Cidade Turismo
Mexico
Mérida and Uxmal

Yucatán · Mexico

Mérida and Uxmal

The colonial capital of Yucatán, the ruins of Uxmal and the Puuc Route, the yellow town of Izamal, the flamingos of Celestún and the Progreso coastline.

Yucatán e Campeche (península maia)

In the photo: Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatán and the largest city on the peninsula, founded by the Spaniards in 1542 on top of the Maya city of T'hó. The historic center preserves the Plaza Grande, the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, one of the oldest on the continent, and the Casa de Montejo, with its carved façade. To the north, Paseo de Montejo is a wide avenue with mansions from the early 20th century, built with sisal wealth.

The city is known for its outdoor cultural life, with music, dances and markets in the plazas, and for Yucatecan cuisine, with dishes like cochinita pibil, papadzul and lime soup. The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, to the north, tells the story of the Maya civilization on the peninsula.

About 80 km to the south are Uxmal and other ruins of the Puuc Route, such as Kabah, in a style of façades decorated with stone mosaics and masks of the rain god. The village of Santa Elena is the nearest base. To the east, Izamal is a town of yellow-painted houses around a large Franciscan convent, built over Maya pyramids.

On the Gulf of Mexico coast, Celestún hosts colonies of flamingos in its estuary, and Progreso is the nearest port and beach to Mérida, about 35 km away.

This destination brings together 5 cities: Mérida, Santa Elena, Izamal, Celestún, Progreso.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Mérida and Uxmal is
CelestúnMéridaSanta ElenaIzamalProgreso

Limites: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Mérida and Uxmal

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional de Mérida (MID) · 8 km to Mérida

Confirm before purchasing. Mérida has an international airport (MID), about 8 km from the center. From Cancún it is about 300 km by road, with direct buses and the Tren Maya.

Suggested arrival point: Mérida

Mérida
Yucatán · Mérida and Uxmal Capital Suggested arrival point

Mérida

Mérida is the capital of Yucatán and the largest city on the peninsula, founded in 1542 on top of the Maya city of T'hó. The historic center has the Plaza Grande, the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, the Casa de Montejo and neighborhoods of colorful colonial houses. To the north lies Paseo de Montejo, with mansions from the sisal era, and further on the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. It is the base for Uxmal, Izamal, Celestún and Progreso.

The local experience

Things to do in Mérida and Uxmal

Convento de San Antonio de Padua
Izamal · Yucatán · Church and convent

Convento de San Antonio de Padua

16th-century Franciscan convent built atop a Maya pyramid, with a courtyard of about 8,000 square meters surrounded by 75 arches and the image of Nuestra Señora de Izamal.

Malecón de Progreso
Progreso · Yucatán · Waterfront

Malecón de Progreso

Seafront promenade of Progreso, with a shallow, calm beach, seafood restaurants and a view of the long pier that stretches into the Gulf of Mexico.

Plaza Grande y Catedral de San Ildefonso
Mérida · Yucatán · Plaza and cathedral

Plaza Grande y Catedral de San Ildefonso

Main square of Mérida, with the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, from the 16th century, the Casa de Montejo and the Government Palace, with murals about the history of Yucatán.

Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún
Celestún · Yucatán · Nature reserve

Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún

Mangrove estuary between the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatán plain, a biosphere reserve known for colonies of pink flamingos, visible on boat trips.

See 6 more places in Mérida and Uxmal
Zona Arqueológica de Uxmal
Santa Elena · Yucatán · Archaeological site

Zona Arqueológica de Uxmal

Maya city of the Puuc style, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the Pyramid of the Magician with an oval base, the Nunnery Quadrangle and the Governor's Palace, with façades decorated with stone mosaics.

Paseo de Montejo
Mérida · Yucatán · Historic avenue

Paseo de Montejo

Tree‑lined avenue north of Mérida's center, with mansions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries built with sisal wealth, some opened as museums.

Pirámide de Kinich Kak Mo
Izamal · Yucatán · Archaeological site

Pirámide de Kinich Kak Mo

One of the largest pyramids by volume on the Yucatán Peninsula, in the middle of Izamal, dedicated to the sun god with the face of a fire macaw.

Zona Arqueológica de Kabah
Santa Elena · Yucatán · Archaeological site

Zona Arqueológica de Kabah

Maya site of the Puuc Route linked to Uxmal by a stone road, featuring the Codz Poop, a façade covered with hundreds of masks of the rain god, and a monumental arch.

Zona Arqueológica de Xcambó
Progreso · Yucatán · Archaeological site

Zona Arqueológica de Xcambó

Small Maya town among salt flats and mangroves east of Progreso, a center for salt production and trade, with a Catholic church built atop one of the platforms.

Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
Mérida · Yucatán · Museum

Gran Museo del Mundo Maya

Museum north of Mérida dedicated to the Maya civilization of Yucatán, with archaeological pieces, the life of today's Maya and a light-and-sound show on the façade.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From November to March is usually the most pleasant period, with less heat. April and May are very hot. From June to October there is more rain, with afternoon showers. In Celestún, flamingos tend to be more numerous from November to March.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four or five days: two for Mérida, one for Uxmal and the Puuc Route, one for Izamal and one for Celestún or Progreso. With less time, prioritize Mérida and Uxmal.

Which city to stay in

Mérida's historic center, around the Plaza Grande and the neighborhoods of Santa Lucía, Santiago and Santa Ana, has guesthouses in colonial mansions with courtyards and pools, within walking distance of the plazas and restaurants. Paseo de Montejo has larger hotels. For Uxmal there are hotels near the ruins and in Santa Elena. Izamal has guesthouses in the center; Progreso and Celestún have beach hotels.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Mérida and Uxmal

Is Mérida a good base for visiting Yucatán?

Yes. It is about 80 km from Uxmal, 70 km from Izamal, 95 km from Celestún, 35 km from Progreso and 120 km from Chichén Itzá, with good roads and buses.

How to get from Mérida to Uxmal?

By car or regular bus, about 80 km on the highway to Campeche via Muna, just over an hour's drive. There are also organized tours of the Puuc Route.

What is the Puuc Route?

A group of Maya sites south of Mérida, in the Puuc hills region, including Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak and Labná, characterized by façades with stone mosaics.

When to see flamingos in Celestún?

Flamingos are in the estuary year-round, but tend to be more numerous from November to March.

Does Mérida have a beach?

No. The nearest beach is Progreso, about 35 km to the north, on the Gulf of Mexico.

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