The always up-to-date Redditor's Guide to the Yucatan State!

 Note that this guide is NOT about the Yucatan Peninsula as a whole, but specific to the Yucatán state!

But isn't all Yucatan? From wikipedia: "The Yucatán Peninsula (Spanish: Península de Yucatán) comprises the Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo" 



Visiting us? Welcome to the redditor's guide to the ancient land of The Maya!

This text is mainly intended as guide on alternative, less visited and locals-only experiences. 

Because of that reason, you won't see much info about places of mass tourism like Puerto Progreso or Valladolid. Wel'll provide tips about less visited yet still awesome locations instead.

First, some historic background:

Altough there is no consensus about how the land got it's name, the "i can't understand your language" theory is more myth than reality. The best explanation is that the “Yucatán” word is an Spanish term coined when Bartolomé Colón found some Mayan traders canoeing at the caribbean sea, around August, 1512. When asked about the place's name, the local Maya answered by saying "Yoko't taan" wich means "we speak the Yoko't Language" (one of the many maya languages) so the Spanish proceeded to use that answer as a name for their newly "discovered" land.

For the local Maya, their land has always been "The Mayab" or the land o of the few (selected) ones.

Some basic Q&A about travelling to the Yucatan state

Is it safe to travel to the Yucatan state?

Mexico is a BIG country. Some areas of it sadly have a violence problem, but that's NOT the case of the Yucatan state. Mind that the Cancun area (Quintana Roo state) has seen recently a spike in violence, but as we said before, this sub is specific about the Yucatan state, so let's skip that part.

Check this Graphic by vision of humanity wich classifies the Yucatan state as #1 in Mexico regarding security. In fact, Mérida (the state's capital city) is actually safer than most US cities. Most reliable rankings put merida in the top 3 safest cities in north america 


So, where do i begin?

Most people arrive to the Yucatan state from the neighboring Cancun, wich has the busiest international airport in Mexico. From there you have 2 options:
  • Rent a car a take the toll free road to Mérida. There is the option of taking the toll highway wich is faster, but the toll free one is a way better experience, because you get to see sleepy maya towns and get to visit hidden restaurants, seldom visited cenotes and such. This is the intersection that takes you to the toll free road to Merida don't miss it!
  • The other option is to Take an ADO bus wich are fast, comfortable and cheap. Just outside the airport there is an ADO booth (avoid the others like the plage!) wich will take you to Cancun's main bus station and from there you can take a first class ADO bus to Mérida.
We reccommend you to travel to Merida and use the city as a hub, since it has plenty of lodging optionsand the city in itself has plenty of amenities and is well connected to other points of interest wich can be visited as day trips. It has an international airport too, hospitals and health services in case of emergency.

Some of the most popular destinations in the state are:

* Valladolid has a long list of things to do and the neighboring Ekbalam https://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/ShowUserReviews-g2093488-d3518917-r37650324-Ek_Balam-Ek_Balam_Village_Yucatan_Peninsula.html It's kinda becoming a mass tourism destination, but still charming.
* Chichen Itza https://www.reddit.com/r/chichenitza/ home of the world wonder Temple of Kukulkán https://i.imgur.com/UusGG3E.jpg. Note that this place is really crowded, if you want a no less impressive alternative with way WAY less tourism, you can visit Uxmal. https://youtu.be/huHOXKx3aVA?t=443
* The sleepy coastal village of Sisal https://yucatantoday.com/lets-all-go-to-sisal/?lang=en
* Flamingo Adventures on Celestún https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgM8NDFLidY
We have a nice post collection of a lot more hidden gems
here


General questions

Do I need to speak Spanish?
You can be perfectly fine without any spanish speaking skills while visiting Merida or Valladolid, as most of the tourist services are billingual. White uniform cops always speak english, look for them!) but it will not hurt if you learn some Basic Spanish Vocabulary for travelers. You can use the Google Translator app in conversation mode (more on mobile internet while in Yucatan later)

Beware that you will not find much people that speaks english in the countryside! so don't count on that.

What about medical insurance?

It’s definitely a good idea to get some form of traveler’s insurance from back home. Don’t worry, we have excellent hospitals like Starmedica  or Clinica Merida  that may cover your insurance and have english speaking personnel.

For all those minor problems like traveller's diarrhea, headache or minor injuries, Merida has plenty of Dr. Simi pharmacies that can give you medical consultation for like $4 USD 

Do i need a VISA?

Check [this guide: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Mexico#Visa_exemption to check if your country is required for a visa. USA and Canada citizens do not need a visa.

Can I bring / bear weapons while in Mexico?

No! bringing or carrying JUST ANY kind of firearm while in Mexico IS A FELONY and will put you in a nasty Mexican jail.

How about drugs?

From the US embassy's website:

Persons violating Mexican laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs in Mexico are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. If you break local laws in Mexico, your U.S. citizenship will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution*. It is very important to know what is legal and what is illegal wherever you go. If arrested in Mexico, a U.S. citizen must go through the foreign legal process including possible charge or indictment, prosecution, possible conviction and sentencing, and any appeals process.*

So, please avoid using, selling or buying illegal drugs while you are here, I'ts not worth it and you can get caught in a hellish situation if you get busted.

You can import medicinal cannabis products into Mexico, but you need to have a *valid* prescription, indicating how much you will use and the daily dosage. AND your doctor's phone number.

Can i bring my controlled meds?

Some meds need a prescription and you need to show it to the Mexican customs agent. Here is [a list of such meds https://mx.usembassy.gov/bringing-items-into-mexico-u-s/ Make sure you bring the prescription with you at every moment.

How about booze?

Alcohol is 100% legal, but most convenience stores and supermarkets are limited to certain hours/days in which they can sell alcoholic beverages, ask the employees about this before getting your drinks. Night clubs stop selling alcoholic drinks around 3:00 AM, so place your last order before that. Make sure you ask for the local beer (remember that any "cheap beer" from your country will be imported and because of that expensive here!)

Is it expensive there?

As any other touristic destination, The Yucatan state can be as cheap and as expensive as you can expect from such a place. Make sure you plan your trip from home, check the websites of the hotels and restaurants that you plan to visit and make your calculations (tripadvisor is great for this) Being said that, you’ll find that our state can be very affordable.

Things to do in Mérida

We reccomend you to stay at Merida and use the city as a Hub, since the city has plenty of options regarding lodging and food. In this regard, it's best to program all your day trips on weekdays (so you can avoid crowds, lines and wait times) and stay at the city on Saturday/Sundays because thats when the city has more to offer to tourists. 

Some free things that you can do are:



Sunday morning bici ruta at the Paseo de Montejo (free)


Pok Ta Pok Maya ball game. Saturday 8 PM at the main cathedral (Free)


Animaya is a great for children (free)


Afternoon visit to the Parque de las Américas (free)  



Guided downtown tour. Starting at the Palacio Municipal, ask for the touristic info booth. 8:30 AM on Saturday (free)



Like Museums?

The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is the best ever on Maya history. The Palacio Cantón Museum is also worth the visit. The City's museum has seasonal exhibits of local artists.
 

Do Merida's Cantina Tour  and enjoy their music and cocktails. 

Visit the jaw dropping Quinta Montes Molina and have a cofee on their beautiful restaurant 

FOOD

Question: How about the food, can I eat there safely?

You have probably heard that in Mexico the best food is street food and that's true... but this has a catch in the Yucatan state: Due to the state's tropical, hot and humid environment, eating from street vendors is not recommended, specially if this is your first time in the 3rd world. Street level food in the tropics is often contaminated by bacteria and can cause stomach diseases, specially if you have never been in a developing country before. Salmonella, E Colli and such is often an issue with street vendors in Yucatan, so avoid those and prefer stablished restaurants. Yes, i know this contradicts most of the current hipster trend in wich people prefer to eat a mango direcly from the street stall, but it's up to you to evaluate the risk.

Btw, the Yucatan Cuisine is considered by most experts as one of the top cuisines of Mexico. 





Check this Yucatan cuisine specialized restaurants while in Merida:
And/or check this smaller ones, if you prefer a more petite comite kind of experience:

Izamal has two superb Yucatan food restaurants:

Kinich just beside the great pyramid of Izamal.

La Conquista is located in an old mansion and has awesome service.

Want some seafood? 

Heladio's at Progreso is really good, just order a beer and they will provide FREE food. Ask for a dozen and they will give you a feast.

Zamá at Sisal has great seafood and good service. 

For fine dining, check out this options:

This Restaurant (located in the former Chablé Hacienda, now lavish resort) Won the 2017 Prix Versailles award to world's most beautiful.

Kuuk has a modern, molecular take on yucatan food. 

All those recs have great hygiene standards so you can eat there safely.

Can i drink tap water?

NO. You should always drink bottled water. Bonafont, Electropura and Cristal are good choices. Make sure you stay very hydrated when travelling the Yucatan countryside (specially if you are visiting us from a cold place like northern Europe or Canada) and always carry a water bottle with you. Mayo clinic reccomends that if you feel like overheating, just Get to a shady or air-conditioned place (hotel, convenience store, restaurant) rehydrate with water or sports drinks but don't drink sugary or alcoholic beverages to rehydrate.

NIGHT LIFE

Merida's nightlife is not as big as it is in Cancun, but you can have a great night visiting this places. 


LODGING

Is AirBnb in Merida a good idea?

There are some really, really nice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD0F8coKN1E&t=364s) AirBnb and Remixto https://remixto.com/ places available in Mérida, but pay attention to the location of such rentals, I have seen people getting nice AirBnb houses in the coast and then complaining about those being too isolated and the transport fares being too expensive. Merida specifically is not really a "walkable city" because most of the year the climate is too hot, so always contemplate transport when booking. More on that next!

Note that AirBnb and similar platforms are not always the cheapest or more convenient options, so do not discard hotels and be sure to check some of those using google maps.

For those with a tight budget, Hostals are a good option
https://goo.gl/maps/BfVZZLkWLq5cqBjK8  

And there is the plus that you get to know fellow travellers and can use their kitchen!

TRANSPORT

Can i use public transportation in Merida?

We have public buses here, but unfortunately most of the routes are messy and don’t have a real hourly schedule, so i would not recommend using that. One notable exception are the vaiven routes. You can download their app and GPS track their buses real time. Va-y-Ven - Apps en Google Play 

Taxicabs vary greatly in service, so use those only when no other options available. ALWAYS ask them for an estimate before your trip. YOU DONT TIP OVER THE PRICE OF THE SERVICE, NOT A DIME! Even if asked for.

What about UBER?

Uber and Didi are good options to move around the city.  Skip Indriver! it's not safe.

Can i travel using passenger trains?

What is the best way to travel around the Yucatan countryside?

Yucatan is well conected by bus routes and all the main touristic spots are accesible via comfortable, 1st class buses. ADO buses is the best company around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o8eC3TflVY.
Note that NOT all interesting sites are accesible via 1st class buses. Some interesting places can only be reached using second class, old buses with no air conditioning (in a climate that reaches the 40 celsius you will really need AC) no bathroom and poor hygiene that will stop at every small town in the road taking 4x the time of a 1st class one.

Sure there are other options like colectivo taxis, but those have their own cons, like being operated by not properly trained drivers, they only travel when full (you need to wait until the taxi gets VERY full) and you can be overcharged easily because they usually don't have controlled fees and see tourists like walking dollar bags. Unlike 1st class buses, You'll not be covered by any travellers insurance while riding colectivos and boy do they crash often!

Renting a car

The absolute best way to explore all those off the beaten path places is renting a car. Let me explain that with a simple itinerary:
  • From Mérida, drive to the village of Homun. Once there look for a tour guide at the entrance of town or in the main plaza. The place is full of awesome Cenotes wich will be not crowded. You can always ask the guide to take you to some newly explored ones with no people around.
  • Next, drive to Izamal, spend the night there, have breakfast and then drive to the coast and reach Santa Clara. Get an AirBnb or try their small hotel and enojy a pristine, virgin beach town with no mass tourism.
As you can see, renting a car allows you to get to places that would be hard to reach without one, so it's completely worth it.

Some car rental services:

Always record the rental car with your phone, noting every dent and little detail you may find before taking it! it's a common scam to charge you for damages. 

INTERNET ACCESS

Do not commit the mistake of just assuming that your moble phone provider will just work in Mexico! Ask your provider about coverage and roaming costs if any! For example your US AT&T plan includes free data and voice roaming in Mexico, but other companies might not and you'll find a huge roaming bill when back home, so beware.

If you don't want to spend on a roaming data pack or similar with your service provider, you can do this:

1.- While at home, buy a cheapo GSM, unlocked android smartphone. Any recent GSM phone will do, but it must be factory unlocked.

2.- Arriving to Mexico, Buy a prepaid SIM (we call them amigo CHIP) from TELCEL (there are several other carriers, but Telcel has the best coverage by far) at any OXXO store (kinda a 7/11 store) Just ask for an "Amigo Chip" and ask for a "paquete telcel 200" wich includes unlimited calls to the US and Canada and 3 GB of data.

3.- Put that sim on your cheapo phone and use it to call home and as a wifi hotspot. You can buy a cheapo phone in OXXO too.

Merida city has a lot of parks with free wifi hotspots, locate the ones near you hotel and chat with friends and family from there! 

There you go. The Yucatan state is very well supported by google maps (don't forget to save the Yucatan map for offline navigation ) and real GPS apps like Sygic and Ndrive (better option that Google Maps if you plan to explore the inner state).

Useful links

General Touristic info: www.yucatantoday.com
Wiki travel - Yucatan Peninsula http://wikitravel.org/en/Yucat%C3%A1n_Peninsula
Emergencies: just dial 911 and ask for english speaking personnel.
Merida's free Tourist info booth location https://goo.gl/maps/83Ff6f29cwAonyt5A
Merida's central bus station location: https://goo.gl/maps/7Y9LvM8q7sfvy1XX6

Thank you for visiting us!

IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS, PLEASE START A NEW REDDIT THREAD SO OTHERS BENEFIT FROM THE ANSWERS!!

LAST UPDATED: JANUARY 2024