An example of Merida’s well-preserved colonial architecture © Cliff Wilkinson / Captured on Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge

An example of Merida’s well-preserved colonial architecture © Cliff Wilkinson / Captured on Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge.

 

Mérida’s cultural offering is like no other on the Yucatán Peninsula (sorry, Cancún, you’ve got pretty beaches, but party culture doesn’t count). On any given day you’ll find a dizzying array of live music, art shows and dance performances, and the booming culinary scene is hotter than a Habanero pepper. This year Mérida has been designated the American Capital of Culture, meaning visitors can expect a ginormous cultural extravaganza as organisers stage a series of large-scale events throughout 2017. And here’s the kicker: the so-called White City ranks among the safest places in Mexico nowadays.