110,000-Peso Restoration Saves Historic Mérida Mausoleum
A 19th-century family tomb in Mérida’s General Cemetery has a new lease on life after a joint restoration by the city government and a local heritage group. The Vega Ibarra family mausoleum, a neo-Gothic structure with pointed arches and pinnacles…
FEATURED
110,000-Peso Restoration Saves Historic Mérida Mausoleum
A 19th-century family tomb in Mérida’s General Cemetery has a new lease on life after a joint restoration by the city government and a…
Yucatecans Pack Public Fan Zones to Watch World Cup Action
Yucatán didn’t get an official day off, but that didn’t stop hundreds of soccer fans from finding a way to watch Mexico’s opening match…
One of the World’s Most Endangered Foxes Gets a Last Chance on Cozumel
For years, the story of the Cozumel fox was one of whispers and shadows. We are not talking quite Bigfoot levels, but still. Mentioned…
Why Xcalak is the Mexican Caribbean’s Final Frontier
Only an hour away from Mahahual’s hordes of rowdy cruisegoers, this tiny fishing village feels like the final frontier of Mexico’s Caribbean Riviera —…
Lifestyle
Historic: 3 Yucatán Restaurants Earn a Michelin Star
The Michelin Guide finally came knocking on Wednesday night, and three Yucatán restaurants came away…
Why Older Malls Thrive in Mérida While Newer Ones Struggle
While shopping malls in the United States and Europe face declining foot traffic and store…
Acapulco chairs, a Timeless Mexican Design Icon
During the 1950s, the first Silla Acapulco saw the light of day in the city…
Bicycling Through Valladolid: A Pedal-Power Guide to Yucatán’s ‘Second City’
There’s no better way to understand Valladolid than from the saddle of a bicycle. 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
Denuncia y Arte: Efrén Maldonado’s New Art Exhibit is a Must-See
Efrén Maldonado’s career as an artist took off when he entered the country’s newsrooms.
Blending Papel Picado Art with Ancient Spirituality to Create a Soccer Jersey Collection
As the world turns its eyes to Mexico as a co-host of the 2026 FIFA…
Yoko Ono Joins the Roster for Mérida’s First International Art Biennial
She’s 93, still making art, and now on the guest list for a major new…
Why Take the Toll Highway to Cancún? Discover Holcá and Yucatán’s Best Tacos
Built in the 1990s, the Mérida–Cancún toll highway remains the fastest way to drive to…
The Dresden Codex, the Great Maya Book of the Stars
The Dresden Codex is a Mayan book believed to be the oldest surviving book written in the Americas, dating to the 11th or 12th century.
Archaeology
Archaeology
The Secrets of Hochob’s Underworld Monster of the Earth Facade
Hochob was founded in the 3rd century CE, but it is likely that the area…
The Lost Sounds of Mesoamerica: What Archaeology Can Tell UsAt theme parks, public plazas and restaurants, people are presented with what performers argue is ancient Mesoamerican music, but is this really the case? The answer: it’s complicated.
Does Mesoamerican really exist? The answer: it’s complicated.
Itzamkanac, the Great Capital of the Chontal Maya
Itzamkanac, also known as El Tigre, was once the great capital of the Maya Acalán-Tixchel…
The Sacred Mountain: A Conceptual Victim of its Own Success?
Before angry emails flood in, let’s clarify. The sacred mountain interpretation isn’t wrong; it’s overly…
Dzununcán: Mérida’s Most Vulnerable Reserve and Its Latest Threat
Heavy machinery rolling through a protected ecological reserve south of Mérida has triggered a federal enforcement action, the latest in an ongoing struggle to preserve one of the city’s most vital green spaces. Mexico’s federal environmental enforcement agency, Profepa, closed…
Nature
One of the World’s Most Endangered Foxes Gets a Last Chance on Cozumel
For years, the story of the Cozumel fox was one of whispers and shadows. We…
Dzununcán: Mérida’s Most Vulnerable Reserve and Its Latest Threat
Heavy machinery rolling through a protected ecological reserve south of Mérida has triggered a federal…
Mahahual’s Royal Caribbean’s Theme Park Halted Over Environmental Risks
In May 2026, Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources announced it would not approve…
Deforestation and Urbanization Push Unique Yucatán Lizards Toward Extinction
Lizards, geckos, and iguanas are part of everyday life in Yucatán and can be seen…
Lorraine Toohey Followed an Artist’s Path to a Vibrant Community
As a young artist, Lorraine Toohey embarked on an unconventional journey that eventually led her to Mérida, a stark contrast to her hometown of Edmonton. After graduating with a BFA and an art education degree, she was drawn to Vancouver’s…
People
People
Mexico’s Top Arts Medal Goes to Sculptor Gerda Gruber
A sculptor who left Vienna half a century ago and eventually found her artistic home…
Mérida Painter and Writer Enrique Trava Díaz Dies at 69
Enrique de Jesús Trava Díaz, a painter and writer known for his contributions to the…
Joanna’s 50-Year Journey of Love and Life in Yucatán
Fifty years ago, what began as a work assignment became a life-defining decision. In January…
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…
Choosing Where to Live in Mérida in 2026
Every January, Mérida fills with fresh arrivals—people beginning new chapters, seeking warmth in both climate and community, and hoping to find a place that feels like home. After years of guiding newcomers, I’ve noticed that the new year brings a…
REAL ESTATE
Airbnb advice: 5 things hosts removed from their rentals
Previously, we asked people for some expert Airbnb advice. The question was about income-property essentials…
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…
Acapulco chairs, a Timeless Mexican Design Icon
During the 1950s, the first Silla Acapulco saw the light of day in the city of the same name. There are many theories about their precise origin, but one thing is certain. A timeless Mexican design icon, the Acapulco Chair,…
LODGING
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…
Luxury & Elegance at the Best 5-Star Hotels in Mérida
Whether you prefer colonial mansions or something altogether newer and more modern, the best 5-star…
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…