Cruise Port or Day Trip Exploring Mérida, Mexico
Short on time? Don’t let the time restriction prevent you from enjoying Mérida, Mexico and surrounding areas!
Do you only have a day to explore near Mérida, Mexico?
Here’s what you can experience to make the limited time memorable.
If you’re driving by or sailing through on a cruise ship at the Port of Progreso with only have a few hours to spend, you’ll still have enough time to sample a taste of Mérida’s heritage, history & hospitably.
On our last visit, we enjoy our short stay in Centro and the Paseo Montejo areas by taking walks tours. Spending the day exploring the history of the Mayan and Spanish culture through the different periods of architecture, discovering museums, restaurants,
sampling the delicious taste of the culture through
shops and art near the downtown area known as Centro.
the traditional foods that are special to the region just by walking down Calle 60 and de Montejo streets
You can’t help but learn about Mérida, the Capital City of the Yucatan.
Have you experience a Cenote yet?
The Cenote Xlacah is also a great place to take a swim, bird watching and enjoy nature. This site has a small fee to enter and is in managed by the Patronato Cultur and the National Institute of Anthropology & History (INAH), to protect the archaeological zone. Research further for current operations hours, cost and rules from the INAH.
Check out the tour guide apps, GetYourGuide , Viator , TripAdvisor for plenty of tours to explore Culinary, Cenotes, Ancient Ruins, Archaeology Astronomy sites, Ecological Reserves, Nature and Wildlife and so much more to choose from.
Want to tour a Historical Ruin, Chapel & Cenote?
Those who are looking for an easy to get to, low key day trip adventure that includes a historical ruin, 16th century Spanish open chapel that was built to blend with the Mayan architecture, with a cenote to enjoy for an outdoor adventure.
The Maya Ruin, Dzibilchaltún is also known as the Temple of the Seven Dolls or Temple of the Sun. It is an astronomical temple, during the spring and fall equinoxes it has prefect solar alignment with the sun. Check out local guided tours onGet Your Guide, Viatorfor an excursion to Dzibilchaltún, located approximately 30 minutes from the cruise ship ports in-between Mérida, Mexico and Progreso.
It’s smaller, normally less crowded than the more popular historic ruins that are further away and a great way to help with the stress of missing your leave of port and over-tourism by visiting the lesser known hidden-gems.
Should you visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá?
The famous Mayan ruins is a popular tourist spot in near Valladolid, Mexico. It is a full day trip and is very doable if you are visiting as a day trip, but caution if you’re visiting from a cruise ship.
If it’s on your bucket list, I would recommend checking with the cruise line to see if they offer a tour as part of their excursion package.
It’s an extremely popular destination, so your cruise line may offer the tour to Chichén Itza. Most cruises don’t give you a lot of time, so confirm their policies and ask all your questions before booking with them. Booking with your cruise line may cost more, but it should be less stressful. For extra peace of mind, check with your travel insurance company to see if you’re covered in case you run into an issue.
If you feel like enjoying a beautiful day at the beach with calm, shallow water. You can eat at beachfront restaurants, or rent a lounge chair at a beach club that will serve delicious Yucatecan food & drinks. Progresso is a great landing spot for the day. You can also do some shopping nearby at the vender’s market and take home a handmade hammock or a travel friendly “Jipijapa” hat to protect you from the sun.
What are you planning on exploring when you are passing through and only have a few hours by cruise or driving by? However, you decide to spend your day in Mérida, enjoy it. Take in the culture, Mayan food, sights and relax.
Dream! Plan! Go!
