souvenirs, take a break and gas up with tacos or tortas, and immerse your self within the bustle of Merida’s finest market.
11. Relax within the Parques
One of the very best issues to do in Merida is to do completely nothing in any respect within the parks! Merida has public squares, gardens, and parks on virtually each avenue, and every of them presents a shaded respite throughout your tour of the town.
Grab a refresco from a meals stand, then sit down on a bench, sit back, and chill out. In addition to the primary zócalo, among the finest public parks in Merida embrace the Mayan-themed Parque de las Americas, peaceable Parque de Santiago, and the taco and torta stalls of Parque de Santa Anna.
12. Yucatan Cuisine
Once you’ve explored all the very best issues to do in Merida, you’re going to have labored up an urge for food!
Don’t fear, as a result of Merida is a metropolis made for foodies. Stop off at one of many many taco or torta stands for a fast chunk to eat and an ice chilly agua del dia, however save area for a go to to cantinas and eating places later within the day.
Given the massive Mayan culinary affect, Yucatan’s delicacies is kind of totally different from that present in different components of Mexico. You’ll need to strive the sopa de limon – lime soup – to begin and observe it up with a plate of cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork served with tortillas.
13. Dzibilchaltun
A brief drive north of the town will carry you to the Mayan ruins of Dzibilchaltun, the place you could find out extra in regards to the pre-Hispanic world that existed right here earlier than the conquistadors arrived within the sixteenth century.
This was an historic Mayan metropolis, with archaeological proof suggesting that it was occupied from as early as 300 BCE till it will definitely grew to become residence to a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals.
It was nonetheless an necessary buying and selling hub when the Spanish conquered Dzibilchaltun, which led to the downfall of the Maya right here and the founding of recent Merida.
Today, guests can wander by way of excavated dwellings and Mayan-built buildings earlier than strolling within the shadow of as soon as mighty temples.
14. Izamal
An hour away from Merida by automobile or colectivo, Izamal is without doubt one of the most colourful locations in Yucatan. Named the Yellow City – as a result of virtually the entire buildings within the historic previous city are a vibrant shade of yellow – Izamal is a superb, and simple, day journey from Merida.
The small metropolis has a wealthy historical past, and other than visiting the Catholic convent that sits atop the hill, vacationers can climb to the highest of crumbling Mayan pyramids dotted amongst the yellow homes, outlets, and church buildings.
This is the place colonial historical past meets Mayan historical past head on, making Izamal a captivating place to discover.
15. Progreso
Escape the town with a day journey to Progreso, the place you’ll discover the very best seashores in Merida, Mexico.
Located lower than an hour north of the Merida’s metropolis middle, Progreso is understood for its white sand seashores and seafront bars and eating places.
The in any other case sleepy fishing city will get busy on weekends and when the cruise ships name in, however plan a visit right here midweek and also you’ll have solar, sea, and sand all to your self.
From grand museums and colonial mansions to markets and Mayan ruins, you’ll be spoiled for alternative when deciding what to do in Merida.
And when you’ve visited all the normal sights and points of interest, you’ll simply be misplaced for days eating on Yucatan-style delicacies in native cantinas or ready for the Sunday meals market to return round once more.
Why not save our information to the very best issues to do in Merida in your subsequent journey to Mexico?
