AIRBNB EXPERIENCES

Things to do in Merida

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Activities led by local experts

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5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviews

Craft Yucatecan snacks at restored former school

Admire the details Soak in the former schoolhouse's design and restoration. Prep classic bites Craft Yucatecan foods with locally sourced ingredients. Savor your creations Enjoy your meal alongside fresh local drinks. Soak in terrace view Discuss how food, culture, and community overlap Two participants minimum for this experience to happen. There is a 15 minute grace period for the guest's arrival.

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Explore Yucatán’s henequen heritage and textile art

The story of Yucatán is stitched into its textiles, woven with the strength of henequen—a fiber made from agave leaves—and the artistry of generations past. You’ll wander through the Xcumpich neighborhood, a historical center for henequen production, and learn to make textiles with guidance from a local designer who reimagines ancestral techniques for today’s world. • We’ll meet at the grand pich tree in Xcumpich Park before setting off on a guided walk through the remnants of an old hacienda. • Learn how henequen—once known as “green gold”—shaped the region’s economy and identity, and see firsthand how this neighborhood continues to honor its textile traditions. • Outside, surrounded by trees and an old water well, a local textile artist will introduce you to working with henequen. Through a step-by-step demonstration, you’ll create your own small textile piece using traditional knotting and free-form techniques. More than just a souvenir, your piece will carry the story of a place where history, nature, and creativity intertwine. Through this experience, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the skill and artistry behind handmade textiles while supporting local traditions that bridge past and present.

5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviews

Journey through Mérida’s art studios with a local artist

What better way to experience Mérida’s booming art scene than with the artists who call the city home? Join me on a sensory adventure through the galleries and studios that nourish Mérida’s vibrant art community—and while we’re there, strike up a conversation with actual working artists. • We’ll begin our journey at my studio, where you will awaken your senses through a blindfolded immersive art experience, to prime you for what comes next. • You’ll get intimate access to the studios and galleries of internationally recognized artists who work in a variety of mediums, from photography to sculpture to painting and beyond. • Best of all, you’ll get to engage in one-on-one conversations with the artists themselves, to learn about their unique creative philosophies and artistic journeys. You’ll leave with a once-in-a-lifetime connection to our gorgeous Yucatán city through its vibrant art and equally vibrant working artists.

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Join a movement workshop embodying mayan architecture

Intertwine presence and perception with a performing artist. Begin with intention Ground with breath and movement, tuning into space and time. Walk the park’s grid Glide among plazas guided by Maya-inspired architecture. Align with cosmology Connect movement with mayan and yucatecan inspired spaces and cardinal orientations. Reflect via motion Walk and talk among food stalls tied to local tradition.

5 out of 5 average rating, 5 reviews

Cook a vegetarian meal with a renowned chef in Merida

Join me, Chef Aleli, in the kitchen with vegetarian alternatives restaurant, Ramiro, for a hands-on culinary experience that brings Merida’s seasonal produce and regional ingredients to life! • We’ll start with a refreshing beverage made from locally sourced herbs and fruits. I’ll share stories from my culinary travels and guide you through a mini masterclass on seasonal ingredients. Touch, taste, and discover the unique characteristics of each one. • Time to cook! Mix and whisk to prepare a seasonal salad, dish, and dessert under my guidance. This hands-on learning experience is truly collaborative and mirrors how I work with my team at Ramiro. • As we enjoy the dishes we’ve prepared, I’ll share perspective on flavor pairings, ingredient swaps, and tips for ways to recreate this sort of cuisine in your own kitchen. You’ll leave feeling motivated to get creative, local, and seasonal in your own culinary adventures.

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Reset yoga, breathwork and ice bath

Join me in the Yucatán for a journey blending yoga, breathwork, and Mayan traditions. Together, we’ll release resistance, embrace discomfort, and connect with the divine essence within. • Begin with a Mayan cleansing ritual using copal incense to focus your energy. Guided journaling and mindfulness exercises will help anchor your purpose for the experience. • Practice 45 minutes of yoga inspired by Mayan harmony between the cosmos and the self. Storytelling and mindful movement will deepen your connection to the cycles of nature. • Engage in conscious hypno-breathwork to release tension and unlock emotions. This 20-minute session will connect you to the sacred elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Finish with an ice bath challenge, guided by a Mayan blessing with sacred water to help you break limiting patterns. This experience weaves Mayan wisdom into a journey of personal transformation, connecting you to the Yucatán’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.

5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviews

Sip & Craft: A Hands-On Journey Through Mexican Spirits

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Mexican spirits as I teach you about the ingredients, origins, and craft of cocktail making, right in the heart of historic Mérida. • I’ll take you through a tasting of four distinct Mexican spirits, such as tequila, mezcal, sotol, bacanora and raicilla. We’ll explore different aromas, flavors, and textures as I share insights about the terroir, heritage, and production of each spirit. • You’ll have a chance to create two cocktails under my guidance: a classic like a paloma or mezcal margarita, as well as a contemporary drink inspired by local ingredients. • Once you’re finished making your cocktails, we’ll serve small Mexican bites to enjoy with your cocktails, and you can ask me questions. You’ll get to take home a recipe card and a small bottle of spirits as a farewell gift. Note: This experience is for guests age 21 or older.

5 out of 5 average rating, 4 reviews

The art of distilling your own Gin with endemic botanicals

Join the founder of Katun Gin and Bruxo Mezcal at a bar with a pétanque court (a French lawn bowling game) for a class in making gin with unique Yucatecan botanicals. • With refreshing gin cocktails in hand, we’ll talk about the origins of Katun Gin, and I’ll demonstrate the process of distilling gin. • Next, you’ll blend your own! You’ll select a few local botanicals, such as achiote, citrus, and chiles, and macerate them in a neutral spirit. • Finally, we’ll move to the pétanque court, sipping cocktails as we play a lighthearted match. You’ll learn about Mexican spirits as well as local herbs and spices, and take away a small bottle of custom gin as a keepsake.

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Urban sketching & watercolor workshop at Galería Secreta

Join me, a Cuban visual artist, for a unique art lesson in Mérida’s historic Barrio de Santiago, where you’ll learn how to sketch or paint using watercolor, charcoal, ink, or graphite. This fun and immersive art experience is a good fit for all skill levels and ages, including children. • Tour my studio at Galería Secreta and hear about Merida’s architectural history, artistic traditions, and my personal creative process. I’ll give an overview of the materials we’ll be using. • Explore Barrio de Santiago, taking in the grand colonial facades, architectural details, courtyards, and unique entryways. As we walk, you’ll choose a building or architectural element as inspiration for your art piece. I’ll share creative prompts to feed your process and inspire the art you’re about to make. • Time to make your masterpiece! Back at the studio, choose your materials and medium and get to work sketching or watercoloring. I’ll help you throughout, sharing tips on technique, composition, shading, and blending. You’ll leave with your handmade artwork, and a deeper understanding of the area’s architecture and history.

Top-rated activities

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4.93 out of 5 average rating, 1152 reviews

Chichen Itza, Private Cenote/Food Experience & Izamal

Avoid crowds, beat the heat, no tourist traps, get to taste the best of the Yucatan cuisine home made cooked and swimm in the only private cenote, off the beaten path. Our 5:50 am departure, will guarantee to be the first group inside Chichen Itza and take amazing pictures. Togheter we'll unveil the importance and history of this ancient city. A beautiful cenote, own by a family with mayan heritage found by stroke of luck, plenty of time to enjoy the crystal clear freshwater of this unique gemm. Enjoy the authentic home made food with fresh ingredients & hand made corn tortillas, all prepared at the moment. In Izamal you can climb the mayan pyramid of Kinich kakmo, walk among the magic streets of the city and visit the convent. Average time to stay in each location: Chichen itza 2.5 hour guided tour & free time Cenote and food experience 2.5 hours Izamal 1.5 hour guided tour & free time Back at Merida between 4 to 5 pm Transportation included Professional licensed tourguide at all times Chichen itza foreign visitors state tax $570 mx not included Chichen itza mexican citizens state tax $200 mx Food experience $300 mx not included lifejacket available ( not obligatory) Food experience: Sopa de lima, guacamole, panuchos, salbutes, cochinita pibil tacos/home made tortillas, hibiscus flower cold tea & fresh fruit Vegetarian options

4.91 out of 5 average rating, 403 reviews

Tour Gastronómico & Visita a los Mercados, Come Como Local

This is a unique culinary experience. If you like to experience the authentic, we advise you to join us on this gastronomic walking experience through Mérida’s city center. Our tour starts meeting at Plaza Grande, one of the most iconic places in Mérida. From here we start our way by getting some traditional refreshing drinks and get our first dish of the day, gorditas. We continue visiting one of the main food markets in town (a really authentic and local place). We’ll have salbutes, tamales and also try some local fruit. We finish our way trying pastor and carnitas.

4.92 out of 5 average rating, 330 reviews

Recorre Mérida en bicicleta con un guía e historiador local

You will enjoy a two and a half hour bike ride in a safe, fun and unhurried way in one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities in the world: Mérida. We will start at Paseo Montejo avenue to pick up our bicycles and ride through bicycles lanes where I will tell you the secret history of the beautiful mansions and the explanation of the monuments found on this boulevard. We will head to the historic center, pausing for a refreshing fruit drink at my favorite place. Then we will continue to the new and amazing park of “La “Plancha” just three minutes away from Montejo through the gastronomic 47 street. You will learn about the history of railroads and henequén there. On our way, I will give you my personal recommendation of the most relaxed, beautiful, not so expensive places to eat, have a drink and listen to good live music.

4.93 out of 5 average rating, 203 reviews

Discover Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Cenote & the local cuisine

We will begin our adventure by meeting at the designated point at 6:00 a.m. We’ll set off early to be the first to arrive at Chichén Itzá. In fact, we might get there before the gates even open, ensuring we’re ready to enter well ahead of the crowds. This way, we’ll also avoid the heat. After you explore and take in the wonders of this ancient Mayan city, we’ll head either to a small local market or to a regional restaurant to enjoy traditional regional cuisine. Following this, we’ll drive 35 minutes to the home of a family fortunate enough to have a cenote on their property. This cenote, though open to the public, is rarely visited and incredibly beautiful. It features stalactites, stalagmites, and underground caves that extend into depths yet to be fully explored. After the cenote, we’ll visit the magical city of Izamal, also known as the Yellow City, one of the most iconic towns in Yucatán. Here, we’ll explore the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, the grand pyramid of Kinich Kakmó, and some artisan shops. *I’m not allowed to guide people inside the archaeological site, as there is currently a policy that only official guides are permitted to do so. However, I can arrange for the group to have a private official guide for a lower cost than the official price. For example, in a group of 5 people, each person would only need to contribute $8 USD to cover the guide’s fee.

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 108 reviews

Churros, chocolate y café de olla, masterclass con chef

On every fair in Mexico, one of the streetfoods sold are churros. They are a delicious snack which you can enjoy at all times of the day. In this Mexican cooking class we will teach you how to make those delicioius churros, an excellent chocolate ganache for dipping, and a accompanying Mexican coffee, café de Olla. The chocolate ganache as a dipping for Churros is not a coincedence. The Mayan people claim to be the inventor of the use of Mexican cacao beans. We will make all products from scratch and we will follow the traditional way on how to make them. This means you can also make them easily at home. After the class we will send you some photos and the recipes. Our location is in the historic center of Merida, in the popular neighborhood of Santiago. We will perform the class in one of the professional kitchen restaurant Johannes which is inside the magical boutique hotel Merida Santiago. This Experience Churros, chocolate and cafe de Olla is easily adaptable to vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free dietary preferences. This experience is a relaxed way to spend the afternoon, learn to cook churros, ganasche de chocolate and café de olla and make new friends. We looking forward to meet you!

5 out of 5 average rating, 52 reviews

Découverte du marché "Lucas de Gálvez" et sa gastronomie

Bienvenue dans ce qui va devenir votre activité préférée à Mérida Je vais vous accompagner pendant 2 heures dans les dédales du marché Lucas de Galvez à la découverte des richesses gastronomiques et culturelles du Yucatán. Dans ce marché vous trouverez de tout et il y’a en a vraiment partout! Depuis 5 ans que je vis à Merida, je le connais de fond en comble. Animé d’une soif de découvertes et de belles rencontres, pour ma part, j’ai choisis Lucas de Galvez comme mon terrain de jeux préféré. Notre visite nous amènera à comprendre comment est organisé le marché et découvrir chaque allée qui regorge de trésor. On commencera par la section des objets religieux qui ont une place importante dans le cœur des Mexicains. On enchaînera avec la section des épices pour en explorer les couleurs et les odeurs typiques. On découvrira le marché alimentaire pour connaître les spécialités du Yucatán, les fruits, les légumes, les pâtisseries, les sucreries…sans oublier les nombreux artisans… le tout dans une ambiance populaire et bon enfant. Et bien sûr une visite du marché ne serait pas complète sans une dégustation... Pour cela j’ai mes adresses pour faire découvrir les meilleures spécialités culinaires: cochinitas, panuchos, salbutes, tamales, kibis…fameux délices locaux. Je vous ferai partager, mes bons plans, mes coups de cœur et vous vivrez cette expérience comme un local

4.99 out of 5 average rating, 232 reviews

Discover Otomí Embroidery

Descubrirás la belleza de uno de los bordados mexicanos mas representativos del centro del país, Bordado de Tenango. Conocerás la puntada "pata de gallo" con la que se construye el bordado Tenango u Otomí, por lo que tu mismo bordarás a mano una pieza con hilos de colores. Otros aspectos destacables Es un taller práctico de bordado, hablaremos un poco de la región de donde se realiza originalmente está técnica. Escríbenos si te interesa otra fecha para asistir.

4.89 out of 5 average rating, 428 reviews

History walking tour at colonial Mérida

We'll walk in Merida's downtown (between 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the group) to know a little bit of Yucatan's histroy, where we'll stop to talk about the events that took place in the different historical points included in the tour. I'll happily do my best to answer all your questions concerning to the subject of the tour or any other that you may have. We'll join the downtown's life, so be prepared to walk and enjoy. Follow me on Instagram @followmeyucatan Other things to note I can open a tour hour on request. Send me a message and if it is possible i'll open it!

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 330 reviews

A Photo Route in the Historic Center of Mérida

This tour is to enjoy photography from a unique point of view, Come to take photos with your smartphone or any camera. Mérida: Experience the City's History, Legends, Contemporary Life, Gastronomy, and More on a Photo Walking Tour! Calling all adventure seekers and laughter enthusiasts! Get ready to immerse yourself in the best of Merida, as we explore the hidden gems and iconic landmarks. This tour allows you to discover the city's highlights while experiencing the authentic local atmosphere. Our focus is on providing you with an exceptional journey that showcases the very best that Merida has to offer. So lace up your walking shoes, join us on this adventure, and let us make your visit to Merida an extraordinary one! The city of Merida is very hot, so I recommend bringing water to drink.

5 out of 5 average rating, 8 reviews

Magic Sisal beach, flamingos & cenote

Let's dive into an adventure through mangroves, water eyes and beaches in the magical port of Sisal! Our trip will start in Mérida centro and we will make our way to Sisal. In this adventure we will have the opportunity to see flamingos and a lot of birds and fauna, we can sail in kayaks and “chalanas” (small boats used by the fishermen) have you seen flamingos so close? In the high season: December - April it is easy to see them even flying close to you Finally at sunset we will bathe in one of the most beautiful and emblematic beaches of Yucatán, to enjoy some drinks and the beautiful view of the sea and the sunset. PLEASE READ AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT: INCLUDES round transportation and snorkeling equipment vests, kayaks or chalana! We can do the experience all year round but take into account the rainy season and the flamingos season that is December - April. The experience does not INCLUDE: -The entrance to the cenote e bird island of $350 pesos MMX per person -Foods Remember to read well as the flamingos season is in certain months, outside of those months we can't guarantee to see many or some exemplar!