Visit Nearby Sites
In Mérida, history is all around you. To understand more about the Yucatán, you should take one or more short excursions into the countryside. You can either rent a car and drive yourself or take a tour with one of the following companies:
• Amigo Yucatán: 999-925-1785,
• Orbitur: 999-920-3085,
• Turitransmérida: 999-924-1199,
Along the way, you'll see magnificent haciendas. With the passage of time, many began to deteriorate — their owners abandoning them to rot in the tropical heat. Today, many have been restored as luxury hotels and inns. Of 362 haciendas, seventy-one retain their original detail and have been preserved.
Izamal
Forty-four miles east of Mérida lies the picturesque town of Izamal, perhaps the oldest town in the Yucatán. According to Mayan legend, Itzámna, the god of creation, created it and Mayan pilgrims journeyed there for centuries before the Spaniards arrived. More recently, it's known as La Ciudad de las Cerros (City of the Hills) because of the many pre-Columbian mounds that surround it. Out of a dozen, only one pyramid has been restored: Kinich Kakmó, believed to be dedicated to Chaac, the rain god.
In preparation for Pope John Paul II's visit in 1992, workers painted many of the town's buildings an egg-yolk yellow. Take a
La Ruta del Conventos (The Convent Route)
La Ruta del Conventos will take you into the heart of the Yucatán. Traveling through the countryside on the outskirts of Mérida, you'll visit Mayan villages, ruins, and colonial churches dating back centuries. While the best way to see this route is by renting a car and driving yourself, you can also go on guided tours from your hotel.
