Certain things that turn Merida & Yucatan into such fascinating place, are the remains of its colonial past, which can be appreciated in each and everyone of its villages, and the archeological sites of its prehispanic history. This region of Mexico was once the home of the old Mayas, one of the most important civilizations that flourished in America. Its Capital City, Merida, is one of the most important Mexican colonial jewels renown as the "White City".
Yucatan
Yucatan is land of legend, sun and joy. Few places over the world have the privilege of gathering history, beaches, natural beauty, exotic cuisine and attention of people traditionally hospitable. This region of Mexico was once the home of the old Mayas, one of the most important civilizations that flourished in America. Today Yucatans dynamic progress is breathing new life into the region's fascinating past.
Yucatan is home to archaeological sites like Chichen Itza, the most important regional capital of this Mayan area between 750 and 1200 a.D; Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun, the Caves of Lol-Tun and Balankanche, and the colonial town of Izamal. At the caves and at the main ruins sites like Chichen Itza and Uxmal, the view is enhanced in spectacular fashion with Light and Sound Shows that highlight the beauty of these natural and ancient wonders.
Merida
Merida, Yucatan, economic and social centre of southeast Mexico, is a tourist destination of the first rank. It is known as the White City for its clean streets, houses and people, and it is an obligatory starting and finishing point for those visiting the State of Yucatan. Merida depicts much of the splendor of Colonial Mexico. The Spanish conqueror Francisco de Montejo founded Merida in 1542 on the site of a former Mayan city he destroyed.
Splendid regional dishes and traditional music and dances local to this region are found in restaurants, theatres and shops housed in palatial mansions along Paseo de Montejo, a boulevard fashioned after Paris' Champs Elyse. Merida was named by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage in 2000, that very same year the OAS (Organization of American States) gave Merida the recognition of American Cultural Capital, winning this prize over important cities like Arlington, Toronto and Vina del Mar. Progreso, Merida's port city, is only 30 kilometers north.
In Merida, Yucatan the old and the new, respect for inherited tradition and modern urban development, blend with originality and grandeur. The traveler can find a whole range of possibilities walking the streets and visiting points of interest such as museums, parks, markets, malls, boutiques and stores selling handcrafts and typical clothing. At night Merida becomes a facinating tour around open-air cafes, first class restaurants, serenades, concerts, discotheques, night clubs, or buggy rides.
You can experience the flavors that have earned it a well-deserved place of honor within Mexican gastronomy. Any day and any time, Yucatecan food gives from fresh seafood and traditional Mayan cuisine with dishes including Cochinita Pibil or Papadzules, to fine continental fare.
In Merida the services are for the most demanding and the wide-ranging tastes. There are accommodations from family guest houses to luxury hotels, travel agencies, car and coach rentals, an international airport, restaurants, banks, malls and anything else tourist might require to complete his enjoyment on this beautiful Mexican provincial city.
In a nut shell, there are three main reasons to visit Merida: first, to try tasty Yucatecan dishes; second, to use it as a base for touring Uxmal, Chichen Itza and other Maya ruins; and third, to take part in "Sundays in Merida," when the streets of the old city are closed to traffic, and the downtown plaza fills with food booths and native craftspeople selling their wares at excellent prices.
While enjoyin your Merida & Yucatan vacations, you will learn about the Maya culture while having fun!
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