What Are Gatitos? A Guide to the Fluffy Seeds of the Sacred Ceiba Tree
When the pods of the great ceiba tree split open each spring on the Yucatán Peninsula, something remarkable happens. Thousands of fluffy white seeds burst forth and take to the air, drifting across roads, fields, and village plazas. Locals have…
FEATURED
What Are Gatitos? A Guide to the Fluffy Seeds of the Sacred Ceiba Tree
When the pods of the great ceiba tree split open each spring on the Yucatán Peninsula, something remarkable happens. Thousands of fluffy white seeds…
Nuevo León’s First Pre-Hispanic Museum is Great News, But Far From Perfect
The Museo de los Antiguos Mexicanos, which opened in San Pedro Garza García, on the outskirts of Nuevo León, less than a year ago,…
Move Over, Guys — Piel de Barro Is Here to Play
For generations, the orquesta jaranera — the brass-and-percussion ensemble that drives Yucatán’s beloved traditional music — has been almost exclusively a male domain. That…
Are You ‘American’? It Depends on Where You’re Standing
Call yourself “American” in Mexico, and most people will know exactly what you mean. Do it in Bogotá or Buenos Aires, and you might…
Lifestyle
Au revoir BC66: Mérida’s Beloved Bistro Closing After 13 Years
The bohemian and charming BC66 Cultural Bistro will serve its last croque madam at the…
Mérida Ranks 6th for Cycling As Bike Use Ticks Up
Mérida has earned a spot among Latin America’s top cycling cities — sixth place, according…
Why the Trees on Calle 60 Never Had a Chance
The stretch of Calle 60 that leads into Mérida’s Corredor Gastronómico (Gastronomic Corridor) is getting…
OXXO Begins To Experiment With Self-Checkout in Mérida Locations
OXXO’s checkout lines are notoriously slow, with internet memes based on the idea that “the…
Local TV: Why Mérida Was So Very, Very Late to the Party
Local television arrived late to Yucatán. Very late. On January 31, 1963, when XHY-TV Canal 3 flickered to life in Mérida. The station—now known as SIPSE Televisión—became the first broadcaster in the entire Yucatán Peninsula and southeastern Mexico. Even if…
HISTORY
Culture
Beyond Rest, the Hammocks of Yucatán Weave Memories and Family Legacy
In Yucatán, the hammock is not simply a place to sleep. For many families, it…
Fernando Delgadillo, The Trovador Poet of Everyday Life
Fernando Delgadillo González emerged from the underground SEIMUS Collective in the late 1980s and built…
The Peón Contreras Theater: Deterioration, Delays, and Broken Promises
Nearly four and a half-years after a fire devastated the Peón Contreras, Mérida’s most iconic…
Tekax Celebrates a Versatile Green at its 2nd Annual Chaya Festival
A leafy green shrub that has nourished Maya communities for millennia is taking center stage…
Of Serpents and Deities: The Many Meanings of Snakes in Mesoamerica
In the religious and cosmological systems of ancient Mesoamerica, the serpent was a central and complex symbol. Serpents were not simply animals or singular gods. They represented a spectrum of forces, including creation, destruction, rain, fire, and the sky. One…
Archaeology
Talking About Maya Trade as Social Force at Palacio Cantón
Trade routes, goods, and the merchants were bound up with politics, cosmology, and everyday ritual…
Understanding the Meaning Behind the Famous Masks at Kohunlich
The era of construction at what today is the archaeological site of Kohunlich spanned well…
How Maya Astronomers Predicted Celestial Events Far into the Future
The Maya of antiquity are well known for their profound interest in the night sky…
8,400 Visitors Witness Kukulcán’s Descent at Chichén Itzá Equinox
More than 8,400 people packed the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá on Friday for…
Octopus Farm in Sisal Under Threat by Mexican Lawmaker
Most people have never heard of octopus farming. But the only such operation in the entire Western Hemisphere is running right now in Sisal, a small fishing town on Yucatán’s Gulf coast about 50 kilometers west of Mérida — and…
Nature
What Are Gatitos? A Guide to the Fluffy Seeds of the Sacred Ceiba Tree
When the pods of the great ceiba tree split open each spring on the Yucatán…
Ocelots Are the New Invasive Species in Cozumel
Ocelots are experiencing population declines throughout much of their natural range, which stretches from Texas…
Octopus Farm in Sisal Under Threat by Mexican Lawmaker
Most people have never heard of octopus farming. But the only such operation in the…
Rare Red Sprite Photographed Over Yucatán Coast
A crimson flash lit up the sky above Yucatán’s coastline Saturday night — there and…
Dr. Eddie Salazar Gamboa, 79, Revealed Chichén Itzá Mysteries
The scientific community of Yucatán mourns the loss of one of its brightest stars. Dr. Eddie Salazar Gamboa passed away on Thursday following a brief illness. He was 79. His death marks the end of an extraordinary life dedicated to…
People
Christian Rasmussen: A Visual Explorer’s Legacy in the Yucatán
Christian Rasmussen has spent over five decades blending a sharp artistic vision with careful anthropological…
Joann Andrews, Environmental Pioneer in Yucatán, Dies at 96
Joann Andrews, founder of Pronatura Península de Yucatán and a leading force in conservation across…
Remembering Doña Homa: A Life of Bold Decisions and Sweet Success
The distinctive Persian-Mexican fusion that made Hotel Casa San Ángel a Mérida landmark has lost…
Gabriel Ramírez Aznar, Pillar of Yucatán Art, Dies at 87
Renowned painter and writer Gabriel Ramírez Aznar died today, leaving behind a lasting legacy as…
Casa Serena: An Architect’s Personal Vision On the Market at Cabo Norte
A contemporary residence represents something rare in luxury real estate: a home designed by an architect for himself.
REAL ESTATE
Colonial Palace: Mérida home for sale turns heads up, down and around
A highlight of the most recent Mérida Showcase of Homes was this stunning Colonial Palace on…
A Mérida Couple Finds Peace in a Weekend Quinta
Photographs by Richard Leo Johnson Around the corner is an early 20th-century movie theater refashioned…
Five Lots Join Together for One Giant Slice of Paradise
Escape to your private paradise with this breathtaking beach compound nestled along 40 meters of…
Is This the Most Luxurious Mansion in Mérida?
A French-style mansion reminiscent of Versailles is on the market in Mérida for just over…
The Magic Formula That Made Grupo Habita Mexico’s Top Hotelier of 2026
Mexico City-based Grupo Habita, which recently unveiled its long-awaited Hotel Sevilla property in Mérida, is Hospitality Design Magazine’s 2026 Hotelier of the Year. The honor recognizes the company’s 25-year journey as a pioneer in boutique hospitality across Mexico and the…
LODGING
Enjoy Authentic Old Mexico @ These Historic Luxury Hotels in Mérida
Travelers are turning to accommodations that offer authentic Ycatan experiences. Find out more with these…
Decu Downtown Mérida — Luxury with Local Flare
Located in Mérida’s historic downtown, Decu Downtown is a unique hotel that seamlessly combines luxury…
The Most Unique Places To Stay in Mérida
Fancy a litle fun with your next fancy getaway? These unique places to stay in Mérida are…
18 Hot Spots to Visit in Mérida to Hang Out
Nothing beats spending time where the locals like to hang out. Check out this list…