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Things to do in Mérida

Surrounded by cenotes and bordered by Chichén Itzá, this is the place to kickstart your Yucatán adventure.

Our most recommended things to do in Mérida

From Mérida: Chichen Itza & Izamal Guided Day Trip

1. From Mérida: Chichen Itza & Izamal Guided Day Trip

Experience the beauty and history of Chichen Itza and explore on a guided day trip leaving from Merida. Learn more about the ancient civilization who built Chichen Itza, take a refreshing swim in a cenote, visit the Temple of Kukulcan, and wander through Izamal. Leave Merida with the guide and travel to the beautiful and historical site of Chichen Itza. Enjoy a two-hour guided tour where you will learn about the history and significance of the site and its most important buildings, such as the Temple of Kukulcan (El Castillo), the ball game court, the Observatory, and its adjacent Temple of the 1000 columns. Take some time to discover the site at your own pace, and admire the monuments and take pictures as you explore. Continue the tour by moving on to the Xcajum Cenote and learn more about the sinkholes that are part of the world's largest network of underground rivers. Indulge in a delicious meal next, and enjoy a variety of local foods. Move on to one of Mexico's most beautiful towns, Izamal. Learn more about the city, known as the "city of three cultures" for its multiple cultural influences. Stroll through the streets and admire the yellow and white buildings for which the town is famous. Finish the tour in Izamal before returning to pickup points in Merida, and relax and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Noches de Kukulkán

2. Noches de Kukulkán

We start the tour when our guide arrives for you at the lobby of your hotel, we will go to see one of the new wonders of the World full of colors and vibrations. Our first stop will be at the open type Yokdzonot cenote where we will enjoy its turquoise blue waters. It has an opening of 40 meters and approximately 35 to 45 meters deep. It is one of the largest cenotes in the state of Yucatan. We will have a guided tour of the Z A of Chichén Itzá, which was the most important political, economic and religious center of the peninsula for the Mayan peoples. Since 1988 it was declared part of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It represents the ancestral knowledge of a culture that today is more alive than ever. We delight ourselves with a rich buffet-style meal at a Hacienda Xaybeh restaurant in the town of Piste, Yucatan. We return to the Z A of Chichén Itzá to start at the main entrance and surround the main archaeological monuments, with a duration of approximately 45 minutes. At the end of that time you will be able to situate yourself in the available seats to enjoy the video mapping on the Kukulkan pyramid with a duration of approximately 25 minutes, where you will learn more about the history of the Mayans. Then you will return to Merida

From Cancun: Day-Trip & Entry to Chichen-Itza & Valladolid

3. From Cancun: Day-Trip & Entry to Chichen-Itza & Valladolid

Chichen Itza is the second most important Mayan archaeological zone. It is located in the Yucatan Peninsula and is one of the most visited places for those who want to know the Mayan culture. Since 2007 this place declared one of the seven wonders of the modern world and therefore considered a unesco World Heritage Site. Chichen Itza is one of those places you would like to repeat without hesitation. It is a magical place with many attractions that you will love. It would be best if you kept in mind that it is a place that has a schedule to visit. You should be very aware, so you do not miss a full day of seeing, it has different rates for residents and foreigners. Visit one of the most important archeological sites of the Yucatán Peninsula. Admire the Pyramid of Kukulkán and relax in the refreshing waters of the mystical Samaal Cenote. Finally, finish your experience visiting Valladolid, a city full of history, and discover why it’s called the ancient Old Spanish City. One of the most beautiful colonial cities of Yucatan and the first to be visited from the important tourist market of Quintana Roo is undoubtedly Valladolid, for the majesty of its temples and the ancestry of its old neighborhoods. After Mérida is the second city in importance and the oldest in Yucatan. Its streets and buildings preserve its glorious past and witnessed various indigenous uprisings, such as the so-called "War of Castes". Today it is a placid city where you can admire beautiful old houses, has great commercial dynamism, and is a key point in the development of the state for its strategic location.

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Frequently asked questions about Mérida

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What are the best day trips and excursions from Mérida?

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Chichén Itzá

Other Sightseeing Options in Mérida

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What people are saying about Mérida

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 260 reviews

Hermoso Lugar

One of the best guided tour experiences ever! The tour was very good organized: we got breakfast and water, the group was not big, the bus was comfortable, with air condition, our driver, Pablo, was good and professional. Our guide Hector made our day really perfect: he is very knowledgeable, polite and professional, we learned a lot about Mayan culture, colonial culture, Mexican traditions and food, he answered all of our questions and gave a lot of recommendations. All locations we’ve visited were amazing! We arrived to Chichén Itzá at the right time in the morning and it was not crowded, the lunch was delicious, cenot was beautiful and not very touristic, with a very nice chill zone. Highly recommend!

This trip to Celestun was amazing. The driver was prompt at our hotel, courteous and friendly. The other attendees were nice, too. The flamingo/boat ride was so fun and interesting. Never thought I'd see flamingos in real life. What an experience. We finished the day with the beach side relaxing. The food from the restaurant was fine- maybe lacking for me since I'm vegetarian but there was an option or two. The weather and water was beautiful. And the ride back was quick. Thank you!

I spent a very good day! Hector is an excellent guide, you can see since the beginning that he is very prepared and that he puts a lot of energies in his job. I really enjoyed the typical buffet lunch with cochinita pibil. The only thing: there a nicer cenote in the area, the one we saw was not really nice, pity. Please be aware that you will have to pay 30 US dollars more in order to enter in Chichen Itza. I would recommend this experience!

We had an amazing time with Alex! He showed us places we would have never found without him. His enthusiasm for the Mexican food was catching and inspiring. We ate the best tacos and tortillas ever!!! Really glad we had this experience! We definitely recommend the tour to everyone! Stefan and Ines

Great tour. Carlos - the guide - made sure we understand. Good English from him and driver.