Read on to find out more about Mérida and the places around it, including Celestún, Uxmal, pueblos mágicos like Izamal, cenotes, and beaches.
The colonial city of Mérida has preserved its personality and culture throughout the years. Compared to other places in the Yucatán Peninsula, it is not as frequented by tourists which makes it a very enjoyable and affordable place to visit. Add to that the amazing places around it—which you can easily reach—and you have all that you need for a great vacation!
In this article I will focus on the places you can explore beyond this beautiful city.
Table of Contents
Starting off in the city of Mérida
Mérida is an amazing colonial city located in the state of Yucatán. It has one of the largest historic downtowns in México and it is also one of the safest cities in México.
There is plenty to do in Mérida and well worth a stay of a few days. Even better, you can use this a hub for visiting other cities in the area.
Mérida is a “small, large city” that packs a modern lifestyle (it will have the malls, hospitals, and facilities) while keeping its strong sense of culture. It is the state’s capital with a population of about 900,000 people. You can walk the downtown streets and enjoy local artists and shows, giving you a true taste of the history and traditions of Yucatán.
Fun fact: Merida was once said to house the most millionaires than any other city in the world! The city prospered from the production of henequen (a plant used to make twine and rope).
East
Izamal
Heading about 45 miles (70 km) east of Mérida you’ll find Izamal. This is a pueblo mágico that is most known for its colorful, yellow buildings throughout the city. There are also remains of ancient pyramids in the city that you can explore.
I highly recommend you get a tour of the entire city by riding on one of its calandrias. These horse-drawn carriages are great for viewing the main spots in the city and they are also fun for the whole family!
West
Celestún
Celestún is not a very well known spot in the Yucatán Peninsula, however it is well worth a visit since it home to the amazing Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve. This 146,000 acre reserve includes over 300 species of birds, but its main attraction are the colorful flamingos.
I highly recommend you take a boat tour of the biosphere area. There are plenty of boat tours leaving out of Celestún and they typically take about 2 hours. Boats make an effort to keep a distance that enables you to see these amazing birds, without disturbing them. Make sure to keep an eye on the sky, as you will get to see them flying into and out of the flock occasionally!
According to the guides, the best time to spot these pink birds is between January and April, but we had no trouble finding them in December.
South
Uxmal
In my opinion, Uxmal is a very underrated archaeological spot in the Yucatan peninsula. In fact I consider it better than Chichén-Itzá given that it is very well preserved and the crowd sizes are much smaller. It is located just over an hour from Mérida.
The Mayan ruins at Uxmal consist of various buildings. However, standing about 130 feet (40 m) high, the Pyramid of the Magician is the most impressive! This pyramid is unusual due to its elliptical base.
Uxmal features a light show in the evenings, to give it a different dimension and experience when the sun goes down.
Other structures in the area include the Casa de las Monjas, the Palace of the Governor, and the House of Turtles. I recommend you get a tour guide to learn more about these marvelous structures. Guides will usually be hanging out by the entrance, so there is no need to book in advance.
Ruta de los Cenotes
There is an area in the heart of the peninsula called the Ruta de los Cenotes (the cenote route), which features a large number of these amazing sinkholes in a relatively short distance. Two particular recommendations by the locals are the following: Cenotes & Restaurant Santa Bárbara and Tza-Ujun-Kat.
Both places are located about an hour away from Mérida.
Cenote: A sink hole that exposes the ground water to the surface. Cenotes can be very large (tens of meters in diameter). They are popular for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. See my article on scuba diving in a cenote for more details.
Cenotes & Restaurant Santa Bárbara is very well organized and managed place to enjoy swimming in cenotes. They offer bike rides or horse-pulled rides between the 3 cenotes hosted at this location. They also have a restaurant, and have safety vests available at the installations.
I recommend getting there early to avoid larger crowds.
Tzu-Ujun-Kat is a cenote mostly visited by locals that is circle-shaped, with plants adorning the place in its center. It has a very distinct appearance.
Maní, Pueblo Mágico
In December of 2020 the state of Yucatan announced that two of its cities had been awarded pueblo mágico designations: Maní and Sisal.
One of the primary attractions that will greet you in Maní is the Church and Convent of San Miguel. Established in 1549, it was built using rocks from the pre-Columbian structures nearby. It features a large, open chapel in its exterior and early colonial frescos in its interior.
Mayapán
When it come to archaeological sites most people know Chichén-Itzá and some know Uxmal. However, Mayapán is truly a “road less traveled” site that resembles a smaller Chichén-Itzá. And the best part: you don’t have to battle through large crowds or hundreds of vendors!
This archaeological site was the Mayan capital in the late Post-Classic period. It is located only about 40 minutes from Mérida, and it’s temples and structures carry a similarity to the more known Chichén-Itzá.
North
Sisal, Pueblo Mágico
Sisal is one of two new pueblos mágicos in the state of Yucatan. Sisal has a very nice beach with little tourist traffic. It also hosts a fuerte (fort), and a few murals within the few blocks that make up this charming beach town. Sisal is about 1.5 hours from Merida.
Progreso
Heading north of Mérida, you can find the port and beach of Progreso. Progreso is only about 40 minutes from Mérida, which makes it the closest beach to reach.
This beach is not too bad, as it is much less crowded than other, more famous beaches like Playa del Carmen or Cancún. The waters are not as beautiful, but at least you get that true, beach town feel.
Read More & Start Planning
If you want to read more about the Yucatan peninsula, be sure to check out my post on The Yucatán Less Traveled where I give a breakdown of all the things you can do in this amazing place.
Are you ready to start planning your next trip? Be sure to use my sample Yucatán Peninsula Itinerary to help you plan.
Entry Fees: These vary by attraction
Transportation: Merida offers Uber, which is a big plus. I prefer to rent a car, and have the flexibility of exploring each of these places at my own leisure.
Flights: The cheapest international flights will be out of Cancun. This is where I rent a car. I rent directly from a family owned business, which has been much cheaper than an agency, and includes insurance and taxes (Alberto has been nothing short of awesome each time we’ve rented with him).
Accommodations: We stayed at an AirB&B in Merida, close to el periferico. This allows you quick access to most road trips
I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of the places you can explore if you’re staying in Merida!
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Hi, I’m Iván García—I love to travel and photography. I’m big on road trips, just about anywhere in the world. I share information for people to reach truly great places. My goal is to inspire you to visit these places for yourself.
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