Your expert guide to exploring Mérida with kids
👧🏽 🧒🏻 Whether you live in the city of Merida and are looking around for new things to do with your kids or whether you’re planning a trip and are searching out the best things to do in Merida with your kids, this fully up-to-date 2026 guide is about to become your very best friend. There is no existing article on the website that is more comprehensive than this one.
I lived in Mérida for many years, my kids grew up here and we remain firmly attached to the city. This article is the culmination of many years of joyful exploring, learning and adventuring around Mérida.
➕ At the end of this article you’ll find links to all of my Mérida focused articles, and to other family friendly adventures around Mexico.
There are affiliate links in this article. If you click and make a purchase I could make a small sum at zero cost to you. Thank you!
Highlights of Mérida with kids – according to my kids
🔎 Best kid friendly museums – Museo de los Ferrocarriles & Palacio de la Musica
🛝 Best park/place to play – Parque La Plancha
🌮 Best food – tacos from Los Trompos or marquesitas on the street
🏨 Best kid friendly hotel – Hotel Luz en Yucatán
🍦 Best ice creams – Dulcería and sorbetería Colón
→ Be sure to open up the MexicoCassie guide to feeding kids in Mexico to take the stress out of mealtimes
Important Mérida information when visiting with kids
When is the best time to visit Merida?
🔆 The best months for a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula including Mérida are December to February, when temperatures are lower than in summer and there is minimal rain. March, April and May have little rain, but during these months the temperatures begin to rise. Dec – Feb average temperature is 30C or 85F.
🌦 During June – September (the long school break for many of us) you can expect an hour or so of heavy rain most days. It’s also technically hurricane season so there may be the odd heavy storm coming through.
🌼 Yucatán makes for a great spring break option thanks to the perfect weather at this time of year.
Is Mérida safe?
Of course, if you’re travelling with the little ones, you want to be absolutely, totally, completely sure that you’re going to be safe. This is a question asked by many people visiting Mérida and Mexico. Here’s my answer:
Yes. Even though it is a rapidly growing city, Mérida is a very safe place to be. It is regularly named as one of the safest cities in Latin America and in North America.
Merida is safe to visit with kids. Obviously, keep an eye on your kids as you would anywhere but you really don’t need to worry about shootings or kidnappings.
🚥 Do note that pedestrian crossings are not considered an automatic right of way for pedestrians though so please make sure your kids don’t go crossing roads as they might do at home in Europe or elsewhere.
→ Read the full MexicoCassie article about safety in Mérida and Yucatán
Getting around Mérida
👧🏽 It’s perfectly possible to walk around Mérida with kids. Do keep in mind how hot it can be, though. Follow the local experts and walk in the shade, eat lots of ice-cream and always carry water with you.
The historic centre is not especially stroller friendly thanks to its haphazard sidewalks. If you do want to use your stroller, you can enjoy a walk along the Paseo de Montejo or in the Parque La Plancha.
🚌 The Va-y-Ven buses are clean, regular and will get you around the city cheaply.
🚕 There are traditional taxis as well as Uber/Didi/Driver services in Mérida. While it’s preferable to have your kids in car seats, the reality is that in taxis they’re unlikely to be.
🚗 Renting a car is a great option if you’re planning on taking day trips from Mérida. If you rent a car I recommend renting a car seat at the same time but if this is not possible, perhaps pick one up from a supermarket such as Wall-Mart or Chedraui or use a rental service such as BabyQuip to hire one.
Exploring Mérida with kids
This article will walk you through the multitude of great options for the entire family in Mérida, Mexico.
🏨 Where to stay in Mérida | 🔎 Cultural activities for kids | 🛝 Parks and playgrounds | 🦓 Zoo parks in Mérida | 🏪 Mall activities for kids | 🍔 Feeding the kids | 🚗 Family-friendly day trips
Of course, if you’re travelling further afield, my book, Yucatán with Kids, A Travel Guide, is available on Amazon to help with all your Yucatán family travel needs.
Where to stay with kids in Mérida
When visiting Mérida with kids it’s a good idea to always look for a hotel / rental home with a pool so you can all cool off at the end of the day’s adventuring. If you’re not used to the heat I also highly recommend ensuring you have A.C so everyone can get a good night’s sleep.
There are so many gorgeous boutique hotels popping up in Mérida these days but if you’re visiting with kids, I imagine you might want to stay somewhere where you can relax and not worry about your kids being noisy, planting sticky fingers on things or doing running jumps into the pool and disturbing others.
🏨 MexicoCassie family friendly recommended hotel – Paseo de Montejo: Hotel Plaza by Kavia. This family friendly hotel is perfectly located, offers family rooms, free parking and has a good pool
🏨 MexicoCassie family friendly recommended hotel – Centro Historico: Hotel Luz en Yucatán. Long time favourite in Mérida, this hotel welcomes families. It offers family rooms, free parking, has a good pool and a restaurant on site.
🏨 MexicoCassie family friendly recommended apartment – Casa Flamingos Altabi. This apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, good pool and a good sized patio. It’s located in a quiet neighbourhood rather right in the centre of everything and you will be able to fully relax here.
🏨 MexicoCassie family friendly hacienda – Sotuta de Peon. This gorgeous hacienda is a great option if you have a car and prefer being out in the countryside. Here you’ll have access to the best pool in Yucatán (in my opinion), sleep in a beautiful chalet, have the chance to explore the incredible grounds of the last living hacienda and even to swim in the on-site cenote.
🗺 Or, if these three options aren’t quite what you’re looking for, you can use my interactive hotel-finder map to find something more suited to your family’s needs.
Culture & kids in Mérida
Mérida is a gorgeously cultural city. It’s chock-a-block full of colonial buildings, amazing museums, and religious artefacts. However, if we’re super honest, this isn’t really what young kids would generally choose were planning their own vacations so you have choices: either forgo some of the culture, find a way to make it fun for everyone, or bribe the kids with ice cream and screen time.
My family tends to do a mix of all three of these options (in part because I’m the most ice cream obsessed of us all 😉).
➕ If you’re exploring Mérida with children, you could use this scavenger hunt to make it more fun for them.
→ Use the full MexicoCassie guide to Mérida to read up on all the cultural spots in Mérida
→ Use the MexicoCassie guide to ice creams in Mérida to figure out your bribe spots
Guided tours of Mérida the kids might enjoy
🆓 Walking tours
The Ayuntamiento de Mérida provides free Mérida walking tours with a local guide (each tour takes about ninety minutes) daily Monday to Saturday at 9.30 am and 5 pm from the Tourist Info on the Plaza Grande as well as at 6.30 pm from Tourist Info on Paseo de Montejo.
Insider Knowledge: make sure you are prompt and show up at least fifteen minutes early, since each tour takes just twenty-five people.
or, reserve your spot on a free Mérida walking tour through the world famous tours, GuruWalk
🛞 Tours on wheels
Depending on your desired level of activity and the age of the kids you could take the hop-on-hop-off bus tour, a guided-bike tour or an e-bike tour of the city.
Until recently I wouldn’t have recommended the carriage rides around Mérida because I don’t think the horses are well enough looked after. However, there are a few electric carriages you can take now, which are a good, ethical alternative.
🔎 Museums in Mérida with kids
Mérida is not short of museums or art galleries, but which are the very best for kids? Which welcome kids and have displays aimed at our youngest family members?
→ For a full rundown on all the museums in Mérida, the MexicoCassie guide to Mérida’s museums is invaluable.
El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
Calle 60 Norte Open: 9 am – 5 pm (daily except Tuesday)
This museum provides a modern, dynamic and interactive way of learning about the roots and history of the Yucatan peninsula. Kids will love their interactive floors, where they can walk over and through exhibitions.
The museum takes visitors on a journey through Maya history from the earliest days through the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and up to today’s vibrant Maya life. There are regular sessions designed specifically for children, and this museum tops all lists of things to do in Mérida
Palacio de la Música
Calle 58, Parque Santa Lucia Open: 10 am – 4 pm Wed – Sun
The Music Palace, as its name implies, is an amazing museum in a gorgeous purpose-built building in the heart of Merida, where everyone in the family can learn about music using all their senses. Not only will you learn about the history of music in México, but this museum is highly interactive so I guarantee the kids will love it. You can even record your own music!
Museo de los Ferrocarriles
Parque La Plancha Open: 10 am – 5 pm Tues – Sun
Now located in the gorgeous Parque La Plancha, this is a modern and exciting museum that kids will love. While there’s no more climbing on old train engines and running along the roofs of trains as if you’re in a train heist movie, it’s still a good place to go. Kids will love the interactive areas and the video mapping room that’s full of dinosaurs.
Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida (Mérida City Museum)
Calle 56 529A, Centro Open: Tues – Fri 9 am – 6 pm. Sat – Sun 9 am – 2 pm
At this small museum, you will fall in love with the diversity of la Ciudad Blanca, as Mérida is often called. Located in the former post office of the city, this museum has four exhibits that narrate the history of the growth of Mérida, from its Mayan roots, through the passage of colonisation until the present day.
When you visit here be sure to get your children to find out why Yucatán is called Yucatán – it’s a tidbit everyone loves.
Other museums worth a mention
Museo Regional de Antropología – this museum is absolutely gorgeous and very educational but honestly not super small-child friendly. The guards here seem to have been trained in anti-kid sentiments
Museo Paranormal – For the older kids, the Paranormal Museum is sure to be a winner. While the information is all in Spanish, the displays are fairly self-explanatory and a guided tour is available in both English and Spanish. Learn all about the scary goings on in Mexico here!
🌟 In Progreso there is the Museo del Meteorito that’s a good option with kids and on the way to Chuburna there’s the Museo de Ciencias Chicxulub but this is only open to guided tours booked in advance (send a WhatsApp to get details – 0052 990 157 8695)
🆓 Free cultural activities for the whole family
Who doesn’t love finding free things to do in Mérida, Mexico? The Ayuntamiento (local government) is very good at providing free cultural activities for visitors. Here are the most popular for kids.
🏐 Pok Ta Pok
Pok Ta Pok is the ball game that the ancient Maya played to thank the gods for a good harvest and ask for their protection. The name of the game comes from the curious sound that the ball produced against the floors and walls of the courts, or when the players hit it with their forearms or with their hips, depending on the type of game.
➡️ You can watch an exact representation of this game every Friday at 8 pm right at the Atrium of the Cathedral of San Ildefonso on the Plaza Grande.
📹 Video Mapping
The whole family will be amazed by the beautiful video mapping shows that narrate the history and origins of the Mérida.
⛔️ Peidras Sagradas – currently cancelled in 2026 – this was video mapping on the Cathedral.
Dialogos del Conquistador – video mapping on Casa de Montejo. Wednesdays 8.30 pm. This is part video mapping, part theatrical performance at the house of the Spanish Conquistadors, the Montejo family.
La Peni on the Palacio Canton – visit this first video mapping theme park in all of Latin America every Thursday – Sunday between 7 pm and 10 pm. Be sure to bring your cell phones so you can really interact and play with the impressive displays.
Isla de la Luz – 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 8 pm there is a video mapping performance on the Monumento a la Patria
🇲🇽 Noche Mexicana
Every Saturday night at the Remate de Paseo de Montejo is the opportunity to experience Mexican culture through a free show of Mexican folklore with music, costumes, and regional dances with guests from all over Mexico.
🚲 Biciruta
This is by far one of the most popular activities with Yucatecan families. Every Sunday morning, from the top of Paseo de Montejo through to Plaza La Ermita (along a specific route), the roads are closed to cars and instead are open to bikers, skateboarders, rollerblades and walkers who want to explore the city and enjoy the views without fear of traffic. All along Paseo de Montejo you’ll see families out for brunch and as you get to the Plaza Grande be sure to stop to enjoy a bite or a browse at the market there (see below, Merida en Domingo).
➡️ Bring your own wheels or rent a bike from one of the many stands along the road. Biciruta runs from 8 am to midday every Sunday (there are also monthly Bicirutas by night – but be aware that these are extremely crowded and can be stressful with small kids).
🎉 Mérida en Domingo
For several years now, this Sunday flea market turns Plaza Grande and Calle 60 into a pedestrian party that can not be missed. Cultural and musical shows are held on the main square, on Calle 60 from the Plaza to Parque Santa Lucía. In addition, you will be able to see and acquire pieces of art and consume the typical Yucatecan snacks. This is an excellent option for a Sunday walk even if you don’t have a bike.
💀 Cementerio General
Mérida’s cemetery is particularly interesting because it’s huge and very, very colourful. Be sure to check out the wide variety of tombs and graves, and especially the monuments to particular groups of workers. Kids will find this a fascinating place to explore. Just remember to discuss respect for other people’s traditions before visiting.
→ If you’re in Merida around Hanal Pixan (Dia de Muertos) it is even more exciting to visit than normal.
📚 The English Library
Merida’s English Library’s mission is to provide English-speaking people of all ages with access to English information and books. It’s a great place for visitors to meet other English-speaking people and see what is going on in the expat community in Merida. Every week, they hold different events for kids as well as cultural lectures. You can become a member or a volunteer. The library also sells copies of both my books, which makes them doubly excellent!
🛍 Exploring Mérida’s markets
In Merida, you will find many markets that will help you live the entire Yucatecan experience.
Mercado Lucas de Gálvez (Calle 56-A x65 y67) is considered by locals to be the largest and most varied market, as well as being one of the oldest in the city.
Go armed with the MexicoCassie guide to local candies
Look out for fresh coconut, local candies and explore the incredible selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Definitely try local foods and chat with vendors if you have questions. Don’t forget to head upstairs to the recently renovated artisan market and to explore nearby Piñata Alley, which I guarantee, the kids will love).
Mercado de San Benito, next door to Lucas de Gálvez.
Mercado Santa Ana, here you can have a delicious meal and a refreshing fruit juice while watching life on Plaza Santa Ana go by. There are a good number of souvenir stores around the market and Plaza Santa Ana regularly holds artisan markets for vendors from across Mexico.
Mercado Santiago is a very popular market among Yucatecans when it comes to eating. You will find a wide variety of traditional food, such as tortas, tacos, panuchos, salbutes, and more.
If you’re looking for tours and things to do in Merida, Mexico, there are many options for tours of the markets and food options available.
🛝 Parks and playgrounds in Mérida
Mérida has very good play areas, you just have to know where to find them. Note that not all are walking distance from centro.
Local Tip: Don’t be surprised if playgrounds are empty as you walk around during the day. Mérida is very hot for much of the year so typically, families tend to come out to play later than you might expect; from 5 pm in winter months and from 7 pm in the summer.
The very best parks & playgrounds
Parque La Plancha
This park is really awesome and is unmissable if you’re visiting Mérida with kids. Here you’ll find two museums, the Museo de la Luz, and the Museo de los Ferrocarriles, a skate park (great for older kids), four playgrounds, a restaurant area (the Mercado Gastronómico), a lake and more. It hosts evening activities throughout the park as well as in the amphitheatre and Christmas is a delight in the park.
Parque de las Américas
This extremely popular park takes up four entire blocks although only one is a dedicated playground. In the evenings, from around 5 pm, things liven up considerably as bounce houses (bouncy castles) are inflated and electric cars arrive. Obviously, these activities aren’t free, but they’re also not going to break the bank either. Just outside the park, one street fills with delicious local street-food options.
Parque de la Alemán
In the east of the city this is another wonderful place to take the kids at dusk. The park takes up an entire block and has a nicely renovated & modern playground, a skate park, dog park, a grassy area, a small funfair, and a large area that is used for evening exercise classes, bike riding etc.
From around 5 pm, the electric cars arrive, the bounce house is inflated, art easels are set up for kids and the funfair starts up.
At the weekend there is also a nice organic market here. Read the MexicoCassie guide to sustainable tourism in Mérida for more details.
Unidad Deportiva del Sur “Henry Martin”
Just south of the airport is this modernised and renovated park. Here you’ll find (for free) a regular playground, a huge splash pad (4 – 12 yr olds), an extreme sports area with giant slides, climbing walls, ziplines, extreme cycling, aerial walkways and more. There is a free batting cage, a soccer pictch and more.
Parque de Deportes Extremos (Extreme Sports Park)
Diversión Xtrema extreme sports park, has seventeen rides, all human-energy-powered (no electricity, no motors, no batteries). The park caters wonderfully for kids of all ages; only a few rides require you to be over 1.40m. There are ziplines, a climbing tower, assault courses, trampolines, slides, go-karts and more.
Note: Safety is, of course, an important point in a park like this; there are staff everywhere watching and helping.
Open every day from 1 pm except Monday.
Modern playgrounds in Mérida
Outside of the city-centre, the parks are pretty good and have modern play spaces available.
Paseo Verde – a long thin park in the west of Mérida. Good play spaces for all ages.
Parque Khalia – on the corner of Ave Camera de Comercio and Calle 22. This has a great play area surrounded by plenty of space for bikes and scooters. The play equipment is probably aimed at 8s and under.
Parque Tabentha – near Altabrisa mall. A modern play space with shaded covering, better for smaller kids
Parque San Juanistas – a quiet plaza that comes alive with local families at dusk. A modern play space with a shaded cover.
Fraccionamiento del Parque (Chen Hó) – this grassy park has a decent playground but its primary draw is its ruined pyramids that anyone can play on and its skate ramp that smaller kids love to climb.
Parque Japonés – this park sports the usual grassy area, a modern kids’ play area for smaller children and a basketball court. It also has two Tori gates, a race track-styled path that my kids love, a Japanese garden with a waterfall, and an area dedicated to bikes/skateboards/rollerblades/scooters.
Traditional playgrounds
If you’re in the centre of Merida, then the likelihood is that you won’t ever be far from a playground. Most plazas have some sort of play area, generally geared towards smaller kids.
Parque San Juan – a large plaza with traditional play space.
Parque de Santiago – this is a busy and beautiful square.
Parque de la Ermita de Santa Isabel – my kids used to go to school on this plaza so we spent a lot of time in this tiny playground. In my opinion, this is one of the cutest and most picturesque plazas in Mérida. The playground here is for little kids.
Parque de San Sebastian – always full of kids playing on the basketball courts. There’s a small playground here.
Plazas that are fun but don’t have playgrounds include:
Plaza Grande – watch out for pigeons and people!
Santa Lucia – great for the big white chairs and the stage small kids love to run and jump all over.
Parque de la Mejorada – there’s even grass here, and bushes to hide in too!
🐾 What about the fur babies? Wondering where they’re welcome in Mérida? There are absolutely dog parks available.
🌳 Nature spaces in Mérida
While there is no shortage of outdoor fun in the state of Yucatán, the city Mérida, at first glance, won’t necessarily strike you as an outdoorsy, green, city. Sure, it’s a great base to explore cenotes, beaches and impressive archaeological Mayan ruins, but finding nature spaces in the city?
Actually, yes, yes you can. Within this marvellous and sweaty city, you can, indeed, find places to enjoy nature and to romp outside. You just have to know where to look for those elusive green spaces in Mérida and lucky for you, I’m going to share all I know:
Parque Arque-Ecologico de Xoclán
Here you can explore a city forest, climb an unrestored pyramid (photo above) and generally find the adventure that the slightly bigger kids crave. What was once a field of enormous rocks is now partially submerged but I remain hopeful it will dry out once again.
Parque Ecológico Del Poniente
For a truly lovely day exploring with the kids, head to Parque Poniente in Yucalpeten in the west of Mérida. Here you will really feel as if you’ve found a slice of nature in Mérida. From the little streams full of fish to the rocky areas for climbing, this could be exactly what you’ve been craving. In the park, you’ll find two play areas, one modern and one less so. There is a community swimming pool that’s open on summer weekends and plenty of opportunity to run, climb and play.
Parque Hundido de Brisas
This is the ideal place to take smaller kids who thrive on a bit of natural exploration. Here kids can climb the rocks, run and explore, watch iguanas, search for interesting bugs and play for hours on the huge slide (it’s concrete so we tend to slide down sitting on something like cardboard or a towel). There is a small playground next door but the real draw of this place is the rock climbing and exploring.
Acquaparque
This is an ecological reserve on the edge of the city. On summer weekends the swimming pools are open. Get there early to enjoy a quiet swim / play as it fills up fast.
Reserva de Cuxtal
This enormous nature reserve is south of the city and requires a car to get there. You enter the reserve through Hacienda Dzoyaxche. There are two swimming pools on-site that can be used for a small fee. There are many picnic benches and a small and pretty old playground. There isn’t a huge area available to roam around but it’s still plenty fun and kids love how free this place feels.
🦓 Zoo-parks in Mérida
Parque Zoologico del Centenario, Mérida City Zoo
The Merida city zoo is always good for a day out, as long as you can put your concern for animal welfare to one side. Not that most people go to this particular zoo to see animals. People spend most of their time in the playgrounds here.
The playground area is large and will entertain kids for hours. It has a number of distinct areas all with different themes. There is accessible equipment including a see-saw and a roundabout both with proper seats and seat belts.
You can even find fairground rides: small cable car, merry-go-round trampolines and more here and there’s a little train that takes you on a ride around the zoo.
Parque Zoológico del Bicentenario Animaya
This truly is a true hidden gem for Mérida and it’s entirely free. This quiet and understated small safari park is free to enter and enjoy. The tours on the ‘catamaran’, ‘safari bus’ and small train have a small cost.
Head up the Mayan obelisk to the observation deck for views of the park and beyond. If you want to take the safari options then you’ll need to queue for tickets. The Jardin de Epifetas is a gorgeous place to walk around. Pretty much wherever you are in the park you’ll see animals roaming around.
Animaya Splash Zone – this is an excellent swimming area and splash park that gets very popular in summer so be sure to take swim suites.
There are good playgrounds and decent snack options on site.
🎞 ⛸ Kid-friendly mall activities in Mérida
As I said, it’s hot in Merida. Also, we have a lot of shopping malls, some with indoor playgrounds.
A.C and space are two things malls can offer on the hottest of days. But what else can they give us?
Altabrisa – Bowling, an arcade area and a cinema. There are mechanical horses for kids to ride and in late 2023, Go Kart Mania opened a new track here.
Gran Plaza – Xtreme Jumping: for trampolining and laserquest this is a great option. There’s a cinema here too.
Galerias – Ice skating, an arcade area and a cinema.
The Harbor – A good play area (small and indoor but different to most) and a climbing wall. There’s a cinema on site and outside there is a zipline over the small lake.
La Isla Mall – Billed as ‘malltertainment’, La Isla is something else entirely. There’s a playground, a lake with water sports options, a cinema, mechanical horses to ride and a trampoline park.
It’s a mall but there is also a permanent fairground outside – Barrio Frenzei although it appears to be under permanent renovation.
🌮 Where to eat in Mérida with kids
Kids are truly welcomed into the vast majority of restaurants in Mexico. Never feel you can’t take your small kids somewhere you genuinely want to eat.
→ Be sure to open up the MexicoCassie guide to feeding kids in Mexico to take the stress out of mealtimes
Street food snacks: Be sure to let them try marquesitas and/or esquites (corn). Marquestas are a delicious street food snack comprised of a long cone stuffed with sauces of your choice, generally over cheese (it’s far more delicious than it sounds). You’ll see both of these being sold when you hit up the playgrounds in the early evening.
Ice cream: Ice cream plays an important part in life in Mérida so be sure to try as many different options as you can, particularly from Dulcería & Sorbeteria Colon, the most traditional ice cream option in Mérida.
→ Read the MexicoCassie guide to ice creams in Mérida
🚱 Read the MexicoCassie guide to water and drinking while in Mérida
🧃 Read the full MexicoCassie guide to drinks in general in Mexico
Two firm favourite food options for my kids are:
Los Trompos: The kids’ menu is good and the adult menu is decent too. It is very popular with Mexican families, and since it has monitored play spaces it’s a great place to have a drink while the kids burn off some energy. Note the Los Trompos on Calle 60 does not have a play area.
➡️ The kids menu includes tacos, pizza, empanadas and more.
Pollo Feliz: This is a national chain that serves freshly cooked chicken (choose quarter, half or whole, spicy or plain), and freshly made sides. Although the restaurant looks like a fast food place it’s actually table service. There is a decent play space and kids always have a fabulous time here.
For really traditional food that locals love, try Manjar Blanco on Parque Santa Ana or Cafe La Habana.
🚗 Family friendly day trips from Mérida
Mérida is a great base from which to explore around the state of Yucatán, and even to take forays into nearby Campeche and Quintana Roo, should you so desire.
The MexicoCassie guide to day trips from Mérida covers everything in more detail as do individual articles, which are linked to below. If you’re going to be spending any time exploring Yucatán then I highly recommend picking up a copy of my guidebook to kid-friendly travel around the state.
Getting around
It’s very easy to drive around Yucatán. Mérida city can be a little hectic but once you’re outside of the city centre you’ll find pretty empty, well-maintained highways allowing you to move around easily.
✈️ Mérida’s international airport has multiple flights every day from the US, Canada and Mexico City
🚗 Mérida has good roads linking it to the main cities Valladolid, Campeche, & Cancun as well as smaller destinations such as Progreso, the Homun Cenote Circle and more
→ Check car rental options now
→ Read the MexicoCassie guide to renting a car and driving in Yucatán
🚝 Mérida is on the route of the Maya Train
🚌 ADO provides a good network of buses linking the cities across the Yucatán Peninsula
→ Check bus timetables and book tickets on ADO or Busbud
(I recommend using Busbud because ADO recently cancelled my tickets, didn’t warn me and then claimed it was my fault. They eventually returned my money but I speak fluent Spanish and was willing to argue my case).
Maya archaeological sites with kids
Mérida itself does not have very big ruins but is the perfect spot for visiting some amazing archeological sites located just a few kilometres away.
→ MexicoCassie guide to the ruins in Yucatán
→ MexicoCassie guide to the ruins in Quintana Roo & in Campeche
→ MexicoCassie guide to the best ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula
Chichén Itzá
As one of the seven modern wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Chichén Itzá and its main pyramid, el Castillo, are by far the most famous ruins in the region. Everyone will love spending a day exploring this incredible site.
🚗 115 km from Mérida
➕ Consider a trip to Chichén Itzá paired with a swim in a nearby cenote for a truly fabulous day out.
👣 MexicoCassie recommended Chichén Itzá guided tour – spend a full day exploring Chichén Itzá, swimming in Cenote Ik-Kil and even checking out the gorgeous town of Izamal. Tour includes lunch.
Uxmal
Uxmal is located in the South of Yucatán, about an hour away from Mérida. This site is the largest of the Ruta Puuc sites and is a fabulous day trip from Mérida.
🚗 85 km from Mérida
➕ A day trip to Uxmal can include a trip to the nearby Choco Story museum or a cenote
👣 MexicoCassie recommended Uxmal day trip that includes a tour of the Choco Story museum and gardens, lunch and an extra stop at Kabah, another Ruta Puuc ruin.
Xcambo
This is a small site just outside Progreso from where the Maya people ran their salt trade.
🚗 60 km from Mérida
➕ Combine a trip here with a trip to the beach and a stop to see the flamingos.
👣 MexicoCassie recommended Xcambo day trip – this trip begins with breakfast in Motul, home of the famous huevos Motuleños before a tour around Hacienda San Eduardo. Xcambo ruins, a stop at the gorgeous pink salt lake of Xtampu follows before free time in Progreso to enjoy the beach.
Dzibilchaltún
This is the closest ruin to Mérida, located along the Mérida-Progreso highway, but it isn’t always open, so please check before visiting. This is a great half day activity given how close it is to Mérida
🚗 30 km from Mérida
⭐️ MexicoCassie recommended Dzibilchaltún day trip – you don’t really need a tour to get here as it’s just outside of Mérida. Pick up a guide when you arrive by cab.
Mayapan – sadly, closed in early 2026. Check carefully before visiting
Considered the last Mayan capital, Mayapan is a wonderful site to explore when it’s open (in early 2025 it’s closed).
🚗 40 km outside of Mérida
➕ Mayapan is a great day out when paired with a cenote visit
👣 MexicoCassie recommended Mayapan day trip – currently closed so no recommendations past look at GetYourGuide if and when it opens again.
➡️ The ruin of Ek Balam, near the gorgeous city of Valladolid is also visitable in one day.
Family friendly cenotes
There are thousands of cenotes across the Yucatán Peninsula and many of these cenotes are within easy reach from Mérida. Some are considered more kid-friendly cenotes than others. The first two cenotes I mention here are very famous and well regarded in terms of safety. However, this doesn’t mean they’re the only cenotes worth visiting. Use the many MexicoCassie guides to cenotes to plan your trips
→ MexicoCassie guide to the most child friendly cenotes to visit
→ MexicoCassie guide to what to take with you when you visit a cenote
→ MexicoCassie guide to the best cenotes near Mérida
→ MexicoCassie guide to the best cenote tours from Mérida
→ MexicoCassie guides to the best cenotes near Homun, Izamal, Valladolid & Chichén Itzá
Mucuyché
Considered by many to be the best cave cenote in a cave in the entire peninsula, Mucuyché is definitely worth the visit. Visits must be booked in advance and the ticket includes a tour around the abandoned hacienda. There’s a lovely restaurant on site as well as a large shallow pool that younger kids will love splashing around in after you’re done.
🚗 60 km from Mérida
👣 MexicoCassie recommended tour to Mucuyché – the tour includes transport to and from the hacienda, a tour around the hacienda, time to swim in both cenotes and time to relax in the restaurant after. If you have your own transport you can book your tickets here.
Santa Barbara
Four different cenotes on one site and transportation to each of them via donkey-pulled cart or bicycle. Santa Barbara has the only fully accessible cenote on the entire peninsula (it has an elevator down to the water). There is a restaurant on site. You don’t technically have to book your ticket in advance to visit here but it doesn’t hurt to ensure your access.
🚗 45 km from Mérida
👣 MexicoCassie recommended tour to Santa Barbara – this tour includes your transport to / from Santa Barbara, a tour around the gorgeous ruins in Acanceh, entrance fees & lunch in Santa Barbara.
Homún Cenote Circle
There are a multitude of cenotes to choose from in the small town of Homun, many of which are perfectly fine even for small children and nervous swimmers.
🚗 55 km from Mérida
👣 MexicoCassie recommended tour to Homún – this full day tour will introduce you to 4 magical cenotes in Homun and includes lunch in a traditional restaurant.
Family friendly haciendas
Visiting a hacienda when in Mérida is a great option if you want to learn a little about the region’s history.
Sotuta de Peón
Not only does Sotuta de Peón have a working henequen factory that you can tour, it also offers quad bikes, cenote swimming, horse riding and more. It also has a decently priced restaurant, gorgeous pools and luxurious chalets on site.
🚗 34 km south of Mérida
👣 MexicoCassie recommended tour of Sotuta de Peon – there are various amazing tours to choose from. If your kids love a bit of adventure then the ATV & cenotes tour (includes lunch) will wow everyone. We took this tour and my kids and the friends we took with us are still all raving about it.
If you’re more interested in learning about the history of the hacienda & Yucatán then you can book a tour directly through the hacienda website.
🏖 Beaches near Mérida
Yucatán’s beaches are some of the most family friendly beaches in Mexico thanks to their generally gentle currents and tides and the cool sand.
Progreso
Progreso is Yucatán’s primary beach town and it’s where the cruise ships dock when they’re in town. Not only can you enjoy the beach but you can also walk on the malecon internacional at sunset, visit the El Corchito cenote, learn about the meteorite that made the dinosaurs extinct at the Meteorite Museum, see flamingos in Playa Esmeralda or have some delicious food in one of the many restaurants available around the piers and malecons (boardwalks).
🚗 44km north of Mérida – there are buses going between the cities.
➕ Read the MexicoCassie guide to exploring Progreso
👣 If you’re just after a beach day then you don’t need a tour, a bus or cab will do fine. If you want to see the ruins & pink salt lakes as well as spend time on the beach, then this tour will work well for you.
Of course, the whole of the Yucatecan coast is worth exploring
Celestún: The best place to see flamingos in their natural habitat and great beach
Sisal: Unplug yourself from the hectic city life at the beautiful beach and pueblo magico, decorated with amazing sunsets. Best visited with your own car or via bus (no need for a tour)
Las Coloradas: If you want to see the famous pink salt lakes of Yucatán, this is where you’ll be headed. And wow, now you and the kids can swim in these gorgeous pink waters!!
→ Book the recommended MexicoCassie tour of Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos
Chuburná Puerto: Here you can try kayaking surrounded by beautiful mangroves, enjoy the wildest of all Yucatecan beaches and visit Isla Columpios for some Instagram fun.
→ Check the MexicoCassie recommended tour
And now, as promised, all the MexicoCassie Mérida focused articles
➡️ The MexicoCassie full & comprehensive guide to what to do in Mérida
➡️ Exploring Mérida with kids
➡️ How best to use yours 24 hours in Mérida
➡️ Finding the free things to do in Mérida
➡️ Sustainable tourism in Mérida
🚗 Everything you need to know about getting around Mérida
🚗 MexicoCassie guide to renting a car & driving in Yucatán
➡️ How to visit the Mérida cemetery
👣 Book your Mérida and beyond tours here
➡️ Finding the street art in Mérida
➡️ Cenotes to visit from Mérida
➡️ Best cenote tours from Mérida
➡️ Best beaches to visit from Mérida
➡️ Breakfast foods in Mérida
➡️ How to find the best chocolate in Mérida
➡️ Where to find the best ice creams in Mérida
✅ Read all about just how safe Mérida & Yucatán are
Visiting Mexico with kids – a directory
🧳 Packing for a trip to Mexico with kids
✈️ Spring break in Mexico with kids
🏖 Best family friendly beaches in Mexico
🏝 Family fun in Playa del Carmen
✅ Río Secreto with kids – a review
🏝 Chilling in Cozumel with kids
⭐️ 50+ things to do in Mérida with kids
⭐️ Exploring Valladolid with kids
💦 Best cenotes in Yucatán for kids
⛰ Visiting Mexico’s Copper Canyon with kids
⭐️ What to do in Guadalajara with kids
⛰ Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte with kids
⭐️ Exploring around Queretaro with kids
⭐️ Getting to know Cholula (Puebla) with kids
🎄 Celebrating Christmas in Mexico
✏️ A guide to homeschooling in Mexico
🍭 All your kids need to know about Mexican candy
🍦 Finding the best ice creams in Mérida
14 Comments
Zaiga · 20/11/2018 at 9:10 pm
Thank you for this article. We (me, my hysband and 2 kids – 3 years and 9 months) are now in Merida. Your article about activities with kids there was very helpful.
Cassie · 20/11/2018 at 9:34 pm
I’m so glad it was helpful. I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves. And thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, it’s always so lovely to know people have used my blog.
Adeline · 05/12/2018 at 10:09 am
Hello, thank you for sharing all these info! We just arrived in progreso and don’t have vehicle do you know any fun things to do with 6 year old kids? Thank you Adeline
Cassie · 05/12/2018 at 1:25 pm
Use uber or a driver to get around? Head into Mérida and do all the awesome stuff there? Sorry I don’t have more than is on the website. There is a progreso article though.
Marina · 10/04/2019 at 9:49 pm
Thank you so much for this really really helpful blog, we used it lots on our recent trip to Merida and will use it again when we return! One quick note for your next update, it would be great if you could make the poniente directions a bit more specific as there are two park type things called poniente – but one is totally barren and the other is lovely as you say.
Cassie · 10/04/2019 at 10:19 pm
I think I did, didn’t I? And one isn’t barren, it’s an amazing rocky forest! We love that place.
Glad you found the article useful though.
Cassie · 23/07/2023 at 2:38 am
Oh how exciting! I hope you have already bought my books to help with the move and getting to know your new home. The school was Albert Enstein and it was fine. We did prefer our other school choices but it was fine when we needed it.
Carla · 23/07/2023 at 7:23 am
Thank you, Cassie – what a great article! We’ll be moving to Mérida at the end of Sept with a 2 and 4 year old ao this info is valuable!!
Which was your school near Parque de la Ermita de Santa Isabel and do you recommend?
Thanks again!
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