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15 Best Day Trips from Merida

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Yury Diana Di Pasquale in Touring Yucatan

I read this article recently, and thought it would be a great resource for my clients. Enjoy!

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One of Merida’s greatest attributes is its centralized location in the Yucatan. With so many adventures around the Yucatan, this hub city allows for countless opportunities to explore it. You’ll discover an abundance of beaches, Mayan ruins, cities, cenotes, and other attractions scattered throughout the land.

All of these day trips from Merida are within a two-hour drive. There are enough worthwhile Merida day trips to fill an entire one or two week Yucatan itinerary. Yet even with a few days basing yourself in Merida, you’ll be able to pack in lots of these excursions.

In each of our suggestions we’ve offered directions to independent travelers on how to get to these locations on your own (DIY). You’ll see that some places are best reached via rental car while other sights can be easily traveled to by public transportation. Yet a tour can be a seamless (and often still affordable) way to visit some attractions. Sit back and leave all of the logistics to the tour operator while you get scooped up directly from your hotel and have a guide to fill you with local knowledge along the way.

Table of Contents:

Best Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan

There are numerous Mayan ruin sites throughout the Yucatan peninsula. The recommendations below are what we think to be some of the best Mayan ruins in the Yucatan. It includes a mix of the some of the most popular and a few less visited ruins that you’ll find off the beaten path.

1) See the Famous Chichen Itza Ruins Without the Crowds

Chichen Itza is the most popular tourist attraction from Merida. Come and gawk at the enormous Castillo (Kuukulkan) temple. Chichen Itza boasts several accolades such as being the largest Mayan archaeological site in the Yucatan, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

With all of these superlatives, Chichen Itza is an extremely popular Yucatan Mayan ruin site and hence attracts quite the crowds. Don’t let this deter you though. We recommend arriving as early as possible to beat the masses who are being bussed in from Cancun resorts and the Cozumel cruise port. They’ll start arriving a bit before midday; so try to get a head start on them if possible.

You can enter Chichen Itza as soon as 8:00 am year round. The entrance fee to Chichen Itza is 224 pesos for adults.

Getting from Merida to Chichen Itza:

Self drive from Merida to Chichen Itza: It an easy and direct route using 180 to 180D. Take exit 79. Parking fees at Chichen Itza are 22 pesos.

Bus from Merida to Chichen Itza: There are frequent buses to Chichen Itza that depart from both the CAME and Noreste terminals for the 1.5 hour trip. Expect to pay about 68 pesos for one way and 114 pesos for round-trip.

Taxi from Merida to Chichen Itza: Negotiate a 1,000 pesos round-trip fare for a taxi from Merida to Chichen Itza that includes a few hours waiting time at the ruins. You’ll likely have to cover the parking fee out of pocket too.

Chichen Itza Tour from Merida: There are many tours from Merida to Chichen Itza. We recommend the Chichen Itza Early Access Viator Tour from Merida ($59), that includes hotel pick-up, lunch, and private tour guide. The 6:00 am pick-up ensures you’ll be there right when Chichen Itza opens.

Some other tours you may want to consider are:

This other Viator Chichen Itza Day Tour departs later in the morning, at 9:00 ($71.99), includes lunch, transport, guide & admission.

There’s also a Wayak Tour to Chichen Itza from Merida ($85) per person including transport, guide, and admission (lunch not included).

 

2) Roam Around the Uxmal Ruins

The Mayan ruins of Uxmal is the other major Mayan ruin site in the area. Go here and learn about why the Rain God Chac was of such importance to Uxmal’s Mayan inhabitants.

The ruins are massive and impressive. You can climb atop some of the ruins too, making for some incredible views! Gaze down and imagine what this impressive site must have been like when the Mayans ruled the land.

The Uxmal ruins are much less trafficked than Chichen Itza but are still fairly popular. Arriving early is a good idea to beat any crowds. Admission to Uxmal is 182 pesos and an additional 22 pesos for parking.

How to Get to from Merida to Uxmal:

Drive from Merida to Uxmal: Take 180 to 261 and it’s a straight shot from there. The 80 kilometer drive should take a little more than an hour each way. Consider driving through the town of Muna (not around) where you’ll see a mirador (look out). It’s worth stopping there for both the views and to view Pedro’s art.

Bus from Merida to Uxmal: Buses depart from Terminal de Segunda Clase (TAME) for the 1.5 hour journey. The fare is 50 pesos each way. The timetable at time of writing shows departures from Merida to Uxmal at 6:00, 9:00, 10:40, 12:00, 14:35, 17:00, and 18.05. Return times from Uxmal to Merida are 10:30, 12:00, 15:30, 17:00, 19:00.

Day Tour from Merida to Uxmal:

This Uxmal Early Access Viator tour ($59) will get you to the ruins around the time it opens, including hotel pick-up, lunch, guide, and an additional visit to Kabah.

This similar tour to Uxmal and Kabah departs at a later time, 9:00 ($76), includes admission, and also visits the choco-museum.

Another interesting tour for later in the day is this afternoon Uxmal Tour and evening light show ($79.99) that includes use of The Lodge at Uxmal’s facilities (swimming pool, towel, lounge chairs), sound & light show, and dinner.

 

3) Appreciate Having the Under-rated Mayapan Ruins All to Yourself

About 25 miles outside of Merida are the majestic Mayapan ruins. They are perhaps one of the most under-rated ruins throughout the area (in our humble opinion). The site is not as large or popular as Uxmal or Chichen Itza, but that’s part of its beauty. You will be able to enjoy the ruins all to yourself. Take in its tranquility. Be sure to climb all the way to the top of Temple of Kukulcan and get some postcard worthy photos.

At a mere 35 pesos entrance fee, a visit to these ruins is of incredible value. And after frenzied experiences at other popular ruin sites, you’ll be treated to a quiet and serene experience at Mayapan. For all of these reasons, we put the Mayapan ruins firmly amidst the best day trips from Merida.

How to get from Merida to Mayapan Ruins:

Self-drive from Merida to Mayapan Ruins: Take state road Mexico 184, south. You’ll see clearly marked signs for Mayapan, just a bit past the town of Telchaquillo. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Merida. Consider stopping at the Acanceh, which is on the way.

Bus from Merida to Mayapan Ruins: Use the Noreste bus terminal, located at Calle 67 and Calle 50. When buying a ticket, make sure you specify the ruins of Mayapán (“ruinas de Mayapán” or “zona archeologica de Mayapán”) or else you may end up in the village of Mayapán which is a completely different place that shares the same name. As this is a 2nd class bus, it makes many stops and will take about 1.5 hours to get to the ruins. The cost is 39 pesos round-trip.

Day Tour from Merida to Mayapan Ruin: This Viator tour will take you to the Mayapan ruins in addition to Mani, Tzabnah Grottos and the Monastery of San Miguel Arcangel. The $95 price provides a seamless experience that includes hotel pick-up, English-speaking guide, and even lunch at the Restaurante El Principe Tutul-Xiu in Mani, renown for their delicious poc-chuc.

 

4) Cruise over the Hills of the Ruta Puuc

This is a great drive for anyone wanting to explore in some of the Yucatan’s less visited ruins. Coast across the hilly and forested terrain and you’ll pass by three separate Mayan ruin sites. These ruins include Sayil (42 peso admission) Xlapak (free), and Labna (42 peso admission). Hours for all are 8am to 5pm.

It’s worthwhile to consider combining a trip on the Ruta Puuc with other nearby attractions in the area such as the Kabah ruins, Grutas de Loltun, Uxmal, and/or the Museo de Cacao.

Getting from Merida to the Ruta Puuc:

We believe that the Ruta Puuc is best experienced by your own rental car. Yet there are some limited bus and tour options for those who may be uncomfortable driving.

Drive from Merida to the Ruta Puuc: Go south on Highway 261, past Uxmal and Santa Elena. About 13 kilometers after Santa Elena, you’ll clearly see the sign-posted turnoff for the Ruta Puuc.

Ruta Puuc Bus from Merida: Oriente Bus operates on Sundays only, departing at 8am and stops at all three sites on the Ruta Puuc. The price is 178 pesos per person. The bus departs from the Terminal de Segunda Clase (TAME station) on calle 69 between 68 and 70.

Ruta Puuc Tours from Merida:

Turitransmerida offers a package tour to the Ruta Puuc and Loltun Caves that includes transportation and guide. They quoted us a price of 600 peso per person, require a minimum of three people and pricing does not include any admission prices, lunch, or gratuities.

 

5) Take a Quick Jaunt to the Dzibilchaltun Ruins

The Dzibilchaltun Ruins may not be as large or impressive as Uxmal or Chichen Itza. But what it lacks in size, Dzibilchaltun makes up for in its impressive museum which holds many artifacts recovered from the nearby cenote. You can climb on some of the temples and see the skyline of Merida off in the distance. If you happen to be in the Yucatan during an equinox (around March 21 or September 23rd) it is highly advisable to visit the Dzibilchaltun Ruins at sunrise to witness the Templo de las Siete Munecas light up, making the doors of the temple glow since they are perfectly aligned with the sun.

If visiting on a hot day, bring your suit to take a swim in the refreshing water of the nearby Cenote Xlakah. The hours for Dzibilchaltun are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Dzibilchaltun entrance prices are 118 pesos per person. Note that the museum is closed on Mondays.

Getting to the Dzibilchaltun Ruins from Merida:

Driving from Dzibilchaltun: take the Merida/Progreso highway north about 6 kilometers after leaving the outskirts of Merida. Make a right at the signs to Dzibilchaltun, go 4-kilometers before your next right into the ruins. It’s 20 pesos for parking at Dzibilchaltun.

Colectivos from Merida to Dzibilchaltun: Colectivos are frequent and depart from San Juan Calle 69 between 62 and 64. Cost is 11 pesos for the 30 minute trip to the nearby town of Dzibilchaltun Ruinas. Walk (or take a mototaxi) the remaining one kilometer to the ruins.

Taxis from Merida to Dzibilchaltun: 200-250 pesos, round-trip.

Day Tours to Dzibilchaltun from Merida: A tour from Merida really isn’t needed. If it’s private transportation you want, just catch a taxi.

 

Yucatan Beaches Near Merida, Mexico

The beaches around Merida may not have as bright of blue waters or as white sands as in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. But they’re still very nice beaches and you’ll be able to enjoy a much more local beach experience rather than one packed full of crowds or spring breakers. Additionally, you’ll pay a fraction of the cost at restaurants and hotels on these Gulf Coast beaches, compared with the peninsula’s eastern shores.

6) Relax on the Beaches of Progreso, Mexico

A short 27 miles from Merida, is the tranquil beach town of Progreso. This is the best Yucatan day trip for anyone who just wants to relax. Go here to escape the city heat and to have some fun in the sun. In Progreso you can take a dip in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters while marveling at the longest pier in the world.

Take a stroll down Progreso’s mile-long malecon lining the shorefront to work up an appetite. When it’s time for lunch, find one of the many seaside restaurants to devour some fresh local seafood. Or pull up a plastic chair at one of the abundant palapa restaurants on the beach to kick back a few cervezas while you bury your toes in the sand.

Tip to beat the crowds: Progreso is a port for Carnival cruise ships. Plan your visit to Progreso during non-port days to avoid a large influx of visitors and higher prices at some establishments. Check the Progreso cruise ship schedule to see which days a ship may be in port during the time you’re visiting.

Also, Progreso gets packed with Merida residents over the weekends, particularly so during summer. Consider a weekday visit if you want a more tranquil beach experience. Yet we thought the local weekend crowds gave Progreso a fun & festive atmosphere. Fiesta!

How to Get from Merida to Progreso Mexico:

Self-Drive from Merida to Progreso Mexico: If you have a car, it’s a straight shot up highway 261. Once you’re out of the city, it’s about a 20-minute drive to the beach. But plan for at least 45 minutes if you’re departing from Merida centro.

Bus from Merida to Progreso Mexico:

A bus from Merida to Progreso, operated by Autoprogreso, runs every 10 minutes between 5:15 am to 10pm. The price is 18 pesos one-way or 33 pesos round-trip. You can catch the bus to Progreso from the terminal on calle 62 between 65 and 67. Or catch the bus to Progreso at any of the stops in Merida on the way to the beach. See theAutoProgreso website for more information on its exact route.

Private Transport or Tour to Progreso: A day tour to Progreso really isn’t neccesary. The buses running every 10 minutes make it so easy. It’s always possible to create your own tour by arranging a private driver or a taxi to Progresso, with negotiable prices.

 

7) See Flocks of Flamingos at Celestun

Celestun is a sleepy fishing town on the western side of the Yucatan peninsula. The beaches are decent and you’ll likely have them all to yourself. But the real draw to Celestun is a boat trip to the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestun to see the thousands of wild flamingos that flock here.

If you poke around the swampland nearby you may be lucky to spot a few of the pink birds. But if you really want to see thousands flamingos flocking and squawking, you’ll want to take the two-hour boat tour around the Celestun River Biosphere Reserve. It comes highly recommended by us personally! (See what our boat tour of Celestun was like.)

If you arrive to the docks on your own, the 2-hour boat tour will cost 1,500 pesos but you can split that cost with up to 6 other people since the boats fit 7 people total. You’ll have a chance of paying as little as 215 pesos per person if there happens to be the perfect amount of other people. But this is not a very popular tour. So there is a realistic possibility that you may arrive to the boat docks and find no one else there to split the costs.

Tip: It is said that the flamingos are most active in the morning, so you may opt to drive to Celestun the evening before and stay overnight in order to be there to catch an early boat in the morning.

Getting from Merida to Celestun:

Self-drive from Merida to Celestun: From Merida it’s about a 90-minute car ride westbound on Highway 281. The docks for the boat tour are well sign-posted, about 1.5 km before you reach Celestun’s beaches.

Bus from Merida to Celestun: Celestun can be reached by public bus from the Noreste bus station on Calle 50 at 67. The bus departs hourly from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm. The cost is 47 pesos each way. If visiting only to go to take the boat tour at the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestun, ask the bus driver if he can drop you off there. Otherwise you’ll have to walk (or taxi) a kilometer and a half to the Reserve.

Celestun Day Tour from Merida: There are many tours you can book that will pick you up directly from your hotel, will include an English speaking guide, and, of course, the boat ride through the Celestun River Biosphere Reserve to see the flamingos. We recommend this Viator Tour to Celestun ($68.99) for it’s price, value, and reviews.

Other tours from Merida to Celestun can be arranged thru Adventures Mexico ($74) andWayak ($95)

For more bang for your buck and a long day of sightseeing, consider taking this combo tour that includes an early morning trip to Chichen Itza and then a sunset cruise of the Celestun Reserve.

Caving and Cenotes Around the Yucatan

A quintessential and very unique experience in the Yucatan is visiting one of the many cenotes throughout the peninsula. Taking a dip in these natural underground swimming holes can be an otherworldly and refreshing experience. There are dozens of cenotes within close proximity to Merida. So what are the best cenotes in the Yucatan? That’s a matter of opinion and can be subject of fierce debate among Yucatan visitors. We’ve listed our favorite below. Get underground!

8) Get Underground at the Cuzama Cenotes

If you were to only visit one set of cenotes, our recommendation is to go to the Cuzama cenotes. The cenotes are impressive but half the fun of visiting the Cuzama cenotes is the process of getting there on a mining cart that’s pulled by a horse! It’s an exhilarating and bumpy experience. During our last visit three were three different cenotes to visit, each with unique characteristics. We’ve heard that now only two are visited (unconfirmed).

The price to visit the three (or two) cenotes including the rattling horse-cart ride is 300 pesos per mining cart, which fits up to four people.

Don’t just admire the cenotes though. To really experience them in full, you’ll need to jump on it. Bring a mask and snorkel to be able to see the beautiful dark blue abyss below along with interesting rock formations. (Here’s our full blog post from our  visit to the Cuzama cenotes.)

How to Get from Merida to Cuzama Cenotes:

Self-Driving from Merida to Cuzama Cenotes: Take Highway 184 to YUC 10 toward Cuzama. Once arriving to the center of town make a right on the road to Chunkanán. Approximately another 2 miles past town and you’ll arrive at an old hacienda, where you’ll find people ready to take you on the horse cart to the Cuzama cenotes. Just be sure you go all the way to the old hacienda. When we went, there were people with signs for the cenotes flagging us down and trying to stop us before the hacienda. We were warned about them and told not to stop and instead proceed all the way to the old rundown hacienda. So be sure to ignore them as well if they’re still there.

Bus from Merida to Cuzama Cenotes: Buses leave the Noreste terminal located on calle 67 and 50 Merida downtown and takes you from Merida to the town of Cuzama. It’s another three kilometers further to the Cuzama cenotes. The bus to Cuzama town costs 18 pesos each way, takes and 1.5 hours, and departs at: 7:45, 9:15, 10:45, 12:30 and 14:30, as noted from the timetable in January 2016.

Colectivo from Merida to Cuzama Cenotes: The colectivo station is located opposite the same Noreste bus station on calle 67. Price is 24 pesos per person, each way. There’s no timetable and they leave whenever full.

When taking a bus or colectivo, you will be dropped in the center of Cuzama and will need to take a motor taxi the remainder of the way to the entrance of the cenotes. So plan on another 25 pesos per person for the motor taxi.

Taxi from Merida to Cuzama Cenotes: From the taxi stand at Santa Ana in Merida, expect to pay 900 pesos round trip to Cuzama but it may require some negotiating.

Day Tour of Cuzama Cenotes: You can book a Viator tour to the Cuzama cenotes ($49.99) that includes hotel pick-up and English-speaking guide. This tour also includes a stop at the Acanceh ruins and the Eknakan church.

 

Search for Other Cenotes around Merida

There are dozens of cenotes all around the Yucatan. There must be over a hundred of them, if not a thousand! Some are located on private property. There’s also a handful of  hidden gems not written about anywhere. We stumbled across one of these secret cenotes near the small town of Tekit. There are no signs and no entrance fees. Just a drive down a dirt road, park, and you’ll have a private oasis completely to yourself. Go on an adventure and discover your own off-the-beaten path cenotes while in the Yucatan. Visiting a centote is one of the best day trips you can take from Merida.

To attempt writing about each of the best cenotes in the Yucatan would demand another article entirely. Instead we’ll round-up some of our favorites and most popular cenotes throughout this region.

  • Cenote X’keken and Samula (Dzitznup): Visit these cenotes near Valladolid. (See the Valladolid section for more info).
  • Cenote Zaci: Visit this cenote in Valladolid. (See the Valladolid section for more info).
  • Cenote Azul: between Valladolid and Chichen Itza
  • Xlacah: Located at Dzibichaltun (see Dzibichaltun section of this guide for more info)
  • Cenote Kankirixche: Located about a 50 minute drive south of Merida.
  • Ik-Kil: Visit this scenic and popular cenote near Chichen Itza.
  • Secret cenote: We can’t tell you. It’s a secret! 😉

How to Get to these Cenotes from Merida

Obviously each cenote is located in a different area, yet almost all are best reached by car. Cenote Zaci is within Valladolid and hence can easily be walked to. Similarly, the Dzitznup cenotes are a short cycle or cab ride from Valladolid. Most others will require your own wheels to get to.

 

9) Go Caving in Grutas de Calcehtok or Grutas de Loltun

If you’re ready for adventure, some of the Yucatan’s largest caves are just a short drive away from Merida!

Grutas de Calcehtok is the largest dry-cave system in the Yucatan. This is the last non-government owned cave in the region, and therefore there is no electric lights installed in the cave. Guests are required to us flighlights, adding to the adventure. The tours provided at the cave are run by a family-owned business (descendants of the man that rediscovered the cave in 1840). A one-hour tour for four people is 200 pesos. Come to Grutas de Calcehtok 9:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-5pm on the weekends.

Self-Drive (best method) from Merida to Grutas de Calcehtok: 75 Km Southwest of Merida off highway 184, just past the town of Calcehtok.

Grutas de Loltun is another dry-cave system in the Yucatan. The cave is most known for the amount of ancient Mayan artifacts that have been discovered in the cave, as well as murals by the ancient people. The cave can only be entered via a tour that departs at 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm. The tours (one hour and 20 minutes) are usually in Spanish, but can be in English if that is the majority of the language of the people in the tour group.

The Grutas de Loltun are often visited as part of the Ruta Puuc, as they are located near the end of the route. Entrance price to Grutas de Loltun is 105 peso per person and parking is 22 pesos.

Getting from Merida to Grutas de Loltun:

Self-drive from Merida to Grutas de Lotun: Follow directions to the Ruta Puuc. Continue down the Ruta Puuc 15 km east of Labna and you’ll clearly see signage and parking for Grutas de Loltun. For a more direct route, access from Oxkitzcab, taking 261 to Muna, then 184 to Oxkitzcab, to make a right on 31 to Grutas de Lotun.

Bus from Merida to Grutas de Lotun: The bus departs from the Noreste Terminal in Merida to the nearby city of Oxkutzcab (8:30 am). The price is 38 pesos for the 1.5 hour trip. Once at Oxkutzcab, you have to take a taxi the remainder of the 7Km to Loltun (120 pesos).

Grutas de Loltun Day Tour from Merida: Turitransmerida offers a package tour to the Ruta Puuc and Loltun Caves that includes transportation and guide. The 600 peso per person tour requires a minimum of three people and does not include any admission prices, lunch, or gratuities.

Historic Cities, Towns, and Villages near Merida

Throuhgout the Yucatan you’ll find a number of interesting towns to poke around. These are big cities like the impressive Campeche to smaller hidden gems not listed in the guidebooks, such as Acanceh. Whether big or small, they all seem to be very friendly and worthy of exploring. Visit the recommendations listed below and find out which cities clique with you.

10) Discovering the UNESCO listed Walled City of Campeche

Campeche is a stunning seaside city with colorful architecture and fascinating history. The historic city is a designated UNESCO heritage site, only about a two hour drive from Merida. The historic center of Campeche is surrounded by a two-mile wall that was built in the 1600’s to protect the city from invading pirates. Today, portions on the top of the walls are used by visitors to admire the beautiful view of the city.

Explore the colorful buildings throughout the walled city and pop inside some of the fort’s bastions which have now been turned into museums and gardens. Climb atop the city’s walls for a birds-eye view of have a leisurely stroll along Campeche’s malecon. There is plenty to do in town. Here’s our top 5 Things to do in Campeche. You may even want to make it more than a day trip from Merida, and stay for a night or two.

Getting From Merida to Campeche:

Drive from Merida to Campeche: It’s an easy 2-hour drive on the well-trodden Highway 180.

Bus from Merida to Campeche: There are frequent buses Campeche from Merida. The duration is 2.5 to 3 hours and 122 pesos for one-way, 180 pesos for round-trip. CheckADO for up-to-date pricing and schedule.

Day Tour from Merida to Campeche: This Viator day trip to Campeche ($65) includes round-trip transportation, guide, admission fees, lunch, and a visit to the nearby Becal town along the way.

 

11) Explore Izamal: The Yellow City

A short drive east of Merida is the picturesque city of Izamal. Known as the “Yellow City,” Izamal is a lovely place to spend hours strolling the streets and finding the ancient Mayan ruins which are interspersed all throughout town. Izamal may be one of the best day trips from Merida for photographers. You’ll love snapping photos of all the unique and bright yellow architecture.

The most notable building in Izamal is the monastery: Convento de San Antonio de Padua (free, 5 pesos to enter the museum 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm Monday to Saturday, 9am-5pm on Sundays). Spaniards came here in the 14th century and destroyed a Mayan temple that was once on this site. They then used the stones of the temple to build the monastery! If you look, you’re still able to see carving designs from the former Mayan temple within the church stones.

Also be sure to visit the Mayan pyramid of Kinich-Kakmo. It’s free (8am-5pm) and well worth trekking up the steep steps for the best panoramic view of Izamal!

A good way to see all of Izamal is from a horse-drawn carriage. 200 pesos will get you an hour tour of the yellow city.

Getting from Merida to Izama:

Bus from Merida to Izamal: There are frequent buses from the Noreste Terminal for the 1.5 hour journey to Izama. Price is 23 pesos one-way.

Driving from Merida to Izamal: It’s about an hour drive Eastbound on 180. Exit at YUC 11, where you’ll see signs to Izamal. There’s plenty of free street parking around the monastery.

Day Tour from Merida to Izamal:

There’s a Viator day tour to Izamal ($56) that includes hotel pick-up, horse drawn carriage tour, guide, and lunch.

 

12) Find the Colonial Charm and Cenotes around Valladolid

The quaint colonial town of Valladolid offers a backdrop of beautiful historic buildings, plazas, and even a cenote right in the middle of town, Cenote Zaci. We were very impressed with Valladolid and the other nearby cenotes when we initially visited the town in 2014. Relax in Valladolid’s town square and admire the Church of San Bernardino. Drop into one of the town’s many restaurants to sample the local cuisine.

Combine a day trip to Valladolid with a visit to Cenote Xkeken and Cenote Samula, which is located just a few kilometers outside of town. You can cycle to these cenotes from Valladolid. Otherwise it’s a short and easy drive.

Getting from Merida to Valladolid:

Drive from Merida to Valladolid: It’s about an hour and a half drive from Merida to Valladolid using 180 and 180D. Bring change for 180D, as it’s a toll road.

Merida to Valladolid Bus: There are frequent ADO buses departing from the CAME bus terminal. It’s 90 pesos for one-way and 150 pesos round-trip for the 2.5-3.5 hour journey. Check the ADO website for up-to-date timetables and pricing.

 

13) Acanceh: A Mayan Temple within a Small Town

Acanceh is a small village located just 19 miles outside of Merida. The highlight of Acanceh is the ancient Mayan temple that’s integrated right within the town. You’ll also find a cathedral at the town square right across from the archeological site.

Acanceh reminded us of a bit of a smaller, less traversed version of Izamal. It’s most certainly a worthwhile stop while in route to Cuzama, Mayapan, or other regional highlights. Yet it may not warrant a trip solely to visit this town. Stop here on your way to another Yucatan location. Plan to spend about 30 minutes or so exploring the little town, visiting the cathedral, and admiring the temple where you can find a local to provide a brief tour.

Getting from Merida to Acanceh:

Driving from Merida to Acanceh: Take highway 180 and turn left on 184. After about 15 minutes, make a left on 10 to drive the remaining 7 miles into Acanceh.

Bus from Merida to Acanceh: Buses depart from the Noreste Station located on Calle 67 between 50 and 52. The price is 20 pesos one-way and 34 pesos round-trip. Timetable at time of writing shows departures from Merida at 5:30am, 6:30am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:00am, 13:00, 14:00, 14:45, 17:30, 18:30, and 20:00.

Day Tour to AcancehThis tour to the Cuzama cenotes includes a visit to Acanceh and a brief tour of the temple.

 

Museums & Cultural Attractions

Many of the best museums and cultural attractions in the Yucatan are located directly in Merida. See our Top Things to Do in Merida for a several recommendations right within the city. Yet further a field, in addition to the museums and culture experienced at the ruin sites, we recommend a visit to the Choco-Story Museum near Uxmal and also experience a hacienda.

14) Go Cukoo for Cocoa at the Choco-Story Museum

The Choco-Story museum is an interactive museum where you learn not only about chocolate, but also about the ancient ceramic making process. A highlight for chocolate lovers will be tasting the fresh chocolate drinks made from an ancestral recipe. Be sure to stay for one of the Mayan ceremonies that occur hourly.

This is one of the few places listed within the guide that we did not have a chance to visit first hand. It sounds a bit touristy but it has come highly recommended to us by expats living in Merida and other travelers who have visited the museum. Located next to Uxmal it’s an easy add-on during a day trip to the ruins.

Admission to the Choco-Story Museum Uxmal is 120 pesos for adults.

Getting to the Choco-Museum Uxmal from Merida:

By Bus or Car: Follow directions provided to Uxmal.

Tour of Choco-Museum from Merida: This tour of Uxmal also includes a visit to the Choco-World Museum ($76) in addition to the Kabah ruins, lunch and at a resort with time at their pool to cool off.

 

15) Step Back in Time at a Hacienda: Sotuta de Peon 

A quintessential Yucatan experience is visiting an old hacienda, making for one of the best day trips from Merida. Sotuta de Peón is arguably the most popular in the region. Here you can learn how a traditional hacienda operated back in the 1800’s! This hacienda has been immaculately restored to its former glory. Back in the heyday, this hacienda harvested mass quantities of fibers of the henequen plant, which was (and still is) planted throughout the property.

Sotuta De Peon claims to be one of the only (if not THE only) hacienda that still has the ability to process the henequen. The fibers from the plants are ultimately used to make various products such as rope, rugs, and handbags.

A tour of Sotuta De Peon also includes a cart ride pulled by mules and a visit to the cenotes on property, Dzul-Ha Underground River. Consider coming for lunch.

If driving there on your own, a tour of the hacienda is 470 pesos. Transportation from Merida, the hacienda tour, and lunch is 950 pesos.

There are two tours each day, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Transportation from leaves Merida between 8:30-9:00 for the first tour while transport departs between 11:30-12:00 for the latter tour.

Getting from Merida to Sotuta de Peon:

Driving from Merida to Sotuta de Peon: The drive from Merida takes about a half hour.This map shows directions.

Day tour to Sotuta de Peón: Tour depart from Merida hotels and other locations throughout the city. Visit their website for exact times and locations, or to make a reservation. Price for tour, lunch, and transport is 950 pesos.

 

 

For photos or to see the original article, please go here:  www.roamingaroundtheworld.com


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