Looking for an off the beaten path getaway in Mexico? If you’ve already explored Riviera Maya, why not venture inland and spend 3 days in Merida!
Recently, I stayed at the ultra luxurious Chable Yucatan resort and spent three days exploring the area around Merida, Mexico.
Merida is the capital city of Yucatan and is a great base for exploring the area’s cenotes, Mayan ruins, historic architecture, lush jungles and so much more.
In this three day itinerary for Merida, I’m sharing exactly what I did during my luxury getaway while basing myself at Chable Yucatan (about 40 minutes from downtown Merida). However, you could easily use this 3 day Merida itinerary while staying elsewhere. And, of course, I’ll share my other recommendations for the best places to stay in Merida, Mexico as well.
Here’s how to plan a luxury getaway with 3 days in Merida, Mexico!
When is the Best Time to Visit Merida, Mexico?
Wondering about the weather in Merida? The best months to visit Merida are December through March as the weather is dry and not quite as hot as April and May. During April and May, temperatures can soar over 100 degrees!
June through November is rainy as it’s prime hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico. As this is considered the off-season, hotel prices will generally be lower and crowds will have dissipated.
I visited Merida in March and, while it was quite humid at times, the weather was perfect for enjoying the pool at Chable Yucatan or hopping into a freshwater cenote!
How To Get to Merida, Mexico
Merida International Airport is just minutes from the city center and about 30 minutes from Chable Yucatan. From the US, there are direct flights to Merida from Miami, Houston and Dallas.
Since I was traveling from southern California, I flew from Los Angeles to Miami and spent a few nights enjoying Miami. Then, I took a quick direct flight from Miami to Merida. Overall, it was a great way to break up the travel and made for a wonderful tropical getaway!
Another option is to fly into Cancun or Cozumel airports and drive to Merida, Mexico. While it’s about a 4-hour drive, there are plenty of things to see on a Yucatan road trip. Chichen Itza and Valladolid would be a great stopover!
How to Spend 3 Days in Merida, Mexico
Day 1: Relax at Chable Yucatan + Dinner at IXI’IM
After arriving in Merida, check into your casita at Chable Yucatan and get settled for the next few days.
Chable Yucatan is a gorgeous award-winning resort and spa focusing on wellness and relaxation. Located 25 miles from Merida, the resort is centered around a renovated hacienda and blends traditional and modern styles. And, guests can enjoy a tranquil spa, luxurious rooms and incredible restaurant.
Each casita has a private pool and comes with bicycles to explore the resort. I recommend taking a relaxing dip in the pool and then hopping on your bike to explore the resort. There are tennis courts, herbal gardens, a relaxing pool club, freshwater cenote at the spa and so much more — so get to know the lay of the land!
→ Make a Chable Yucatan Reservation
Have dinner at IXI’IM
IXI’IM is a fine dining restaurant located in the former engine room of the hacienda at Chable Yucatan resort. The restaurant blends traditional stone architecture with modern elements like glass and iron creating a unique and beautiful ambience.
The food is modern Mayan-Mexican and features an incredible menu created by famed chef Jorge Vallejo. My top tips for dining at IXI’IM: make sure to book a reservation in advance and try the chef’s tasting menu!
Hotels in Merida, Mexico
Wondering where to stay in Merida? If you’d prefer to be in the center of the action in downtown Merida or looking for a different budget range, here are some of the other exceptional hotel options I recommend:
- Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel + Spa: an all pink hotel with a pool and rooftop… yes, please!
- The Diplomat Boutique Hotel: beautifully designed boutique hotel in the center of Merida.
- Hotel Unknown: this boutique hotel looks more like a traditional hacienda but with modern amenities and a pool!
- Wayam Mundo Imperial: this hotel is a bit larger than most of the boutique hotels in town but it has a beautiful, trendy aesthetic with a rooftop pool and view of Merida.
- Ya’ax Hotel Boutique: a gorgeous boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Merida with an outdoor pool and beautifully appointed rooms.
Day 2: Hotel Activities + Explore Downtown Merida
After your “eye opener” (complimentary coffee and pastries) arrives to your casita, it’s time to for your day 2 Merida itinerary to start.
Spend the morning enjoying some of the superb amenities at Chable Yucatan. Such as the world-renowned spa that is centered around a cenote. Starting the day off with a massage is never a bad idea!
Or try your hand at their Wellness Golf which is a relaxed version of golf — you can literally play barefoot! And, the beautiful nine-hole golf course was designed for guests to connect with nature.
Explore Downtown Merida
After your relaxing morning, head into downtown Merida to explore for the rest of the day. So what are the best things to do in Merida?
Walk along Paseo de Montejo
Perhaps Merida’s most notable avenue, Paseo de Montejo is lined with colorful colonial mansions and dotted with quaint cafes. Don’t miss stopping at Monumento a la Patria, Merida’s iconic monument.
If you’re hungry after all that walking, check out Taqueria La Lupita at Parque de Santiago for some delicious, authentic tacos! Make sure to try the cochinita pibil, a regional speciality.
Check out Plaza Grande + the Merida Cathedral
Plaza Grande is the focal point of the city and one of the most popular plazas to relax in. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Merida! Take a seat on one of the many “Tú y Yo” (or You and I) chairs and perhaps catch a live musical performance.
Next to Plaza Grande is the striking Merida Cathedral. Built on the site of a former Mayan temple in 1598, the cathedral is steeped in history and is the oldest cathedral in Mexico!
Drinks at Picheta
Pop up to the rooftop for drinks at Picheta to watch the sun set over Plaza Grande. Stay until dusk when the cathedral lights up and you can take in the views of Merida at night! In my opinion, this is a must see in Merida — it was such a magical way to watch the sunset.
Dinner at Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca (MUGY)
For a traditional Yucatan meal, head to Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca for dinner. I enjoyed sitting in their lively courtyard, trying some new traditional Yucatan dishes and listening to the live music!
After dinner, we had a nightcap at Patio Petanca which was a cute outdoor bar where guests can play petanque (a game similar to bocce ball).
Day 3: Cenote Hopping
No trip to Merida is complete without swimming in a cenote! Luckily, there are tons of cenotes near Merida, Mexico. So to finish off your 3 days in Merida, spend the day swimming in some of the best cenotes on the Yucatan peninsula.
Cenote San Ignacio: Located just minutes from Chable Yucatan, in the tiny town of Chocola, Cenote San Ignacio is a small underground cenote with beautiful clear water. There is a boutique hotel and restaurant that has been built around it so it’s definitely not off the beaten path but we didn’t find it to be too busy. And with its proximity to Chable Yucatan, it’s absolutely worth a stop if you’re staying at the resort!
Cenote X-Batun at San Antonio de Mulix: This may just be my favorite cenote ever! With the vines hanging from above, the insanely turquoise water and lily pads, it looks like a scene from Fern Gully. While visiting Cenote X-Batun, we were mostly the only people there so we spend a while just floating in the waters and relaxing.
Cenote Kankirixche: A partially enclosed cenote, Kankirixche is illuminated by a light beam at the top of the cave. The light beam reveals sparkling blue water and a fairly deep cave for a refreshing swim.
Cenote Hacienda Mucuyche: This traditional hacienda is home to multiple cenotes. It’s a little different in that you must purchase an entrance ticket for a guided tour of the hacienda and cenotes but its interesting to learn the history and the cenotes are beautiful!
Tips for Visiting Cenotes near Merida
There are many more cenotes in the Merida area that are also worth visiting but these are the ones we decided on based on their proximity to Chable Yucatan.
Renting a car is the easiest way to visit the cenotes near Merida since most of them are quite a ways outside of downtown. Since we didn’t have a rental car, Chable Yucatan organized a cenote tour day trip for us. In the end, we were happy to have our super friendly driver navigate the roads for us and help us purchase the entrance tickets to each cenote. Especially since there was sometimes a language barrier!
Other Day Trips from Merida
If you would rather take in some of the interesting historical sites in Yucatan, these are some of the best day trips from Merida.
Chichen Itza and Valladolid: One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is an incredibly impressive Mayan complex. The nearby colonial town of Valladolid is also worth visiting!
→ Read Next: How to Spend One Day in Valladolid
Izamal: Considered one of Mexico’s “Pueblos Mágicos,” the all yellow Izamal is an important Maya archaeological zone and has an interesting colonial past.
That completes the 3 Days in Merida Itinerary! If you’re looking for even more Yucatan travel inspiration, check out the post on How to Spend One Day in Valladolid.
How would you recommend visiting Chichen Itza without a rental car? Is there a tour company you used?
If you don’t have a rental car, you can definitely take a tour to Chichen Itza from Merida. Our hotel offered private tours (you could ask yours!) or you could book a group tour online in advance! If you do go to Chichen Itza, Valladolid and a cenote visit is usually included in many of the tours (and definitely worth a stop!). Have a lovely time in Merida!