Explore Merida in Mexico

Merida, the White City in Mexico. Here we are now in the capital and the largest city of Yucatan. The city is known for its hammocks and is also referred to as Puerta al Mundo Maya - the Gateway to the World of the Maya.

During the day, the city doesn't have the flair that many claim. No wonder, we just came from the beautiful San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas. However, for tourists coming from Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the city must leave a lasting impression. At least that's what I've been told repeatedly.

I must say, though: the city has great architecture, which only reveals itself to me at night when the beautiful old buildings are lit up and truly shine. I think we are just tired and have already seen a lot on our journey through Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.

If we had visited Merida at the beginning of our Mexico trip, we surely would have seen much more - including the Maya ruins in Uxmal - which we are now skipping. However, we have visited the Maya sites in Chichen Itza, Tikal (Guatemala), Palenque, and Tulum.

We are extremely hungry. The nice lady at the reception of our chic and relatively new KOOX Art 57 Hotels gives us a lot of tips (where to find the best local food, where the nightlife is, where to find events with live music, etc.). She marks everything on a map for us. Awesome.

We quickly change and head two blocks over to the Mercado de Santiago. 'Breakfast' around noon. The smaller market doesn't offer much. So we just walk through and buy some fresh fruit. After our night bus ride, we're so tired that we first test the loungers by the hotel pool, cool off, and sleep. I feel like I have jet lag.

The Cathedral of Merida, "Cathedral de San Ildefonso," is the largest church in Yucatan. It is said to have been built from the stones of a Maya pyramid that previously stood on this site, as a sign of peace between Christians and the Maya. It is stunning at night.

You must visit the center at the former Zocalo, now called Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande). It is the lively and bustling center of Merida. Small markets are held there, and there is often live music or other cultural performances. There is always something going on here.

When we are in Merida, the Mundo Maya Festival happens to be taking place. We get to enjoy typical local dances as part of the festival, just like we saw in Chichen Itza.

Merida is home to the most famous hammocks in Mexico. Instead of being made from cotton or synthetic fibers, the hammocks here are still handmade from sisal, a durable material. Therefore, I made up my mind to take a hammock home with me. I ask where I can best get my souvenir - an original hammock from Merida. The answer: Casa de Artesanians del Gobierno (TITA).

Did you know that locals here still sleep in hammocks? They don't like beds. I ask for advice on what to consider when purchasing and make a buy.

On the recommendation of locals, we ended up at the central Mercado Municipal Lucas de Gálvez. The market is not only ideal for shopping but also a great spot for breakfast. The market is located on Calle 56 A, near Calle 67. It's a maze of alleys, and you can find literally everything you could think of buying. It reminded me a bit of the night markets in Bangkok. A really great place.

The Mundo Maya Festival takes place annually in the second half of October. By chance, we are exactly in Merida during this time for our first trip to Mexico. The festival honors the Maya culture, featuring parades with lots of music and traditional costumes. At Paseo de Montejo, we can listen to real mariachi bands, and the city center is buzzing with music and colorful costumes.

When in Merida, you should also explore the surrounding region. We took excursions without having to change hotels. These places are easy to reach by bus. If you're traveling by rental car, getting around is even more comfortable.

Locals recommended we definitely go to the sea and the beautiful beach of Progreso. So we take the bus and after another 15-minute walk, we reach the promenade. Our tip: Go early in the morning (if it's a weekend) to snag a shady spot under the palm trees, as they are limited.

After breakfast, we walk to Calle 65/62 (3 blocks from the cathedral), where next to the Hotel Ho is the bus stop for departure to Progreso (or Puerto Progreso). We need to cool off and have a lazy day by the sea. The ride takes about 45 minutes, and the round-trip ticket costs us 30 M$. The buses run regularly all day.

The way from the bus station to the beach in Progreso is marked. It's about a leisurely 15-minute walk to the beach. The promenade and the small shops and stands are nice to look at. It's a bit more challenging to find a shady spot. All the spaces under the palm trees are already taken, and there are no umbrellas. The locals don't lie on the beach; they sit all day in the shade of the restaurants at the tables. They eat, drink, and occasionally jump into the water to cool off.

We snag two loungers directly in front of one of those restaurants and pull them into the half-shade of the restaurant. This is bearable. The beach in Tulum is much nicer and the sand finer; still, we enjoy the day. Around 5 PM, we make our way back to Merida, stopping along the way at one of the many little stalls on the promenade to buy souvenirs.

You don't find tourists here; only Mexicans spending their weekend getaway at the beach.

The hotel is relatively new and situated about 10 minutes' walk from Plaza Grande. It is quiet and beautiful. The pool could be a bit larger and is more like a wading pool, but the refreshment is still present.

Since we relaxed by the sea afterwards, I didn't mind this. The rooms are spacious and clean. The reception staff is very friendly and provides great tips not found in travel guides. We paid 18.60 euros per night per person for a double room.

Mexican bakeries are fantastic: You absolutely must visit bakeries in Mexico and buy a selection of sweet pastries. Everything really tastes amazing!

The ADO station in Merida is located on Calle 70 between 69 and 71. If you don't want to arrive soaked with sweat, it's best to take a taxi. From here, there are connections almost everywhere.

You can explore the center and the major attractions in Merida in one day. However, there are many excursions around Merida that are worth taking. Unfortunately, we only had 3 nights left at the end of our trip and could only manage a day trip to Progreso. We would have loved to see Uxmal and the flamingos in Celestún. But we will definitely return to Yucatán. If you have more time or are traveling by rental car, you should plan to spend more time here. Merida really impressed us.

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