Before you go

Your trip to Progreso.

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

Progreso – Yucatán Destination Mérida and Uxmal about 36 km from Mérida

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional de Mérida (MID) Mérida · 45 km
Terminal de Autobuses de Progreso 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Mérida it is about 35 km, half an hour by car on the highway, with frequent buses from the Progreso bus station in central Mérida.

How many days

A day trip from Mérida, to the beach, the malecón and Xcambó.

When to go

From March to August the sea is usually calmer and warmer. On weekends and during the July and August holidays the town fills with families from Mérida. From November to February cold fronts with north winds can arrive.

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

Do you need a car?

Not for the beach and the malecón, which are explored on foot. For Xcambó and the beaches to the east, a car or a taxi is helpful.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Progreso

Morning
Progreso beach
Start with the beach in front of the malecón, with shallow, calm water, good for swimming.
Afternoon
Xcambó
In the afternoon, go to Xcambó, a small Maya site among salt flats, about 30 km to the east.
Late afternoon
Malecón
In the late afternoon, walk along the malecón and see the pier that extends into the sea.
Evening
Seafood
Dine at one of the restaurants on the malecón, with ceviche, fried fish and shrimp, and return to Mérida.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is Progreso the closest beach to Mérida?

Yes, about 35 km to the north, half an hour by car.

What is the sea like in Progreso?

Shallow, calm and green in color, typical of the Gulf of Mexico, different from the blue of the Caribbean.

What is there to see near Progreso?

The malecón, the pier and, to the east, the Maya site of Xcambó and beach villages like Chicxulub and Telchac.

Does Progreso receive cruise ships?

Yes. Ships berth at the end of the long pier of the port.

Back to Progreso