Evening, Mérida's best hour
With the midday heat, many locals wait for sunset to head out. The city government schedules evening and nighttime cultural activities in downtown squares and avenues and posts them on its Capital Cultural calendar.
Ideas for evenings and nights
- Serenade in Santa Lucía: trova music and dance in an 1804 square, a tradition since 1965, usually on Thursdays.
- Noche Mexicana: a city program on Paseo de Montejo.
- Plaza Grande: a sunset stroll past the cathedral and the Government Palace.
- Paseo de Montejo: a walk among lit-up mansions.
- Mérida en Domingo: the Sunday program, at its current location.
The calendar rules
There's no guaranteed fixed lineup every night. What's on depends on the date and city announcements, and venues can change because of public works, as happened with Mérida en Domingo in 2024. Check the calendar the same day.
Tips
- Bring water and a fan: nights are warm too.
- Carry cash for snacks.
- Watch your belongings at busy events.
From day trip to downtown night
Mary Tours' office is at Calle 61 #518-B, between 62 and 64, just steps from the Plaza Grande. Its day trips to Chichén Itzá, the Homún cenotes, Celestún or the Caribbean leave from there. Day trips usually return in the afternoon, in time to enjoy Mérida's evenings. Schedules and prices are in the booking section on this page.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Thursday (traditionally) | Serenade in Santa Lucía |
| Sunday | Mérida en Domingo |
| Per the calendar | Noche Mexicana on Paseo de Montejo |
| Any evening | A stroll around the Plaza Grande |
Fun facts
- The Santa Lucía serenade has run since 1965.
- Noche Mexicana takes place on Paseo de Montejo.
- Mérida's cultural calendar changes every week.
Related tours
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Cenotes · 7 h
The four cenotes of Santa Bárbara
Four different cenotes and a lunch made by hand
from $1,450 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Homún, through the ring of cenotes.
- 11:00 AM Cascabel cenote — Closed, cave type. You descend inside and the water sits in half-light: the most striking of the four.
- 11:30 AM Chaksikín cenote — Semi-open. You go down between limestone walls painted with Maya-themed murals.
- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
- 12:30 PM Pool Cocom cenote — Open and surrounded by vegetation. You swim along a channel out to the wide part.
- 1:30 PM Regional lunch — Home cooking with hand-made tortillas. Plenty of time to eat without rushing.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Entry to all four cenotes, Regional lunch
Not included: Drinks with lunch
Beach · 8 h
North Coast and Isla Columpios
Wooden swings driven straight into the sea
from $1,250 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a quarter to the Chuburná harbour, where the boat leaves from.
- 11:30 AM Isla Columpios — Turquoise water barely past your knees, swings and hammocks over the sea, and mangrove all around full of birds.
- 1:00 PM Chuburná dunes — White sand mounds shaped by the wind, with nobody around. Good for walking and for photos.
- 2:30 PM Puerto Progreso — Free afternoon: eat on the seafront, walk the pier or stay on the beach.
- 5:30 PM Back to Mérida — Half an hour back, arriving around six.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Boat and Isla Columpios entry
Not included: Food, Drinks
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
- 12:15 PM Casa Tortuga cenotes and lunch — Four cenotes of different kinds, with a guided route, trails and changing rooms. Lunch is on site.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Mérida at night?
The Santa Lucía serenade, programs like Noche Mexicana or strolling downtown squares; check the city calendar.
What day is the Santa Lucía serenade?
Traditionally Thursdays.
Where can I check events?
On the Mérida city government's Capital Cultural calendar.
Are events free?
Many city programs in public spaces are; confirm on the calendar.
