Explore Mérida the most vibrant city in Mexico

Mérida is one of the most vibrant cities that Mexico has. Capital of the famous state of Yucatan, Mérida displays extraordinary beauty known as the "White City" thanks to the white colonial buildings and the overall cleanliness. 

Merida is a city with a tropical climate, Caribbean vibe, and a lot of cultural happenings. 

This attractive city was settled by the Spaniards in 1542, on the top of the Mayan city T'HO ruins. The enormous stones from the original buildings were crushed and used as a base for the main cathedral in Mérida and other structures built by the Spaniards.

The city plaza of Mérida is built in the center of the ancient town, and it is full of benches and exotic trees where you can rest after a city walk and enjoy the colonial buildings that surround the park. The streets in Mérida are closed for vehicles on Sundays, so if you want to rent a bike and roam the city, this would be the perfect time to do it.

If you don't want to walk or bike, take a city bus tour for overlooking the area and its spectacular white-stone structures. 

After giving yourself a couple of days of urban exploration, you can head 55 miles west of the city and visit the Celestun Biosphere Reserve to observe pink flamingos, monkeys, jaguars, and crocodiles. 

If you are into Mayan history, then Mérida is a perfect starting point for visiting the epic Chichen Itza and Uxmal.

For all foodies, I recommend taking a Yucatan cuisine cooking class in the city, and of course, visit one of the traditional restaurants that serve marinated pork in achiote, stuffed cheese or turkey in a spicy sauce. After having a full belly, you can head to Mambo Cafe for some salsa dancing and meeting new people. Good luck!