I’ve all the time needed 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 crushed path.
Nevertheless, in 2022, famend journey publications akin to Lonely Planet and Journey and Leisure have acknowledged little Merida as being among the best locations to go to this yr. Not like different cities within the Yucatan peninsula akin to Cancun and Tulum, which have began to develop into gentrified and are occupied by giant swathes of western vacationers, Merida, for now, stays unchanged by tourism.
Town retains its conventional Mexican appeal. Now could be the most effective 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 this planet. It thrived in the course of 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 individuals of Merida constructed big sprawling mansions and haciendas. Right now, many of those beautiful buildings have been transformed into luxurious motels, espresso retailers, and eating places. Merida is a photographer’s paradise.
Arriving in Merida
Merida is residence to a global airport (MID) which is definitely situated proper within the coronary heart of the town, simply quarter-hour away from the historic middle. Nevertheless, there are solely a really restricted variety of worldwide flight routes that service this airport.
You possibly can fly into Merida from Miami, Houston, Guatemala Metropolis, and Havana, Cuba. If you’re flying from elsewhere, it is smart to both switch flights in Mexico City, 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 instances a day.
The journey takes roughly 4 hours and tickets price 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 quite a bit to be desired. Decide to remain within the historic middle so to attain a lot of the metropolis’s important historic and cultural highlights on foot.
Opting to remain in an Airbnb (get $15+ credit score with Airbnb whenever you e book for the primary time utilizing the hyperlink) or homestay within the japanese or western elements of the town can prevent a good amount of cash. Nevertheless, you’ll probably should rely on Uber and cabs to get round because the buses listed below 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 model. So, you haven’t any actual purpose to have to remain exterior of the primary zones.
Paseo Montejo
Paseo Montejo is the primary boulevard in Merida. It runs from the historic middle, all the best way as much as the northern suburbs.
The road was named after Merida’s founder, Francisco de Montejo. You can find the Monumento a la Patria right here—an enormous sculpture created by sculptor Rómulo Rozo that shows the historical past of Mexico by means of the ages.
Paseo Montejo is residence to a various vary of eating places, cafes, and shops promoting artisanal merchandise, conventional Yucatecan clothes, and avenue meals. It’s vigorous no matter time you cease by, but it surely isn’t so noisy which you can’t get a very good night time’s sleep if you happen to base your self right here.
The environment is especially fantastic on Sundays when the road is pedestrianized and closed to site visitors. Hundreds of Merida locals come to jog/stroll/cycle the size of the road and there are various locations the place you may lease a bicycle and be part of them.
Paseo Montejo has one thing for each finances. Under are among the most respected finances motels within the space, with costs per room for 2 individuals.
You possibly can e book through Reserving.com; simply click on the hyperlink to the properties above. Make sure that to learn the critiques so that you’ll know which one most closely fits your wants.
Parque Santa Lucia
Parque Santa Lucia is an effective place to base your self if you wish to expertise Merida by night time. Most of the finest bars and nightclubs are only a 5-minute stroll away from right here.
Listed here are among 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 a good way to get your bearings in any new metropolis. It’s also among the best issues to do in Merida. A free strolling tour departs day-after-day at 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. from exterior the Casa Montejo museum in the primary sq., with guides talking each English and Spanish.
The tour takes you round the primary Merida landmarks and historic websites and offers you much more data and context on the varied buildings that you just see. You’ll cross by notable constructions such because the Merida cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno, the Teatro Peón Contreras, and varied Merida parks and plazas.
Though the tour is free, it’s tip-based and for the reason that guides dedicate their time to exhibiting vacationers round their metropolis in tremendous sizzling climate, it’s well mannered to all the time tip. It’s truthful to offer US$5-10 (100-200 pesos) per individual.
The opposite wonderful thing about exploring the town on a strolling tour? You might have an area knowledgeable available to ask for his or her suggestions for the most effective issues to see and do within the metropolis and the most effective locations to hang around, amongst others.
Eat your method round city
The delicacies in Merida and the Yucatan could be very completely different from the delicacies that one can find elsewhere in Mexico. It’s because Yucatecan meals is pre-Hispanic.
Most of the recipes listed below are the identical ones that had been utilized by the Historical Mayans centuries in the past and conventional cooking strategies are nonetheless used. Well-known regional dishes that you need 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 which you can attempt. Habaneros (Calle 20-A Num 302 X 5b Y 5c, Xcumpich, 97204) is an area favourite and though it sits on the outskirts of city, it’s definitely worth the effort to get to.
Expertise Merida by night time
When you thought that Merida was pretty by day, you’ll probably discover it much more magical by night time. That is when the town actually involves life.
Each night time of the week, one can find dwell music hosted across the metropolis. On Tuesdays, there’s dwell music at Santiago Park and on Thursdays, there’s a dwell band that performs in Santa Lucia.
If you wish to attempt 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 dwell salsa music day-after-day of the week.
This is likely one of the hottest nightlife spots on the town, though it does get very crowded and it’s essential to cease by earlier than 8 p.m. to safe a desk. Alternatively, Cantina Dzalbay (Calle 64 x 53, Esquina, No. 443, Centro) presents courses the place you may dance with locals.
Deal with your self to a day on the seaside
Merida itself shouldn’t be located on the coast, however there are a number of attractive seaside cities that may be reached in simply an hour’s drive from the town middle. 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 lovely and deserving of your time. The seashores right here boast miles upon miles of powdery white sand coastlines that reach so far as the attention can see. The waters are a surprising shade of crystal-clear turquoise.
Progreso is the closest seaside city to Merida, located simply 43km north of the town. Take a stroll alongside the Malecon, sip piña coladas in one of many seaside bars overlooking the water, and spend a day lounging on the sand. Most eating places and bars right here allow you to lease a sunbed and an umbrella for the day for just some pesos.
Discover lesser-known Mayan ruins
Chichen Itza is with out hesitation, essentially the most well-known Mayan spoil on this a part of Mexico. Hundreds of individuals cross by means of its gates day-after-day.
Whereas a go to to Chichen Itza is likely one of the finest issues you are able to do in Mexico, this isn’t the one Mayan spoil within the space. There are a number of different Mayan cities that may be reached on a day trip from Merida and are solely 1-2 hours away.
As an example, few individuals have heard of Mayapan, however this was one of the necessary Mayan settlements. It may be discovered simply an hour south of Merida and the location is expansive and infrequently sees many vacationers. Mayapan was the final nice Mayan metropolis and it’s right here the place King Kukulkan II and his individuals moved after the downfall of Chichen Itza.
Security Ideas for Solo Vacationers in Merida
Merida is a very safe city, even for solo travelers. The Yucatan capital is acknowledged again and again as being the most secure metropolis in Mexico, and one of many most secure cities in your entire North American continent.
Sure, Merida is statistically quite a bit safer than lots of cities within the United States. Mexico, on the whole, is quite a bit 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 may really feel comparatively comfy strolling alone across the metropolis even within the evenings.
Persons are very well mannered and respectful and also you by no means really feel that it’s a must to be regularly wanting over your shoulder. Nonetheless, it pays to take some further precautions when touring anyplace independently. A couple of safety considerations for your solo trip to Merida are detailed beneath.
Most Mexicans choose to make use of Uber reasonably than taking random avenue taxis. Whereas individuals in some international locations might 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 might have the driving force’s particulars and their license plate quantity, and you may share your journey data together with your family and friends members.
Sadly, scams aren’t unparalleled in Mexico and also you usually tend to be ripped off or taken on a roundabout route by means of city if you happen to get right into a random avenue taxi. When utilizing Uber right here, there are a number of precautions which you can take.
Test your driver’s profile and solely journey with drivers which have finished a number of thousand journeys and have a ranking of 4.5 or above. If you’re uncomfortable with the look of your driver or they’re utterly new to the app, you may cancel and discover a new driver for no cost.
Watch out when heading out at night time alone
Merida is a secure metropolis, even within the evenings. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply that you just shouldn’t use widespread sense or not concentrate on your environment.
Attempt to not stroll alone at night time, significantly in case your route takes you down quiet facet streets and alleyways. Principally, if you happen to wouldn’t do one thing in your hometown, you shouldn’t do it in Merida.
When you head out to bars or dwell music venues alone or with new associates, watch your drink and by no means go away it unattended. Be cautious of over-friendly strangers and all the time belief your intestine intuition.
Watch your belongings in crowded areas
The one actual crime that it’s a must to fear about in Merida is petty crime and issues like bag snatchings. Nonetheless, this stuff 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 effective funding. Ideally, you need to carry your backpack in entrance of you and guarantee that any valuables are securely tucked away.
Merida is a secure and fantastic colonial metropolis within the coronary heart of the Yucatan. It makes an excellent getaway vacation spot in itself, but it surely additionally completely enhances a wider Yucatan journey itinerary.
Have you ever been to Merida? What different ideas are you able to give to solo vacationers?
