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 probability 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 lately, it has remained largely off the overwhelmed path.
Nevertheless, in 2022, famend journey publications resembling Lonely Planet and Journey and Leisure have acknowledged little Merida as being top-of-the-line locations to go to this 12 months. Not like different cities within the Yucatan peninsula resembling Cancun and Tulum, which have began to grow to be gentrified and are occupied by massive swathes of western vacationers, Merida, for now, stays unchanged by tourism.
Town retains its conventional Mexican appeal. Now’s the perfect 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 the earth. It thrived through the henequen (uncooked fiber from the henequen plant) increase 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 enormous sprawling mansions and haciendas. At the moment, many of those beautiful buildings have been transformed into luxurious inns, espresso outlets, and eating places. Merida is a photographer’s paradise.
Arriving in Merida
Merida is dwelling to a global airport (MID) which is definitely situated proper within the coronary heart of town, simply quarter-hour away from the historic heart. Nevertheless, there are solely a really restricted variety of worldwide flight routes that service this airport.
You’ll be able to fly into Merida from Miami, Houston, Guatemala Metropolis, and Havana, Cuba. In case you are flying from elsewhere, it is sensible 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 method. 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 so much to be desired. Choose to remain within the historic heart as a way to attain a lot of the metropolis’s predominant historic and cultural highlights on foot.
Opting to remain in an Airbnb (get $15+ credit score with Airbnb while you ebook for the primary time utilizing the hyperlink) or homestay within the japanese or western elements of town can prevent a good amount of cash. Nevertheless, you’ll most definitely should rely on Uber and cabs to get round because the buses listed here are neither dependable nor simple to navigate.
Lodging in central Merida is reasonably priced and there’s something right here for each style and journey fashion. So, you haven’t any actual purpose to have to remain outdoors of the principle zones.
Paseo Montejo
Paseo Montejo is the principle 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 will discover the Monumento a la Patria right here—an enormous sculpture created by sculptor Rómulo Rozo that shows the historical past of Mexico by the ages.
Paseo Montejo is dwelling to a various vary of eating places, cafes, and shops promoting artisanal merchandise, conventional Yucatecan clothes, and road meals. It’s vigorous no matter time you cease by, but it surely isn’t so noisy you can’t get a superb evening’s sleep when 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 various locations the place you possibly can 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’ll be able to ebook through Reserving.com; simply click on the hyperlink to the properties above. Be sure to learn the opinions 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 finest 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. Additionally it is top-of-the-line issues to do in Merida. A free strolling tour departs day-after-day at 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. from outdoors the Casa Montejo museum in the principle sq., with guides talking each English and Spanish.
The tour takes you round the principle Merida landmarks and historic websites and provides you much more info and context on the varied buildings that you simply see. You’ll move by notable constructions 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 sizzling climate, it’s well mannered to at all times tip. It’s honest to present US$5-10 (100-200 pesos) per particular person.
The opposite wonderful thing about exploring town on a strolling tour? You will have a neighborhood skilled readily available to ask for his or her suggestions for the perfect issues to see and do within the metropolis and the perfect locations to hang around, amongst others.
Eat your method round city
The delicacies in Merida and the Yucatan may be very completely different from the delicacies that you can find elsewhere in Mexico. It’s because Yucatecan meals is pre-Hispanic.
Lots of the recipes listed here are the identical ones that have been utilized by the Historic Mayans centuries in the past and conventional cooking strategies are nonetheless used. Well-known regional dishes that it is 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 you can 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 well worth the effort to get to.
Expertise Merida by evening
In the event you thought that Merida was beautiful by day, you’ll possible discover it much more magical by evening. That is when town actually involves life.
Each evening of the week, you can find stay music hosted across the metropolis. On Tuesdays, there’s stay music at Santiago Park and on Thursdays, there’s a stay 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 stay salsa music day-after-day of the week.
This is without doubt one of the hottest nightlife spots on the town, though it does get very crowded and you must cease by earlier than 8 p.m. to safe a desk. Alternatively, Cantina Dzalbay (Calle 64 x 53, Esquina, No. 443, Centro) gives courses the place you possibly can dance with locals.
Deal with your self to a day on the seashore
Merida itself will not be located on the coast, however there are a number of attractive seashore cities that may be reached in simply an hour’s drive from 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).
Nevertheless, 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 seashore city to Merida, located simply 43km north of town. Take a stroll alongside the Malecon, sip piña coladas in one of many seashore 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 only a few pesos.
Discover lesser-known Mayan ruins
Chichen Itza is with out hesitation, essentially the most well-known Mayan damage on this a part of Mexico. 1000’s of individuals move by its gates day-after-day.
Whereas a go to to Chichen Itza is without doubt one of the finest 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.
For example, few folks have heard of Mayapan, however this was probably the most essential 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 protected 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 whole North American continent.
Sure, Merida is statistically so much safer than loads of cities in america. Mexico, usually, is so much safer than stereotypes and media representations would have you ever assume.
Nevertheless, the tradition in Merida and the Yucatan feels markedly completely different. Right here, you possibly can really feel comparatively snug strolling alone across the metropolis even within the evenings.
Individuals 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 further precautions when touring wherever independently. A couple of security issues in your solo journey to Merida are detailed under.
Most Mexicans choose to make use of Uber somewhat than taking random road taxis. Whereas folks in some nations could query the security of Uber, that isn’t the Mexican perspective.
After all, getting right into a automobile on Uber normally means that there’s extra accountability than getting right into a random automobile on the road. You will have the motive force’s particulars and their license plate quantity, and you’ll share your journey info along with your family and friends members.
Sadly, scams should not remarkable in Mexico and also you usually tend to be ripped off or taken on a roundabout route by city when you get right into a random road taxi. When utilizing Uber right here, there are a couple of precautions you can take.
Verify your driver’s profile and solely trip with drivers which have finished a number of thousand journeys and have a ranking 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 possibly can cancel and discover a new driver for no cost.
Watch out when heading out at evening alone
Merida is a protected metropolis, even within the evenings. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply that you simply 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. Mainly, when you wouldn’t do one thing in your hometown, you shouldn’t do it in Merida.
In the event you head out to bars or stay music venues alone or with new mates, 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, these items 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 is best to carry your backpack in entrance of you and make it possible for any valuables are securely tucked away.
Merida is a protected and great colonial metropolis within the coronary heart of the Yucatan. It makes a terrific getaway vacation spot in itself, but it surely additionally completely enhances a wider Yucatan journey itinerary.
Have you ever been to Merida? What different suggestions are you able to give to solo vacationers?
