By Saul Garpe
The news is out! There is a new airline connection between the Bajío and the Yucatan. Volaris, and Viva Aerobus airlines have been flying this route for several weeks now. Flights depart from both the Bajio airport, and the Queretaro airport and fly non-stop to the beautiful city of Merida. Both airports are less than 90 km from San Miguel de Allende, so this makes it very tempting to make a New Year’s resolution to get to know the Yucatan Peninsula better.
How cheap are the flights?
If you have taken advantage of these low-cost airlines, you know perfectly well that everything depends on the date you decide to travel. To fly cheaply, you need to be able to manage your work schedule so you can get time off when the prices are right. Since this news came out, I made a quick search on my computer, and found round trip tickets during the month of February for 2,000 pesos. Of course, this was in the middle of the week when there is less travel, but what a good deal! Maybe we should keep this secret amongst ourselves!
Ticket in hand, now what do we do?
I know you can find lodging using Airbnb, or Booking.com so let’s get to the interesting part. To get to know Mérida you should definitely start at La Plaza Grande. This is the historic center of the White City, and is beautiful by day and by night. The portal and the cathedral are full of history. From this spot you can feel the culture, and visit a fine restaurant like La Chaya for traditional Yucatecan food. The key to truly discovering Merida is to walk slowly, and take your time. It would be impossible to list all the shops, little squares, and food stalls along Paseo Montejo, but I can tell you it is a lot of fun. Also, make sure you visit the Great Museum of the Mayan World. And by the way, I have also found much information on the cultural life of Merida on Instagram. Look for “La Billboard Mérida” and you will surely find an event to your liking.
Set aside at least one day to see the sea…
The Port of Progreso is less than 40 km from the center of Mérida. It is very easy to get to by public buses that leave from the central terminal. But my recommendation is to rent a car at the airport and drive the entire coastal strip of the Yucatan. Besides Progresso, you should check out Chelem, and Puerto Chuburná. Another nearby point of interest is El Corchito Ecological Reserve. Further north you will find the Magic Town of Sisal where you can take a kayak ride through the mangroves. I did this and I highly recommend it.
And Chichén Itzá?
Chichén Itzá is one of the great wonders of the modern world. It is located 120 km from Mérida and should be considered an important part of your trip. There are many transportation options, and tours that include visiting the archaeological site along with the Magical Town of Valladolid. As I said before, renting a car is the best way to go. You should stay at least one night in Valladolid. There you can enjoy the Cenote Zací located a few meters from the center of town. Walking the Calzada de los Frailes at sunset with a loved one, is a wonderful experience and of course you can spend the next day in the cenote Saamal at Hacienda Selva Maya. A room for the night also includes a visit to the buffet.
So clearly, the Yucatan is full of natural, cultural, and gastronomic beauty. To get to know it in one trip is impossible, but it is a great start.
