Yucatán Teachers’ Strike Tactic: Tent City at the Plaza Grande
Teachers in Yucatán blocked a highway and the airport, and are now camping out on Mérida’s main square. Here is the conflict, in context.
Experience Toledo’s Whimsical Papalotes in Casa de Montejo for Free
Francisco Toledo’s Papalotes (kites in Nahuatl) take “flight” at Casa de Montejo, a 16th-century architectural jewel in Mérida’s Plaza Grande. Los Papalotes de Toledo is a whimsical exhibition celebrating the kites of artist Francisco Toledo (1940–2019). The show has captivated attendees at several venues across the country with its fusion of artistry and cultural heritage….
Better Late Than Never: La Noche Blanca 2025 is Mérida’s Night of Culture
Mérida’s colonial streets and plazas will come alive in June (not May) with La Noche Blanca 2025. Here’s why it’s worth waiting for.
MrBeast’s YouTube Video Was Definitely Not ‘Mayan Approved’
Tourism officials brought YouTube superstar Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, to Yucatán. And yes, he delivered a ton of media attention following his recent expedition to Mexico’s ancient Maya ruins. With that attention has come substantial backlash, from ordinary citizens all the way to the presidential palace. The May 10 video, “I Explored 2,000…
Mexico Sues Google Over Gulf of Mexico Name Change
Mexico has sued Google for updating its maps platforms, renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” The name change followed an edict from President Trump and appears only for users in the United States. The body of water has been called the Gulf of Mexico for over 400 years. Recent polls, including one…
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 — because in a very real sense, it is.
Archaeology | Culture | Monday
Mérida’s New Tren Maya Museum Highlights Recovered Artifacts
In the Ateneo Peninsular, the new Tren Maya Museum showcases archaeological artifacts recovered during the construction of the Maya train. Though this new museum comprises three good-sized exhibition rooms, it takes up just a fraction of Mérida’s grand Ateneo Peninsular, which is adjacent to the Cathedral and across from the Plaza Grande. It is also…
Assata Akil’s Journey to Authentic Self-Expression in Art and Writing
We have four questions for artist-writer-storyteller Assata Akil about her career and philosophy. And about her fierce fictional character, IFE.
Artist Juan Pueblo Has the Most Open Studio in Mérida
When Juan Pueblo shares his canvas with other artists, he thinks about how rappers work. “In rap, there is always collaboration between artists. If musicians can do it, why not painters?” says the effusive Mérida-born painter, whose full name is Juan Pablo Quintal García. “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, and I think, more…
The Lacandon Maya, ‘True People’ of the Chiapas Rainforests
The Lacandon Maya (meaning “true people” in their language) are an Indigenous group living in the Lacandon Jungle
Earl Leaf’s Rare Images of Mérida from 1952
American lensman Earl Leaf is known for his candid photos of Hollywood stars. He also captured some rare images of Merida in 1952
New U.S. Consulate in Mérida Will Reflect the Spirit of Cultural Exchange
After years of planning and construction, the United States will officially open its impressive new U.S. Consulate in Mérida, Yucatán, on Tuesday, May 6. The modern, high-security facility, located behind Harbor Mall in the Via Montejo development north of the city, replaces the previous consulate on Calle 60 closer to Centro. This architectural marvel represents…
Iván Ramírez, His Alux and Love for Animation
From a young age, Iván Ramírez Gamboa was captivated by classic cartoons like Looney Tunes, where the visual humor and expressiveness of characters like the Road Runner spoke louder than dialogue. Unlike popular series of the time, such as “Dragon Ball,” cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny inspired him with their dynamism and simplicity. But all…
A Worker’s Dream: How a Lottery Built the Dolores Patrón Neighborhood
In the crisp morning air of Feb. 1, 1928, Yucatán Gov. Dr. Álvaro Torre Díaz stood proudly before a crowd gathered to witness a revolutionary moment in Mérida’s urban development. Marking the second anniversary of his administration, the governor inaugurated the José Dolores Patrón Workers’ Colony — a neighborhood that today is nestled among some…
The Vibrant, Gritty, and Colorful Hodgepodge That Is Belize City
Belize City is far from a sanitized tourist paradise. It’s raw, real, and full of character. Here you will find Belize’s largest urban center, a lively, unpolished hub where Caribbean rhythms, an ancient Maya past, colonial history, and modern Belizean life collide. The city has seen major improvements in recent years, with better roads and…
Larger-Scale Music Festivals in Yucatán: Idea Strikes a Chord
What would you call Coachella if it were in Yucatán? We may soon find out. Yucatán’s Secretary of Economy and Labor, Ermilo Barrera Novelo, has proposed large-scale music festivals in Yucatán. The official posted on his X account asking whether Yucatán should host music festivals comparable to the billion-peso Tecate Pa’l Norte in Monterrey and…
Adventurer, Warrior, and Legend: The Life of Gonzalo Guerrero
Few people in history can be said to have had a legacy as consequential as Gonzalo Guerrero, the Spanish Conquistador who turned Maya chief and father to a new people. Significant gaps exist in what we know about Gonzalo Guerrero’s life, but what we know is remarkable, considering the man lived 500 years ago. From…
No Comeback: Organizers Scrap Plans for Fyre Festival 2 Mexico
The controversial Fyre Festival 2 Mexico, a promised sequel to a disastrous 2017 attempt at a high-end music event, has been scuttled. That’s according to recent communications sent to ticket holders. The event was initially scheduled to run from May 30 to June 2 in the Riviera Maya‘s northernmost playground, Playa del Carmen. Ticket purchasers…
Teotihuacán: The Enigmatic City at the Center of the Universe
The grandeur of Teotihuacán is hard to overstate, and it’s easy to see why the famed Aztecs thought the great city lay at center of the universe
New Distance Rules at Chichén Itzá Follow Cheeky Tourist Antics
Weeks after a German tourist became the latest self-entitled visitor to sprint illegally up El Castillo’s ancient steps, INAH has implemented new distance rules at Chichén Itzá. The heritage agency is establishing a minimum viewing distance of 15 meters / 50 feet from the base of the site’s magnificent main pyramid. This increased buffer zone…
Enormous Progreso Pier Has Stood Strong for 84 Years
Progreso’s maritime pier, the longest in the world, turned 80 last weekend.
Ouch! Critics Name the 5 Ugliest Monuments in Mérida
Mérida’s historic center is filled with landmarks. But public artwork can be a matter of bad taste. Check out the 5 Ugliest Monuments in Mérida.
Uncovering Guanajuato: A City of Many Layers and Rich History
Living in Merida for 10 years has had its challenges with direct flights to desirable destinations. Avoiding the chaos in Mexico City has always been top of mind. As much as I adore the city and visit it frequently, making connections through MEX has been problematic. With the expansion of our airport, direct flights have…
Museo Guty Cárdenas Honors a Tragic Music Icon from Yucatán
The curtain rises on a new cultural space, honoring the memory of Yucatecan musician and composer Guty Cárdenas. Guty Cárdenas — Casa Memoria showcases the legacy of this 1920s icon, who is still remembered for songs like “Caminante del Mayab,” “Nunca,” and “Rayito de sol.” Guty Cárdenas was known as “The King of Yucatecan Song,”…
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