A late-19th-century palace
According to the Yucatán state government, the Government Palace opened on September 15, 1892. It replaced the Casas Reales, the seat of colonial power on the same site. The building is described as eclectic-classical and is still the seat of state government.
The 27 murals
What makes the palace a must is the mural cycle by Yucatecan artist Fernando Castro Pacheco: 27 murals painted between 1971 and 1978. They fill the history hall, corridors and staircase, depicting episodes of Yucatán's history.
Seeing them in order is like reading a history book in pictures, from the Maya world to the conquest and the Yucatecan people's later struggles.
How to see them
- Take the main staircase slowly: several murals are best seen from the landings.
- The upstairs history hall holds some of the largest works.
- It's a working government building: follow staff instructions and check current access.
Where it is
The palace fills the north side of the Plaza Grande, opposite the Casa de Montejo and beside the cathedral. Its balconies offer one of the best views of the square.
Before or after the murals
Close by, on Calle 61 between 62 and 64, is Mary Tours' office, the starting point for its excursions around Yucatán and Quintana Roo. If the murals leave you wanting more history, the Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid trip covers three chapters of it in a day. See the booking section to find a trip that fits your dates.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Opened | September 15, 1892 |
| Previously | Casas Reales |
| Style | Eclectic-classical |
| Murals | 27, by Fernando Castro Pacheco |
| Painted | 1971–1978 |
| Location | North side of the Plaza Grande |
Fun facts
- The Government Palace opened on September 15, the eve of Mexico's Independence Day.
- Castro Pacheco worked on the murals over seven years.
- The colonial Casas Reales once stood on the same site.
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
Nature · 9 h
Celestún and the pink flamingos
The largest flamingo colony in North America
from $1,600 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half west, out to the port.
- 9:30 AM Boat ride — Flamingo and bird watching, the mangrove tunnel, the freshwater spring and the Maya bath on the sandbar.
- 11:00 AM Lunch by the beach — Fish, octopus or shrimp from the gulf, at a table facing the sea.
- 1:00 PM Free time on the beach — Almost three hours to swim, walk the shore or do nothing at all.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat ride, Lunch from a set menu
Not included: Drinks
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte, which makes every list for a reason
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 5:30 AM Drive to Valladolid — Two hours on the motorway, with a fifteen-minute stop.
- 7:45 AM Drive to Puerto Juárez — Two more hours to the pier in Cancún.
- 10:00 AM Isla Mujeres — Sailing the Caribbean, snorkelling at the reef with gear included, a stop at Playa Norte, buffet lunch at the beach club and free time in town.
- 6:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat transfer, Snorkelling gear, Lunch
Not included: Environmental tax, Shopping on the island, Extra drinks
Frequently asked questions
Who painted the Government Palace murals?
Fernando Castro Pacheco, between 1971 and 1978.
How many murals are there?
27, according to the Yucatán state government.
What do they depict?
Episodes from Yucatán's history.
Can you visit?
Yes, it's a public building; check current access when you arrive.
