What to do in Merida
Things to do in Merida

A sample of what to do on a seven day stay

The city of Merida offers its visitors a wealth of things to see and is an excellent base for travelers who wish to explore the surrounding villages, Maya pyramids, haciendas and beaches.

The following schedule has been designed to help you organize your time efficiently so as to make the best of your stay here in Merida. These activities and events can, of course, be mixed and matched. Read your Yucatan Today for more detailed information.

Monday
Take the free walking tour of the Plaza, visit the Casa de Artesanias (Handcraft House). Take one of the City Tour buses  (Carnavalito or Turibus) to get a feel for the city. You can also try the free walking tours, a tour around Merida's historic district 9:30 am. Meeting point: information office at City Hall. Calle 62 between 61 and 63 on the Main Plaza.
In the evening, enjoy an outdoor concert with traditional "Vaqueria" a Yucatecan dancing and dress at the Palacio Municipal on the main Plaza at 9 pm.

La Vaqueria dance on Sunday & Mondays

Tuesday
Chichen-Itza and Balankanche caves with a late lunch at Hacienda Teya on the way back to Merida - closes at 6 p.m.
Every Tuesday night, weather permitting, there is live music and dancing at the Parque Santiago. In the little park in front of the church of the same name, the music and festivities begin about 8:30 pm. Parque Santiago is between Calle 57 and 59 and between Calle 70 and 72.
Also at evening time you can listen to the traditional Yucatacan music with a "Trova Night" at the Olimpo at 9:00 pm.

Hacienda Temozon

Wednesday
Start a 2 day excursion to the Convent  and Puuc Routes: Convent Route: Acanceh, Tecoh, Telchaquillo, Tekit,  Mama, Chumayel,  Mani and Oxcutzcab with lunch in Mani. Sleep in Oxkutzcab.
Free activity in Merida: Show at the Olimpo Cultural Center at 9 p.m.
Take a horse and buggy ride.

Calesa - Horse and Buggy ride

Thursday
Continue 2 day excursion to Puuc Route - Lol Tun Caves, Kabah, Labna,Sayil, Xlapak and Uxmal with Light & Sound option. Stop at Hacienda Yaxcopoil visit their museum.
At evening time we recommend the free Serenade at Sta. Lucia Park where there is an open-air concert in downtown Merida featuring Yucatecan dress, dance, music and folklore at the Santa Lucia Park on Calle 60 and 55 at 9:00 pm.

Uxmal

Friday
Shopping, visit the native markets, Pasaje Picheta or the best in the city Casa de las Artesanias with handcrafts from Yucatan made by Yucatecan artesans. Check out Merida's malls.
Evening: University serenade, main University building  on the corner of Calle 60 and 57, 9 p.m.

Saturday
Dzibilchaltun pyramids, museum and cenote. Beaches: Progreso, Chelem, Chicxulub, Telchac and X-Cambo ruins. Flamingo lookout tower in Uaymitun.
Evening time has 2 events, one at the end of Paseo de Montejo with Calle 47 called Fiesta Mexicana from 8:00 pm to midnight. The second event is downtown where you find the strees closed to traffic and restaurants with tables on the street and different music on every corner. This event is called Corazon de Merida and it happens from 09:00 pm to 02:00 am.

Trova singers at the
Corazon de Merida festival

Sunday
Don't forget to visit the handcraft
market Lucas  de Gálvez, it has   everything. Visit Merida on Sunday - an outdoor handcraft market  and food festival on the Main  Plaza, and up Calle 60 to Hidalgo Park and Santa Lucia Park - streets are closed, live music 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Bici Ruta. Every Sunday from 8 AM to 12:30 PM more than 5 kilometers of roads in Merida are closed off to traffic.

From our readers:

Live Music, Street Vendors and more!
We were just downtown on a Sunday morning and browsing the stalls of the street vendors in Santa Ana Park, on Calle 60 and Calle 55. After buying a few old photos for art projects, and coveting some antique pottery we just didn't need, we went to the next stall to stock up on some of that delicious Yucatan honey and bee pollen. Suddenly, to our delight, a ten piece brass band started playing the most beautiful salsa music... and they were still playing an hour later. Don't miss Sunday mornings in Merida. You never know what you will find!

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