At an event held at a park in Cholul, Mérida’s city hall unveiled a new application for mobile phones designed to help users identify a wide range of plant life native to Yucatán. The application which is called ÁrbolMID, launched on Jan. 26 to coincide with world environmental education day. The application, which is only…
Passengers to the US now have a new COVID-19 testing option when departing from Mérida. Travelers wanting to get tested at the airport will be required to show their itinerary and boarding pass. The test, administered by DQ Mérida Integral, is designed to detect antigens and requires the insertion of a special 6-inch cotton swab in…
Though numbers of tourists visible at attractions such as the city zoo and Mérida’s main square remains lower than in past years, artisans and shop owners continue to offer their goods and services. Local tour operator Sergio Solis said that Mérida has continued receiving Mexican travelers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, due to its reputation for…
According to the new census data, Mexico’s population stands at just over 126 million, with approximately 2.3 million residing in Yucatán. Mexico stands as the 10th largest country in the world by population, slightly above Japan and below Russia. And 36% of Mexico’s population is concentrated in 10 metropolitan areas, led by Mexico City with…
For the second day in a row, Alejandro Lemus set a new fresh-water freediving world record, descending 94 meters into cenote Ucil. Lemus broke his own record, set the day before, by 12 meters. Lemus announced that he will now attempt a new free diving record, this time without the use of flippers. Freediving is…
Clarifying some confusing new lanes and symbols on the streets, Merida’s City Hall has placed a series of informational panels along Paseo de Montejo. The panels outline the three phases of construction and implementation of Mérida’s new bicycle lanes. During the first phase, which has already begun, the city has started to paint lanes and…
Yucatán has announced a statewide polystyrene ban effective June 19. The news comes on the heels of similar measures taken in December, intended to eliminate the use of plastic straws and some types of plastic bags. Harry Rodríguez Botello Fierro, Yucatán’s ecology commissioner, highlighted the importance of the polystyrene ban and suggested that the state…
Izamal is a sleepy colonial city an hour east of Mérida. Much like Mérida, the city was built in the 16th century atop the ruins of a large Maya settlement. The city is known to Yucatecos by the moniker Ciudad de las Tres Culturas — the City of Three Cultures. This makes reference to the…
Yucatán has maintained its spot as the safest state in México, according to the federal safety watchdog. Yucatán also achieved first place, as the state with the highest perceived level of security for women in 2020, according to Mexico’s demographics institute, INEGI. The state government credits much of Yucatáns success to its “Yucatán Seguro” or…
Thousands of ancient artifacts and structures belonging to the ancient Maya civilization have been uncovered along all four stretches of the Tren Maya project. Authorities report that specialists have been deployed over 80 times to recover archaeological remains from construction sites. However, details are still unclear regarding the precise nature of these finds and how…
Nelia Braga Méndez began designing and making children’s clothing and costumes in her workshop in 2012. When a friend lost her baby, she decided to make her first ”memory bear,” which is made from garment which had belonged to the one who died. “The idea started as a way to offer comfort to parents who…
After being adrift in the Gulf of Mexico for nine days aboard the vessel “Rey Marino,” five fishermen were rescued in Yucatán. The fishermen found themselves in this dire situation due to an engine failure approximately 150 kilometers from the coast of Sisal. Crew members were forced to eat raw fish during their last three…
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is leaving all options open regarding tighter international travel restrictions. “We’re always open to strengthening them as necessary,” Trudeau said. Trudeau emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and expressed concern over new virus mutations first detected in the United Kingdom and Brazil. The news came as Pfizer informed…
Some of Yucatán’s treasured cenotes continue to be a dumping ground, the divers and volunteers who clean them can attest. Cenotes are deep natural wells fed by groundwater, which make for popular swimming spots amongst locals and tourists. They are also easily accessible sources of water for remote communities. “We have been extremely active in…
Despite the city’s efforts, stray animals are visible all over Merida’s streets. Photo: File
A rare and giant stucco mask left by a long-gone Maya community was found at the archaeological site of Ucanha in the municipality of Cansahcab. Researchers have dated the mask to the 4th century and note that it is reminiscent of similar decorative elements found in other archaeological sites in Yucatán such as Acanche and…
The ride to Xcambó, just off Yucatán’s Gulf coast in Dzemul, is half the fun. To get to the site from Mérida, take the highway north and then make a right at the large roundabout just before you enter Progreso. From there it’s another 30 minutes or so, but you may want to take it…
Light-and-sound shows in Yucatán were canceled in March due to the COVID-19 -pandemic. However, the Diario de Yucatan has reported that Yucatan’s culture and tourism authority expects the spectacles to return to Chichén Itzá and Uxmal next February. The mixed-media experiences have been held in Yucatán since the 1970s. These shows known in Spanish as…
An American couple lost control of their car when it flipped on the Mérida-Cancún toll highway. Diario de Yucatán reported that according to police sources, after going off-road, the vehicle ran along the embankment until it hit a large boulder, which caused it to flip upside down. Both occupants were able to extract themselves from…
Mérida is chosen — with Montreal and Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula — to spearhead a new initiative to reduce food waste. North America’s Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) estimates that every year the USA, Canada and Mexico waste a combined 168 million tons of food. The CEC campaign encourages education and offers materials through its…
Both business owners and drivers are frustrated with Merida’s new bicycle lanes. Part of the problem is not knowing the rules. State and local governments have been mostly silent on the specifics of the infrastructure plan. “We have only heard complaints about the new bicycle lanes. The government has imposed this decision on us, but…
When thinking of the Yucatán, for many the first image to come to mind is the pyramid of Kukulkán in Chichén Itzá. Although Chichén Itzá is by far the most visited historical attraction on the peninsula, there are another 54 interesting archaeological sites spread across the Mexican states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche. Located roughly…
Admission fees to Yucatán’s archaeological sites will rise Feb. 1. The confusion will remain the same. Mexican visitors to Chichén Itzá will now pay 239 pesos, up from 210. The fee for international visitors will now be 539 pesos, up from 497. This price hike comes exactly one year since the last increase. The price…
The Venados de Yucatán postponed Tuesday’s match against the Oaxaca Alebrijes after nine members of its team tested positive for COVID-19. The coronavirus screening was mandated by the Liga MX, Mexico’s professional soccer governing body. The Venados’ last game was in November before a nearly empty stadium. Players and fans expressed their disappointment, mainly with sad…
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