Electric Carriages in Mérida: From Cruelty-Free Alternative to Zoo Attraction

Electric carriages, once heralded as the cruelty-free future of Mérida tourism, are being relocated to the city’s Centenario and Animaya zoos. This marks the end of an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful experiment to replace traditional horse-drawn carriages on the Paseo de Montejo and elsewhere in Centro.

During her weekly press conference, Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada announced that the city-owned electric carriages will be transferred to the zoos, where visitors can use them for short tours. The decision comes after persistent battery problems that made the vehicles unreliable for tourist operations in the historic center and along the iconic Paseo de Montejo.

“The battery has a short lifespan, and that’s a problem,” explained Mayor Patrón Laviada. “We’ve looked for solutions, and it’s a very complex issue. What we’re going to do with these carriages is take them to Animaya because maybe those short trips are possible. Still, they can’t go long distances because the batteries don’t hold up.”

The carriage also couldn’t compete with the romance and charm of a horse-drawn carriage, especially among tourists unaware of the toll daytime rides took on horses. More recently, new rules have been instituted to keep the horses out from under the Yucatecan sun.

A Troubled 3-Year Journey

The electric carriage program began with great fanfare in 2022 when six Chinese-made electric carriages were introduced as an alternative to the controversial horse-drawn calesas. The vehicles cost approximately 246,000 pesos each, with the city covering 59% of the cost and operators taking loans for the remainder.

The electric buggies were launched at the entrance to Paseo de Montejo with Governor Mauricio Vila and then-Mayor Renán Barrera in attendance. The 40-minute tours cost 400 pesos, the same price as horse-drawn carriages. They operated from Casa de Montejo in the Centro and Paseo de Montejo near Avenida Colón.

However, problems emerged almost immediately. Conductors reported that tourists seemed underwhelmed with the carriages, with one driver noting, “I have been waiting for hours, and still no takers. Tourists seem to prefer the old-style horse-drawn carriages.” The electric carriages were already called a “dismal failure within two weeks of operation.”

One rider on social media commented that the ride was fairly joyless, comparing the buggy to a black hearse.

Battery issues were evident from the start. Drivers reported that the reality was different despite being told each recharge should last 8-12 hours. “When you turn on the light at night, as it is LED, it consumes more, and if you accelerate more, you use up more current,” driver Manuel Torres Velázquez explained.

From 6 to 1

By February 2025, the situation had deteriorated dramatically. Only one of the six electric carriages remained in operation, with the others abandoned in the Municipal Palace parking lot. The two-year warranty had expired in August 2024, leaving operators responsible for maintenance costs.

The decline reflected both technical problems and market preferences. Tourists consistently chose the traditional horse-drawn carriages over the electric alternatives, leading most operators to abandon the electric vehicles in favor of their horses.

The electric carriage initiative was born from growing concerns about animal welfare in Mérida’s tourism industry. Animal rights activists had been protesting the use of horses, particularly during hot weather, with activist Elsa Arceo stating, “There is no excuse to use horses in this way. These animals suffer so much, especially when it is as hot as now.”

A viral 2022 Facebook post showing a collapsed carriage horse became a rallying point for activists demanding an end to the practice.

And in April 2025, Councilwoman Gabriela González Ojeda called for a complete transition to electric carriages, noting Guadalajara’s successful implementation of such a program.

Looking Forward: CICY Collaboration

Mayor Patrón Laviada revealed that the city is working with the Scientific Research Center of Yucatán (CICY) to develop a new, more efficient carriage model. “There’s a model that the CICY is helping us implement, and we’re looking at how to finalize it and make it efficient,” she said. This collaboration suggests that while the current electric carriages have failed, the city hasn’t abandoned the concept entirely.

The mayor indicated that the carriages will begin arriving at the zoos this week, where they may find new life serving visitors on shorter routes better suited to their limited battery capacity.

A Broader Tourism Debate

The electric carriage experiment reflects tensions in Mérida’s tourism industry between preserving traditional attractions and adapting to modern ethical and environmental concerns. As then-Mayor Barrera noted during the launch, the carriages represented “innovation while respecting Yucatecan traditions and taking care of the environment.”

However, the reality proved more complex. Tourist preferences, technical limitations, and economic pressures converged to undermine a promising solution to the animal welfare controversy.

The traditional horse-drawn carriages continue to operate with new time restrictions. At the same time, the failed electric alternatives find new purpose in a more limited role at the city’s zoos. Whether CICY’s latest model can succeed where the Chinese-made carriages failed remains to be seen. Still, the experience offers valuable lessons about the challenges of balancing tradition, innovation, and animal welfare in Mexico’s historic tourism destinations.

For now, visitors to Mérida who want to tour the Paseo de Montejo and Centro Histórico will continue to rely primarily on the traditional horse-drawn carriages, albeit with new protections for the animals during the hottest parts of the day.