Beaches
Located 50 minutes from downtown Mérida, Progreso is the main port of Yucatán. Our beaches have white sands and warm waters. We recommend enjoying a cold beer and Yucatecan snacks at Eladio’s Bar. Afterward, take a stroll along the boardwalk and enjoy a marquesita while watching the sunset.
Celestún is an hour and a half from Mérida, but it’s worth it if you want to explore an incredible variety of fauna and flora. It is one of the richest ecological reserves in the state, featuring mangroves, dunes, beaches, and the main attraction: flamingos. While you’ll miss flamingo season (December – February), you can still take boat tours that last about 2 hours and enjoy fresh seafood by the sea.
Las Coloradas, Río Lagartos, and San Felipe
Located 3 hours from downtown Mérida, Las Coloradas is a small salt-producing community where you can find the magical pink waters of Yucatán. The pink color is a result of water evaporation and filtration processes; and the shade depends on the season and weather. Tours takes approximately 1 hour, plus any time you wish to spend by the sea. You can easily drive there and locals offer tours, taking you to see the pink waters, the Mayan mud bath, and the almost deserted beach. Río Lagartos also offers tours through mangroves, flamingo and crocodile sightings. After the tour, you can stop for a meal in San Felipe, a picturesque little town with wooden houses and exquisite seafood.
Archaeological Sites
Located 90 minutes from Mérida, rightfully named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá was the most outstanding capital of Mayan culture. Its architecture and history make for an incredible experience!
While a Chichén Itzá trip is exciting during the day, at night, it becomes a magical experience. Enjoy the most incredible light and sound show, admire how the Kukulkan Pyramid is filled with colorful images and Mayan representations. The show begins at 7:00 pm, from Friday to Sunday. You can purchase tickets at Chichén Itzá’s entrance starting at 3pm.
Uxmal and Grottoes Loltún
Approximately an hour from downtown Mérida, the ruins of this ancient Mayan city are among the most impressive in the Yucatán Peninsula. Uxmal is at the end of the Puuc Route (a route that covers different archaeological sites of the Puuc style), where you can also find the Grutas de Lol Tun, one of the largest caves on the peninsula. Your 2 hour tour of approximately 1000 meters will take you from cathedral-like underground spaces, to dry riverbeds, to beautiful glittering stalagmites that look like frozen fountains, and much more.
If you don’t have much time during your visit, Dzibichaltún is an excellent option to explore a Mayan archaeological site. It’s just 20 minutes from Mérida and, although smaller than others, it has many attractions in its architecture and history. The tour can last up to 2 hours. Afterward, you can continue with a visit to Progreso, where you can eat and explore the Yucatecan coast, as it is on the same road and only 15 minutes away from this area.
Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns)
Located in the center of the peninsula, 1 hour from Mérida, Izamal is described as the City of Three Cultures. It brings together three historical periods: Mayan pyramids displaying the greatness of the ancient civilization; the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, marking Spanish influence; and Izamal’s contemporary streets, buildings, and squares, all in a harmonious visual rhythm of a single color: yellow.
A beautiful colonial city strategically located between Mérida and Cancún, about 2 hours from Mérida and only 45 minutes from Chichen Itzá. The fortified convent of San Bernardino de Siena from the 16th century stands out, as well as the cathedral of San Gervasio, a baroque complex from the early 18th century, and many other monuments like the Municipal Palace, the Temple of San Juan de Dios, Santa Ana, San Roque, Santa Lucía, La Candelaria, El Telar, and the Central Park.