Chichen Itza
A major Maya city whose stepped pyramid, El Castillo, huge ball court and Sacred Cenote draw visitors from across Yucatán. It is a long day trip from Mérida.
Merida and Chichen Itza
Colonial and elegant, Yucatan's capital is a base for the great pyramid of Chichen Itza and the cenotes nearby for swimming.
Attractive locations
Uxmal
A Maya city in the Puuc hills south of Mérida, notable for the tall Pyramid of the Magician and a long, richly carved Nunnery quadrangle. Walking paths link its plazas and temples.
Mérida Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral on the main plaza, one of the oldest on the American mainland. Its plain stone front and large interior reflect early Spanish colonial architecture. Dress modestly when visiting.
Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
Modern museum on the city's northern side, with a large collection on Maya history, language and daily life. Displays cover ancient and living Maya culture, with many objects from Yucatán sites.
Dzibilchaltun
Ancient Maya site north of the city, famous for the Temple of the Seven Dolls and for a bright-green cenote where visitors can swim. A long causeway links the temple and the plaza.
Ik Kil Cenote
A round cenote, or natural sinkhole, with sheer walls and hanging vines near Chichen Itza. Visitors swim in its deep pool, reached by steps cut into the rock.
Izamal
A colonial town with buildings painted a warm yellow. A large Franciscan convent stands on a Maya pyramid base, and visitors tour the streets in horse-drawn carriages.
Airports
Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport MID
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Merida and Chichen Itza.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan23.3 °C33 mm
- Feb24.9 °C29 mm
- Mar26.6 °C20 mm
- Apr28.8 °C26 mm
- May29.5 °C73 mm
- Jun28.2 °C183 mm
- Jul27.8 °C128 mm
- Aug27.8 °C152 mm
- Sep27.1 °C188 mm
- Oct26.0 °C127 mm
- Nov24.4 °C52 mm
- Dec23.9 °C34 mm
Driest months: Feb, Mar, Apr. Wettest months: Jun, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 54% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Angeles Verdes (Secretaria de Turismo) - line 078
Helps with: The tourism ministry's road-traveller line. Call 078 for minor roadside help, tourist information, or to have an emergency report passed to the right authority. Covers federal highways.
Who qualifies: Travellers on Mexico's federal highways, within the Angeles Verdes coverage area.
Phone: 078
Email: atencion078@sectur.gob.mx
ngo
Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross)
Helps with: Mexico's national Red Cross society. Its site says it responds to disasters and medical emergencies and gives food, shelter, medical care and psychosocial support.
Who qualifies: People in Mexico affected by emergencies or disasters, or in need of its medical and humanitarian services.
local government
National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED)
Helps with: Mexico's national disaster prevention centre. It monitors the Popocatepetl volcano and publishes alert levels and public safety information.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Mexico looking for official disaster and volcano alert information.
Email: direcciongeneral@cenapred.unam.mx
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mexico
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Mexico since 2004. It supports migrants, displaced people and returnees, including a campaign against trafficking of migrant women and girls.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +52 55 5536 3922
Address: Avenida Presidente Masaryk 101, Piso 18, Colonia Polanco V Seccion, Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11560, Ciudad de Mexico
embassy
Foreign embassies in Mexico City (city government list, partial)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. Mexico City's government page lists about 25 of the roughly 86 embassies, with address and phone.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy.
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911