Excursions

Situated in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, the capital of Mérida is a charming colonial city with a population of just 1 million. It is known as the safest city in all of Latin America and home to some of the most impressive Maya ruins in the region.

Mérida is a city that has a rich history, dating back to 1542 when it was founded by the Montejos making it one of Mexico’s oldest cities. Stunning historical Spanish colonial architecture can be found throughout the city, and most of the local population are descended from the Mayans.

Surrounded by cenotes (sinkholes that contain freshwater lakes) and impressive Mayan archaeological sites, Merida has become a favourite destination for tourists and a fascinating place to explore.

During your stay in Mérida, time will be set aside every day to participate in local events, visit historical places of interest and dine in landmark restaurants.

Excursions

Situated in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, the capital of Merida is a charming colonial city with a population of just 1 million.  It is known as the safest city in all of Latin America and home to some of the most impressive Maya ruins in the region.

Merida is a city that has a rich history, dating back to 1542 when it was founded by the Montejos making it one of Mexico’s oldest cities. Stunning historical Spanish colonial architecture can be found throughout the city, and most of the local population are descended from the Mayans.

Surrounded by cenotes (sinkholes that contain freshwater lakes) and impressive Mayan archaeological sites, Merida has become a favourite destination for tourists and a fascinating place to explore.

During your stay in Merida, time will be set aside every day to participate in local events, visit historical places of interest and dine in landmark restaurants.

Biciruta de Mérida

The Biciruta de Mérida takes place on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., this activity takes place outdoors, it suspends the vehicular flow for the free circulation of non-motorized vehicles (bicycles, tricycles, skates among others…) being controlled by personnel from the Mérida City Council, who heads the event.

The Biciruta is a place of coexistence where you can find restaurants, snacks along the entire route, galleries, as well as emblematic buildings, and the most important roundabouts in Mérida Yucatán.

Throughout the tour you can find these places:

  • Monument to the Motherland
  • Justo Sierra Monument
  • Felipe Carrillo Puerto Monument
  • Museum of Anthropology
  • Twin Houses Museum
  • Monument to the Montejos
  • Paseo Montejo auction
  • Santa Lucia Park
  • Museum of Anthopology
  • Cathedral/Zocalo of Merida
  • San Juan Park
  • Park of the Hermitage of Santa Isabel

After lunch we will also pay visit to the Museum of Anthropology & History, a lavish historical mansion with exhibits that examine the region’s cultural heritage

Playa Puerto Progreso

Progreso is a port city on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It’s a common stop for cruise ships, which dock at its landmark long pier. An oceanfront promenade, the Malecón, is lined with beaches and thatch-roofed restaurants. The Faro de Puerto Progreso, built in 1893, is an active lighthouse. The city is a gateway to the inland Mayan archaeological sites of Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Dzibilchaltún.

The Malecón is set along the beach in Progreso. Seafront walkway dotted with food vendors selling snacks, fruit cocktails & handicrafts.

City Tour of Mérida

Walking Tour around Merida Centro
Learn all about the history of this ancient colonial city. On our tour we will visit the oldest house in Mérida built by the city founders in 1580 and San Ildefonso, one of the oldest cathedrals in Mexico, stroll through the Plaza Grande also known as Plaza de Armas. This city square contains some of the most historically significant and aesthetically pleasing buildings in Mérida.  The afternoon will also allow for some interesting shopping opportunities and the day will end dining on a roof-top restaurant overlooking the Plaza Grande and the surrounding historical architecture providing a memorable panoramic view.

Plaza Grande

Plaza Grande – Also known as Plaza de Armas, this city square contains some of the most historically significant and aesthetically pleasing buildings in Mérida.

Uxmal Mayan Heritage Tour

Uxmal (pronounced oosh-mal) is an ancient Mayan city on the Yucatán peninsula. It was one of the most important Mayan cities, inhabited between 600-900 AD by a population of around 20,000 Maya at its peak. It was abandoned in the 1500s after the Spanish conquest.

The name ‘Uxmal’ means ‘thrice-built’ in Mayan, in reference to the city’s main structure which was built on top of existing pyramids. The architecture and design of the site’s structures is known as the Puuc style, which is characterised by smooth walls, stucco finishing and numerous depictions of Chaac – the Mayan god of rain.

Also included in this tour will be a visit to a clay workshop to meet a local Mayan artist who makes dishes and pottery painted in the traditional methods.  Dinner will be at a traditional Yucetacan restaurant specializing in Cochinita pibil (pork seasoned with local ingredients and slow cooked overnight underground- super tasty!)

Celestun Ecological Biosphere

There’s a different form of a winter wonderland in Yucatan, Mexico, and it comes in pink. The Ecological Biosphere Reserve of Celestún, a natural wetland of mangroves, dunes and low rainforests which are home to a substantial natural heritage, particularly in terms of birds. In fact, the area is a resting place for a huge number of migrating species, including the beautiful pink flamingoes. Every year during the fall and winter seasons thousands of flamingos settle in this area and although there’s a permanent colony of these birds all year, it’s from late November to early March that the waters of the estuary are filled with eye-catching creatures.

The number of flamingos present varies from year to year, but some locals say they have seen up to 10,000 at a time. The reason behind this is that during the warmer months, they fly to an area in Yucatán called Río Lagartos to have their babies, and then travel back to Celestún during winter with their young. All year the younger ones stay in this paradise, making sure birdwatchers have their dose of pink.

We will also pay a visit to the beautiful “pink lakes” that produce the precious salt know as Fleur de Sel.  The lakes are “dyed” pink by a natural process: brine shrimp, plankton, and red algae live in the lakes, giving them their distinct pink color and give the local flamingos their pink color too as a result of eating the creatures they find swimming around in the lakes.

Hacienda Mucuyché 

The oldest record of the Mucuyché estate dates back to the 17th century when it belonged to Yucatan’s affluent merchants, the Peón family. Among the activities carried out were cattle raising, agriculture and the henequen plantation which relied on slavery for its operations. Henequen (also referred to at the time as “Green Gold”) is a strong fibre made from the leaves of the Agave plant that was in very high demand throughout the world during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The estate is almost in its original state and only a few restorations made. On the property, there are also 2 majestic cenotes connected by a channel with waterfalls. During our visit, you will learn about Mucuyché’s rich history and lucrative henequen trade that made the Yucatan, Mexico’s wealthiest province, and bathe in the healing, crystal blue waters of the cenotes,

Cenotes

Cenotes are fresh water sink holes and there are over 10,000 licenotes in the region of south Mexico. The word cenotes translates from the Mayan language as holes filled with water.  They are deep fresh water wells or sink holes which are fed by the filtration of rain and the currents of the rivers that are born in the heart of the earth and there are over 10,000 cenotes

 

Cenotes first originated when a large meteorite collided with planet Earth 66 million of years ago and the impact triggered a mass extinction that wiped out 75% of life on earth and resulted in the end of the dinosaur era.

Mineral rich and extremely rejuvenating to swim in, the magical cenotes are the considered the most beautiful jewels of the Yucatan peninsula.

Clay Works

Clay Works is a ceramic studio situated in the historical part of Merida. During this 3-hour workshop, you will learn the process of transforming clay as a stone and its grinding and mixing process with earth and water as well as techniques to build pieces with the detachment, intuition and rawness that working with Ticul clay gives us. (Ticul is the region in the Yucatan from where the clay comes). You will create 2 – 4 pieces to take back home with you.

 

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