General Information
Telephone Code: 999
Time: Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Time (UTC)
City Website: Mérida.gob.mx
Altitude: 10 m (33 ft)
Population: (2005) 734,153. 12th most populous Mexican city
Sister City: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Economy: Tourism, agriculture, fishing, commerce, construction, and assembly plants, with exports including honey, sisal rope, petroleum products, hammocks, fine jewelry, boats, handcrafts and clothing.
When to Go
Climate: Hot and humid with a rainy season from June through October. May is the hottest month. Average temperature: January: Low: 17 Celsius/64 Fahrenheit; High: 28 Celsius/84 Fahrenheit. July: Low 22 Celsius/73 Fahrenheit. High: 33 Celsius/93 Fahrenheit.
Holidays
January 6: Mérida's birthday
November 1 and 2: Hanal Pixan, Mayan Day of the Dead
Carnival: January or February
Yucatán Bird Festival: Fall months. www.Yucatánbirds.org.mx
Los Gremios: In September and October the statue of Christ of the Blisters is carried daily from the cathedral and through the streets.
Getting to and away
By Airplane: Manuel Crescencio Rejón Mérida International Airport (MID), which is served by Aeromexico, American Airlines, Aviacsa, Click, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Martinair Holland, Northwest/KLM, and United Airlines. +52 (999) 946-1530.
By Car:
North: Federal Highway 261 between Mérida and Progreso (33 km/22 miles, one half hour)
South: Federal Highway 180 between Mérida and Campeche (185 km/115 miles, 2 hours), leading to Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla and Mexico City
East: Federal Highway 180 between Mérida, Chichén Itzá (130 km/80 miles, 2 hours) Valladolid (180 km/110 miles, 2 1/2 hours) and Cancún (340 km/210 miles, 4 hours). The Mérida-Cancún toll road (cuota) is a faster but more expensive option than the two-lane highway that snakes through picturesque villages. Toll road Prices: Mérida-Chichén Itzá: MX$71/US$7. Mérida-Valladolid: MX$124/US$12. Mérida-Cancún: MX$338/US$34
Southwest: Mundo Maya Highway between Mérida, Teabo, Peto, Yucatán; Felipe Carrillo Puerto, and Chetumal, Quintana Roo (370 km/230 miles, 6 hours) Northwest: Federal Highway 176 between Mérida and Tizimín (185 km/112 miles, 2 1/2 hours)
By Bus: The most convenient source of information about all 1st class and some 2nd class buses is www.ticketbus.com.mx. Tickets can be purchased online by credit card. Credit cards can also be used at Mérida's first class CAME station, but not at the TAME or other 2nd class stations. Buses from a variety of lines depart from and arrive at multiple stations so be sure you know which one you need.
First Class CAME Station Address: Calle 70 No. 555, between Calles 69 and 71, Col. Centro Tel: +52 (999) 924-8391 Toll-free (within Mexico): 01 (800) 702-8000 Web: www.ado.com.mx Bus Lines: ADO, GL, UNO (+52 (999) 928-6230)
Destinations:
Yucatán: Valladolid, Chichén Itzá (6:30 and 9:15 am, 12:40 pm; about 2 hours, MX$100/US$10)
Quintana Roo: Tulum, Chetumal, Cancún (many, 2:00 am to 12:00 midnight, about 4 hours, MX$268-364/US$27-36); Playa del Carmen (many, 2:00 am to 12:00 midnight, about 5 hours, MX$300-430/US$30-43)
Campeche: Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche (many, 1:35 am to 12:00 midnight, about 2 hours, MX$144-170/US$14-17)
Tabasco: Villahermosa (many, 12:10 am to 10:25 pm, about 8 hours, MX$446-684/US$45-68)
Chiapas: San Cristobal, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Palenque (8:30 am, 7:15, 10:00 and 11:50pm, 7-9 hours, MX$382/US$38)
National: Puebla, Veracruz, Mexico City (10:01 am, 2:00, 5:30, 7:16 and 9:15 pm, about 20 hours, MX$1,128-1,338/US$113-134)
Second Class TAME Station: Address: Calle 69 No. 554, between Calles 68 and 70, Col. Centro Tel: +52 (999) 920-4444, 924-8391 Lines: Ruta Puuc bus - Autotransporte del Sur (ATS): daily round trip service to Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, Labná, and Uxmal. MX$141/US$14. Departs: 8:00am. Returns: 4:30pm ADO: Tel: +52 (999) 928-6230. Cancún, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá, Playa del Carmen, Cobá and Tulum. Web: www.ado.com.mx Lineas Unidas del Sur: Tel: +52 (999) 924-7865. Destinations: Maní, Oxkutzcab (about every hour, 2 hours, MX$40/US$4) Autobuses de Occidente Tel: +52 (999) 928-6230. Destinations: Tizimín, Celestún, Izamal (MX$20/US$2) Autobuses del Noreste: Tel: +52 (999) 924-6355. Destinations: Rio Lagartos, San Felipe
Economic Class: Address: Calle 69 No. 544, between Calles 68 and 70. Tel: +52 (999) 923-2287 Destinations: Ticúl, Uxmal, Umán, Escárcega and other destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Progreso and Dzibilchaltun: Autotransportes Mérida-Progreso, Address: Calle 62 No. 524, between Calles 65 and 67, Colonia Centro Tel: +52 (999) 928-3965 Email:
autoprogro@hotmail.com Web: www.autoprogreso.com Destinations: Progreso, Dzibilchaltun ruins Departures: about every half hour. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. Friday to Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:30 pm Price: RT, MX$22/US$2.20. One-way, MX$13/US$1.30 Additional Information: also offers guided tours of regional sites
Hotel Fiesta Americana (Plaza Bonita) Station Address: Calle 60 at Avenida Colón, Paseo de Montejo (Hotel Zone) Tel: +52 (999) 920-5523 Web: www.ado.com.mx Lines: Super Expresso, ADO-GL, Uno. Destinations: nonstop service to Cancún and Playa del Carmen
Getting around
Local transportation
Walking: Even numbered streets run north/south and odd numbered streets run east/west. Free walking tour of Main Square: Monday to Saturday, 9:30 am. About 1 hour, 45 minutes. Meet at Palacio Municipal. Tel: +52 (999) 942-0000, ext. 80119. Includes City Hall, Main Square, Montejo's House, Peninsular Athenaeum/MACAY, Government Palace, Saint Ildephonse Cathedral, Revolution Passage, City Museum
Bicycle: Bici-Ruta, streets closed on Sundays from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm between La Hermita de Santa Isabel to the Monument of the Flag on Paseo de Montejo, including Calle 60 in the Historic Center. Rent bikes at the Palacio Municipal for MX$10/US$1 per hour.
Buses: MX$6/US$.60 per trip. Cash only. Major hubs are at the corner of Calles 59 and 58, also at Parque San Juan. Signs with the route's destinations are displayed in the front window. Four bus companies: Unión de Camioneros de Yucatán (UCY), Alianza de Camioneros de Yucatán (ACY), Rápidos de Mérida, and Minis 2000. City Bus Tour: Two-hour guided tour in Spanish and English. Departs corner of Calles 55 and 60. Price: MX$750/US$7.50. Departs 10:00 am and 1:00, 4:00 and 7:00 pm.
Taxis: Taximetro: Tel: +52 (999) 982-7575. Taximetro vehicles use meters. Others do not, so negotiate the price before entering the taxi. White taxis at stands cost a little more than the various colored ones driving around. Taxi from airport: MX$155/US$15 to Historic Center. Exit terminal and walk left to the taxi stand. Pay at the window and get a receipt. The driver comes and gets you and takes you to the taxi. 15 minutes to Historic Center. MX$200/US$20 or more to more distant locations. Taxis within Historic Center: MX$40/US$4 flat rate.
Car and Driver Hire: Driver Roberto Lara: cell, +52 (999) 960-1746. Local and daylong trips to regional sights.
Shared vans: Colectivos, or combis, are mini-vans that travel a particular route, transporting passengers for a few pesos. The final destination should be on a sign in the front window, or wave one down and ask where it's headed. Major hubs are at the corner of Calles 59 and 58, also at Parque San Juan.
Car rental: Many agencies at the airport and in the Hotel Zone: Payless, Europcar, National, Alamo, Executive. Mexico Rent a Car: Calle 62 #483-A between Calles 57 and 59. Tel: +52 (999) 927-4916,
Email:
mexicorentacar@hotmail.com. Web:
http://www.mexicocar.net
Carriage: The horse-drawn carriages called calesas offer rides through the Historic Center and Paseo de Montejo. About MX$250/US$25 for one hour. Negotiate the price before climbing in. Parking: Street parking is limited in the Historic Center. Public paid lots are located off Calle 58 between Calles 53 and 55, and Calle 62 between Calles 59 and 61.
Safety Mérida's Historic Center and Paseo de Montejo are very safe neighborhoods to walk in. Violence against visitors is uncommon. Watch your wallet when visiting public markets and on local buses – there are pickpockets.
Tourist Police: +52 (999) 942-0060 or 930-3200, Ext. 40062. Look for their white and blue uniforms.
Police: +52 (999) 942-0060
Fire Department: +52 (999) 924-9242
Red Cross: +52 (999) 924-9813. Toll free number from Telcel mobile phones: 114
Green Angels (Road Service): +52 (999) 983-1184
Services
The best English language source of up-to-date local information is the magazine Yucatán Today, available at most hotels, travel agencies and tourism offices. Or, peruse their extremely helpful website at Yucatántoday.com.
The Yucatán state and the City of Mérida governments maintain conveniently located tourism offices in the Historic Center. Free maps and brochures are available, along with information about attractions outside the city. The staff is eager to share its knowledge. All speak some English and a few can converse in other languages as well. Tourist information kiosks are maintained in other locations throughout the city, including Paseo de Montejo, Convention Center, City Museum and Peón Contreras Theater.
Tourism Offices
State Tourism Office: Palacio del Gobierno Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Address: First Floor, Corner of Calles 60 and 61. Historic Center Tel: (999) 930-3101, ext. 10001 Fax: (999) 930-3760, ext. 22042 Email: informacionalturista@Yucatán.gob.mx Website: www.Yucatán.travel
City Tourism Office: Palacio Municipal Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sunday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Address: Calle 62 between Calles 61 and 63 Historic Center Tel: +52 (999) 928-1966 Fax: Email: turismo@Mérida.gob.mx
Other City Tourism kiosks located at:
Paseo de Montejo: Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Address: Paseo de Montejo at Calle 33-A, Justo Sierra traffic circle
City Museum: Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Closed on Mondays. Address: Calle 56 529-A, between Calles 65 and 65-A. On Eulogio Rosado Park, Historic Center.
Jose Peon Contreras Theater: Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Address: Calle 60 at Calle 57. Tel: +52 (999) 924-9290. Email: informacionalturista@Yucatán.gob.mx
21st Century Convention Center: Address: Calle 60 Norte No. 299-E, Col. Revolucion. Tel: +52 (999) 942-1953. Email: convenciones@mayaYucatán.com.mx
Money
Banks: Many branches and ATMs. Banamex and Santander at corner of Calles 58 and 59, Historic Center. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Some branches open Saturdays.
Money Exchange: Centro Cambiario del Sureste Address: Calle 59 No. 509 Apt. 1, between Calles 60 and 62, Historic Center. Tel: +52 (999) 923-5046. Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Travelers' checks: accepted at some hotels, restaurants and shops, or cashed at banks and money exchanges with proper identification.
Communications
Post Office: Calle 53, between Calles52 and 54. Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Phone: Caseta Larga Distancia, across bus station at the corner of Calles 69 and 70. Hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Local, national and international calls. In the Main Square and on many street corners there are telephones that accept either coins or phone cards, which can be purchased at OXXO and other convenience stores.
Internet: Cibercafe Santa Lucia, Calle 62 No. 467, at the corner of Calle 55
Laundry
Lavanderia Industrial (Aquaclean). Calle 59 #527, between Calles 62 and 64. Tel: +52 (999) 928-8866. Laundry and dry cleaning
Lavanderia La Fe, Calle 64, between Calles 55 and 57. Same day service
Medical
Hospitals: Centro Médico de las Américas: Tel: +52 (999) 927-3199. Calle 54 No. 365, between Ave. Pérez Ponte and Calle 33A. Website: Centromedicodelasamericas.com.mx Clínica de Mérida: Tel: +52 (999) 920 0411, Av. Itzáes No. 242, Col. García Ginerés
Doctors: Dr. Pablo Ribas Wedge: +52 044 (999) 172-4772. Makes house calls. Dr. Fortuny: +52 (999) 923-2509. Calle 55 between Calles 60 and 62. Hours: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. No appointment needed.
Pharmacies: Yza Farmacia: Calle 63 between Calles 64 and 66. Tel: +52 (999) 926-6666. Open 24 hours. Delivery service
Dentists: Dr. Javier Cámara Patrón: +52 (999) 925-3399, Calle 17 #170 between Calles 8 and 10. Email:
drjaviercamara@hotmail.com. Website: Yucatán-dentist.com. Dr. Jesus Sanchez Ruz: Calle 53 between Calles 64 and 66. Tel: +52 (999) 924-9895
Consulates
Belgium, Belize, Cuba, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United States
United States of America consulate
Address: Calle 60 No. 338-K, Colonia Alcalá Martín Tel: From US: +52 (999) 942-5700 From within Mexico: (01)(999) 942-5700 From Mérida: 942-5700 Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 4:30. Visa appointments, Monday to Wednesday, 7:30 to 11:00 am Phone: +52 01 (900) 849-3737 Fax: from US: +52 (999) 942-5759. From within Mexico: (01) (999) 942-5759 Email:
Méridacons@state.gov Web: http://Mérida.usconsulate.gov/
Belize consulate
Address Calle 53 No. 498 A between 56 and 58 Centro Phone: +52 (999) 928-6152. USA: +52 (999) 942-5700. Fax: +52 (999) 928-3962 Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Email:
dutton@sureste.com Web:
http://www.embassyofbelize.org/
Mexican Immigration: Avenida Colon at Calle 8, Col. Garcia Gineres, +52 (999) 925-4553. Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Gas Station: Pemex stations located throughout the city, including in the Historic Center at Calle 59, No. 519, between Calles 60 and 62
Luggage Storage: On side of TAME bus station facing CAME on Calle 70, between Calles 69 and 71. Hours: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Pay by the hour: MX$5/US$0.50 to MX$12/US$1.20, depending on size of luggage.
General Information
Telephone Code: 999
Time: Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Time (UTC)
City Website: Mérida.gob.mx
Altitude: 10 m (33 ft)
Population: (2005) 734,153. 12th most populous Mexican city
Sister City: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Economy: Tourism, agriculture, fishing, commerce, construction, and assembly plants, with exports including honey, sisal rope, petroleum products, hammocks, fine jewelry, boats, handcrafts and clothing.
When to Go
Climate: Hot and humid with a rainy season from June through October. May is the hottest month. Average temperature: January: Low: 17 Celsius/64 Fahrenheit; High: 28 Celsius/84 Fahrenheit. July: Low 22 Celsius/73 Fahrenheit. High: 33 Celsius/93 Fahrenheit.
Holidays
January 6: Mérida's birthday
November 1 and 2: Hanal Pixan, Mayan Day of the Dead
Carnival: January or February
Yucatán Bird Festival: Fall months. www.Yucatánbirds.org.mx
Los Gremios: In September and October the statue of Christ of the Blisters is carried daily from the cathedral and through the streets.
Getting to and away
By Airplane: Manuel Crescencio Rejón Mérida International Airport (MID), which is served by Aeromexico, American Airlines, Aviacsa, Click, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Martinair Holland, Northwest/KLM, and United Airlines. +52 (999) 946-1530.
By Car:
North: Federal Highway 261 between Mérida and Progreso (33 km/22 miles, one half hour)
South: Federal Highway 180 between Mérida and Campeche (185 km/115 miles, 2 hours), leading to Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla and Mexico City
East: Federal Highway 180 between Mérida, Chichén Itzá (130 km/80 miles, 2 hours) Valladolid (180 km/110 miles, 2 1/2 hours) and Cancún (340 km/210 miles, 4 hours). The Mérida-Cancún toll road (cuota) is a faster but more expensive option than the two-lane highway that snakes through picturesque villages. Toll road Prices: Mérida-Chichén Itzá: MX$71/US$7. Mérida-Valladolid: MX$124/US$12. Mérida-Cancún: MX$338/US$34
Southwest: Mundo Maya Highway between Mérida, Teabo, Peto, Yucatán; Felipe Carrillo Puerto, and Chetumal, Quintana Roo (370 km/230 miles, 6 hours) Northwest: Federal Highway 176 between Mérida and Tizimín (185 km/112 miles, 2 1/2 hours)
By Bus: The most convenient source of information about all 1st class and some 2nd class buses is www.ticketbus.com.mx. Tickets can be purchased online by credit card. Credit cards can also be used at Mérida's first class CAME station, but not at the TAME or other 2nd class stations. Buses from a variety of lines depart from and arrive at multiple stations so be sure you know which one you need.
First Class CAME Station Address: Calle 70 No. 555, between Calles 69 and 71, Col. Centro Tel: +52 (999) 924-8391 Toll-free (within Mexico): 01 (800) 702-8000 Web: www.ado.com.mx Bus Lines: ADO, GL, UNO (+52 (999) 928-6230)
Destinations:
Yucatán: Valladolid, Chichén Itzá (6:30 and 9:15 am, 12:40 pm; about 2 hours, MX$100/US$10)
Quintana Roo: Tulum, Chetumal, Cancún (many, 2:00 am to 12:00 midnight, about 4 hours, MX$268-364/US$27-36); Playa del Carmen (many, 2:00 am to 12:00 midnight, about 5 hours, MX$300-430/US$30-43)
Campeche: Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche (many, 1:35 am to 12:00 midnight, about 2 hours, MX$144-170/US$14-17)
Tabasco: Villahermosa (many, 12:10 am to 10:25 pm, about 8 hours, MX$446-684/US$45-68)
Chiapas: San Cristobal, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Palenque (8:30 am, 7:15, 10:00 and 11:50pm, 7-9 hours, MX$382/US$38)
National: Puebla, Veracruz, Mexico City (10:01 am, 2:00, 5:30, 7:16 and 9:15 pm, about 20 hours, MX$1,128-1,338/US$113-134)
Second Class TAME Station: Address: Calle 69 No. 554, between Calles 68 and 70, Col. Centro Tel: +52 (999) 920-4444, 924-8391 Lines: Ruta Puuc bus - Autotransporte del Sur (ATS): daily round trip service to Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, Labná, and Uxmal. MX$141/US$14. Departs: 8:00am. Returns: 4:30pm ADO: Tel: +52 (999) 928-6230. Cancún, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá, Playa del Carmen, Cobá and Tulum. Web: www.ado.com.mx Lineas Unidas del Sur: Tel: +52 (999) 924-7865. Destinations: Maní, Oxkutzcab (about every hour, 2 hours, MX$40/US$4) Autobuses de Occidente Tel: +52 (999) 928-6230. Destinations: Tizimín, Celestún, Izamal (MX$20/US$2) Autobuses del Noreste: Tel: +52 (999) 924-6355. Destinations: Rio Lagartos, San Felipe
Economic Class: Address: Calle 69 No. 544, between Calles 68 and 70. Tel: +52 (999) 923-2287 Destinations: Ticúl, Uxmal, Umán, Escárcega and other destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Progreso and Dzibilchaltun: Autotransportes Mérida-Progreso, Address: Calle 62 No. 524, between Calles 65 and 67, Colonia Centro Tel: +52 (999) 928-3965 Email:
autoprogro@hotmail.com Web: www.autoprogreso.com Destinations: Progreso, Dzibilchaltun ruins Departures: about every half hour. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. Friday to Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:30 pm Price: RT, MX$22/US$2.20. One-way, MX$13/US$1.30 Additional Information: also offers guided tours of regional sites
Hotel Fiesta Americana (Plaza Bonita) Station Address: Calle 60 at Avenida Colón, Paseo de Montejo (Hotel Zone) Tel: +52 (999) 920-5523 Web: www.ado.com.mx Lines: Super Expresso, ADO-GL, Uno. Destinations: nonstop service to Cancún and Playa del Carmen
Getting around
Local transportation
Walking: Even numbered streets run north/south and odd numbered streets run east/west. Free walking tour of Main Square: Monday to Saturday, 9:30 am. About 1 hour, 45 minutes. Meet at Palacio Municipal. Tel: +52 (999) 942-0000, ext. 80119. Includes City Hall, Main Square, Montejo's House, Peninsular Athenaeum/MACAY, Government Palace, Saint Ildephonse Cathedral, Revolution Passage, City Museum
Bicycle: Bici-Ruta, streets closed on Sundays from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm between La Hermita de Santa Isabel to the Monument of the Flag on Paseo de Montejo, including Calle 60 in the Historic Center. Rent bikes at the Palacio Municipal for MX$10/US$1 per hour.
Buses: MX$6/US$.60 per trip. Cash only. Major hubs are at the corner of Calles 59 and 58, also at Parque San Juan. Signs with the route's destinations are displayed in the front window. Four bus companies: Unión de Camioneros de Yucatán (UCY), Alianza de Camioneros de Yucatán (ACY), Rápidos de Mérida, and Minis 2000. City Bus Tour: Two-hour guided tour in Spanish and English. Departs corner of Calles 55 and 60. Price: MX$750/US$7.50. Departs 10:00 am and 1:00, 4:00 and 7:00 pm.
Taxis: Taximetro: Tel: +52 (999) 982-7575. Taximetro vehicles use meters. Others do not, so negotiate the price before entering the taxi. White taxis at stands cost a little more than the various colored ones driving around. Taxi from airport: MX$155/US$15 to Historic Center. Exit terminal and walk left to the taxi stand. Pay at the window and get a receipt. The driver comes and gets you and takes you to the taxi. 15 minutes to Historic Center. MX$200/US$20 or more to more distant locations. Taxis within Historic Center: MX$40/US$4 flat rate.
Car and Driver Hire: Driver Roberto Lara: cell, +52 (999) 960-1746. Local and daylong trips to regional sights.
Shared vans: Colectivos, or combis, are mini-vans that travel a particular route, transporting passengers for a few pesos. The final destination should be on a sign in the front window, or wave one down and ask where it's headed. Major hubs are at the corner of Calles 59 and 58, also at Parque San Juan.
Car rental: Many agencies at the airport and in the Hotel Zone: Payless, Europcar, National, Alamo, Executive. Mexico Rent a Car: Calle 62 #483-A between Calles 57 and 59. Tel: +52 (999) 927-4916,
Email:
mexicorentacar@hotmail.com. Web:
http://www.mexicocar.net
Carriage: The horse-drawn carriages called calesas offer rides through the Historic Center and Paseo de Montejo. About MX$250/US$25 for one hour. Negotiate the price before climbing in. Parking: Street parking is limited in the Historic Center. Public paid lots are located off Calle 58 between Calles 53 and 55, and Calle 62 between Calles 59 and 61.
Safety Mérida's Historic Center and Paseo de Montejo are very safe neighborhoods to walk in. Violence against visitors is uncommon. Watch your wallet when visiting public markets and on local buses – there are pickpockets.
Tourist Police: +52 (999) 942-0060 or 930-3200, Ext. 40062. Look for their white and blue uniforms.
Police: +52 (999) 942-0060
Fire Department: +52 (999) 924-9242
Red Cross: +52 (999) 924-9813. Toll free number from Telcel mobile phones: 114
Green Angels (Road Service): +52 (999) 983-1184
Services
The best English language source of up-to-date local information is the magazine Yucatán Today, available at most hotels, travel agencies and tourism offices. Or, peruse their extremely helpful website at Yucatántoday.com.
The Yucatán state and the City of Mérida governments maintain conveniently located tourism offices in the Historic Center. Free maps and brochures are available, along with information about attractions outside the city. The staff is eager to share its knowledge. All speak some English and a few can converse in other languages as well. Tourist information kiosks are maintained in other locations throughout the city, including Paseo de Montejo, Convention Center, City Museum and Peón Contreras Theater.
Tourism Offices
State Tourism Office: Palacio del Gobierno Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Address: First Floor, Corner of Calles 60 and 61. Historic Center Tel: (999) 930-3101, ext. 10001 Fax: (999) 930-3760, ext. 22042 Email: informacionalturista@Yucatán.gob.mx Website: www.Yucatán.travel
City Tourism Office: Palacio Municipal Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sunday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Address: Calle 62 between Calles 61 and 63 Historic Center Tel: +52 (999) 928-1966 Fax: Email: turismo@Mérida.gob.mx
Other City Tourism kiosks located at:
Paseo de Montejo: Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Address: Paseo de Montejo at Calle 33-A, Justo Sierra traffic circle
City Museum: Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Closed on Mondays. Address: Calle 56 529-A, between Calles 65 and 65-A. On Eulogio Rosado Park, Historic Center.
Jose Peon Contreras Theater: Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Address: Calle 60 at Calle 57. Tel: +52 (999) 924-9290. Email: informacionalturista@Yucatán.gob.mx
21st Century Convention Center: Address: Calle 60 Norte No. 299-E, Col. Revolucion. Tel: +52 (999) 942-1953. Email: convenciones@mayaYucatán.com.mx
Money
Banks: Many branches and ATMs. Banamex and Santander at corner of Calles 58 and 59, Historic Center. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Some branches open Saturdays.
Money Exchange: Centro Cambiario del Sureste Address: Calle 59 No. 509 Apt. 1, between Calles 60 and 62, Historic Center. Tel: +52 (999) 923-5046. Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Travelers' checks: accepted at some hotels, restaurants and shops, or cashed at banks and money exchanges with proper identification.
Communications
Post Office: Calle 53, between Calles52 and 54. Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Phone: Caseta Larga Distancia, across bus station at the corner of Calles 69 and 70. Hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Local, national and international calls. In the Main Square and on many street corners there are telephones that accept either coins or phone cards, which can be purchased at OXXO and other convenience stores.
Internet: Cibercafe Santa Lucia, Calle 62 No. 467, at the corner of Calle 55
Laundry
Lavanderia Industrial (Aquaclean). Calle 59 #527, between Calles 62 and 64. Tel: +52 (999) 928-8866. Laundry and dry cleaning
Lavanderia La Fe, Calle 64, between Calles 55 and 57. Same day service
Medical
Hospitals: Centro Médico de las Américas: Tel: +52 (999) 927-3199. Calle 54 No. 365, between Ave. Pérez Ponte and Calle 33A. Website: Centromedicodelasamericas.com.mx Clínica de Mérida: Tel: +52 (999) 920 0411, Av. Itzáes No. 242, Col. García Ginerés
Doctors: Dr. Pablo Ribas Wedge: +52 044 (999) 172-4772. Makes house calls. Dr. Fortuny: +52 (999) 923-2509. Calle 55 between Calles 60 and 62. Hours: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. No appointment needed.
Pharmacies: Yza Farmacia: Calle 63 between Calles 64 and 66. Tel: +52 (999) 926-6666. Open 24 hours. Delivery service
Dentists: Dr. Javier Cámara Patrón: +52 (999) 925-3399, Calle 17 #170 between Calles 8 and 10. Email:
drjaviercamara@hotmail.com. Website: Yucatán-dentist.com. Dr. Jesus Sanchez Ruz: Calle 53 between Calles 64 and 66. Tel: +52 (999) 924-9895
Consulates
Belgium, Belize, Cuba, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United States
United States of America consulate
Address: Calle 60 No. 338-K, Colonia Alcalá Martín Tel: From US: +52 (999) 942-5700 From within Mexico: (01)(999) 942-5700 From Mérida: 942-5700 Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 4:30. Visa appointments, Monday to Wednesday, 7:30 to 11:00 am Phone: +52 01 (900) 849-3737 Fax: from US: +52 (999) 942-5759. From within Mexico: (01) (999) 942-5759 Email:
Méridacons@state.gov Web: http://Mérida.usconsulate.gov/
Belize consulate
Address Calle 53 No. 498 A between 56 and 58 Centro Phone: +52 (999) 928-6152. USA: +52 (999) 942-5700. Fax: +52 (999) 928-3962 Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Email:
dutton@sureste.com Web:
http://www.embassyofbelize.org/
Mexican Immigration: Avenida Colon at Calle 8, Col. Garcia Gineres, +52 (999) 925-4553. Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Gas Station: Pemex stations located throughout the city, including in the Historic Center at Calle 59, No. 519, between Calles 60 and 62
Luggage Storage: On side of TAME bus station facing CAME on Calle 70, between Calles 69 and 71. Hours: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Pay by the hour: MX$5/US$0.50 to MX$12/US$1.20, depending on size of luggage.
©
NileGuide
more transportation
Frommer's
Planning a Trip
Getting There & Departing
By Plane -- AeroMéxico (tel. 01-800/021-4000 in Mexico, or 999/927-9277; www.aeromexico.com) flies nonstop to and from Miami and Mexico City. Mexicana (tel. 01-800/502-2000 in Mexico, or 999/924-6633; www.mexicana.com.mx) has nonstop service to and from Mexico City. Continental (tel. 999/946-1888, -1900; www.continental.com) has nonstop service to and from Houston. Click, a Mexican budget airline and part of Mexicana (www.click.com.mx), provides nonstop service to and from Mexico City and Veracruz. Aviacsa (tel. 01-800/006-2000 in Mexico; www.aviacsa.com) provides nonstop service to and from Villahermosa and Mexico City. Aerolitoral (tel. 01-800/800-2674 in Mexico; www.aerolitoral.com) flies to and from Mexico City and Villahermosa. Volaris (tel. 01-800/786-5274 in Mexico; www.volaris.com.mx) is a discount domestic air carrier that flies to and from Toluca.
By Car -- Hwy. 180 is the old carretera federal (federal highway) between Mérida and Cancún. The trip takes 6 hours, and the road is in good shape; you will pass through many Maya villages. A four-lane divided cuota, or autopista (toll road) parallels Hwy. 180 and begins at the town of Kantunil, 56km (35 miles) east of Mérida. By avoiding the tiny villages and their not-so-tiny speed bumps, the autopista cuts 2 hours from the journey between Mérida and Cancún; one-way tolls cost 320 pesos. Coming from the direction of Cancún, Hwy. 180 enters Mérida by feeding into Calle 65, which passes 1 block south of the main square.
Coming from the south (Campeche or Uxmal), you will enter the city on Avenida Itzáes. To get to the town center, turn right on Calle 59 (the first street after the zoo).
A periférico (loop road) encircles Mérida, making it possible to skirt the city. Directional signs into the city are generally good, but going around the city on the loop requires vigilance.
By Bus -- There are five bus stations in Mérida, two of which offer first-class buses; the other three provide local service to nearby destinations. The larger of the first-class stations, CAME, is on Calle 70, between calles 69 and 71. The ADO bus line and its affiliates operate the station. When you get there, you'll see a row of ticket windows; all but the last couple to the right sell first-class tickets. The last two windows sell tickets for ADO's deluxe services, ADO-GL and UNO. The former is only slightly better than first class; the latter has superwide, roomy seats. Unless it's a long trip, I generally choose the bus that has the most convenient departure time. Tickets can be purchased in advance; just ask the ticket agent for the different options and departure times for the route you need.
The other first-class station is the small Maya K'iin used by the bus company Elite. It's at Calle 65 no. 548, between calles 68 and 70.
To and from Cancún: You can pick up a bus at the CAME (almost every hour) or through Elite (five per day). Both bus lines also pick up passengers at the Fiesta Americana Hotel, across from the Hyatt (12 per day). You can buy a ticket in the hotel's shopping arcade at the Ticket Bus agency or at the Elite ticket agency. Cancún is 4 hours away; a few buses stop in Valladolid. If you're downtown, you can purchase tickets from the agency in Pasaje Picheta, on the main square a couple of doors down from the Palacio de Gobierno.
To and from Chichén Itzá: Three buses per day (2 1/2-hr. trip) depart from the CAME. Also check out tours operating from the hotels in Mérida if you want to visit for the day.
To and from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal: From the CAME, there are 10 departures per day for Playa del Carmen (5-hr. trip), six for Tulum (6-hr. trip), and eight for Chetumal (7-hr. trip). From Maya K'iin, there are three per day to Playa, which stop at the Fiesta Americana.
To and from Campeche: From the CAME station, there are 36 departures per day. Elite has four departures per day. It's a 2 1/2-hour trip.
To and from Palenque and San Cristóbal de las Casas: There is service to San Cristóbal twice daily from the CAME, and once daily on Elite. To Palenque there are three and one, respectively. There have been reports of minor theft on buses to Palenque. You should do three things: Don't take second-class buses to this destination; check your luggage so that it's stowed in the cargo bay; and put your carry-on in the overhead rack, not on the floor.
The main second-class bus station is around the corner from the CAME on Calle 69, between calles 68 and 70.
To and from Uxmal: There are four buses per day. (You can also hook up with a tour to Uxmal through most hotels or any travel agent or tour operator in town.) One bus per day combines Uxmal with the other sites to the south (Kabah, Sayil, Labná, and Xlapak -- known as the Puuc route) and does the whole round-trip in a day. It stops for 2 hours at Uxmal and 30 minutes at each of the other sites.
To and from Progreso and Dzibilchaltún: Transportes AutoProgreso offers service to and from its station at Calle 62 no. 524, between calles 65 and 67. The trip to Progreso takes an hour by second-class bus.
To and from Celestún: The Celestún station is at Calle 50 between calles 65 and 67. The trip takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on how often the bus stops. There are 10 buses per day.
To and from Izamal: The bus station is at the corner of Calle 65 and Calle 48. Departures are every half-hour. The trip takes 1 1/2 hours.
Arriving by Plane
Mérida's airport is 13km (8 miles) from the city center on the southwestern outskirts of town, near the entrance to Hwy. 180. The airport has desks for rental cars, hotel reservations, and tourist information. Taxi tickets to town (16 pesos) are sold outside the airport doors, under the covered walkway.
Visitor Information
The city tourism offices and state tourism offices have different resources; if you can't get the information you're looking for at one, go to the other. I have better luck with the city's visitor information office (tel. 999/942-0000, ext. 80119), which is on the ground floor of the Ayuntamiento building, facing the main square on Calle 62. Look for a glass door under the arcade. Hours are Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and Sunday from 8am to 2pm. Monday through Saturday, at 9:30am, the staff offers visitors a free tour of the area around the main square. The state operates two downtown tourism offices: One is in the Teatro Peón Contreras, facing Parque de la Madre (tel. 999/924-9290), and the other is on the main plaza, in the Palacio de Gobierno, immediately to the left as you enter. These offices are open daily from 8am to 9pm. There are also information booths at the airport and the CAME bus station.
Also keep your eye out for the free monthly magazine Yucatán Today; it's a good source of information for Mérida and the rest of the region.
City Layout
Downtown Mérida has the standard layout of towns in the Yucatán: Streets running north-south are even numbers; those running east-west are odd numbers. The numbering begins on the north and the east sides of town, so if you're walking on an odd-numbered street and the even numbers of the cross-streets are increasing, then you are heading west; likewise, if you are on an even-numbered street and the odd numbers of the cross-streets are increasing, you are going south.
Address numbers don't tell you anything about what cross-street to look for. This is why addresses almost always list cross-streets, usually like this: "Calle 60 no. 549 x 71 y 73." The "x" is a multiplication sign -- shorthand for the word por (meaning "by") -- and y means "and." So this place would be on Calle 60 between calles 71 and 73. Outside of the downtown area, the numbering of streets gets a little crazy, so it's important to know the name of the neighborhood (colonia) where you're going. This is the first thing taxi drivers will ask you.
The town's main square is the busy Plaza Mayor, known as El Centro. It's bordered by calles 60, 62, 61, and 63. Calle 60, which runs in front of the cathedral, is an important street to remember; it connects the main square with several smaller plazas, some theaters and churches, and the University of Yucatán, just to the north. Here you'll find a concentration of handicraft shops, restaurants, and hotels. Around Plaza Mayor are the cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno (state government building), the Ayuntamiento (town hall), and the Palacio Montejo. The plaza always has a crowd, and it's full on Sunday, when it holds a large street fair. Within a few blocks are several smaller plazas and the bustling market district.
Mérida's most fashionable district is the broad, tree-lined boulevard Paseo de Montejo and its surrounding neighborhood. The Paseo de Montejo parallels Calle 60 and begins 7 blocks north and a little east of the main square. There are a number of trendy restaurants, modern hotels, offices of various banks and airlines, and a few clubs here, but the boulevard is mostly known for its stately mansions built during the boom times of the henequén industry. Near where the Paseo intersects Avenida Colón, you'll find the Hyatt and the Fiesta Americana hotels.
Getting Around
By Car -- In general, reserve your car in advance from home to get the best weekly rates during high season (Nov-Feb); in low season, I usually do better renting a car once I get to Mérida. The local rental companies are competitive and have promotional deals that you can get only if you are there. When comparing, make sure that it's apples to apples; ask if the price quote includes the IVA tax and insurance coverage. Practically everybody offers free mileage. Rental cars are generally a little more expensive (unless you find a promotional rate) than similar rentals in the U.S. By renting for only a day or two, you can avoid the high cost of parking lots in Mérida. These estacionamentos charge one price for the night and double that if you leave your car for the following day. Many hotels offer free parking, but make sure they include daytime parking in the price.
By Taxi -- Taxis are easy to come by and much cheaper than in Cancún.
By Bus -- City buses are a little tricky to figure out but aren't needed very often because almost everything of interest is within walking distance of the main plaza. Still, it's a bit of a walk from the plaza to the Paseo de Montejo, and you can save yourself some work by taking a bus, minibus, or colectivo (Volkswagen minivan) that is heading north on Calle 60. Most of these will take you within a couple of blocks of the Paseo de Montejo. The colectivos or combis (usually painted white) run out in several directions from the main plaza along simple routes. They usually line up along the side streets next to the plaza.
Daily Festivals & Special Events in Mérida
Many Mexican cities offer weekend concerts in the park and such, but Mérida surpasses them all by offering performances every day of the week. Unless otherwise indicated, admission to the following is free.
Sunday -- Each Sunday from 9am to 9pm, there's a fair called Mérida en Domingo (Mérida on Sunday). The main plaza and a section of Calle 60 from El Centro to Parque Santa Lucía close to traffic. Parents come with their children to stroll around and take in the scene. There are booths selling food and drink, along with a lively little flea market and used-book fair, children's art classes, and educational booths. At 11am in front of the Palacio del Gobierno, musicians play everything from jazz to classical and folk music. Also at 11am, the police orchestra performs Yucatecan tunes at the Santa Lucía park. At 11:30am, you'll find bawdy comedy acts at the Parque Hidalgo, on Calle 60 at Calle 59. There's a lull in the midafternoon, and then the plaza fills up again as people walk around and visit with friends. Around 7pm in front of the Ayuntamiento, a large band starts playing mambos, rumbas, and cha-chas with great enthusiasm; you may see 1,000 people dancing in the street. Afterward, folk ballet dancers reenact a typical Yucatecan wedding inside.
Monday -- Every Monday at 9pm in front of the Palacio Municipal, performers play Vaquería regional, traditional music and dancing to celebrate the Vaquerías feast, which was associated originally with the branding of cattle on Yucatecan haciendas. Among the featured performers are dancers with trays of bottles or filled glasses balanced on their heads -- a sight to see.
Tuesday -- At 9pm in Parque Santiago, Calle 59 at Calle 72, the Municipal Orchestra plays Latin and American big-band music from the 1940s.
Wednesday -- At 9pm in the Teatro Peón Contreras, Calle 60 at Calle 57, the University of Yucatán Ballet Folklórico presents Yucatán and Its Roots. Admission is 50 pesos.
Thursday -- Yucatecan trova music (boleros, baladas) and dance are presented at the Serenata in Parque Santa Lucía at 9pm.
Friday -- At 9pm in the courtyard of the University of Yucatán, Calle 60 at Calle 57, the University of Yucatán Ballet Folklórico performs typical regional dances from the Yucatán.
Saturday -- Noche Mexicana, at the park at the beginning of Paseo de Montejo, begins at 9pm and features several performances of traditional Mexican music and dance. Some of the performers are amateurs who acquit themselves reasonably well; others are professionals who thoroughly know their craft. Food stands sell good antojitos (finger foods), as well as drinks and ice cream.
Planning a Trip
Getting There & Departing
By Plane -- AeroMéxico (tel. 01-800/021-4000 in Mexico, or 999/927-9277; www.aeromexico.com) flies nonstop to and from Miami and Mexico City. Mexicana (tel. 01-800/502-2000 in Mexico, or 999/924-6633; www.mexicana.com.mx) has nonstop service to and from Mexico City. Continental (tel. 999/946-1888, -1900; www.continental.com) has nonstop service to and from Houston. Click, a Mexican budget airline and part of Mexicana (www.click.com.mx), provides nonstop service to and from Mexico City and Veracruz. Aviacsa (tel. 01-800/006-2000 in Mexico; www.aviacsa.com) provides nonstop service to and from Villahermosa and Mexico City. Aerolitoral (tel. 01-800/800-2674 in Mexico; www.aerolitoral.com) flies to and from Mexico City and Villahermosa. Volaris (tel. 01-800/786-5274 in Mexico; www.volaris.com.mx) is a discount domestic air carrier that flies to and from Toluca.
By Car -- Hwy. 180 is the old carretera federal (federal highway) between Mérida and Cancún. The trip takes 6 hours, and the road is in good shape; you will pass through many Maya villages. A four-lane divided cuota, or autopista (toll road) parallels Hwy. 180 and begins at the town of Kantunil, 56km (35 miles) east of Mérida. By avoiding the tiny villages and their not-so-tiny speed bumps, the autopista cuts 2 hours from the journey between Mérida and Cancún; one-way tolls cost 320 pesos. Coming from the direction of Cancún, Hwy. 180 enters Mérida by feeding into Calle 65, which passes 1 block south of the main square.
Coming from the south (Campeche or Uxmal), you will enter the city on Avenida Itzáes. To get to the town center, turn right on Calle 59 (the first street after the zoo).
A periférico (loop road) encircles Mérida, making it possible to skirt the city. Directional signs into the city are generally good, but going around the city on the loop requires vigilance.
By Bus -- There are five bus stations in Mérida, two of which offer first-class buses; the other three provide local service to nearby destinations. The larger of the first-class stations, CAME, is on Calle 70, between calles 69 and 71. The ADO bus line and its affiliates operate the station. When you get there, you'll see a row of ticket windows; all but the last couple to the right sell first-class tickets. The last two windows sell tickets for ADO's deluxe services, ADO-GL and UNO. The former is only slightly better than first class; the latter has superwide, roomy seats. Unless it's a long trip, I generally choose the bus that has the most convenient departure time. Tickets can be purchased in advance; just ask the ticket agent for the different options and departure times for the route you need.
The other first-class station is the small Maya K'iin used by the bus company Elite. It's at Calle 65 no. 548, between calles 68 and 70.
To and from Cancún: You can pick up a bus at the CAME (almost every hour) or through Elite (five per day). Both bus lines also pick up passengers at the Fiesta Americana Hotel, across from the Hyatt (12 per day). You can buy a ticket in the hotel's shopping arcade at the Ticket Bus agency or at the Elite ticket agency. Cancún is 4 hours away; a few buses stop in Valladolid. If you're downtown, you can purchase tickets from the agency in Pasaje Picheta, on the main square a couple of doors down from the Palacio de Gobierno.
To and from Chichén Itzá: Three buses per day (2 1/2-hr. trip) depart from the CAME. Also check out tours operating from the hotels in Mérida if you want to visit for the day.
To and from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal: From the CAME, there are 10 departures per day for Playa del Carmen (5-hr. trip), six for Tulum (6-hr. trip), and eight for Chetumal (7-hr. trip). From Maya K'iin, there are three per day to Playa, which stop at the Fiesta Americana.
To and from Campeche: From the CAME station, there are 36 departures per day. Elite has four departures per day. It's a 2 1/2-hour trip.
To and from Palenque and San Cristóbal de las Casas: There is service to San Cristóbal twice daily from the CAME, and once daily on Elite. To Palenque there are three and one, respectively. There have been reports of minor theft on buses to Palenque. You should do three things: Don't take second-class buses to this destination; check your luggage so that it's stowed in the cargo bay; and put your carry-on in the overhead rack, not on the floor.
The main second-class bus station is around the corner from the CAME on Calle 69, between calles 68 and 70.
To and from Uxmal: There are four buses per day. (You can also hook up with a tour to Uxmal through most hotels or any travel agent or tour operator in town.) One bus per day combines Uxmal with the other sites to the south (Kabah, Sayil, Labná, and Xlapak -- known as the Puuc route) and does the whole round-trip in a day. It stops for 2 hours at Uxmal and 30 minutes at each of the other sites.
To and from Progreso and Dzibilchaltún: Transportes AutoProgreso offers service to and from its station at Calle 62 no. 524, between calles 65 and 67. The trip to Progreso takes an hour by second-class bus.
To and from Celestún: The Celestún station is at Calle 50 between calles 65 and 67. The trip takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on how often the bus stops. There are 10 buses per day.
To and from Izamal: The bus station is at the corner of Calle 65 and Calle 48. Departures are every half-hour. The trip takes 1 1/2 hours.
Arriving by Plane
Mérida's airport is 13km (8 miles) from the city center on the southwestern outskirts of town, near the entrance to Hwy. 180. The airport has desks for rental cars, hotel reservations, and tourist information. Taxi tickets to town (16 pesos) are sold outside the airport doors, under the covered walkway.
Visitor Information
The city tourism offices and state tourism offices have different resources; if you can't get the information you're looking for at one, go to the other. I have better luck with the city's visitor information office (tel. 999/942-0000, ext. 80119), which is on the ground floor of the Ayuntamiento building, facing the main square on Calle 62. Look for a glass door under the arcade. Hours are Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and Sunday from 8am to 2pm. Monday through Saturday, at 9:30am, the staff offers visitors a free tour of the area around the main square. The state operates two downtown tourism offices: One is in the Teatro Peón Contreras, facing Parque de la Madre (tel. 999/924-9290), and the other is on the main plaza, in the Palacio de Gobierno, immediately to the left as you enter. These offices are open daily from 8am to 9pm. There are also information booths at the airport and the CAME bus station.
Also keep your eye out for the free monthly magazine Yucatán Today; it's a good source of information for Mérida and the rest of the region.
City Layout
Downtown Mérida has the standard layout of towns in the Yucatán: Streets running north-south are even numbers; those running east-west are odd numbers. The numbering begins on the north and the east sides of town, so if you're walking on an odd-numbered street and the even numbers of the cross-streets are increasing, then you are heading west; likewise, if you are on an even-numbered street and the odd numbers of the cross-streets are increasing, you are going south.
Address numbers don't tell you anything about what cross-street to look for. This is why addresses almost always list cross-streets, usually like this: "Calle 60 no. 549 x 71 y 73." The "x" is a multiplication sign -- shorthand for the word por (meaning "by") -- and y means "and." So this place would be on Calle 60 between calles 71 and 73. Outside of the downtown area, the numbering of streets gets a little crazy, so it's important to know the name of the neighborhood (colonia) where you're going. This is the first thing taxi drivers will ask you.
The town's main square is the busy Plaza Mayor, known as El Centro. It's bordered by calles 60, 62, 61, and 63. Calle 60, which runs in front of the cathedral, is an important street to remember; it connects the main square with several smaller plazas, some theaters and churches, and the University of Yucatán, just to the north. Here you'll find a concentration of handicraft shops, restaurants, and hotels. Around Plaza Mayor are the cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno (state government building), the Ayuntamiento (town hall), and the Palacio Montejo. The plaza always has a crowd, and it's full on Sunday, when it holds a large street fair. Within a few blocks are several smaller plazas and the bustling market district.
Mérida's most fashionable district is the broad, tree-lined boulevard Paseo de Montejo and its surrounding neighborhood. The Paseo de Montejo parallels Calle 60 and begins 7 blocks north and a little east of the main square. There are a number of trendy restaurants, modern hotels, offices of various banks and airlines, and a few clubs here, but the boulevard is mostly known for its stately mansions built during the boom times of the henequén industry. Near where the Paseo intersects Avenida Colón, you'll find the Hyatt and the Fiesta Americana hotels.
Getting Around
By Car -- In general, reserve your car in advance from home to get the best weekly rates during high season (Nov-Feb); in low season, I usually do better renting a car once I get to Mérida. The local rental companies are competitive and have promotional deals that you can get only if you are there. When comparing, make sure that it's apples to apples; ask if the price quote includes the IVA tax and insurance coverage. Practically everybody offers free mileage. Rental cars are generally a little more expensive (unless you find a promotional rate) than similar rentals in the U.S. By renting for only a day or two, you can avoid the high cost of parking lots in Mérida. These estacionamentos charge one price for the night and double that if you leave your car for the following day. Many hotels offer free parking, but make sure they include daytime parking in the price.
By Taxi -- Taxis are easy to come by and much cheaper than in Cancún.
By Bus -- City buses are a little tricky to figure out but aren't needed very often because almost everything of interest is within walking distance of the main plaza. Still, it's a bit of a walk from the plaza to the Paseo de Montejo, and you can save yourself some work by taking a bus, minibus, or colectivo (Volkswagen minivan) that is heading north on Calle 60. Most of these will take you within a couple of blocks of the Paseo de Montejo. The colectivos or combis (usually painted white) run out in several directions from the main plaza along simple routes. They usually line up along the side streets next to the plaza.
Daily Festivals & Special Events in Mérida
Many Mexican cities offer weekend concerts in the park and such, but Mérida surpasses them all by offering performances every day of the week. Unless otherwise indicated, admission to the following is free.
Sunday -- Each Sunday from 9am to 9pm, there's a fair called Mérida en Domingo (Mérida on Sunday). The main plaza and a section of Calle 60 from El Centro to Parque Santa Lucía close to traffic. Parents come with their children to stroll around and take in the scene. There are booths selling food and drink, along with a lively little flea market and used-book fair, children's art classes, and educational booths. At 11am in front of the Palacio del Gobierno, musicians play everything from jazz to classical and folk music. Also at 11am, the police orchestra performs Yucatecan tunes at the Santa Lucía park. At 11:30am, you'll find bawdy comedy acts at the Parque Hidalgo, on Calle 60 at Calle 59. There's a lull in the midafternoon, and then the plaza fills up again as people walk around and visit with friends. Around 7pm in front of the Ayuntamiento, a large band starts playing mambos, rumbas, and cha-chas with great enthusiasm; you may see 1,000 people dancing in the street. Afterward, folk ballet dancers reenact a typical Yucatecan wedding inside.
Monday -- Every Monday at 9pm in front of the Palacio Municipal, performers play Vaquería regional, traditional music and dancing to celebrate the Vaquerías feast, which was associated originally with the branding of cattle on Yucatecan haciendas. Among the featured performers are dancers with trays of bottles or filled glasses balanced on their heads -- a sight to see.
Tuesday -- At 9pm in Parque Santiago, Calle 59 at Calle 72, the Municipal Orchestra plays Latin and American big-band music from the 1940s.
Wednesday -- At 9pm in the Teatro Peón Contreras, Calle 60 at Calle 57, the University of Yucatán Ballet Folklórico presents Yucatán and Its Roots. Admission is 50 pesos.
Thursday -- Yucatecan trova music (boleros, baladas) and dance are presented at the Serenata in Parque Santa Lucía at 9pm.
Friday -- At 9pm in the courtyard of the University of Yucatán, Calle 60 at Calle 57, the University of Yucatán Ballet Folklórico performs typical regional dances from the Yucatán.
Saturday -- Noche Mexicana, at the park at the beginning of Paseo de Montejo, begins at 9pm and features several performances of traditional Mexican music and dance. Some of the performers are amateurs who acquit themselves reasonably well; others are professionals who thoroughly know their craft. Food stands sell good antojitos (finger foods), as well as drinks and ice cream.
