Merida, known as the “White City,” has been awarded status of American Capital of Culture multiple times. Visit this quiet paradise and you’ll quickly see why. Between broad plazas and narrow streets, enticing restaurants and impressive archaeological sites, there is plenty here to fill a vacation, or two. With Merida’s central Yucatan Peninsula location, it’s easy to take daytrips to nature reserves, the country’s famed Pueblos Mágicos (“magic towns”) and UNESCO-listed ruins.
Start with an in-depth exploration of Merida’s Maya background. Visit Chichén Itzá, a pre-Columbian city with an impressive mix of architectural styles and popular with equinox followers. Continue on to the just as famous, though often less crowded, Uxmal. Admire the intricate stone carvings, expert construction and massive Pyramid of the Magician.
Back in town, take time to appreciate the colonial architecture rising up from narrow streets, broad tree-lined avenues and central plazas. The colorful structures, in hues from periwinkle to peach, are a photographer’s dream.
Take note of the 16th-century mansions surrounding the main city square, the Ildefonso Cathedral and the Beaux Arts homes from the Porfiriato era set along the graceful Paseo Montejo.
Step into the shade inside one of the city’s excellent museums, including the must-see Gran Museo del Mundo Maya de Merida, where you can peruse artifacts from ancient history through to modern colonization.
Stop by the Museum of Anthropology and History on the Paseo Montejo for its impressive photography exhibits and the Popular Art Museum for typical dress, ceramic and art from throughout the country.
Modern art fans will enjoy the Contemporary Art Museum (MACAY) for its abstract pieces by local artist Fernando Garcia Ponce.
After all that walking, feast on delicious Yucatecan cuisine at local restaurants or at bustling markets such as Mercado Lucas De Galvéz and Mercado Santiago. Try local habanero peppers, chaya (a type of local green) and rambutan, washing it down with refreshing, fruity agua fresca. Try the Yucatan favorite of a huayalime eaten with a sprinkle of chili powder.
Reach Merida by flying into Cancun International Airport. Once there, get about by bus, van or taxi. With its central location, Merida makes a fantastic jumping-off point for daytrips throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.
