Merida, the capital of Yucatan peninsula, is a gem definetely worth visiting if not even staying a bit longer. Nowhere in the world have we seen so many beautiful mansions and villas side by side on any street of the city. In Merida you are able to travel back in time!

Where to stay in Merida:

• I definetely recommend – choose a villa from Remixto selection and enjoy a life in luxury, but just like a local! We stayed in Villa Anais and absolutely loved the silence and calm that it offered to us in the center of this big city, we had colibris and iguanas visiting us, we had a lovely well-equipped kitchen and cooling pool!

Things to do in and around Merida:

• Visit a hacienda, or two, or three… Some of them are museums, some are hotels, some restaurants… We absolutely enjoyed the old sisal plantation of Sotuta de Peon, the beautiful luxury jungle hotel of San Jose, another beautiful luxury hotel of Xcanatun and the Yaxcopoil museum hacienda where it feels as if the time has stopped…
• Progreso beach with blue water (if seaweed is annoying to you it might be a slight problem) and delicious seafood, (try the Crabster)
• The pyramides. If you are anything like us and want to avoid the tourist traps, then instead of the most famous Chichen Itza, choose the second biggest, Uxmal instead. I am sure you´ll enjoy it even more!
• Visit the yellow city of Izamal, where all the houses are painted yellow and where you can find 5 big pyramides in the middle of the city.
• Swim in a cenote, or two, or three… We loved the ones we tries – a remote on in Paraiso papakal, where there was just us and the staff and another one in Sotuta de Peon.
• Stroll the colonial old streets of Merida and marvel the colourful houses
• Take a walk on the Paseo Montejo and visit the Montes Molina house museum, where you can take a look how the sisal-millionaires used to live!
• Stroll the center of Merida on Sunday for Merida en domingo – a day full of music, dancing, snacking etc
• Drive to the small seafront town of Celestun to spot the majestic pink flamingos
• Lucas de Galvez market is huuuuge! You can find everything from here, from the freshest seafood to the voodoo potions and beyond :).
• Muna mirador is a great stop on your way to Uxmal. A small town of Muna has a hill :), this is rare, as Yucatan is totally flat! And on top of this Muna hill, there is a mirador, where you are able to enjoy views all over the surrounding forests. Around the mirador there is a small botanical garden founded by an artist who lives and works on the hill. You can buy local art in a small boutique just next to the mirador.
• Small boutiques in Merida Santiago district, selling the most beautiful arts made by the local artists and craftsmen!

What to eat in Merida:

• Cocina economica – these are the small eateries all over the towns and villages, where local donas cook homely food! Expect good price/quality ratio!
• Panuchos are fried tortillas covered with lettuce, chicken, tomato, avocado, marinated onion. If made well, they are juicy and delicious! The best place to crab some panuchos is the litlle town of Kanasin next to Merida!
• Mr Pampas – it is not Mexican, but it is worth going for sure! It´s a Brazilian rodizio, where you can eat the best grilled meats and seafoods till you drop and it´ll not mean bankruptcy. 🙂
• Sopa de Lima is on local staple, a clear chicken soup seasoned woth lime juice and marinated onions!
• Cochinita pibil is another local staple, a slow cooked pork marinated with bright red achiote seeds.
• Churros do not originate from Yucatan, but they still taste heavenly! Freshly made, covered with cinnamon and sugar… mmmm
• Costillas are amazing in Yucatan, but be aware, the costilla places are opened only for lunch, never for dinner!
• Quesadillas are also not from Yucatan, but the children love them and they are great snack to accompany the cold Mexican beer.
• Mangos, soooo sweet, soooo juicy, the best we´ve ever had!
• Limonadas – every cafe and restaurant makes their own lemonade from fresh lime juice. Perfect almost every time 🙂
• Margaritas are THE drink to have in Mexico. Not too sweet, not too sour, not too strong! My favourite coctail! Try also with watermelon!
• Tequila and/or mezcal with sour orange and Tajin! Am I happy for this discovery, before our trip I thought that tequila has to be drinken woth lime and salt and I didn´t like it! But with a slice of bitter orange (substitute it with juice orange, if you don´t find the real one) covered with some spicy-sour Tajin mix it´s amazingly tasty!
• Pico de gallo (a refreshing salsa made of chopped tomatos, onions, coriander and lime juice) and guacamole (a creamy thick dipping sauce made of avocados, coriander, tomatos, onions and lime juice) with some crispy tortilla chips (totopos). It´s so full of flavour that it could substitute a light meal!
• Horchata (a cinnamon drink based on rice and almond milk), Jamaica (actually a hibiscus ice tea), Tamarindo (refreshing drink made of sour tamarind) are the three staple cooling drinks available everywhere in Yucatan. Try them all and find your favourite!
• Ceviche, a citrus marinated dish of the freshest fish and seafood. A definite MUST in Yucatan! If you want some luxury, then try the lobster ceviche!