I’ve at all times wished to journey solo to Mexico and spend a minimal of 6 months there. Sadly, I haven’t had that likelihood but. Melissa Douglas, who has a Mexico-focused journey weblog, contributed this solo journey tricks to Merida.
The charming colonial metropolis of Merida, Mexico is the capital of the Yucatan state in Southern Mexico. Till not too long ago, it has remained largely off the crushed path.
Nonetheless, in 2022, famend journey publications akin to Lonely Planet and Journey and Leisure have acknowledged little Merida as being the most effective locations to go to this 12 months. Not like different cities within the Yucatan peninsula akin to Cancun and Tulum, which have began to turn into gentrified and are occupied by giant swathes of western vacationers, Merida, for now, stays unchanged by tourism.
The town retains its conventional Mexican attraction. Now could be the most effective time to go to Merida earlier than phrase will get out.
As soon as upon a time, Merida was one of many richest cities on this planet. It thrived through the henequen (uncooked fiber from the henequen plant) growth when native farmers would domesticate the sisal plant and use it to make clothes and textiles.
With their newfound wealth, the folks of Merida constructed large sprawling mansions and haciendas. Right this moment, many of those gorgeous buildings have been transformed into luxurious inns, espresso retailers, and eating places. Merida is a photographer’s paradise.
Arriving in Merida
Merida is residence to a global airport (MID) which is definitely positioned proper within the coronary heart of the town, simply quarter-hour away from the historic heart. Nonetheless, there are solely a really restricted variety of worldwide flight routes that service this airport.
You possibly can fly into Merida from Miami, Houston, Guatemala Metropolis, and Havana, Cuba. In case you are flying from elsewhere, it is smart to both switch flights in Mexico Metropolis, or to fly into Cancun.
Cancun is the biggest worldwide airport near Merida, located within the coastal metropolis of Cancun 303km away. ADO buses present common connections between Cancun and Merida a number of occasions a day.
The journey takes roughly 4 hours and tickets value round US$25 every manner. The bus terminates at Merida Centro station, proper within the coronary heart of city.
The place to Keep in Merida
Merida is a big, sprawling metropolis and the general public transport right here leaves loads to be desired. Choose to remain within the historic heart with the intention to attain many of the metropolis’s predominant historic and cultural highlights on foot.
Opting to remain in an Airbnb (get $15+ credit score with Airbnb if you e-book for the primary time utilizing the hyperlink) or homestay within the japanese or western elements of the town can prevent a good sum of money. Nonetheless, you’ll probably should rely upon Uber and cabs to get round because the buses listed here are neither dependable nor simple to navigate.
Lodging in central Merida is inexpensive and there’s something right here for each style and journey model. So, you haven’t any actual motive to have to remain outdoors of the primary zones.
Paseo Montejo
Paseo Montejo is the primary boulevard in Merida. It runs from the historic heart, all the way in which as much as the northern suburbs.
The road was named after Merida’s founder, Francisco de Montejo. You’ll find the Monumento a la Patria right here—a large sculpture created by sculptor Rómulo Rozo that shows the historical past of Mexico by the ages.
Paseo Montejo is residence to a various vary of eating places, cafes, and shops promoting artisanal merchandise, conventional Yucatecan clothes, and avenue meals. It’s energetic no matter time you cease by, nevertheless it isn’t so noisy which you could’t get a great evening’s sleep in case you base your self right here.
The ambiance is especially great on Sundays when the road is pedestrianized and closed to site visitors. 1000’s of Merida locals come to jog/stroll/cycle the size of the road and there are numerous locations the place you’ll be able to hire a bicycle and be part of them.
Paseo Montejo has one thing for each finances. Under are a few of the most respected finances inns within the space, with costs per room for 2 individuals.
You possibly can e-book through Reserving.com; simply click on the hyperlink to the properties above. Ensure to learn the evaluations so that you’ll know which one most closely fits your wants.
Parque Santa Lucia
Parque Santa Lucia is an efficient place to base your self if you wish to expertise Merida by evening. Lots of the greatest bars and nightclubs are only a 5-minute stroll away from right here.
Listed here are a few of the most respected hostels within the space, with costs per room for 2 individuals.
Greatest Issues to Do in Merida
Take a free strolling tour
A strolling tour is an effective way to get your bearings in any new metropolis. It’s also the most effective issues to do in Merida. A free strolling tour departs daily at 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. from outdoors the Casa Montejo museum in the primary sq., with guides talking each English and Spanish.
The tour takes you round the primary Merida landmarks and historic websites and offers you much more data and context on the assorted buildings that you just see. You’ll move by notable buildings such because the Merida cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno, the Teatro Peón Contreras, and numerous Merida parks and plazas.
Though the tour is free, it’s tip-based and because the guides dedicate their time to exhibiting vacationers round their metropolis in tremendous scorching climate, it’s well mannered to at all times tip. It’s truthful to present US$5-10 (100-200 pesos) per individual.
The opposite wonderful thing about exploring the town on a strolling tour? You’ve got a neighborhood knowledgeable available to ask for his or her suggestions for the most effective issues to see and do within the metropolis and the most effective locations to hang around, amongst others.
Eat your manner round city
The delicacies in Merida and the Yucatan could be very totally different from the delicacies that you’ll discover elsewhere in Mexico. It’s because Yucatecan meals is pre-Hispanic.
Lots of the recipes listed here are the identical ones that had been utilized by the Historical Mayans centuries in the past and conventional cooking strategies are nonetheless used. Well-known regional dishes that it’s best to add to your radar embody cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork cooked underground) and relleno negro (floor meat served with turkey and chopped egg).
There are numerous conventional eating places which you could strive. Habaneros (Calle 20-A Num 302 X 5b Y 5c, Xcumpich, 97204) is a neighborhood favourite and though it sits on the outskirts of city, it’s definitely worth the effort to get to.
Expertise Merida by evening
When you thought that Merida was beautiful by day, you’ll seemingly discover it much more magical by evening. That is when the town actually involves life.
Each evening of the week, you’ll discover reside music hosted across the metropolis. On Tuesdays, there may be reside music at Santiago Park and on Thursdays, there’s a reside band that performs in Santa Lucia.
If you wish to strive your hand at studying to salsa dance, there are an enormous quantity of native bars and conventional cantinas that host common salsa nights. Cantina Negrita (Calle 62 esquina, C. 49 415, Centro) hosts reside salsa music daily of the week.
This is without doubt one of the hottest nightlife spots on the town, though it does get very crowded and you should cease by earlier than 8 p.m. to safe a desk. Alternatively, Cantina Dzalbay (Calle 64 x 53, Esquina, No. 443, Centro) provides courses the place you’ll be able to dance with locals.
Deal with your self to a day on the seaside
Merida itself just isn’t located on the coast, however there are a number of attractive seaside cities that may be reached in simply an hour’s drive from the town heart. Yucatan seashores are sometimes ignored in favor of the better-known seashores of the Mexican Caribbean (the areas round Cancun, Tulum, and so forth).
Nonetheless, they’re simply as stunning and deserving of your time. The seashores right here boast miles upon miles of powdery white sand coastlines that stretch so far as the attention can see. The waters are a surprising shade of crystal-clear turquoise.
Progreso is the closest seaside city to Merida, located simply 43km north of the town. Take a stroll alongside the Malecon, sip piña coladas in one of many seaside bars overlooking the water, and spend a day lounging on the sand. Most eating places and bars right here allow you to hire a sunbed and an umbrella for the day for just some pesos.
Discover lesser-known Mayan ruins
Chichen Itza is with out hesitation, probably the most well-known Mayan damage on this a part of Mexico. 1000’s of individuals move by its gates daily.
Whereas a go to to Chichen Itza is without doubt one of the greatest issues you are able to do in Mexico, this isn’t the one Mayan damage within the space. There are a number of different Mayan cities that may be reached on a day journey from Merida and are solely 1-2 hours away.
As an illustration, few folks have heard of Mayapan, however this was one of the necessary Mayan settlements. It may be discovered simply an hour south of Merida and the positioning is expansive and rarely sees many vacationers. Mayapan was the final nice Mayan metropolis and it’s right here the place King Kukulkan II and his folks moved after the downfall of Chichen Itza.
Security Suggestions for Solo Vacationers in Merida
Merida is a really secure metropolis, even for solo vacationers. The Yucatan capital is acknowledged repeatedly as being the most secure metropolis in Mexico, and one of many most secure cities in the complete North American continent.
Sure, Merida is statistically loads safer than lots of cities within the United States. Mexico, generally, is loads safer than stereotypes and media representations would have you ever assume.
Nonetheless, the tradition in Merida and the Yucatan feels markedly totally different. Right here, you’ll be able to really feel comparatively snug strolling alone across the metropolis even within the evenings.
Persons are very well mannered and respectful and also you by no means really feel that you need to be regularly trying over your shoulder. Nonetheless, it pays to take some extra precautions when touring anyplace independently. Just a few security issues to your solo journey to Merida are detailed under.
Most Mexicans favor to make use of Uber slightly than taking random avenue taxis. Whereas folks in some nations might query the security of Uber, that isn’t the Mexican perspective.
In fact, getting right into a automotive on Uber often means that there’s extra accountability than getting right into a random automotive on the road. You’ve got the driving force’s particulars and their license plate quantity, and you’ll share your journey data together with your family and friends members.
Sadly, scams aren’t unprecedented in Mexico and also you usually tend to be ripped off or taken on a roundabout route by city in case you get right into a random avenue taxi. When utilizing Uber right here, there are just a few precautions which you could take.
Test your driver’s profile and solely experience with drivers which have completed a number of thousand journeys and have a score of 4.5 or above. In case you are uncomfortable with the look of your driver or they’re utterly new to the app, you’ll be able to cancel and discover a new driver for no cost.
Watch out when heading out at evening alone
Merida is a secure metropolis, even within the evenings. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply that you just shouldn’t use frequent sense or not concentrate on your environment.
Attempt to not stroll alone at evening, notably in case your route takes you down quiet aspect streets and alleyways. Principally, in case you wouldn’t do one thing in your hometown, you shouldn’t do it in Merida.
When you head out to bars or reside music venues alone or with new pals, watch your drink and by no means depart it unattended. Be cautious of over-friendly strangers and at all times belief your intestine intuition.
Watch your belongings in crowded areas
The one actual crime that you need to fear about in Merida is petty crime and issues like bag snatchings. Nonetheless, this stuff are unusual and solely actually occur in crowded areas.
Watch your belongings in busy marketplaces such because the Lucas de Galvez market or the Mercado San Benito. A theft-proof backpack is an efficient funding. Ideally, it’s best to carry your backpack in entrance of you and guarantee that any valuables are securely tucked away.
Merida is a secure and great colonial metropolis within the coronary heart of the Yucatan. It makes an important getaway vacation spot in itself, nevertheless it additionally completely enhances a wider Yucatan journey itinerary.
Have you ever been to Merida? What different ideas are you able to give to solo vacationers?
