When planning a visit to the Yucatán Penninsula, setting Mérida as your home base is the perfect way to see and do more. As the capital of Yucatán, and the largest city on the peninsula, the airport is convenient and the town is incredibly walkable. There are so many destinations within a few hours’ drive. We recently had the opportunity to visit the Yucatán (and Mérida) for the first time and found it to be a spectacular destination! That being said, while there is a lot to do in Mérida, there’s a lot to do nearby as well. Looking for a Mérida day trip? Here are 7 great options.
Note: a lot of these can be combined to make the most of your time. Actually, when booking tours (if you go that route) you can hit most of these spots in a few days!
Mérida Day Trip Idea #1: Las Coloradas
- Distance: 3 hours
- Admission: 250 pesos for Mexican Nationals, 300 pesos for foreigners, 330 pesos for foreigners (including a guide)
You may have seen these pink water photos flood your Instagram or Pinterest feed. “Las Coloradas” is actually a privately owned salt production facility. They export salt all over the world! The lake is pink due to a mix of red algae, plankton, and brine shrimp that live in the lakes. And yes, it’s actually just as pink in person!
Real talk: This spot is not ideal to get to, and is really far out of the way. You won’t need more than 30-40 minutes here as you can’t actually go in the water. I recommend booking this as part of a combined tour with the Río Lagartos which we’ll get to next. You can find the tour we booked here.
Mérida Day Trip Idea #2: Río Lagartos
- Distance: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Admission: Park entrance is 50 pesos, and the average boat tour is ~300 pesos per person
The fishing village of Río Lagartos is most well-known for its lagoon which is a UNESCO-protected biosphere. You may have also seen those impressive photos of huge flocks of flamingos. With over 400 different species of birds; crocodiles, and flamingos; there is so much wildlife to appreciate! We visited the Río as part of a tour of Las Coloradas and a stop at Cancunito Beach, however, you can visit on your own as well. From what we read on other blogs, this isn’t completely recommended as there’s not a lot of clarity around where to book a boat, costs, where to stay, etc. in the area.
A few notes:
- Flamingos congregate on the open waters in the morning. By late afternoon when we arrived, we only spotted them through binoculars. The guide let us know that the flamingos tend to move far away in the afternoon (disappointing to be honest).
- A visit to the Río Lagartos is pretty outdoorsy. You’re going to get splashed by that green lagoon water while speeding through the lagoon. There is also an optional “Mayan Spa” where you lather yourself with natural clay (that smells like sulfur) and that you have to wade through the water to get to. Overall, a cool experience but not for the easily squeemish!
Mérida Day Trip Idea #3: Chichén Itzá
- Distance: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Admission: $57 for foreginers, $12 for Mexican nationals
- Hours: Daily 8 AM – 5 PM
Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Chichen-Itza is Mexico’s top tourist attraction. It is the largest Mayan cities constructed and features a variety of different architectures. Photos really don’t do it justice as it’s so breathtaking in person!
A few notes:
- Go right when they open – If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that’s generally our top tip! But seriously, arrive right when they open to avoid getting people in your photos. You can still get creative (we got there at 11:30 AM and made it work), but it wasn’t ideal.
- Don’t be surprised by the touristy-ness of it all. At the entrance there’s a small Starbucks. Then after you get your tickets and begin walking to the site, you’ll be met by stall after stall of vendors selling trinkets. It’s slighly off-putting to be honest. But that being said, once you get past that, it’s incredibly impressive.
- Book tickets in advance. If you’re going with a tour, this isn’t something to worry about. But if you’re going on your own, you can get skip-the-line tickets here. When we arrived, private cars were getting turned away due to the site reaching capactiy.
- You can’t climb onto the pyramid. Due to the degradation of the site, it’s been about 15 years since tourists could climb the steps.
Mérida Day Trip Idea #5: Vallodolid
- Distance: 2 hours
- Pro tip: Combine this with a trip to Chichén Itzá to make the most of your time.
Most tourists combine a trip to Chichén Itzá with a stop to the pueblo mágico of Vallodolid as they are only 45 minutes away from each other. Our tour (which we wouldn’t recommend) included Chichén Itzá, Vallodolid, and Izamal. It was hectic and of course meant not much time in any of the spots. However, we heard good things about this tour which includes the pyramids, Vallodolid, and a cenote.
Vallodolid is a favorite of those that are looking for something a little more raw and authentic. While many tourists stop here after or before a trip to the pyramids, it somehow still feels more untouched than other parts of the Yucatán Penninsula.
A few things to see:
- Vallodolid Cenotes ( Cenote Suytun is arguably the most popular and beautiful)
- Walk down Calzada de los Frailes
- Walk around the main square
Mérida Day Trip Idea #4: Izamal
- Distance: 1 hour
- Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to meander around town. There are so many beautiful corners!
If there’s one day trip you add to your Mérida itinerary, it has to be Izamal. While yes, it is a pueblo mágico, it actually feels magical. It is known as the “yellow city” due to the buildings being yellow. Fun fact: the walls are still painted with a hand-mixed concoction that is said to reduce heat and deter mosquitos.
A few things to see:
- Convento de San Antonio de Padua
- Kinich Kakmó Pyramid
- Itzamatul Pyramid
- Parque Itzamna
Mérida Day Trip Idea #6: Uxmal
- Distance: 1 hour
- Admission: 413 pesos (~22USD) for foreigners, 176 (~10 USD) pesos for Mexican nationals
- Hours: Daily 8 AM – 5 PM
The ancient Mayan city of Uxmal is considered one of the most important Mayan landmarks and is a UNESCO Heritage Site. It is believed to have been an educational site for the Maya (think: Oxford or Harvard). What makes this spot so incredibly impressive is the detailing on many of the walls. It is most famous for the “Pyramid of the Magician” featured above.
Mérida Day Trip Idea #7: Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché
- Distance: 1 hour
- Admission: 590 pesos (~30 USD) for foreigners, 390 (~20 USD) pesos for Mexican nationals
- Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
No trip to the Yucatán is complete without a visit to a few cenotes! We opted to stop at Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché on our way back from Uxmal, but this article has a list of some of the top spots. This former 1700s plantation is a must-visit. You’ll have the opportunity to tour the grounds, grab lunch on-site, explore two incredible cenotes, and enjoy the pool!
Looking for more Mexico travel tips? Visit the archives.
