Merida Sightseeing

Local Sights

Casa Montejo
Description Construction on this home of the founding fathers of Merida started in 1549. Excellent sample of Spanish Colonial Architecture.

Cathedral
Description Construction of this cathedral started in 1561. Famous for the murals depicting the meeting between Montejo and the Mayan King Tutl Xiu.

Governor's Palace
Description Murals depicting Mayan History.

La Ermita de Santa Isabela
Description Traveller's resting place with lovely gardens and statues situated just outside of the city wall.

Paseo de Montejo
Directions Paseo de Montejo Boulevard
Description Elegant boulevard fashioned after those found in Paris, France. Elegant homes, shops and quaint restaurants.

Regional Anthropology Museum
Description Houses some original stone carvings of nearby Mayan sights. Good place to obtain an overview of the Culture and its history.

Nearby Sights

Flamingos rising at Celestun

Celestún
Directions About 70 miles west of Merida on Highway 281.
Description A fishing village and bird sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico on the Western Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Plenty of flamingoes, herons and other tropical birds to delight the novice and seasoned birder.

Castillo from Warrior's Temple

Chichen-Itza
Directions About 70 miles east of Merida on road to Valladolid.
Description An extensive Mayan site covering two major periods of this fascinating culture. Famous structures include the Temple of Kukulkan and the Observatory.

Dzibilchaltún Mayan Ruins
Directions Eight miles north of Merida on the road to Progreso.
Description Evidence found thus far at this site suggests continuous presence for over 1,000 years. Most mounds remain uncovered. The Temple of the Seven Dolls is similar to the Castillo at Chichen Itza along the same axis that displays the descent of Kukulkán on the Spring and Fall equinoxes.

Hacienda Ochil
Directions About 45 miles south of Merida on the road to Campeche.
Description A reconstructed hacienda serving excellent meals. Convenient for visitors to Uxmal and other nearby Mayan ruins. Contains Museum of Yucatan Peninsula Haciendas and shops with local artisans working on different typical folk-art and clothing.

Komchen de los Pajaros

Komchén de los Pajaros
Visit their Website
Directions 35 Kms northeast of Merida - 50 Kms from Rio Lagartos
Description Komchén Bird Sanctuary is a private non-profit organization established in an Hacienda Henequenera in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, which provides facilities for the practice of ecoturism. Its mission is to sustainably develop and conserve a nature reserve and at the same time improve the living conditions of local people.

Labná Mayan Ruins
Directions South of Merida, past Uxmal Hwys 261, 184 and 31.
Description A small site with fine examples of the Classic Period. Its sacbé or ceremonial road is evident. El Palacio and El Mirador are other interesting structures.

Mayapan Mayan Ruins
Directions About 35 miles south of Merida off highway 18.
Description Once an important Mayan center with over 12,000 inhabitants, this off the beaten track site has smaller scale replicas of buildings in Chichen-Itza and is thought to have been active during the time of the Spanish Conquest.

Rio Lagartos
Directions Approximately 75 miles east to Tizimín and 25 miles north.
Description Declared a wildlife refuge in 1979, the Rio Lagartos Reserve covers over 100,000 acres of a wide variety of habitats including flamingoes, howler monkeys, crocodiles, jaguars, pheasants and white-tail deer.

Uxmal Mayan Ruins
Directions About 58 miles south of Merida on road to Campeche.
Description Classical Mayan site with impressive quadrangles hand carved icons of Kukulkan. The famous Temple of the Magician is said to have been built magically.