Liz & Bea

We visited Mérida for the first time in July 2022 and fell in love with this beautiful city! Except for the summer humidity, we were so impressed with all that Mérida has to offer and the genuine kindness we felt from local residents. We know that international travel can sometimes be daunting, so we've put together a guide to help you get to know Mérida and plan your trip. Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions!

Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatán in the Gulf of México. It has a strong connection to its Mayan heritage, and you'll find many places, dishes, and traditions around Mérida with traditional Mayan names and roots. Yucatán as a whole is very hot, and while February is one of the coolest months of the year (we did this on purpose!), please keep an eye on the temperature, dress appropriately for the heat, and stay hydrated while you are here!

Mérida is also widely considered the safest city in México and is known for its friendly and welcoming locals. The city has been growing in popularity and was recently voted the #4 best big city in the world! Check out the link below to learn more!

Flying into Mérida International Airport, formally known as Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, is the best way to get to Mérida. From the U.S, there are nonstop flights from Miami and Houston, as well as a seasonal nonstop flight from Dallas in the winter. Most other flights connect to Mérida through Mexico City or Guadalajara. A variety of airlines fly into Mérida either directly or through other cities in México, including Aeroméxico, American, United, Volaris, WestJet, and Viva Aerobus. Transferring through Mexico City is usually easy and efficient, but flying directly into Mérida might be a little more relaxing as it's a smaller airport. Let us know if you have questions about booking a flight!

To get from the airport into the city, there are a couple of transit options. Here are a few to help you get started:

Ruta Aeropuerto ADO Bus: There is now a bus that runs from the airport to 6 stops around Mérida. One of the stops, Paseo 60, is less than a 10 minute walk from the Courtyard Marriott. The price per ride is only 45 MXN per person, so it's a great economical option. Tickets can be purchased at the airport and at Paseo 60. Click the link above for more information.

Mérida Airport Private Roundtrip Transportation: After doing some research, we would recommend using this service for roundtrip transport from the airport to your hotel or Airbnb. While we haven't used it before ourselves, they have great reviews and will meet you in the airport terminal and take you straight to your hotel, then bring you back to the airport for your departure. Price per person starts at $32 roundtrip, but goes down as more passengers are added in case you'd like to coordinate with other guests. Liz and Bea are happy to help coordinate this with you! Click the link above to book.

Taxis are also available from the airport. As discussed below, taxis in Mérida are not metered, and the price from the airport may depend on the driver. It should cost around 300 pesos (about $15-20 USD) to get from the airport to the center of the city.

Rideshares like Uber and Didi are not legally allowed to pick up at the airport. Some do anyway, but many will require you to walk off of airport property to meet them at the main road. If you choose this option, be prepared to communicate with the driver about where to meet.

We have secured a discount room code for our guests at the Courtyard Marriott Mérida Downtown. We stayed here on our last trip to Mérida and loved it! The hotel is very new with spacious rooms, fitness center, two restaurants, and an amazing rooftop pool and bar with fantastic sunset views. The hotel is just a few minutes walk from convenience stores, restaurants, and Paseo de Montejo. We highly recommend booking here as the shuttle bus will pickup and drop off for the wedding from this hotel location. Please book your accommodation as early as possible, as February is a busy month for weddings in Mérida and the hotel will fill up quickly.

Additionally, we recommend planning to arrive in Mérida on the 8th or 9th, as flight cancellations and delays do sometimes occur and it isn't always possible to rebook to Mérida the same day, especially with a group or directly from the U.S..

To book using our discount code at the Courtyard Marriott, please use this link. The code will only work using this link. If you have any trouble, please let us know.

You can also call or email the hotel to book directly at +52 999-454-3000
Toll-free National: 800-502-0500
Toll free International: 1-800-344-0548
Email: hotelesreservaciones@grupopresidente.com

When calling or emailing, use the group code WBL and the party name "Beatriz and Liz Wedding."

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If you choose not to stay at the Courtyard, there are many other major hotel chains, boutique hotels, and Airbnb's in Mérida which vary in price. We'd recommend picking something close to Paseo de Montejo or in the Centro. Anything toward the North end of Paseo de Montejo will be in close walking distance to the Courtyard to catch the wedding shuttle. If you have questions or need assistance, Liz and Bea have done lots of research on this and are happy to help.

The city of Mérida is very walkable! You can easily reach many of the main sites and popular areas on foot, and it's fun to check out the colorful buildings and beautiful architecture along the way. For further destinations, or if you just want to rest, there are a few options for transportation discussed below. For information on airport transit, please see the "Getting There" section above.

Taxis

There are many public taxis in Mérida which are usually easy to flag down. However, most taxis in Mérida aren't metered and are a negotiated or fixed price depending on your destination. We always agreed on a price at the beginning of a trip and found the prices named by our drivers reasonable. However, this may be difficult if you don't speak Spanish. You can always ask your hotel to call you a taxi and let you know of the driver's price when it arrives.

Uber and Didi

Other great transport options in Mérida are rideshares like Uber and Didi. Both work well and you can usually see the full price when booking the ride. From our experience, Didi seems to be the most popular rideshare option in the area and allows you to pay in cash or via credit card through the app. We would definitely recommend having Didi and Uber downloaded to your phone before arriving in Mérida.

Public Transit

Mérida has a variety of bus routes throughout the city, usually starting and ending in the center. The price per ride is only about 6 pesos, which is less than 50 cents. Check out the various bus and van routes here.

Car Rental

It's definitely possible to rent a car in Mérida through a local or international company. However, we really don't recommend renting a car unless you have experience driving in México. While Mérida is a fairly low-key city in terms of driving and traffic, the rules of the road and the condition of the roads can still be very different from the U.S. and other countries (Liz is just starting to get the hang of it after several trips!). Transportation will also be provided to and from the wedding venue, so we'd definitely recommend using taxis, rideshare apps, public transport, or hiring a private driver for the rest of your time in Mérida. Then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the views. :)

It's no secret that Bea and I LOVE food. Finding new delicious tastes is one of our favorite parts of traveling, and the food in Yucatán really impressed us!

While you'll find plenty of well-known Mexican dishes in Yucatán, much of the cuisine in the state is a little different. Indeed, typical foods found in Mérida and Yucatán are heavily influenced by the region's Mayan heritage. The result? Amazing drinks and dishes like cochinita pibil, sopa de lima, chaya con limon, and marquesitas. We really enjoyed getting to know local dishes, and you might even find some of them at our wedding! We haven't had a chance to check out every restaurant in Mérida (yet), but take a look below for some suggestions of places to visit for delicious snacks, drinks, and meals, and click the links to learn more.

La Chaya Maya - When we were hungry after just arriving in Mérida, La Chaya Maya was our first stop, and it was a great introduction to Yucatán food. The menu consists of a variety of traditional dishes and freshly made tortillas. Liz had her first cochinita pibil here and spent the rest of the trip hunting down more. The restaurant now has two locations to choose from in Downtown Mérida.

Teya, Gastronomiá Yucateca Viva - A visit to Teya will come with both a great meal and a little live music! Teya is a modern take on traditional Yucatecan cuisine and fuses tradition with dining in an urban atmosphere. It's located inside Paseo 60, which features an open air plaza with food and live music in the evening. Teya has tables both inside and outside so you can enjoy the show.

Museo de la Gastronomía Yucateca - Part museum, part restaurant, the Museum of Yucatecan Gastronomy allows visitors to see how traditional regional food is made and then eat it. MUGY is both educational and delicious and features all the flavors of Yucatán along with delicious and refreshing drinks.

Cadadía Bar Café - The place that immediately cemented itself as one of our favorite places in Mérida, Cadadía is a feminist cafe and bar as well as a bar for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. The bar truly fosters inclusion, and everyone is welcome there. You can enjoy multiple cheese board options, tasty sliders, and unique and inventive cocktails, and if you go on karaoke night, they might even let you sing Broadway songs. Cadadía definitely holds a special place in our hearts and we encourage everyone to check it out!

Trattoria la Pasta Montejo - Full disclosure, we haven't been here yet, but we want to! Owned by an Italian chef, Trattoria is located right on Paseo de Montejo and is known to have an excellent, authentic Italian menu full of meat, fish, and pasta options. It's super cute, and super popular, so get there early. We'll report back if we have time to check it out before you do!

Wayan'e - Many will say to come here for the best tacos in Mérida, but you'll have to be early! Wayan'e has a few locations around Mérida, is Mayan for "here we are," and serves traditional Yucatecan tacos. It's first and foremost a breakfast spot and is open from 7:00 am until they're sold out, so get there by 11:30 at the latest so that most of the menu is still available. Bonus: Wayan'e is also known to have great vegetarian tacos!

Rosas y Xocolate Restaurant and Moon Lounge - This iconic pink hotel is an incredible place both to stay (trust us) and to eat and drink. The restaurant here can be enjoyed inside (romantic), outside (charming) or on the roof (both)! True to its name, Bea says the hot chocolate is really good! The best, though, was enjoying drinks and live jazz at the rooftop Moon Lounge. There's something really special about watching the sun set over Paseo de Montejo as the evening cools off and jazz plays in the background.

Picheta - Speaking of rooftop bars, Picheta provides views of another special part of Mérida, the Centro. Make a reservation to secure a table on the terrace and enjoy contemporary Yucatecan food and drinks in a historic building overlooking the plaza. We can't wait to check this one out, either.

A lot of guidebooks say that Mérida is a quiet city without much to do, but we found that this couldn't be further from the truth! We had a fantastic time exploring Mérida and the surrounding areas and feel like we barely scratched the surface. Read on for some of our favorite local activities and day trips, and a few places we still want to check out!

Paseo de Montejo is one of the most well-known streets in Mérida. Easily walkable from beginning to end, Paseo de Montejo hosts a variety of festivals throughout the summer months and is lined with gorgeous monuments and buildings, many of which are open for tours during the daytime and evening. Boutique shops, hotels, and many restaurants add to a festive atmosphere, especially after dark when the city cools off. Here are a few things we enjoyed the most:

Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón - We loved sitting outside in the warm summer night air and enjoying delicious flavors of sorbets! This dulcería has been in business for over 100 years and serves unique flavors of sorbets, sherbets, milkshakes, and pan dulce. 

El Minaret - El Minaret is an iconic mansion along Paseo de Montejo. Built in 1908 by Dr. Alvaro Medina Ayora and his brother, Miguel Medina Ayora, who served as Director of Public Works of the State, El Minaret has been preserved and restored over the years and now serves as a unique event space and is open for tours on certain evenings. We loved exploring the building, learning its history, and even climbing the spiral staircase to the top of the minaret itself. 

Museo de Antropología e Historia - The Mérida Anthropology and History Museum is a small but beautiful museum in a historic building. The museum hosts exhibits about the Mayan history of Yucatán and traveling special exhibits, as well. The entry fee to the museum is only 55 pesos and is open Tuesday through Sunday.

Monumento a La Patria - The Monument to the Fatherland is an iconic monument built in 1956 which features more than 300 hand carved figures telling the story and history of México from the time of Tenochtitlán to the mid-twentieth century. The monument is a must see while in Mérida.

The Centro Histórico is the historical heart of Mérida. With dozens of shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and parks to explore, wandering the Centro is something you can't miss while visiting the city! 

Plaza Grande - Surrounded by historic government buildings and the iconic cathedral, Plaza Grande is full of life and is enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. You can take a seat in one of the traditional confidentes to people-watch or enjoy an evening performance or festival. Around the plaza, there are several sites to check out such as the Governor's Palace, Museo Casa Montejo, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Yucatán, and Picheta rooftop restaurant and bar.

Catedral de Mérida - Formally known as Catedral de San Ildefonso, the Cathedral of Mérida is the oldest cathedral in México! It was built at the end of the 16th century and is still a functioning church holding Mass several times per week.

Parque de Santa Lucía - This small park features some big chairs! Come here to see a giant pair of confidentes, also known as "sillas tú y yo," or you and me chairs. These iconic seats of the Yucatán region are representative of love and the month of February (perfect timing!) and have history steeped in local legend. The oversized pair in Parque de Santa Lucía are fun to climb onto for a memorable photo.

Mercado Lucas de Galvéz - For an authentic Mexican experience, visit the Mercado. Mercado Lucas de Galvéz is located next to the Museum of the City of Mérida on Calle 56 and 56-A. It features a traditional artisan market as well as a food market filled with Yucatecan flavors and delicious snacks. 

Artesanías Colores Yucatecos - We stumbled upon this cute artisan shop while wandering the Centro and loved their Yucatán inspired crafts. Check them out! 

Gato y Gato - This one is for the cat lovers! We were beyond thrilled to walk down the street from Colores Yucatecos and find an entire cat themed store. 

There are a ton of great museums in Mérida! In addition to the anthropology museum mentioned above, here are a few more to get started with. We found that visiting a museum was a great way to cool off on a hot Yucatán afternoon.

Gran Museo del Mundo Maya - The Museum of the Mayan World opened in 2012 and explores the history of the Mayan people. It's considered one of the best museums in Mérida! 

Museum of the City of Mérida - If you're interested in learning the history of Mérida, this is the place to do it! It's located in the original post office building in downtown, and is right next to a major market. 

Palacio de la Música - This is a super popular and well-loved museum showcasing the history of music in México. There are interactive exhibits and it doubles as a music education and performance space, so you'll likely catch some live shows while you're there!

Museo de Arte Popular de Yucatán - Also known as Casa Molina, the Popular Art Museum features work from artists all over México and in particular from Yucatán. It's located in a historic building next to a lovely park near the Centro. 

Chichén Itzá - A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World dating back to the 5th Century AD. It really is amazing, and it's only about 1.5 hours away from Mérida. There are lots of ways to join a tour or take a bus, so don't miss it!

Cenotes - Cenotes are sinkholes formed when limestone bedrock collapsed and revealed underground lake and cave systems. In Yucatán, the creation of cenotes reportedly occurred when dinosaurs were wiped out, and the "ring of cenotes" in the state is linked to the meteor crater that marked the dinos' extinction. There are dozens of cenotes in the area that you can visit and even swim in, and tours that will take you to multiple sites in one day. Cenote Ik Kil is easy to visit as it's right next to Chichén Itzá, but it gets crowded later in the day, so go early! Also, if you want a cenote closer to Mérida, look no further than the local Costco.

Puerto Progreso - Beach day! Progreso is a port and beach town on the Northern coast of Yucatán. It's about 45 minutes away from Mérida, and it's easy to take a bus, taxi, or Uber/Didi to get there. Go during the week for a quieter experience. Enjoy a relaxing day in the sun at Playa Puerto Progreso, visit the brand new Museum of the Meteorite to learn more about geology and dinosaurs, and enjoy the murals along the malecón (promenade). You can even visit Pig Beach to swim with the resident piglets or enjoy both the natural beauty and the crocodiles (and raccoons!) at Reserva Ecológica El Corchito. 

Celestún - About 1.5 hours West of Mérida is a small coastal town called Celestún where the main attraction is the nearby Ria Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Take a boat tour through the mangroves to view wildlife and see the massive flocks of flamingos that the area is known for. February is one of the best months to see the flamingos!

Ruta Puuc - Yucatán has many more Mayan ruins than just Chichén Itzá. The Puuc Route features up to five sites, including the iconic Uxmal, plus Choco-Story chocolate museum! These sites are lesser-known and quieter, but still incredible to visit. Take the Ado bus and join a tour that visits all five sites.