Merida - what to do? where to eat? where to sleep? A budget friendly guide!
I have spent more than one month in Merida, the capital of Yucatan, in Mexico.
With this video, I would like to give you a teaser as for what to do in Merida. Then, some of the activities and events I have made separate videos about. Or are on the way to be done:) So please, if you need some information urgently, just post in the comments below, so that I know what to prioritize.
General Information
Merida, the capital of Yucatan, in Mexico, is a fantastic city! Not without a reason, it has been chosen as one of the best places to live in Mexico, as well as to visit - especially when it comes to the price and quality ratio.
FOOD
Just got to Merida? Feeling hungry? Direct your steps straight
to one of the typical restaurants, which serve Yucatan food - either La Chaya Maya (for a bit better quality) or Dos Toros (for a bit better price). If you don't feel like sitting down in a restaurant, but rather like a quick but filling snack, head to Las Gorditas to the left of the Cathedral in the Main Square in the city center of Merida.
ACCOMODATION
Thinking of staying for longer than just a day excursion? I hope so! Merida has plenty to keep you occupied and amused for weeks! So? The question - where to stay? Well, there are plenty of options!
If you are looking for a budget, yet central option, with one of the best breakfasts I had in the Yucatan Peninsula, rent a room in Zocalo. You couldn't be more central!
TRANSPORT
How to get around this amazing city? The buses ara available, although not that easy to crack and understand... And since Merida is not the biggest city, and it is very safe, I would just recommend you to walk and inhale the culture and the history, which is present at every corner of the White City (Merida is called la Ciudad Blanca).
ARCHITECTURE
The long and quite complex of Merida history has been pronounced significantly and visibly in the city's architecture. We can observe eclectic architecture with neoclassical
tendencies in Quinta Montes Molina, neoclassical in Casa Peón Regil, baroque Manierism in Palacio Cantón, french renaissance in the Twin Houses (Casas Gemelas, my absolutely favorite buildings in Merida!), just to name a few!
CULTURE
In Merida, almost everything seems for free, especially when it comes to culture!
There are plenty of events that are being organized every single day!
Jarana performance, which presents the typical Yucatan dances - 2 times a week (in front of the Palacio Municipal on Monday at 9pm, as well as in the Square of Santa Lucia on Thursday at 9pm).
The Mayan ball game, which is still being practiced and played in some of the traditional villages, is to be viewed in the city center in front of the Cathedral on Saturday, at 8:30pm. Just watch out! They are playing with burning ball! Quite an impressive performance! At the end of the game, you can come closer and see, that the ball is actually on fire and it's really hot!
Video mapping - on the Cathedral, on Fridays at 8:30pm and on the Montejo's House on Wednesdays, at 8:30pm. These events are very informative and prepared for you to understand the complicated history of this fantastic city!
If that bit of information is not enough, you can also participate in the free walking tours organized by the official tourism center, led by professional, knowledgable, bilingual and funny guides!
Most of the things in Merida, especially culture related - are for free. You will be able to find many of them, on each corner! So prepare yourself and make time, since in Merida you can stay for 3 weeks and not repeat any activities.
NATURE
Apart from all the cultural and cuisine things in Merida, you could also go to one of the 2 zoological parks - the centenario and the bicentenario - both of them for free. As well as go for a run or walk in one of the many parks, and still discover some Mayan ruins!
AROUND MERIDA
There are plenty of interesting locations around Merida - be it Uxmal, a less touristy alternative to Chichen - Itzá, but not less beautiful (actually, my favorite ruin in the Yucatan Peninsula), the Bioreserve of Celestun for flamingo viewings, as an off the beaten track alternative to las Coloradas in the north of the peninsula (to which everyone goes on a 1 day tour from Cancun, Playa de Carmen or Tulum).
Looking for a bit of a refreshment? Wanting to escape the heat of Merida? That is also possible!
You can either take a dip in one of the many cenotes that surround the Merida area, as well as go to the beach in Progreso or Sisal (Sisal would be my choice, as its less known and less popular since there is no international ferry port!, which is the case for Progreso).
Do you want to know a bit more about cenotes? Well. I have done already a few videos about some of them, and more information you can find in the description below each of them.
I hope you will enjoy the video and will know what to do, visit and where to eat and sleep in Merida.
Have a pleasant stay!
Mexico unplugged tour overview
The tour (Mexico Unplugged by Intrepid Travel) started in Mexico City. After the briefing we walked to a beautiful restaurant in the historic centre. The following day we opted for a tour of the markets in the morning where we sampled Mexican food including fried grasshoppers! In the afternoon we went to the Mesoamerican site of Teotihuacan where we climbed the pyramids for an excellent view. We then went to a maker of the drink Pulque and on to a locals home fora meal. The next day we took a local bus to Puebla where we saw a wrestling match. The following day we had a tour of the Puebla, again sampling local food. We opted for a visit to the great pyramid of Cholula and other local churches the next day. We then took a bus to the UNESCO heritage town of Oaxaca with its impressive Inglesia de San Domingo. We opted for a cookery course which started with a trip to the markets to buy the ingredients and finished with a meal of the dishes we had cooked. The following day we visited the Zapotec ruin Monte Alban, the frozen waterfall at Hierve el Agua, a carpet maker and a Mezcal factory. We took the overnight bus to San Cristobal and had time for an orientation tour before visiting a couple of dance bars in the evening. Our option here was for a tour of Indian villages starting with Zinacantan. We set off early the next day for Palenque to avoid traffic jams caused by union activists, stopping at the beautiful waterfalls of Aqua Azul. The next day we visited the remains of the Mayan city at Pelenque and went on for a barbecue and swim where we were entertained for a moment by Howler Monkeys. Our option for the next day was a visit to the derelict sisal hacienda of Chunkanan where we could swim in the cenotes (sink holes). On the journey to Playa de Carmen we stopped at the Chichen Itza ruins and the beautiful IlKil Cenotes for a swim. We had our farewell meal and disco in Playa del Carmen. There are more detailed videos of the tour in my channel (pmcrobinson).
CELESTÚN, YUCATÁN | El mejor lugar para ver FLAMENCOS
En este video video te compartimos nuestra visita a Ría Celestún, Yucatán, donde pudimos observar a los Flamencos en su hábitat natural.
#Celestun #Yucatan
Avistamiento de flamencos: 5:20
Comenta, comparte, suscribete. Bendiciones!
SIGUEME EN INSTAGRAM
-- APOYA ESTE CANAL ----
Bancomer: 4152 3135 2763 7156
Titular: Horacio Sánchez Olmos
DELFINES EN ISLA AGUADA, CAMPECHE
YAXCHILAN, CHIAPAS
PARQUE MUSEO LA VENTA, TABASCO
SELVA LACANDONA, CHIAPAS
Mitch at Midlife - Secret Spots near Cancun, Mexico
Off the beaten track, is really over used in travel writing. While we were in the Yucatan we hit some lesser known places that are really worthwhile. Here is a very quick postcard look at some of our favourites. Including what I think is the best Mayan site in the country.
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What you can expect when you stay at Hacienda Sotuta de Peon
Hacienda Sotuta de Peon Hotel offers people an experience that will accentuate the time in the Yucatan. Here is our review of what it is like to stay at Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. For more information see our article here:
045: Paulina Riviera Knows Private Beaches and Secret Spots
Scroll down for links to more resource and tips from today's show
Originally from Veracruz, Paulina arrived in the Riviera Maya in 2007. She was required to do a college internship with a hotel to complete her tourism certification. Paulina finds that working in tourism gives her an opportunity to meet travelers and to learn different languages.
Paulina says the Riviera Maya offers everything to travelers and to people working in tourism. There are beautiful beaches, interesting people, and delicious food. During her time off, she takes short trips to Tulum, Cancun, and Merida, but she always returns to her home in the Riviera Maya. Her home has become a foster house for dogs who need rescuing. Locals and travelers alike take part in animal welfare and rescue efforts.
As the concierge for Loco Gringo, Paulina is able to experience fun activities like snorkeling in the cenotes. She isn’t exactly comfortable in the water yet, but she is enrolling in the Discover Scuba program.
Paulina’s Favorite Spots:
● Xpu-ha — Snorkeling in a Beautiful Cenote.
● Captain Quickie’s — Scuba, Snorkel, Sail, and More.
● Señor — Visit a Mayan Village for an Educational Experience.
● Tankah Bay — A Private Beach near Tulum.
● Ruta de Los Cenotes — 20 km of Cenotes on Both Sides of the Route.
● Siete Bocas — Seven Different Entrances to an Amazing Cenote.
● Valladolid Chocolate Factory — Make Your Own Chocolate.
● Folk Art Museum — The Magic of Mexico’s Art.
● Convent San Bernardino — See the Catacombs, Hear the History.
● La Senda — In Akumal, for Raw and Vegan Food.
● Turtle Bay Cafe — In Akumal, for Homemade Ice Cream.
● La Buena Vida — In Akumal, Vegan Quesadillas.
● Charly’s Vegan Tacos — In Tulum, for Chicharron Verde Tacos.
Use these Resources to Continue Your Journey:
Loco Gringo
Loco Gringo Directory
Find Loco Gringo on:
Facebook
Email Kay: Askkay@locogringo.com
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concierge@locogringo.com
984-192-1049 If calling from Mexico
512 782-9878 If calling from outside Mexico
Discover Scuba
Captain Quicky
Coco's Animal Welfare
Tierra de Animales
Welcome to Mexico, The Best Slideshow
Arkandias Production Welcome to Earth
The best photos Mexico, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tulum... like you never seen before ...
Grimoire
50 photos
Celestun, Yucatán Feb 2019
Beach near a centre of Celestun
Awesome Mexico
Hi guys, i´m back with a new video! I passed a weekly summer vacation at Yucatan, Mexico.
My gear was:
Gopro Hero 3 Black Edition
DJI Phantom 4
The places I visited were:
Sisal 0:43-0:38
Homun 0:38-3:40
Merida 6:23-7:00
Xcambo 7:13-7:57
Uxmal 7:57-9:55
Samuba at Peba 10:06-10:25
Merida Airport 10:30-10:35
and other places...
I hope you enjoyed my video.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::Thanks for Watching!!!:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Don´t forget to Give Like, comment, and Subscribe.
What its like living in Mexico?
Are you wondering what it's like living in Mexico? Well did for one month while traveling around the world. This video shows everything we did in short clips over the month in Mérida Mexico, Progresso, Valladolid, Sisal Beach, Uxmal and many other small towns across the Yucatan Peninsula. It was a great experience, and we learned a lot. There are so many Cenotes throughout the Yucatan that you could spend a year and never see them all. Another thing we loved was the ruins, so much history and age to them, it's really jaw-dropping. My least favorite area was along the coast where Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum were located. It was hectic and touristy. That was just my opinion. I'm sure other people would love it there. It doesn't show it in the video, but we also went to Isla Mujeres and spent a few nights on the island off the coast where Cancun is located. That was a fantastic time. It's a total Beach Town, Island life if that's what you're into.
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