• Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact

ohsobetty global traveler, entrepreneur, and geek.

Your Best Weekender Guide to Mérida, Mexico

We usually stay in Tulum for several days before heading inland to Merida. You can say we’re a bit brave because we didn’t mind taking the ADO bus from Tulum to Merida. Some of my customers, for example, opt to take the short flight.

Mérida is the perfect size for a leisure weekend, and an ideal jumping-off point to access the treasures of the region: restored haciendas, underground cenotes, Mayan ruins, and more. It’s easy to soak up the city’s colorful street culture, beautiful architecture, and the super chill pace.

Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel
Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel
Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel
Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel

STAY

Las Escaleras, http://www.lasescalerasmerida.com/. Our personal favorite bed and breakfast in Merida. This 165 year old house will charm you with its Instagramm-able 3 guest rooms, colonial design with beautiful tiles and decor, and a pool. Inquire us for rates.

Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel + SPA, https://www.rosasandxocolate.com/. Colorful Spanish Colonial–style mansion on the vibrant Paseo de Montejo, this sophisticated boutique hotel makes us happy with its spa facilities (chocolate massage, anyone), pink decor, and the pool. Don’t forget the pool. Inquire us for rates.

Vintage Fountain in Merida
Vintage Fountain in Merida
Handmade tiles everywhere
Chilaquiles for breakfast

EAT

Chilakiller’s, https://www.yelp.com/biz/chilakillers-m%C3%A9rida. Had no idea what chilaquiles tasted like until I stopped here. They have a very simple menu with different varieties of sauces, toppings and protein. Beautiful texture of crunchy, yet saucy soft. I strongly recommend their fresh fruit juices as well. Love the small but cute ambiance here; clean, bright, and minimalist chic.

When + Where:  Best for breakfast or lunch, address is entre y, Calle 57 & Calle 58, Centro, Mérida, Yuc., Mexico

Fresh Mexican pastries

Dulceria y Sorbeteria Colon, http://www.elcolon.mx/. This ice cream shop, founded in 1907, offers sorbets and ice creams regional tropical flavors like soursop, mamey, coconut, mango. Try the champola, a tall sundae glass filled with the sorbet of your choice and topped with cold milk.

La Chaya Maya, http://www.lachayamaya.com/. Nice place for awesome margaritas and their traditional Yucatecan food. Be sure to try the poc-chuc, lime soup or tikin xic, to accompany an order or panuchos salbutes. Oooh, those fresh tortillas!

When + Where: Good for lunch or dinner, favorite location is at Calle 62 por 57, Centro, 97000 Mérida, YUC, Mexico

Local market goodies

Apoala, https://www.apoala.mx/. Apola is definitely considered one of the best restaurants in Merida. It’s a nice location in parque Santa Lucia with outdoor seating. Apoala gives a contemporary spin on Mexican cuisine rather than traditional Yucatecan, and actually seems to lean more towards Oaxacan style cooking. We love their cocktails and we had mezcal tastings here. Friendly service. Not cheap, but ideal for dates.

When + Where: Best for dinner time and in parque Santa Lucia, address is  97000, Calle 60 #471 x 55 Local 2, Portales de Santa Lucía, Centro, 97000 Centro, Mexico

La Lupita (food stall). One of the best versions of cochinita pibil (slow roasted pork) is at La Lupita, inside Mercado Santiago (The main municipal market in Santiago Park). The restaurant has blue table cloths, it’s right in the center of the market, about 50 meters from any entrance. Order the Lechon “Con Cuarrito” – which includes the dark roasted fat, rather than the re-fried chicharron. The meat is served in your choice of corn tortillas, panuchos or salbutes. Super delicious.

Where & When: La Lupita, Mercado Santiago. 7am – 1pm. Sunday morning is super busy and when the most stalls at the market are set up.

Cenote in Merida
Cenote in Merida

PLAY

Ruins. Head into the rainforest to visit ruins – our personal favorite is  Uxmal, considered by many to be the secret best Mayan archaeological site on the peninsula. Uxmal is much less crowded, and I would say much more impressive, than Chitzén Itzá. Other ruins to consider are the Mayapan, Ruta Puuc & Kabah, or Dzibilchaltun.

Cenotes. After seeing the ruins, go for a cool dip. The Yucatan is filled with cenotes, the natural sinkholes connected by underground rivers. Did you know that there are literally hundreds of them, including one below Merida’s Costco?

You can either rent a car is to get to the ruins or cenotes or hit up Nomoon to coordinate a private tour. It’s just an hour drive.

Walk Around. In the early evenings, meander to the Parque Francisco Canton, where a local band plays in the open square as OG couples dance. There are food courts and laughter. Beautiful way to end the day.

—

Contact Nomoon if you’d like for us to plan and design your trip to Merida! We partner with the best tour operators and hotel accommodations for the most memorable experiences.

If you enjoyed this post, share it!

Cenotes Food Merida Mexico Travel Guide Travel Tips

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Previous May the 4th Be With You: How Star Wars Changed My Life
Next 10 Tips on How to Live Happily + Comfortably in a Small House

Related Posts

Matera Italy views

The All-You-Need Guide to Matera, Italy

VIEW POST
Gluten-Free Brownies Recipe

World’s Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies

VIEW POST
Santa Barbara Skyline

Santa Barbara Weekend Guide

VIEW POST

Portugal: 10-Day Itinerary includes Lisbon and Porto...

VIEW POST

Primary Sidebar

  • LiketoKnow Store
  • Amazon 

Tags

Adventure Baking Banff Beach Brownie Cake California Canada Cave Cave Hotel CDMX Chocolate COVID-19 Culinary Culture Europe Food Gluten-Free health Healthy home office Italy IVF Lake Louise lifestyle Matera Merida Mexico Mexico City movies National Park Puebla Recipe Roma Santa Barbara self care sponsored Staying Home Travel Guide Travel Tips UNESCO vacation Weekend Guide Winter working from home
follow @ohsobetty
MY DREAM CAME TRUE TODAY. Yes, I was up close and MY DREAM CAME TRUE TODAY. Yes, I was up close and personal with my favorite bird, the penguin. 🐧 Also, cruising the Cape Peninsula is truly spectacular and I would say, one of my favorite scenic roads. Best memories with my new friends. 🙌
—
#lovecapetown #visitsouthafrica #nomoontravel
Omg, the Stellenbosch wine route served incredible Omg, the Stellenbosch wine route served incredible scenery, award winning wines, and charming small towns. Where have you been all my life. 🍷
—
#lovecapetown #stellenbosch #visitsouthafrica
Spring breaking in Tulum must include beach yoga, Spring breaking in Tulum must include beach yoga, Mayan ruins, jungle bike rides, fresh tamales, cenote swims, and a gourmet dinner with mezcal and tequila tastings. 🇲🇽
—
Curated by @gotulumtravel 🤎
Nothing beats fresh tamales and bolcanos! 🫔 The Nothing beats fresh tamales and bolcanos! 🫔 The @gotulumtravel team is working hard tasting delicious local cuisine. See you in Tulum soon. 🤎
I did not travel internationally for 3 months. Cho I did not travel internationally for 3 months. Chose to stay home, bonded with the boys, and transitioning slowly into retirement life. Feels really good. In the meantime, preparing for the Raleigh move and traveling again on Monday. Thank you, fams, for following along. 🖤
It’s OFFICIAL, WE’RE MOVING TO RALEIGH! 🏡 M It’s OFFICIAL, WE’RE MOVING TO RALEIGH! 🏡 Mom wanted to move back to California (haha), so we’re renting out the Texas home and bought this bungalow near downtown Raleigh. We plan to live here until our Tulum villa is completed (constant  construction delays). Planning to paint this house white with a pink door! Can’t wait to show y’all the results next month.
—
Special thanks to @carlymask and @allenmask for helping us through this new, exciting adventure. Sight unseen, baby. Let’s GO! 💗
Copyright © 2023 ohsobetty
Theme by SheShoppes