Andrea & Benjamin
Things To Do
Experience Merida
There is so much beauty, flavor, and culture to explore in Mérida… this Forbes article does a great job of outlining some of the best places to visit around the city and surrounding areas, check it out! We Loved: Museo Regional de Antropologia (learn about local history and art), Coqui Coqui (boutique perfumery), Rosas y Xocolate (brunch), El Remate (rooftop spot), etc.
Explore Cenotes
Take a swim in one of the beautiful, natural cenotes to escape the city heat. Cenotes were created when an asteroid slammed into the sea floor off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula 66 million years ago wiping out the dinosaurs. The impact created more than 6,000 fresh water sinkholes and caves called cenotes. For centuries, the crystal-clear groundwater pools were used as sacred wells by the Maya where they performed offerings and spiritual rituals to communicate with the gods. They were also used by Mayans as sources of fresh water, building their ancient cities near them. We Loved: The cenotes at Hacienda Mucuyché. We hope you can join us when we visit it the week of the wedding! If you have a few extra days, check out Destino Mio, a luxurious jungle retreat that is absolutely beautiful and has 3 private cenotes to explore at leisure. A few other lovely cenotes in the link below!
Eat Local
One of our favorite local dishes of the Yucatán region is Cochinita pibil (also puerco pibil or cochinita con achiote), a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish. There are plenty of other delicious dishes (ex: Sopa de Lima, Huevos Motuleños, Chilaquiles) so get your taste buds ready! We Loved: MUGY, Micaela Mar y Leña, and Nakúh (location of Welcome Dinner). Check out this article from Michelin about the best cuisine in town and more recommendations around Mérida.
Visit Mayan Ruins
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the brilliant ruins of Chichén Itzá evidence a dazzling ancient city that once centered the Maya empire in Central America. The stepped pyramids, temples, columned arcades, and other stone structures of Chichén Itzá were sacred to the Maya and a sophisticated urban center of their empire from A.D. 750 to 1200. There are also other wonderful Mayan ruins to visit outside of Mérida, including Uxmal. To explore more, click on the link!
Walk Calle 47
Calle 47 is a beautiful street in Mérida’s Centro which has been transformed into a gastronomic corridor that connects Paseo de Montejo with the Gran Parque La Plancha. There are so many delicious restaurants, cool bars and fun shops along the bustling street, we recommend exploring day or night! We Loved: For food Micaela Mar y Leña and Olivia Enoteca.... for drinks El Remate, 47th Street Piano Bar (speakeasy), and Gin 47!
Nearby Beaches
We recommend checking out Celestun or Sisal if you want a less touristy experience. However, Progreso is the closest beach just 30m away from the city center. Check out this list of all the beaches just outside of Mérida. If you have more time to explore a little farther out, check out the white sand beaches of Playa del Carmen, Holbox or Tulum. These beaches are about a 3-4 hour drive outside Mérida so we recommend hiring a driver or renting car.