Magical Towns near Mérida
7 Magical Towns are less than 150 km from Mérida, close enough for a day trip, and 4 more are within 297 km for a weekend getaway. The closest is Motul, Yucatán, about 35 km away. Distances are in a straight line; by road, expect roughly 20–40% more.
Day trips (under 150 km)
≈ 35 kmYucatánMotul
Birthplace of huevos motuleños and Felipe Carrillo Puerto: Yucatán's henequen country, Sambulá cenote and social history.
≈ 51 kmYucatánSisal
Yucatán's historic henequen port: a quiet beach, lighthouse, old customs house, El Palmar reserve mangroves and kayaking.
≈ 60 kmYucatánIzamal
Yucatán's “yellow city”: the Convent of San Antonio de Padua built on a Maya platform and the huge Kinich Kak Moo pyramid right in town.
≈ 68 kmYucatánManí
Deep Maya history in Yucatán: the San Miguel Arcángel convent (1549), Xcabachén cenote, Maya home gardens, embroidery and stingless bees.
≈ 91 kmYucatánTekax
Adventure in southern Yucatán: caves, rappelling and zip lines, the San Marcelino Maya village and easy access to the Puuc Route and Uxmal.
≈ 134 kmYucatánEspita
A less-visited Yucatán: the Temple of San José, an old Franciscan convent, hammocks, vine baskets and cross-stitch embroidery.
≈ 148 kmYucatánValladolid
A colonial Yucatán town and ideal base for cenotes, Chichén Itzá and Ek Balam: San Bernardino Convent, the Calzada de los Frailes and Yucatecan food.
Weekend getaways
≈ 237 kmQuintana RooTulum
A walled Maya city on a cliff above the Caribbean, beaches, cenotes, jungle and the new Jaguar Park.
≈ 279 kmQuintana RooCozumel
An island in the Mexican Caribbean: coral reefs for diving and snorkeling, the San Gervasio Maya site, Punta Sur and island culture.
≈ 284 kmQuintana RooBacalar
The Lagoon of Seven Colors in southern Quintana Roo: turquoise fresh water, cenotes, San Felipe Fort, kayaking and ancient stromatolites.
≈ 297 kmQuintana RooIsla Mujeres
A Caribbean island across from Cancún: Playa Norte, Punta Sur, the MUSA underwater museum, reefs and golf-cart island tours.