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19 Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico
There is so much to do in Merida that you could easily spend a month discovering all its museums, restaurants, and outdoor activities. Not to mention all the day trips from Merida Mexico to factor in.
We were there in February 2022 and feel like we barely scratched the surface. While we were making our to-do list of day trips from Merida Mexico, we quickly realized we could never do them all ourselves unless we moved there more permanently.
So we enlisted the help of some other amazing travel bloggers to help us make the ultimate list of day trips from Merida Mexico!
👉 My top day trip from Merida pick is this Tour of Chichen Itza. It includes a cenote visit and a stop in Izamal!
Each day trip from Merida on this list is three hours or less from the city, so you can definitely get there and back without staying overnight.
There are occasionally public buses for getting around as well as a number of high-quality guided tours for day trips from Merida Mexico. However, it is often easiest to rent a car for these excursions.
👉 I recommend using Discover Cars for renting a car on your trip!
Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico – Towns to Explore
While Merida is a great place to visit, there are also some really amazing towns nearby. We were lucky enough to make it to all three of these beautiful places ourselves.
From oceanfront towns with lovely paved walkways for strolling along the water to inland towns with beautifully painted murals and ancient ruins, there’s so much to see near Merida!
1. Izamal
📍 Distance from Merida: 67.5 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 55 minutes
This yellow town is one of Mexico’s Pueblo Magicos. This distinction is given to a few towns throughout Mexico that the country wants to showcase as being extra special.
✔️ I recommend booking a Day Trip to Izamal with this company.
The words “Pueblo Magico” translate to Magical Town, and a day trip from Merida to Izamal is certainly that!
The entire town is yellow! From the 16th-century monastery to the homes and businesses, almost every single wall is painted yellow. No one knows why the town is like this, but the mystery just adds to the appeal.
The monastery is free to enter, but the bathrooms cost 5 pesos per person. There’s also a town square next to the monastery that has artisan shops and ice cream carts. The latter was Little Man’s favorite!
One of the coolest unexpected things we discovered about Izamal is the local Mayan ruins. There are literally Mayan pyramids sprinkled throughout the town.
As we were driving around looking at the endless yellow architecture, we drove past them sporadically. It was literally: yellow house, yellow house, Mayan ruin, yellow house, yellow shop, etc.
2. Valladolid
📍 Distance from Merida: 159 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours
Valladolid is another Pueblo Magico in the Yucatan. The Centro area has a lovely park (called a Zocalo) surrounded by shops and restaurants. There are also several snack carts inside, including Little Man’s favorite Marquesita cart in all of the Yucatan.
Most day trips here only stop for an hour at the Zocalo after a full day doing other things, like a visit to Chichen Itza. If you really want to explore Valladolid, either rent a car to go at your own pace or book a guided tour.
👉 This guided tour includes visits to both Izamal and Valladolid plus a delicious Yucatecan meal!
The local cathedral lines one side of the park. It was rebuilt in the 1700s and is a popular photo op.
We wandered a couple of blocks from the Zocalo and stumbled on the town museum. For free, you can discover Mayan artifacts and other treasures dating back hundreds of years, all from Valladolid.
Like many towns throughout the Yucatan, there is a Franciscan convent there. It’s next to the beautiful Valladolid letters. That it’s so intact after almost 500 years of heat and humidity is a testament to ancient Spanish architecture in the region.
Although some of the signage inside depicts a rather pro-colonialist image of the conversion period, the architecture and cooler inside temperature make it a worthwhile stop during day trips from Merida Mexico.
Fun Fact: That projector behind the final D in the photo below is for the free light show.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:20 pm there is an English light show highlighting the heroic history of Valladolid.
If you stay there for longer than a day trip, definitely plan to check it out!
3. Campeche
📍 Distance from Merida: 184 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours, 10 minutes
This sleepy town on the Caribbean coast is an unexpected gem in the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site also known as the City of Pirates.
There is an ancient fort surrounding the town center that has been turned into a pirate museum. It’s a great stop for families on day trips from Merida Mexico because it’s free and you can actually go inside the fort and explore the baluartes!
👉 This Private Tour of Campeche ensures you see all the best essentials in town!
There isn’t a swimmable beach in Campeche Centro. However, there is a boardwalk (called a Malecon) that runs the length of the oceanfront. It’s nicely paved and dotted with statues, similar to the ones in Isla Mujeres.
Little Man really liked the cool, modern playgrounds that are found sporadically across the street from the Malecon.
After spending the day wandering outside in the hot sun, swing by Chocol-Ha for a milkshake! They use Mexican chocolate, which tastes a bit different (in our opinion better) than American chocolates.
If you can find some of the powdered kind in a local grocery store, take it home and use it for hot cocoa in the wintertime, too!
If you don’t want to rent a car and drive yourself, a private tour takes care of everything and ensures you will see all the best essentials in town.
Best Day Trips From Merida Mexico – Beaches to Explore
Merida is not located right on the ocean, so getting to the beach takes a bit of effort. There are several lovely beaches under an hour from the White City. Whether you want a quiet afternoon or a day of ocean adventure, there’s a beach for you.
4. Progreso
📍 Distance from Merida: 43 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 39 minutes
One of the best beaches in Mexico, Puerto Progreso is also the closest beach to Merida. It’s a popular cruise port, and one of the best beach towns to visit on any Gulf of Mexico cruise.
You can drive there if you rent a car, or take the Auto Progreso bus. At only $25 pesos ($1.25 USD) each way, the Auto Progreso is a great option with departures about every hour or so from their private bus terminal in downtown Merida.
Once you arrive in Progreso on a day trip from Merida, enjoy a nice walk down the Malecon and grab a bite to eat. Find your favorite spot on the beach and rent a beach chair, or check out one of the Progreso beach clubs.
Travel Tip: More adventurous visitors should head to the west side of Progreso beach to the kiteboarding schools.
This side of the beach is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers and is one of the best places in Mexico for kiteboarding.
Located about 10 minutes by car from the beach, don’t miss El Corchito Ecological Reserve. For about $50 pesos ($2.50 USD) you can take a short boat ride to Raccoon Island and swim in the two cenotes at El Corchito.
Contributed by Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo
5. Sisal
📍 Distance from Merida: 72 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Among all the beach towns close to Merida, Sisal is arguably the cutest one. In fact, it has recently been proclaimed a Pueblo Magico. Located on the north coast of Yucatan on the Gulf of Mexico, it’s a perfect distance for a family day trip from Merida!
Walking around the pretty little town you can appreciate the beautiful murals representing the marine life and a few colonial buildings around the pier.
A lighthouse is also open to the public as a museum on the history of Sisal when it was an important commercial port town. It is generally open from 12 PM – 2 PM daily.
What you will love most about Sisal is the endless white sand beach and the emerald green ocean, which is swimmable when it’s not too windy.
If you decide to have lunch on the beach you can also enjoy beach chairs and sunshade, which are also available for rent for a few dollars.
Furthermore, local agencies organize amazing short trips on the nearby lagoon where you can kayak or paddleboard among the mangroves. Sometimes, you can even spot flamingos or swim in “Ojo de Aguas”, natural sinkholes in the middle of the lagoon.
Note: After you finish your tour, make sure you try the natural coconut ice cream in the small shop by the pier.
To get to Sisal from Merida the most convenient way is by renting a car. Otherwise, if you want to use public transportation you will need to get to Hunucma and change buses there.
The connection is good but make sure you leave Sisal before 6 pm with the last bus if you don’t want to spend the night there.
Contributed by Isabel of Lets Travel to Mexico
6. Chelem
📍 Distance from Merida: 52 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 56 minutes
Chelem is a sleepy fishing village of only a thousand people. It’s just west of Progreso. This means it shares the same amazing beaches and kite surfing activities as Progreso, but without the touristy vibe.
If you want to chill on a seemingly empty beach on your towels, Chelem is the place to do that. Chances are you’ll see maybe a handful of people, especially if you take a day trip from Merida during the week.
However, if you want to spend some time at a beach club with nice amenities, Chelem offers that as well. Deco Beach Club has a pool, restaurant, bar, and of course beach access.
Chelem also has a cool activity called Mahalo Boats. These enterprising and knowledgeable locals take tourists out whale and dolphin watching.
These aren’t swimming experiences, like our whale shark swimming excursion. So it’s a great option for the entire family to enjoy.
Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico – The Great Outdoors
There is a wide variety of wildlife and natural wonders throughout the Yucatan peninsula. From pink water to pink flamingoes and a diverse assortment in between, it’ll be hard for visitors on a short trip to choose between these options.
7. Rio Lagartos
📍 Distance from Merida: 233 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours, 50 minutes
One of the best day trips from Merida Mexico is a visit to the Rio Lagartos biosphere reserve on the north side of the Yucatán Peninsula. This day trip from Merida makes for a very full day. But it’s absolutely worthwhile!
✔️ We recommend booking a Tour to Rio Lagartos Nature Preserve with this company.
Rio Lagartos is a small fishing village that hasn’t yet seen the same level of development as many other destinations in the region.
Tours spend 3-4 hours exploring the reserve by boat as you learn about the nearly 400 species of birds that inhabit the dense mangrove forests. It’s also fun to watch for big predators, like crocodiles and even panthers.
Finally, you’ll reach the stars of the reserve, Rio Lagartos’ wild flamingo population! The size of the flock (technically called a “flamboyance”) varies throughout the year and is largest from March to June when they nest in the shallow waters.
But even at other times of the year, you’ll still have an opportunity to watch these hilarious creatures strut their stuff.
For a successful visit to Rio Lagartos, you’ll need a few critical items:
☑️ Bring a snack for yourself and your children since you’ll be
leaving Merida very early.
☑️ Bring hats that are well-fitted or have chin straps.
☑️ You absolutely can’t have too much sunscreen on this tour (unless you take a night wildlife tour, in which case you’ll need mosquito repellant).
☑️ Here are even more helpful items for your Mexico packing list.
Contributed by Melissa of The Family Voyage
8. Las Coloradas Pink Lakes
📍 Distance from Merida: 233 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours, 50 minutes
The spectacular salt lakes of Las Coloradas are located on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. They became famous all over the world for the bright pink lagoons’ pictures that were invading Instagram.
✔️ Take an Organized Tour to Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos
How can they be so pink? Well, there is a reason. They contain artemia salina, a tiny shrimp that cleans the water but also causes the pink color. It is the same shrimp that flamingos eat and is the origin of their gorgeous color.
If you go on your own, once you are at the ticket office you can choose between a walking tour, bike tour, or safari, which is done with a truck. The bike and the safari tour package also includes the use of a lookout tower to enjoy spectacular views.
Note: A few years ago it was very easy and cheap to visit Las Coloradas. Now it has become more commercialized and a little more pricey.
You cannot get in on your own, but you can see the pink lakes from the parking lot if you don’t care about walking around.
Las Colorados is a bit further from Merida on a day trip. However, it is definitely doable and worth it. Consider renting your own car to save time or joining an organized tour that also includes Rio Lagartos Reserve.
That extra stop is only a 30-minute drive from Las Coloradas, and you will see flamingos and other birds.
Contributed by Isabel of Boundless Roads
9. Celestun Flamingos
📍 Distance from Merida: 104 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 1 hour, 25 minutes
One of the easy day trips from Merida Mexico is to take a tour or arrange your own self-tour of Celestun and check out the flamingo sanctuary there.
👉You can pre-book a Day Trip to Celestun with this company.
In less than a few hours’ drive, there are a variety of ways to take a trip to the bio reserve including a boat ride around the local area.
There’s nothing like seeing all these flamingoes in their natural environment and seeing the entire flock of these pink birds en mass.
Also, the boat tour of the area and coastline areas makes this a fun experience and an opportunity to see the natural area of Celestun and even enjoy some beach fun here.
From Merida, there’s a variety of tour companies on the major thoroughfares with tours to the area including visits to Celestun and the nature preserve. They are priced affordably and include lunch at a local eatery.
If you prefer to have something smaller you can easily ask your hotel to customize a tour with a taxi driver or tour company to accommodate your needs for visiting the area and do so in your own time and interest.
Contributed by Noel of This Hawaii Life
Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico – Mayan Ruins
The Mayans lived in Mexico from 1500 BCE to the early 1500s CE when the Spanish began to colonize the Yucatan peninsula.
They were an educated and advanced civilization that built large cities and advanced structures. There are a number of exciting sites to visit that are an easy day trip from Merida.
10. Ek Balam
📍 Distance from Merida: 175 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours, 20 minutes
📍 Entry Fee: 413 pesos (~$22 USD)
Ek Balam is one of the best under-radar Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. Unlike famous Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam has virtually no crowds.
👉 We recommend taking a combined Tour to Ek Balam and Cenote Maya with this company.
However, it boasts well-preserved constructions and El Torre, a tall pyramid from where you can get a view of the surrounding jungle.
One of the biggest pyramids in the Yucatan Peninsula, El Torre boasts well-preserved intricate details as well as statues and frescoes.
You can also combine your visit to Ek Balam with a visit to a nearby cenote. If you’re driving yourself, X’Canche is located about 2 kilometers away from the entrance to Ek Balam ruins. To get there, you will need to pay a separate fee and can also rent a bike.
Note: Make sure to wear good shoes, as you need to climb very steep stairs to get to the top of the pyramid.
The easiest way to reach Ek Balam is by taking a bus from Merida to Valladolid and catching a taxi to Ek Balam from there. However, you can also rent a car for your day trip from Merida.
This will allow you to travel around the Yucatan Peninsula at your own pace and stop at many Mayan ruins, cenotes, and small pueblos.
Contributed by Daria of The Discovery Nut
11. Uxmal
📍 Distance from Merida: 84 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 1 hour, 15 minutes
📍 Entry Fee: 494 pesos (~$24.50 USD) for adults,
225 (~$11 USD) pesos for Mexican nationals and residents
Kids 13 and under are free
📍 Mexican Nationals & Residents are free on Sundays
👉 If you book a Guided Tour to Uxmal with this company, you also get to visit Choco-Story!
Uxmal is a lesser-known ruin site than some others in the Yucatan. Its lack of notoriety doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing, though. The Uxmal site is actually my favorite of the ones we’ve visited. It is absolutely worth visiting on a day trip from Merida!
The best parts of Uxmal are the intact and ornate carvings on the side of several buildings in the complex. They demonstrate the advanced nature of Mayan civilization and are stunning to look at.
Little Man’s favorite thing was the iguanas. They’re all over the complex, sunning themselves right on the stone ruins.
Note: Unlike other ruin sites, this one is cash only. Stop at an ATM before arriving if you don’t visit with a tour.
The Choco-Story Chocolate Museum is across the street from the ruins. It’s a popular stop on many Uxmal tours, and for good reason. This museum provides a guided history of the use and making of chocolate by the Mayans.
Next to the chocolate museum is the Maya Lodge observatory. The building is designed to model the observatory at Chichen Itza.
There are several Maya Lodge observatories throughout the Yucatan. Each one shows a different educational movie about Mayan history and astronomy.
It’s only a 25-minute show, and the dome showing room is fully air-conditioned. Take extra cash to pay the projector person for your entry ticket. It costs 185 pesos ($9 USD) per person. Kids under 10 are free.
12. Chichen Itza
📍 Distance from Merida: 123 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 1 hour, 30 minutes
📍 Entry Fee: Foreign Adults are 535 pesos
Mexican Citizens and Residents are 237 pesos
Kids 3-12 are 80 pesos
Kids under 3 are free
📍 Mexican Nationals & Residents are free on Sundays (not at the light show)
👉 This Tour of Chichen Itza includes a cenote visit and a stop in Izamal!
As the most popular Mayan ruin site in the Yucatan peninsula, this UNESCO World Heritage site should be on every visitor’s shortlist. We’ve actually visited it twice and have an entire post dedicated to why Chichen Itza is worth visiting.
This sprawling ruins site is one of the seven wonders of the world. At the height of the Mayan empire, it was home to over 55,000 people! Unlike Uxmal and Coba, Chichen Itza is now fully excavated.
Note: Depending on traffic, the day trip from Merida to Chichen Itza can take up to 2 hours.
There is so much to learn and see there. Just make sure you arrive early because the crowds do build after 10 AM. Some guided tours like the one below guarantee exactly that!
👉If you‘re up for an early morning, the Sunrise Tour of Chichen Itza is pretty amazing!
To avoid the fuss of waiting in line for tickets, I definitely recommend going on a private tour. These allow you to arrive earlier in the day and the tour company handles all your tickets.
If you’re on a guided tour, chances are you’ll get to visit a local cenote as part of your itinerary.
If you want to see Chichen Itza at sunrise, before the park even opens at 8 AM, then consider this tour below instead!
13. Coba
📍 Distance from Merida: 217 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours, 50 minutes
📍 Entry Fee: 100 pesos
Kids 3-12 are 50 pesos
Kids under 3 are free
📍 Mexican Nationals & Residents are free on Sundays
📍 Parking costs 50 pesos
📍 Bike rental is 50 pesos & a tricycle driver is 100 pesos
Despite being a bit further away from Merida, the Coba ruins are still well worth a visit. These ruins are more covered in the jungle than Chichen Itza or Uxmal.
Wandering around on the site kind of makes you feel like you’re in Tomb Raider or an Indiana Jones movie. It’s a similar feeling to touring Angkor Wat, in Cambodia (where parts of Tomb Raider were actually filmed!)
The site is so big that most people rent bikes to get around. If you or someone in your group doesn’t know how to ride, you can splurge on a three-wheeled bicycle that’s peddled by a local ‘driver.’
This is what we did and it’s a great option for families with younger kids or folks who struggle with riding traditional two-wheel bikes!
You can’t climb the temple at Coba anymore. However, it’s still a really cool ruin site to experience. Coba also has a planetarium show by Maya Lodge.
There are planetarium shows at the Palenque and Ek Balam ruins as well. Little Man has requested to visit all of them!
If you’re planning to drive yourself and don’t want to hire a tour, consider getting a self-guided audio tour.
👉 The Coba Self-Guided Audio Tour is a great way to see the ruins on a budget!
This plays from your smartphone and is a great way to balance learning about what you’re seeing with maintaining a budget-friendly travel style.
Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico – Swim in Cenotes
Cenotes are a truly unique feature of the Yucatan. They are a series of underground swimming holes connected by an underground river system. No visit to this Mexican peninsula is complete without visiting at least one.
There are a number of famous ones near Playa del Carmen, but there are also several great cenotes to visit much closer to Merida.
14. Cenote Dzinup
📍 Distance from Merida: 165 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours
📍 Entry Fee: Admission is 80 Pesos.
Note: A combined ticket for Cenote Dzitnup & nearby Cenote Samula is 125 Pesos.
📍 Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
Also known as Cenote Xkeken, Cenote Dzitnup is one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. This cave cenote is characterized by beautiful rock formations, with stalactites and stalagmites galore.
The cenote is actually underground, but you can easily access it via a spiral staircase that will lead you all the way into the water. An opening in the ceiling brings in a fantastic light, illuminating the water in a million shades of blue.
Note: There is great snorkeling here, so make sure to bring your snorkel and goggles!
Cenote Dzitnup is managed by the local community, which does a wonderful job at protecting it while at the same time allowing visitors to enjoy it. You will find a lifeguard on duty, and life jackets are available for anyone who wants to swim.
Ropes running across the cenote make it easy to swim even if you are not the most experienced swimmer.
Cenote Dzitnup is just outside Valladolid. If you have your own car, you can visit it on the same day you visit Chichen Itza during your day trip from Merida.
Contributed by Claudia of My Adventures Across The World
15. Cenote Suytun
📍 Distance from Merida: 165 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 2 hours
📍 Entry Fee: Admission is 120 Pesos
📍 Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
There’s no shortage of amazing cenotes to see near Merida. In fact, there are more than 6,000 cenotes in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which is the biggest amount of cenotes found in any one place on Earth!
With so many options, you probably want to know how to choose the best cenotes to visit. All of the cenotes are beautiful in their own ways, but Cenote Suytun is unique because it’s an underground cave cenote.
The best way to visit Cenote Suytun is by renting a car in Merida and driving there. Cenote Suytun is quite remote, but it’s also near the Colonial town of Valladolid and Chichen Itza Ruins, so you can visit a few places in a single day.
Located underground inside a cave, Cenote Suytun looks downright otherworldly. There is a hole at the top so a single beam of light gets in, shining down onto the circular platform in the center.
The platform is perfect for photos inside this Instagram-worthy Mexico cenote. As with many cenotes, if you want those coveted photos without people in them, arrive by 10 am on your day trip from Merida.
Also, be sure to go on a weekday instead of a weekend. Cenote Suytun is small and very popular, so it gets full quickly. It is located off Highway Carretera 180, just east of Valladolid, Mexico.
Contributed by Shelley of Travel to Merida
16. Santa Barbara Cenotes
📍 Distance from Merida: 46 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 1 hour
📍 Entry Fee: 250 pesos for adults and
125 pesos for kids 3-12
Kids under 2 are free
📍 Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
👉 This cenote is a bit hard for us to find. I recommend this Tour with Transportation to the Santa Barbara Cenotes
These three cenotes are unique in that they offer three different swimming experiences for just one entry fee. It was one of our favorite day trips from Merida Mexico. The cenotes are within walking distance of each other.
It is a bit too far to walk from the entrance back to the first cenote. Instead, they offer a choice of either bicycles or a horse-drawn Deauville rail cart.
The path is a bit bumpy and has a hill in the middle. So if you have smaller kids, you should definitely consider the cart.
Note: All three cenotes are underground and require climbing stairs to access them.
💧 Cenote Rattlesnake is a fully enclosed cenote that requires artificial lighting to see while you swim. There are some really neat stalactite formations to see in there.
💧 Cenote Chacksikin is semi-open but is still mostly enclosed. The lighting is natural from the sun.
💧 Cenote Xooch’ is the last cenote on the route and is fully open to the sky. It also has the biggest swimming area. We spent the most time here.
The entrance fee includes the use of a locker (located at the entrance) and a life jacket. You can pay 100 pesos extra per person for lunch in their restaurant.
We didn’t do this but several friends did. The food is entirely from the Yucatan. Unlike other cenote restaurants, there are no special Americanized options for kids.
Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico – Haciendas
The Yucatan haciendas were built in the 1600s by Spanish colonizers. Some haciendas were cattle ranches while others processed henequen fibers. Many ran very profitable businesses into the beginning of the 1900s.
Now, these properties have been renovated for tourists to learn about the Yucatan’s past and also enjoy a relaxing day trip as well.
17. Hacienda Yaxcopoil
📍 Distance from Merida: 37 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 35 minutes
📍 Entry Fee: 150 pesos; Kids under 15 years old are free
📍 Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM – 2 PM, closed Sundays
Most visitors to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula stay in Cancun or at one of the all-inclusive resorts on the Riviera Maya.
👉 Due to shortened hours for day trippers, we recommend scheduling your Day Trip Tour to Hacienda Yaxcopoil in advance.
But more intrepid travelers seeking a cultural experience head west from Cancun to the historic colonial city of Merida. It’s easy to take day trips from Merida Mexico to the surrounding area.
Merida may not have the beaches, but culturally the region is unparalleled with direct access to several historic trails and routes including the Hacienda route, a must for lovers of Yucatec culture.
Fun Fact: Yaxcopoil (pronounced yash-CO-po-eel) is ust south of Merida and an easy drive down Federal Highway 261.
Formerly a henequen plantation, Hacienda Yaxcopoil dates to the 17th century and is one of the only remaining plantations in its original state, and not transformed into a luxury hotel.
Today the hacienda and grounds are open to the public for either a day tour or an overnight stay. Touring the buildings and grounds is like stepping back in time.
This amazing hacienda is suitable for families and should be on your list of day trips from Merida Mexico.
The hacienda exists as it did in colonial times and is as authentic as it gets right down to the layers of paint and paper on the walls, books, paintings, and original furnishings left behind by the owners who purchased this 22,000-acre plantation in the mid-19th century.
Contributed by Lori of Travelin Mad
18. Hacienda Mucuyché
📍 Distance from Merida: 61 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 1 hour
📍 Entry Fee: Adults are $490 pesos
Kids 4-12 and seniors are $250 pesos
Children 0-3 are free
📍 Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM; closed Mondays
Photo Credit: Viator
👉 Combine a Day Trip to Uxmal and a Visit to Hacienda Mucuyché so tour guides can take care of everything, including transportation.
The Mucuyché Hacienda has become a must-visit day trip from Merida for tourists since it opened to visitors. The former plantation has many partially-restored constructions that include Arab and French-style arches.
However, the real attraction here is the hacienda’s cenotes. Cenote Carlota was named for the Empress of México who visited the site in 1865. It’s unique because it has a canal surrounded by endemic plant life.
Cenote Azul (not to be confused with cenotes of the same name in Playa del Carmen or the other one in Bacalar) features fascinating natural lighting that reflects off the stalactites hanging from the ceiling.
With the entry fee, you get access to changing rooms, bathrooms, and lockers. In addition, there is a restaurant so you don’t have to leave when the little ones get hungry.
19. Hacienda Sotuta de Peon
📍 Distance from Merida: 61 km
📍 Driving Time from Merida: 45 minutes
📍 Entry Fee: Adults are 815 pesos
Kids 4-12 are 475 pesos
Children 0-3 are free
📍 Hours: Tours start at 9 AM, 10 AM, and 1 PM daily
Unlike the pricey resorts that many haciendas in the Yucatan have become, this one is still an active farm. In addition, there is still some ongoing hacienda reconstruction so visitors can easily visualize the before and after reconstruction process.
👉 Book a Day Trip to Hacienda Sotuta de Peon so you can see how Mexican farms worked hundreds of years ago.
When you visit Sotuta de Peon Hacienda, it’ll feel a bit like you’re traveling back in time. Just like at the Santa Barbara Cenotes, you get to ride horse-drawn rail carts to get around.
You are also given a tour of the Sisal farm, including the painstakingly rebuilt ancient machinery. The tour also explains how sisal is transformed into a product called Henequen.
In addition, the hacienda offers swimming in its on-site cenote, called Dzul-Ha. Translated to English, the name means “Lord of the Water.”
Visitors also can choose to swim in the hacienda’s large swimming pool that’s surrounded by a green garden of tropical plants, trees, and flowers.
Being able to tour a working farm is certainly a rare opportunity for most people, especially families. Visiting Hacienda Sotuta de Peon is one of the more unique day trips from Merida Mexico.
Final Thoughts: The Best Day Trips from Merida Mexico
Clearly, there is no shortage of day trips from Merida Mexico. And there is no “best one” because they’re all so unique and fun.
It’s easy to see why people enjoy this lovely city. When you visit, don’t be afraid to book a longer stay. Unless you’re moving to Merida, your real challenge will be which ones to skip during your visit.
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