What was done in 2024
According to the Yucatán government's third-quarter 2024 report, the Plaza Grande works were handed over in September 2024. The report highlights two changes: more trees and inclusive pedestrian spaces, designed so more people can move around the square comfortably.
A square used to change
The 2024 renovation is just one more chapter. INAH records that the garden was planted in 1860 and remodeled in 1915 and 1978. What doesn't change is the frame: the cathedral to the east, the Casa de Montejo to the south, the Government Palace to the north and City Hall to the west.
What happened during the works
While the work was underway, some activities relocated. The city temporarily moved the Mérida en Domingo Sunday program to Santa Ana park. It was a temporary change; check the current municipal calendar for where it's held now.
What you'll notice
- More tree shade for a rest.
- Easier walking routes.
- The same historic buildings all around.
From the renewed square
If you'd like to see more of Yucatán afterward, Mary Tours' day trips depart from its office on Calle 61, between 62 and 64, in downtown Mérida. After exploring the square, you can head out to see Yucatán. The booking section shows dates, times and prices.
| Year | Work |
|---|---|
| 1860 | Garden planted |
| 1915 | Remodel |
| 1978 | Remodel |
| 2024 | Remodel with more trees and inclusive pedestrian space |
Fun facts
- The Plaza Grande has had a garden since 1860.
- During the 2024 works, Mérida en Domingo temporarily moved to Santa Ana.
- The square has been remodeled at least three times in the last century.
Related tours
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Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
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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.
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The four cenotes of Santa Bárbara
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- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
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The largest flamingo colony in North America
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- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half west, out to the port.
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Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Bacalar, the lagoon of seven colours
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from $2,800 MXN per person
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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.
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- 7:30 AM Drive to Bacalar — Two and a half hours more, now crossing into Quintana Roo.
- 10:15 AM Boat trip on the lagoon — Pirates’ Channel, Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda and Bird Island, with an explanation of the stromatolites and the ecosystem.
- 12:15 PM Lunch — Lunch in the town, beside the lagoon.
- 1:30 PM Bacalar magic town — Three and a half hours free: the San Felipe fort, the square, the piers, the cafés and the crafts.
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Frequently asked questions
When was the Plaza Grande renovation finished?
The Yucatán government reported handing over the works in September 2024.
What changed?
More trees and inclusive pedestrian spaces were reported.
Where is Mérida en Domingo now?
It moved temporarily to Santa Ana during the works; check the current municipal calendar.
Was this the first remodel?
No. INAH records remodels in 1915 and 1978.
