Visit Yucatan Peninsula
Built more than 450 years ago on the site of T'ho, an ancient Mayan city, Mérida is the social and economic centre, as well as the capital, of the state of Yucatán. Mérida's downtown area features a large, tree-shaded central square. The city's main boulevard, Paseo Montejo, is home to impressive European-style mansions whose pastel shades and elaborate trim are reminiscent of lavishly iced wedding cakes.
Though a bustling city of about 700,000, Mérida retains its colonial charm and has a laid-back tempo that delights visitors. It makes a good base from which to explore the Mayan archaeological sites of Chichén-Itzá and Uxmal. Pink flamingo sanctuaries and swimmable crystal-clear cenotes (sinkholes) are some of the natural attractions of the Yucatán Peninsula that are also easily accessible from Mérida.