At Merida  you can visit the cathedral or you can go to  museums (such as the Yucatan Museum of Archaeology),  where you can visit the Canton Palace that is a beautiful and elegant building (from porfirian era). If you like the carriage, you can take a ride in a carriage down the Paseo Montejo, this main street has old mansions and great hotels.

Merida also have great food, some of the traditional dishes are the papadzules, panuchos, and of course the cochinita pibil. The papadzules consists of corn tortillas dipped in a sauce of pumpkin seeds, and filled with boiled eggs (on a taco) and finally bathed in a tomato sauce with habanero peppers and onions; the panuchos are small fried corn tortillas, which makes them a cut that puts a stew made from beans that are then fried, at last the cochinita pibil, is pork marinated in orange juice and served with beans and red onion.

 Just some minutes outside Merida you can find the henequen haciendas, you can also visit the sinkholes (cenotes) going to Ria Celestun which is a Biosphere Reserve and then you can see the habitat of hundreds of pink flamingoes.

If you like the archaeology don’t forget that near Merida is located Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Dibilchaltun which are greats places to visit.

ACTIVITIES AT MERIDA

 
Ecotourism and Adventure
- Scuba Diving
- Camping
- extreme sports
- Kayak
- Fishing
- Surfing

 Beach
- Beaches
 
Knowledge and cultura
- Archaeology
- Party
- Gastronomy
- Museums
- Arts
- Handicraft 

 Hobby
- Shopping
- Recreation
- Night Show
- Sports
- Night Live
 
 Premium
- Golf
- Shipping
- Spas 

PLACES TO VISIT

 At Merida you can visit some of the old seven arches, such as the San Juan arch to the west and the Dragones and el Puente arches, visiting this you can start a great tour by Merida.

Paseo Montejo is the most important avenue in Merida, you can find restaurants, shopping centers and more, all these in beautiful old buildings; if you walk along Paseo Montejo you will find the Memorial to the Homeland, this monument is to pay tribute to the Mayan Culture and fugures.

If you like art can look for the Juan Gamboa Guzman Gallery, this gallery has the work of various national and foreign artists . Near this gallery you can find the Tercera Orden Church and Saint Lucia this place is great on sundays to get all kinds of crafts and food stalls offer Yucatecan fare. In Saint Ana, you can see several public squares and churches. After that you can visit the Ateneo Peninsular and the Main Square, near is the Cathedral, the City Hall and the Mayab House of Crafts.

You can also see the central clock tower and if you enjoy art deco style have to see the eagles adorning the arches on the first floor. Going out of Merida you will find the Hacienda San Ildefonso Teya, an old Hacienda that now is a beautiful and comfortable hotel with gardens. Later you can go to Izamal, a magical town where you can find The Temple of Kinich Kak Moo (the Yucatan Peninsula’s largest pre-Hispanic construction). You can also visit the Ex Convento de San Antonio de Padua (this has the largest courtyard in Latin America and it is surround by arches).

Not so long from Merida it is Chichen Itza (archaeological zone) and  the town of Valladolid here you can buy all kinds of crafts in marketplaces, visit the San Gervasio Church, or admire the turquoise blue waters at sinkholes Zaci and Dzitnup.

SERVICES AND TOURISM

 If you are traveling by highway, Merida is connected to Campeche and Mexico by 180 highway. It is also link to Cancun by the same road. If you are traveling by bus Merida has the bus station with the service of ADO bus line. 

If you are traveling by air, Merida also has an International Airport with the service of : Aerocalifornia, Aerocaribe, Aeromaya, Aeromexico, American Airlines, Aviacsa and Mexicana. You can fly directly from Mexico City to Merida and other destinations.

As you can see Merida is one of the best-linked destinations in the country.

“Manuel Cresencio Rejon” Airport:  (999) 946-1340 or 946-1364

Bus Station: at 564 70th Street in the downtown area.

INTERESTING AND EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

 Tourism Secretariat  (999) 930-3760

 Red Cross (999) 924-9813

 Green Angels (emergency highway road service) 078

 Tourist Police (999) 983-1184

 Local Police  (999) 925-2555

Immigration  (999) 928-5823

Near Merida is located Valladolid and Izamal, Valladolid is a beautiful small town excelent to swimming or diving.  In the other hand, Izamal is a magical town where you can visit the Ex-Convent of San Antonio de Padua, which has a largest atrium.

In Yucatan you can also visit the Mayan archaeological zones, Yucatan has many of them, like Labna, Sayil, Uxmal, Kabah, Dzibilchaltun and of course Chichen Itza, it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. At Chichen Itzá you can visit the Pyramid of Kukulcan (this is the famous pyramid where you can see every spring equinox the shadow of a plumed serpent going down on the pyramid’s stairs), the Ball Court and don’t forget to go to the Caracol which was an observatory.

If you want to enjoy the beautiful pink flamingoes you have to go to Celestun, it has hundreds of flamingoes. Another place to visit is Ria Lagartos, at this place you can kayaking.

Playa del Carmen has the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean as Paraiso Beach and Paamul Beach, great to enjoy the sun, rest and practice almost all the activities. As the same that Cancun, Playa del Carmen is near Xel Ha and Xcaret ecological parks where you can swim and practice snorkeling, kitesurf and windsurf.

For those who like scuba diving can take tours at the Gran Arrecife Maya (Great Mayan Reef) this is the second biggest in the world. You can also take tours to cenotes zone and admire these water mirrors subway connected.

The Fifth Avenue is great to walk, eat at lot of restaurants, or go to bars and clubs or just shopping at many clothes, jewelry and exclusive boutiques. If you are looking for something to rest just have to go to sit and drink coffee at this avenue.

 ACTIVITIES AT PLAYA DEL CARMEN

 
Ecotourism and Adventure 
  – Scuba Diving
- Camping
- extreme sports
 - Kayak
-Fishing

Knowledge and cultura
- Archaeology
- Party
- Gastronomy
- Arts
- Handicraft
 
Hobby
-Shopping
- Recreation
- Night Show
- Sports
- Night Live

Beach 
 
-Beach
 
 Premium 
 - Golf
 - Shipping 
 - Spas

PLACES TO VISIT.

Near Playa del Carmen is Playacar, from this point you can go to Cozumel by taking the ferry. Cozumel is about 40 minutes from Playa del Carmen and has great reefs as Gran Arrecife Maya (Big Mayan Reef) and you can do scuba diving at this second biggest reef in the world. You can also go to Chankaanab to snorkeling or visit the archeological zone San Gervasio. Another place to go is Punta Sur ecological reserve and its lagoons, local vegetation and animals . If you like museums don’t forget to visit Cozumel Island Museum.

Going to Puerto Morelos (from Cozumel or Playa del Carmen) you can take a tour to Cancun to meet one of the most beautiful beaches at the Caribbean with those white sand beach with sky blue sea water, visit its big touristic complex and night live. Cancun is also known as the “Mayan World Front Door”.

Going on the way you can find Xcaret, just 8 km from Playa del Carmen, it is a big park that has beach, subway rivers, aquarium, dolphins, butterfly sanctuary, bees sanctuary, plants and animals from the area. You can enjoy a night show about the mayan culture, ball game, dance and Mexican music.

For those who enjoy playing golf Puerto Aventuras is the right place to do it with a great view, the Caribbean Sea. Puerto Aventuras is also great to swim an play kayaking and fishing. If you are looking for quiet and peace you have to go to Akumal, just 34km after Puerto Aventuras, it is the most peaceful and natural place.
 
After that do not forget to visit Xel ha, you can find subway rivers, lagoon and you can swim with dolphins beside snorkeling. This route ends at Tulum, an old mayan city with beautiful buildings front of the sea.

This route ends at Tulum, an old mayan city with beautiful buildings front of the sea.

SERVICES AND TOURISM

Playa del Carmen its communicated by 307 road to Cancun and Chetumal. By the sea Playa del Carmen has an important wharf with a ferry which go to Cozumel every day. By air the best choice is the Cancun International Airport just 45 minutes from Playa del Carmen.

If you are traveling by bus, the ADO bus central is one of the more important means of transportation, it is located in downtown at Uxmal and Tulum Avenues, they have local cab and bus service.

If you are traveling by airplane, Cancun International Airport is the second one more important in Mexico; this airport is located at Cancun-Tulum highway, just 8 kms to downtown and 5 km to hotel zone. You can find airlines as Mexicana, Azteca, Aeromexico, American Airlines, Aerocaribe, Aviacsa, Continental, British Airways and others. This airport also has yellow cab and bus service to go to Cancun, Playa del Carmen or the Hotel Zone.

INTERESTING AND EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
 
Mayan Riviera Tourist Administration  (984) 859 2170.
Red Cross (984) 873 1233.
Green Angels 078.
Emergency. 060.
Police Department (984) 873 0242.

This island is great for those who enjoy to snorkeling and scuba diving, it has reefs zones with lot of fish. Isla Mujeres also has hotels zone smaller than Cancun but also important. You can find beach clubs with amazing views. Night clubs and bars can be found at downtown as national and international food restaurants.

ACTIVITIES AT ISLA MUJERES
 
Ecotourism and Adventure 
  – Scuba Diving
- Camping
- Ecotourism
-Fishing
-Surfing
 
 Knowledge and culture
- Archaeology
- Architecture
- Party
- Gastronomy
- Arts
- Handicraft
 
Hobby
-Shopping
- Recreation
- Night Show
- Sports
- Night Live
 
Beach 
 
-Beach
 
 Premium  
 - Shipping 
 - Spas 
 
PLACES TO VISIT
There are many places to visit around Isla Mujeres. You can go to Cancun by taking the ferry, Going on the way you can find Xcaret a big park that has beach, subway rivers, aquarium, dolphins, butterfly sanctuary, bees sanctuary, plants and animals from the area. You can enjoy a night show about the mayan culture, ball game, dance and Mexican music.

Going southern its Xpu-Ha great to enjoy nature, after that its located Xel Ha, this place is great to visit its subway rivers, lagoons, an old mayan ceremonial center  and to snorkeling. At Xel Ha you can also swim with dolphins.

If you are looking for archeological zones you have to go to Tulum, you can go by the same road (307), it is just 64 km south from Playa del Carmen, and don’t forget to visit some of the most important buildings at Tulum like “Descending God Temple”, “The Castle” or “Fresh Temple”.

SERVICES AND TOURISM

Isla Mujeres has contact to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum by waterway, through the ferry and other boats, these depart from Puerto Juarez and Punta Sam. To go to Isla Mujeres you can also travel by bus, Cancun has an important bus station where you can find ADO bus; also can arrive by airplane as KLM, Air Canada, British Airways, Aeromexico, American Airlines, Mexicana, Varig and others at the second most important airport in Mexico.

Isla Mujeres Tourism Office.(998) 877 0307 and (998) 877 0767.