Our Offbeat Life contains affiliate links & participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program & other affiliate programs. If you buy something using an Amazon or other link, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure for more details.
30 Best Things to Do in Merida with Kids
Looking for some great things to do and places to stay in Merida with kids? I can help!
Our family lived in Mexico for over a year and spent a lot of that time in the Yucatan. Including Merida!
Visiting Merida with kids is quickly becoming one of the best places to visit in Mexico with kids. And for good reason. In addition to being the biggest city in the Yucatan peninsula, Merida is also a center for art and culture.
There are even many free things to do in Merida with kids, for both visitors and residents to enjoy. This makes visiting Merida with kids an excellent vacation destination.
After all, you’re going to run out of days on your family travel adventure there before you run out of things to do!
Merida tourism is probably the best you can get to appreciate Maya culture in Mexico, sample Yucatan foods, and learn about Mayan history before and after the conquistadors arrived.
Fun Fact: The population of Merida, Mexico is over one million people.
However, it’s still surprisingly easy to navigate the Centro area of Merida with kids. It feels more like a small town in many ways because you can walk to explore its picturesque churches, streets, and squares.
Getting to Merida with Kids
Merida has an international airport on the edge of town, which has incoming flights from Mexico and the United States. This means it’s easy to fly there from pretty much anywhere in the world.
If you’re driving to Merida from elsewhere in Mexico, it is an easy drive on toll roads from Campeche, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun. The first time we drove from Campeche and the second we drove from Playa del Carmen.
Toll roads in Mexico are generally well maintained. Just ensure that you have pesos on hand to pay the toll gate attendants. They do not take credit cards or foreign currency, including US dollars.
👉 I recommend using Discover Cars for renting a car on your trip!
Is Merida Safe?
Generally speaking, yes it’s safe. While no city is absolutely safe, Merida is a pretty sure bet.
It’s definitely one of the safest places for families visiting Mexico with kids. Especially compared to major US cities, like our old hometown of Chicago, IL.
Fun Fact: Merida has been ranked as one of the safest cities in Mexico.
It’s also been called one of the safest cities in the Americas by CEOWorld Magazine. In 2021, Conde Nast Traveler named it the #6 Best City in the World.
Just take basic precautions, as you should in any global city. While there are fewer opportunists in Merida than almost anywhere else, there are probably still some unsavory types around there.
Basic Safety Tips:
☑️ Keep your valuables tucked away while you walk around.
☑️ If you have a car don’t leave valuables inside, especially in plain sight.
☑️ If you have a car, always use the windshield sunshade when parked.
☑️ Be aware of your surroundings as you move through the city.
☑️ Lock your car and hotel or apartment doors at all times.
Don’t let worrying about safety keep you from enjoying an amazing experience in this vibrant Yucatan city.
Where to Stay in Merida with Kids
There are amazing hotels in Merida, but also some great vacation rentals. You can spend hundreds of dollars for a fancy hotel or $20 USD per day on a budget-friendly Airbnb.
There are also some pretty nice hotels for under $50-$100 per night depending on the season!
The key is to ensure you’re staying near a majority of activities you want to enjoy in order to minimize the time you spend driving around the city.
If you want to be close to most of the items on this list, then a hotel within a few blocks of Plaza Grande is ideal.
👉 You can find some great Merida hotel deals here!
A solid second choice for a neighborhood to stay in Merida with kids is pretty much anywhere along the Paseo Montejo. This avenue has a number of fabulous restaurants.
It’s also a fairly major thoroughfare that allows easy access to most of the major tourist destinations in Merida.
What to Do in Merida with Kids
These are our top things to do in Merida with kids, organized by theme and location for ease of planning your itinerary.
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Get Cultured at a Museum
1. Museo Mundo Maya
☑️ Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily; closed Tuesdays
☑️ Location: C. 60 299 E, Unidad Revolución, 97110 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: 150 pesos per adult, discounts are available for kids
☑️ Food on Site: Small cafe with snacks, drinks, and coffee
While it’s no National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, the Mayan World Museum is a lot of fun in Merida with kids! It’s a bit smaller than the massive one in Mexico’s capital. However, that doesn’t mean it skimps on the fun.
It offers interactive screens in most rooms, quizzes about Mayan culture, a fun activity to find your horoscope in the Mayan calendar, and opportunities to learn about the history and daily life of the Mayan people.
2. Museo Fernando García Ponce-Macay
☑️ Hours: 10 am to 2 pm, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
☑️ Location: Ex Ateneo Peninsular, C. 60 502B-Altos, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Adults 40 pesos, Yucatan residents 20 pesos; children and people with disabilities are free
☑️ Food on Site: No. Restaurants nearby.
Also known as the Museum of Contemporary Art, or MACAY, this museum opened in 1994. It has a wide variety of modern art forms on display in a multi-level Spanish colonial Hacienda.
While kids don’t always enjoy endless art displays, Little Man did love the open-air courtyard, though. I like this museum because it’s big enough for me to get a little culture but not so big that kids get bored and whiney.
3. Railroad Museum
☑️ Hours: 10 am to 2 pm daily
☑️ Location: Between Calle 48 y Calle 46, C. 43 429, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: 30 pesos for adults, 15 pesos for kids
☑️ Food on Site: No. Bring your own water & snacks.
This was our favorite museum in Merida with kids! El Museo de los Ferrocarriles Yucatan, or the Museum of Yucan Railroads, is a child’s dream place. There are railroad cars from various time periods over the last couple hundred years.
Safety Tip: The trains are in various stages of disrepair so wear closed toe shoes when visiting the museum.
Railroads were key to Yucatán’s development in the 1800s because they connected the Peninsula’s many henequen plantations with the Caribbean ports. The train museum is a perfect chance to learn about local history while having a lot of fun!
Kids and adults can climb on, and often inside, these train cars. Even the restrooms are inside a converted train!
4. Palacio Canton
☑️ Hours: 8 am to 5 pm; closed Sunday & Monday
☑️ Location: P.º de Montejo 485, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: $65 pesos per person
☑️ Food on Site: No. Bring your own water & snacks.
The Canton Palace is also known as the Museum of Anthropology and History. This lavish museum offers rotating exhibits throughout the year that are dedicated to the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Pro Tip: All of the museum signage in Spanish. Download a translation app.
Many items are art and artifacts from the various groups of people who inhabited the region prior to Spanish colonization. This includes the Olmecs and the Mayans.
5. Museo de la Ciudad
☑️ Hours: 9 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Friday; 9 am to 2 pm Saturday & Sunday
☑️ Location: C. 56 529A, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Free
☑️ Food on Site: No. Bring your own water & snacks.
The Museum of the city of Merida is a bright pink building in Centro. It’s actually the former Mexico Post Office for the region. The museum alternates items of historical significance with modern works by local artists.
While it doesn’t sound particularly kid-friendly, this museum does have really creative special exhibits. It’s even had special showcases relating to video games and cartoon characters!
Since it’s free, make sure to stop by while you’re in Merida with kids to see what weird exhibits they have on display!
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Go to the Playground
Sometimes, kids just need to blow off some steam. Especially after spending a few hours at a museum. Merida has a lot of parks with playgrounds. That’s one of the reasons it’s so great to visit Merida with kids.
These are a few of our favorites:
6. Parque San Juan
☑️ Hours: 24 hours
☑️ Location: Calle 67A 529, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
This is the first park we visited in Merida. It has a large plaza with traditional play space. We loved that the play space is covered.
Pro Tip: Merida can get extremely hot. Covered and cooled activities will be essential around midday.
The playground was really just a single play structure, and no swings. Instead, Little Man preferred climbing the giant tree next to the play space. It was really run! There are also usually several cart vendors selling ice cream so take a few pesos.
7. Templo de la Candelaria
☑️ Hours: 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday; 10 am to 2 pm Saturday;
10 am to 1 pm Sunday
☑️ Location: Calle 64ᴬ, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
Ok, this spot isn’t a park. But it is right around the corner from Parque San Juan is Templo de la Candelaria. If you get too hot, this church is a great spot to stop in and cool off. It doesn’t get many tourists but it’s a real treasure in Merida.
It’s a more than 316-year-old church. It’s also one of the few “very old” churches in the region that weren’t pillaged and destroyed by the federal forces during the Mexican revolution.
8. Parque Santa Lucia
☑️ Hours: 24 hours
☑️ Location: Calle 60 476A, Parque Santa Lucia, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
Parque Santa Lucia is a lively, palm-fringed plaza in Centro. It’s home to a popular dance event called the Yucatan Serenade, which has been held on Thursday nights for decades.
Pro Tip: Sit in the giant chairs for a fun family photo op.
There’s a variety of dining options at the gourmet-style Mexican cantinas, Italian trattorias, and Argentinian grill restaurants that ring the park. However, while all of that is nice the real draw is the larger-than-life chairs.
So here’s a photo of our friends’ kids for scale.
9. Parque De La Alemán
☑️ Hours: 24 hours
☑️ Location: Calle 21 281F, Miguel Alemán, 97148 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Funfair: Opens at 6 pm
This park is located a bit east of the city center. It takes up an entire block and has a playground, a skate park, a grassy area, a small funfair, and a large multiuse area. If it’s not being used for fitness classes, kids seem to enjoy riding bikes there.
Pro Tip: The funfair rides cost is 30 pesos, so bring cash.
The park is busiest in the evenings. Even if you don’t plan to enjoy the funfair, take some extra pesos. There are always a few food carts at the park, especially in the evenings. Our favorites are marquesitas!
10. Parque de Las Americas
☑️ Hours: 24 hours
☑️ Location: Between Calle 20 y 23, Av. Colón, 97070 Mérida, Yucatan
In addition to a cool multiuse area, a half-dome ampitheater, and running track, this park has our favorite playground Merida has to offer. It’s music-themed and also lights up.
Pro Tip: Visit the playground in the evenings when you can get the full effect of the play equipment.
There are also a couple of trampolines in the playground for kids to enjoy. These are paid activities (30 pesos/kid) run by park staff.
While they generally open around 6 pm, no one showed up to run them while we were there at 7 pm. So the trampolines seem to be a hit-or-miss activity.
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Wander the Paseo Montejo
The Paseo Montejo is one of the major thoroughfares in Merida. It connects Centro (at Calle 48) to the northern part of the city. There are many restaurants and coffee shops on this street as well as some cool activities to enjoy.
Pro Tip: Skip the carriage ride. They look fun but often the horses are not treated well.
11. Casa Museo Montes Molina
☑️ Hours: 10 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday
☑️ Location: P.º de Montejo 469, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: 75 pesos for adults 12+, 50 pesos for kids under 12
This historic home museum showcases the history of the house, its builders, and the Montes Molina family. They were one of the most prosperous Merida families involved with the henequen trade.
Fun Fact: Members of the Molina family still live in this house so you can only tour parts of it.
In Mérida, it is the only home in its original state that has its doors open to the public. It’s truly a living museum that has sustained the test of time.
While the exhibits may not be the most exciting thing you’ll do in Merida with kids, at least with younger tikes, they are certainly going to be a unique aspect of your visit
12. Biciruta de Paseo de Montejo
☑️ Hours: 10 am to 2 pm on Sundays
☑️ Location: P
☑️ Cost: Free, but you may need to rent a bike if you don’t own one.
Did you know that you can bike the streets of Merida on Sunday mornings?! It’s true! The city shuts down the Paseo de Montejo to vehicles for several hours each Sunday. This allows you to explore a bit of Merida on bikes with kids.
Pro Tip: Rent your bike in advance if you have special kid-related needs.
The specialty bikes, with child seats and such, tend to go pretty fast. You can rent a bike at Bici Merida. They’re on Paseo de Montejo between Calles 45 and 47.
If you can’t get the bike type you need or you don’t want to bike, you can also walk, jog, run, and push strollers on the street.
This is a community event that welcomes everyone, including people with disabilities who need wheelchair assistance. Just don’t plan to drive!
13. C.A.C.A.O.
☑️ Hours: 9 am to 9 pm Tuesday to Saturday; 9am to 6 pm Sundays
☑️ Location: P.º de Montejo 490, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost:
This chocolate museum offers tours and shopping for all things chocolate. They offer factory tours and workshops to educate visitors on the traditional Mayan methods for making chocolate.
In addition, they sell cocoa products, cocoa derivatives, and handicrafts in their on-site store.
Of course, this place is a huge hit with kids because it’s all about one of their favorite food groups. Little Man insists we visit chocolate museums wherever we go in Mexico!
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Get Out of Town
There are enough fun things to do in Merida to keep you busy on a week’s vacation and beyond. However, there are some really cool activities outside the city as well.
Pro Tip: I highly recommend you take at least two day trips while visiting Merida with kids.
14. Plan Some Day Trips
From freshwater swimming holes (called cenotes) and archaeological sites to beaches and nature experiences, there are a wide variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Don’t forget the various hacienda tours Merida has in the nearby vicinity! Some are truly a step backward in time.
There are so many amazing day trips from Merida that I wrote a completely separate post about it!
One truly unique day trip option is visiting a Pueblo Magico. These “magic towns” are identified and promoted by the Mexican government as having something truly special and unique to offer visitors.
We have been to several of them throughout Mexico including Bacalar, Chignahuapan, and Valladolid.
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Explore Plaza Grande
Plaza Grande, or the Big Public Square, has a lot of major tourist attractions around the outside.
However, Little Man loved walking through the plaza itself because all the trees are manicured into squares.
He said it was like walking through a Minecraft world. For the rest of the week, he talked about “Minecraft Plaza.”
I share this story as a reminder: don’t be afraid to do things with your kids that might seem boring. They often find joy in unexpected places.
15. Merida Walking Tour
☑️ Hours: 9:30 am, Monday to Saturday
☑️ Location: Calle 62, Inside the ground floor of the Municipal Palace
☑️ Cost: Free but tips are appreciated
This walking tour of Merida’s historic center is generally pretty popular. It’s first-come, first-serve so be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early to get a ticket. Tour groups are limited to 25 people.
Pro Tip: There’s more information here on the Free Historic Center Tour.
The walking tour highlights important historical buildings, museums, and a large number of cultural activities.
👉 If you want a private tour or a different starting time, take this walking tour instead.
A walking tour is a great way to start a visit to Merida with kids because it helps you get your bearings. It can also help to decide what you may want to see in Centro during your visit.
👉 If your kids can’t handle 90 minutes of walking, consider the hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Merida!
16. “Domingo en Merida”
☑️ Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
☑️ Location: Plaza Grande
☑️ Cost: Free
Sunday in Merida is the best time for live music and dancing in Plaza Grande. The surrounding streets are closed to traffic and pop-up restaurants are set up across from the Cathedral. In the evening, the live music begins.
This is a fun and festive atmosphere. Many locals show up dressed to impress. Whether you plan to dance or people-watch, this is definitely something to do in Merida with kids that you don’t want to miss!
17. Pasaje de La Revolución
☑️ Hours: 24 hours
☑️ Location: Calle 58 508, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Free
The Passage of the Revolution is a pedestrian walkway that starts at Plaza Grande and ends on Calle 58. As its name entails, it commemorates Mexico’s revolution and independence.
Pro Tip: The walkway is covered so it’s an easy way to beat the heat.
There are some really cool art exhibits along this path. In addition, it’s the only way to access #2 (the Museum of Contemporary Art) in this list.
18. Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Yucatán
☑️ Hours: 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday
☑️ Location: Corner of Calle 60 and Calle 61, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Free
I didn’t know what to expect when we visited the Yucatan Governor’s Mansion. But it was really cool! Turns out, the governor no longer lives there.
This elegant 1890s government building has an arcaded courtyard as well as murals of key local events and people.
Family Note: There are some paintings of the enslavement of the Mayans by the Spanish conquistadors
These artworks made for some productive family conversations. We don’t shy away from tough topics as we travel. It’s part of our education process.
If your kids ask questions about the art they see, your best bet is to answer them honestly. You’ll all appreciate that honesty as they grow.
19. Olimpo Cultural Center
☑️ Hours: 9 am to 2 pm Monday to Saturday; 9 am to 5 pm Sunday
☑️ Location: Corner Calle 62 and Calle 61, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Free
This modern cultural center opened in 1999. It offers a planetarium, art exhibits, and film screenings. The art and film offerings do rotate regularly, but they are really cool. During our visit, there was an exhibition of 1890s art by Marc Chagall.
Bonus: The center offers free toilet facilities upstairs.
Occasionally, the planetarium also doubles as a performing arts center. When you arrive in Merida, stop by the information desk at Olimpo Center to find out the events scheduled during your visit.
20. Photograph the Merida Sign
☑️ Hours: 24 hours, although daytime is better for photography
☑️ Location: In Plaza Grande
☑️ Cost: Free
Towns all over Mexico have amazing rainbow-colored signs. They are a huge tourist draw and are often found in picturesque locations. Merida is no exception.
Pro Tip: Take a photo from behind the Merida sign and then flip it horizontally, for a unique view of Merida that most people won’t have.
This is a fun thing to do in Merida with kids because you can get some great photos of them really easily. We always have Little Man do a few smiley photos mixed in with goofy faces, which he thinks are really fun.
21. Museo Casa Montejo
☑️ Hours: 11 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Saturday; 11 am to 2 pm Sunday
☑️ Location: Calle 63 506, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: 20 pesos
Museo Casa Montejo, a stately, restored 16th-century house-turned-museum off Plaza Grande features art exhibitions & cultural events.
It has a traditional courtyard in the middle and a beautiful walkway around it, which you can explore in addition to the various rooms of the house.
The interior rooms stay fairly cool, so this is another great way to beat the afternoon heat. If your kids are anything like mine, you’re going to need promises of cool air and/or ice cream to get them into another museum. This one is worth it!
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Free Daily Cultural Events
There are free daily cultural events at the Catedral de San Ildefonso in Centro. Some of them are later in the evening at 8 pm or 9 pm. Often these are cultural performances like dancing or plays.
While great for general tourism, they aren’t always ideal or the most exciting for families with smaller kids. There are two options I do recommend for families to attend, though.
22. See a Light Show
☑️ Hours: 8 pm to 9 pm on Fridays; arrive by 7:30 pm
☑️ Location: Cathedral de San Ildefonso
☑️ Cost: Free
Each Friday, the city projects a light display called, “Sacred Stones” on the façade of the church. This show teaches the history of the building’s construction on top of T’Hó, an ancient and sacred Mayan city.
Although the story is a bit sad, the images are lovely. It is a unique way to learn more about history while visiting Merida with kids in a way that actually engages them.
23. Watch a Mayan Ball Game
☑️ Hours: 8 pm to 9 pm on Wednesdays; arrive by 7:15 pm
☑️ Location: Cathedral de San Ildefonso
☑️ Cost: Free
In Merida, they re-enact a real Pok To Pok game weekly. Pok Ta Pok is an ancient Mayan ball game that’s been played for centuries. Most Mayan ruins have a Pok Ta Pok ball court on them.
Fun Fact: If you visit Chichen Itza, you’ll see the world’s largest Pok Ta Pok ball court at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World!
It was rumored that members of the losing team would be sacrificed to the gods in centuries past, as this was a serious game.
However, historians now understand that the winners were often elevated to important community roles after a token sacrifice. This was typically a small cut on the arm or hand.
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Get Some Energy Out
After all the museums and cultural things to do in Merida with kids, it’s important to remember to let them just have fun. Thankfully, Merida has some great places for that as well!
24. La Isla Mall
☑️ Hours: 11 am to 10 pm daily
☑️ Location: Calle 24 608, Santa Gertrudis Copo, 97308 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Varies. Pay per activity.
☑️ Food On-Site: Yes, a variety of restaurants
The first thing you see when approaching La Isla Mall is the enormous Hot-Air Balloon. It’s visible from more than 6 miles away!
There’s also a variety of restaurants, a Cable Park with water skiing, a theater with shows every night, and a pretty extensive selection of rotating musical, artistic, and cultural events.
The real draw for families and kids is the Barrio Frenezi Neighborhood Amusement Park. This place feels like a carnival and has rides that appeal to both adults and kids.
There’s a ferris wheel, air swings, bumper cars, rotating rides, a train, and more. There’s even a skills arcade to try and win prizes.
Safety Tip: The minimum age to ride the rides is 1.2 meters (just under 4 ft).
25. Skate at Ice Gallerie
☑️ Hours: 11 am to 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday
☑️ Location: Galleria Mall, Calle 60 229-a, 97110 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: 140 pesos per person, including skate rental
☑️ Food On-Site: Yes, a variety of restaurants
Did you know that you can ice skate in Merida! It’s true. While it may seem kind of odd to be ice skating in such a hot climate, we can vouch for it actually being a lot of fun!
Pro Tip: Bring your own socks so you don’t have to buy them at the mall.
Don’t worry if you or your kiddos don’t know how to skate. There are instructors and assistants on the ice to help you out!
26. Balneario Agua Azul
☑️ Hours: 10 am to 5 pm Thursday
☑️ Location: Calle 31 Diagonal and Calle 32, 97306 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: 60 pesos for everyone 3+ cash only
☑️ Food On-Site: Yes, the restaurant is cash only.
Not to be confused with the waterpark of the same name in Puebla, we spent the day here with some new friends and had a blast!
There are two pool areas. The big one is about 4.5 feet deep and has two different water slides.
The thin yellow slide is steep and a bit bumpy. Oppositely, the blue one is wide with a gentler slope.
Pro Tip: The restaurant service is very slow. Even if you aren’t hungry, order food when you arrive. Our food took over an hour to be served.
The other pool is much shallower. It only came up to my knees. There are two smaller water slides as well as a large, overhead splash bucket.
It’s an area geared toward families with smaller children. However, it’s nice that regardless of your kid’s age(s) there’s something for everyone!
27. Parque Zoologico Animaya
☑️ Hours: 8 am to 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday
☑️ Location: Calle 60 866, Cd Caucel, 97314 Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Free! A train takes you around the zoo for 5 pesos each
☑️ Food On-Site: Yes, one dining room. The only place eating is allowed.
Animaya features mammals & reptiles, a boat ride, and an observation tower modeled after a Mayan stele.
Guests can only go in one path throughout the zoo, so you’re sure to see everything at some point. The required direction is clearly marked.
There’s also a small splash pad, called an aquatic park. Bring your kiddo’s swimwear and a change of clothes.
On busy days, time in the splash pad is limited to 45 minutes including changing clothes. Plan your visit accordingly.
Well, roam free to an extent. Carnivores aren’t placed with their preferred prey! All the non-carnivorous plains animals are free to interact with each other. The animals all seem very comfortable and well-fed.
We don’t normally recommend zoos because animal treatment can be very questionable. However, Animaya has embraced the open concept zoo plan.
This means that the (very well cared for) animals roam free, while the humans are behind the fences.
28. Parque de Deportes Extremos
☑️ Hours: 1 pm to 8 pm Tuesday to Sunday
☑️ Location: Calle 132 349, Bosques del Poniente, Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: FREE
☑️ Food On-Site:
This “extreme sports” park is a newer addition to Merida, as it only opened at the end of 2021. The park offers peddle carts, trampolines, ropes courses, rock climbing, a maze, a train, and more.
Pro Tip: Wear closed-toe shoes. They’re mandatory for both the ropes course and rock climbing.
Generally, the park is less crowded shortly after it opens while people are still at work or school. It gets pretty busy as the day goes on. Weekends are also very crowded. To do the most activities, go on a weekday right when they open.
29. Parque Ecológico Del Poniente
☑️ Hours: 24 hours, not much to see or do at dark though
☑️ Location: Sin Nombre de Col 9, Mérida, Yucatan
☑️ Cost: Free
☑️ Food On-Site: No.
Located across the street from the extreme sports park, Poniente Ecological Park’s biggest draws are its large duck pond and walking trails. Little Man enjoyed climbing on the big rocks.
According to Google, there was a swimming pool. However, when we found it the area was closed off and the pool was empty. So don’t plan to swim if you come here.
There is a large sandpit with some old, metal play equipment inside. The play structures get pretty hot in the sun, so I’d recommend going here early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Things to Do in Merida with Kids: Eat Amazing Food
In recent years, Merida has been developing a reputation as a foodie city. There are many tasty things to try there, from cochinita pibil and queso relleno to huevos motulenos and sopa de lima.
Don’t be afraid to try them all! Even Little Man enjoyed the cheese stuffed with meat, called queso relleno.
30. Try Some Unique Restaurants
Before visiting Merida, we binged the series Heavenly Bites: Mexico. This gave us several amazing restaurants to try in Merida, from street food to regular dining restaurants.
How fun would it be to tell your family and friends you ate somewhere, “As Seen on Netflix?
You can also visit the Museum of Yucatan Gastronomy, also called La Museo de Gastronomia Yucateca or MUGY.
This unique restaurant in Merida Centro offers a unique culinary experience that is seldom seen anywhere in the world.
They serve authentic Yucatan cuisine that is prepared the traditional way, using only the highest quality ingredients. In addition, you get to see how the food is prepared in several live stations.
Conclusion: Merida with Kids
If you want to visit one of the best cities in Mexico on your next vacation, then Merida, Mexico definitely needs to be on your list. Clearly, we didn’t need to wonder what to do in Merida with kids.
Children are celebrated and welcomed there, so it’s easy to understand why it’s becoming so popular. Plus, even after seeing and doing a lot during our visit, we still feel like we barely scratched the surface in this fun Yucatan town.
👉 While we have global health insurance for our day-to-day lives, we also elect travel insurance with SafetyWing for our spurts of fast travel adventure!
