What a marquesita is
Yucatán's tourism portal describes it as a kind of rolled crepe made from a thin batter that turns hard and crisp. The batter is spread evenly on a round griddle and rolled into a tube once cooked.
The filling
The traditional marquesita is filled with grated Edam-style cheese. From there you can add Nutella, cajeta, chocolate or condensed milk, even fruit. That sweet-and-salty combination is exactly what makes it special.
A Mérida story
Yucatán's tourism site places its origin in Mérida in the 1930s, with the story of an ice-cream seller who started selling wafers in winter. It's a popular tale; no independent historical source confirms it.
Fun variations
- Birza: in Dzilam de Bravo, the crisp shell with cheese and coconut ice cream.
- Octopus marquesita: a local creation in Río Lagartos, with octopus, cheese, cajeta and fruit.
Where to find them
The tourism portal mentions traditional carts downtown, on Calle 60, Paseo de Montejo and at Parque de las Américas, usually set up in the evening and on weekends. Hours vary.
Dessert after a day trip
If you're back from Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos with Mary Tours, you might compare Mérida's classic marquesita with Río Lagartos' octopus version. Trips leave from the office on Calle 61 downtown; schedules are in the booking section.
Fun facts
- The traditional marquesita is filled with Edam-style cheese.
- Río Lagartos has octopus marquesitas.
- The birza pairs a marquesita with coconut ice cream.
Related tours
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Genuinely pink lagoons, and flamingos in the estuary
from $1,400 MXN per person
See itinerary
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 7:00 AM Departure from the office — Almost three hours to the north coast, with a stop halfway.
- 9:50 AM Las Coloradas — A guided walk beside the pink, white and orange pools of the salt works. No swimming: it is a protected area.
- 11:00 AM Cancunito beach — A rustic beach inside the reserve, calm water and hardly anyone around.
- 12:30 PM Boat ride through the estuary — Channels through the mangroves, flamingo watching areas, crocodiles in their habitat and the mineral mud bath.
- 2:15 PM Lunch in Río Lagartos — Fresh fish, ceviche, octopus or tikin xic on the waterfront of the fishing village.
- 4:15 PM Back to Mérida — Nearly four hours back, arriving around eight.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat ride, Lunch from a set menu
Not included: Las Coloradas entrance, Drinks
Beach · 8 h
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Wooden swings driven straight into the sea
from $1,250 MXN per person
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Frequently asked questions
What is a marquesita?
A crisp rolled crepe, traditionally filled with Edam-style cheese.
Why cheese?
It's the traditional filling; the sweet-salty mix is its hallmark.
Where can I buy marquesitas in Mérida?
At carts downtown, on Calle 60, Paseo de Montejo and Parque de las Américas, mostly in the evening.
Where are they from?
Their origin is attributed to Mérida in the 1930s.
