arquitectura-de-merida

Historic Facades of Merida

Merida is a city that makes you want to stay a bit longer, to enjoy the warmth of both its people and climate.

Located on the southeastern end of Mexico, our city is famous for its hospitality. It is one of the main cities in the Yucatan Peninsula, and boasts a host of attractions that will turn your visit into an unforgettable experience.

Geographic location

Merida is located less than 50 km from the Gulf of Mexico, on the northeast part of the State of Yucatan, which occupies the northernmost third of the Yucatan Peninsula. The city’s coordinates are 20° 58′ 04 » N, 89° 37′ 18″ W.

Yucatan borders with the State of Quintana Roo to the east, the State of Campeche to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico to the north. Yucatan has a very flat landscape and most of the State is slightly above sea level.

Language, Weather, Currency

Language

In Merida, the capital of the State of Yucatan, the prevailing language is Spanish. However, Yucatec Maya is still spoken in neighboring rural communities.

Yucatec Maya is an Amerindian language of the Mayan language family, now spoken in the peninsular States of Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo, as well as in Belize and some parts of Guatemala.

Maya is a widely spoken and taught language. There are specialized academies focusing on teaching it and spreading its use.

Since the General Act on Linguistic Rights was passed in 2003, Yucatec Maya, along with all Mexican indigenous tongues, has been recognized also as an official language.

Weather

The weather of Merida and the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula is warm and humid. There is a long rainy season from May to January, although rains during the dry months (February, March and April) are not unheard of. The warmest months are April and May, when temperature reaches 40°C (104°F).

According to meteorologists, Merida’s weather falls in the “Awo” category (warm, sub-humid, with summer rains). Average temperature is 26.61°C (80°F).

The predominant winds blow from the southeast (known in Maya as «lahunlakin ik»), the northeast («xamanxikin ik») and the north («xaman ik»). Mild tropical storms occur sporadically between August and October. Between September and January, winds blowing from the north bring about cool and overcast spells which last several days. Between these relieving periods, “kin”, the sun, shines over Merida almost as intensely as during the summer.

Currency

The Mexican peso is the national currency of Mexico. The name “peso” refers to two different Mexican currency units. The first one was identified by the code ISO MXP and was in use until December 31st 1992, while the second one started circulating on January 1st 1993, and is identified by the code ISO MXN. The latter was known as new peso until 1995, and has been simply called “peso” since January 1st 1996.

How to get here

Due to its strategic location, Merida is easily accessed by air, land and sea, through a vast transportation network.

The State of Yucatan has two airports: Merida’s “Manuel Crescencio Rejon” International Airport, and another one serving travelers to Chichen Itza, in the Municipality of Kaua. Both airports receive international and domestic flights.
Mexico and Central America are well connected by an extensive road network. This network includes highways that link Merida to Cancun, Campeche and the nearby port of Progreso, located just a few kilometers to the north.
In addition, numerous modern roads irradiate from Merida, connecting the city with several tourist and commercial destinations within the State of Yucatan and beyond.

Whether by sea, air or land, Merida is a major destination and departure point, a place to meet, and a springboard for travelers from all over the world.