Merida is the capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatán. It’s a thriving metropolis that has retained much of its colonial charm, making it an ideal place to visit on a vacation. However, there’s more than just colonial architecture here—Merida also boasts plenty of ancient Maya ruins, museums, and art galleries.
What to do in Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula
Merida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatan. Located on the central highlands, it’s a great place to visit if you want to spend some time exploring nature.
The Yucatan Peninsula is located in southeastern Mexico, just north of Belize. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to its east and south, the Caribbean Sea to its north, and Guatemala to its west.
The Historic Center of Merida
The Historic Center of Merida is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best places to visit in Mexico. Not only does it have some incredible historical sites, but it also offers great shopping, dining, and nightlife.
The historic center is a great place to spend a day or two exploring on foot. You can easily walk between many of the sites within an hour or so and take advantage of some amazing views while you’re there!
Shopping
One of the best things about Merida is that it has so many different shopping areas, which makes it easy to find souvenirs and gifts.
Merida is a good place to buy local products from the Yucatan area, including:
- Tequila
- Chocolate
- Honey
- Handcrafted paintings and art pieces.
The Museo de Antropología
The Museo de Antropología is a must-see attraction in Merida, as it contains a collection of artifacts from the Maya civilization. This museum was opened in 1980 and it has been occupied by different groups since then. As such, it is currently under renovation until February 2018.
When the renovation work is complete and open to visitors once again, you can expect to see some exciting artifacts on display at this museum including sculptures, ceramics, and other works of art that depict how the ancient Maya lived their lives. The museum also features a small auditorium where documentaries about important archaeological findings are screened every Wednesday at 7 pm (no admission fee).
Pre-Hispanic Sites of the Maya of the Valley of Mexico
The Mayan site of Dzibilchaltun is the largest archaeological site in Yucatan and was occupied from about 600 BC until about 1200 AD. It is located in the north of the state of Yucatan, in the municipality of Dzilam de Bravo.
The town was founded by a group of people who were looking for new lands to settle down on when they came across an area with abundant water resources where they built their homes and lived peacefully for many years.
The town has several temples that were dedicated to various gods, as well as palaces or houses belonging to nobles at that time that allowed them to live comfortably while they stayed there.
The Uxmal Archaeological Site (Maya)
The Uxmal Archaeological Site is one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico. It was a city of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, and it’s located in the Puuc region of the Yucatan Peninsula.
The central plaza has two groups of buildings on either side: one group houses a Temple of Kukulkan (Quetzalcoatl), which has been restored to its original condition; another group contains three palaces with roof comb pyramids topped by temples dedicated to different gods. A pyramid with four steps leads up from each castle to a temple on top, where priests would make offerings during ceremonies or rituals.
A Glimpse into Mexican History from Colonial Times to the Present Day
A Glimpse into Mexican History from Colonial Times to the Present Day
Merida is a city with a rich and dynamic history. The Yucatan Peninsula, of which Merida is the capital, has been inhabited since before the classic era and was already an important trading post between Europe and America by the time of Christ. It was also home to some of Mexico’s most prosperous civilizations including the Mayans who built their vast temples here. After being conquered by Spaniards in 1542, it became part of New Spain (which later became modern-day Mexico). It was only after independence from Spain that this small town gained its current name: Merida (meaning “to mark”). Later on, it became one of three capital cities of independent Mexico along with Mexico City and Querétaro.
Real Monasteries and Colegios Maya
The Real Monasteries and Colegios Maya are located in Merida. They are a group of buildings that were once religious centers but now have been converted into museums. The Real Monasteries and Colegios Maya allow visitors to learn about the history of the Mayan empire.
One of these places is the Museo de la Universidad de Yucatan (MUY). It was originally an Augustinian monastery from 1668 until 1855 when it became a school for boys called Colegio Seminario del Espiritu Santo (college or seminary). In 1905, this institution became a college known by its current name: Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (Autonomous University of Yucatan).
The MUY has exhibits on archeology, anthropology, and paleontology along with art galleries that showcase paintings by artists who lived during colonial times such as Juan Gomez Gallo y Navarro (1738-1812), Antonio Perez Duarte y Lopez(1750-1822), Jose Gabriel Comonfort(1786-1865), Camilo Cahumy Zamora(1844-1915) and others.
Museums and Arenas
Museums and Arenas
The Museo de Antropología is located in the Plaza Grande, where you can also find the Museo de la Ciudad and Museo de la Cultura Maya. The latter two museums are located on opposite sides of this square.
Artifacts from Ancient and Medieval Times in Merida
- Museo de Antropología
The Museo de Antropología is a great place for history lovers. This museum has an extensive collection of artifacts from the pre-Hispanic era, including pottery and sculptures. The building itself was constructed in 1780 by the Franciscans, who used it as a convent until 1910. It’s now home to one of Merida’s most popular tourist attractions!
- Museo de Arte Popular
If you’re looking for something different than ancient history, then consider visiting this museum instead! Located on Calle 60 between Calles 57 and 59, this popular attraction showcases art from contemporary artists who use their creativity to promote social change by focusing on themes such as poverty and violence against women.
- Museo de la Ciudad
You’ll find plenty of interesting things at this museum about Merida’s past—and present! Located on Calle 58 between Calles 59 & 61, this attraction features exhibits about local history over several centuries including photographs from colonial times up until today (including some photos taken by famous photographer Edward Weston). Another highlight at this venue includes murals that depict daily life throughout Mexico during the 20th century; these murals were painted by prominent Mexican artist Diego Rivera in 1936 when he visited Merida during his revolutionary period in New York City.”
Visit these places if you’re traveling to Merida
The following is a list of places to visit in Merida. They are organized by location, with each location containing a short description of the city or neighborhood and the most popular tourist attractions within that specific area.
- Parque de la Mejorada
Location: Parque de la Mejorada is located near the center of Merida and is one of the most beautiful parks in town. It’s filled with flowers and trees, as well as many fountains and statues that make it look like something out of a fairy tale book! There are also plenty of benches where you can sit down while enjoying all this wonderful scenery while listening to music being played by local musicians who perform here on weekends during spring/summer months (excluding holidays). You might even see some people dancing salsa!
How To Get There: Take bus route #3 from Mercado Central towards Avenida Juarez (the main road) until Santa Ana stop; walk south along Calle 4 until reaching Plaza Mayora del Valle which you should go through its tunnel leading into Parque de la Mejorada; once there turn left onto Calle 8 where there will be signs pointing towards El Pedregal market located inside this park area where vendors sell fresh fruit juices made from exotic local fruits used for making cocktails such as tamarindo (seeds removed), guanabana (cousin mahogany tree), Mandarina oranges, etc…
We hope that this article has helped you to discover some of the must-see tourist attractions in Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula. Now that you know what to do during your vacation, it’s time to book with us! We offer cheap flights from New York (JFK), Miami, and Atlanta (ATL) direct to Merida International Airport (MDY).
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