What’s the safest destination in Mexico? A new report has just revealed the safest places in the country, and one destination in particular tops the list.
Mexico gets a bad rap in the media for being unsafe, when that could not be further from the truth — many parts of Mexico are totally safe for tourists and absolutely worth visiting.
But what about the number one safest destination?
According to a new report called the Mexico Peace Index, which was published by the Institute for Economics & Peace, that would be Merida, Mexico.
Merida is a safe and beautiful destination that should be on your travel bucket list.
Why? Here’s what makes Merida such a cool city to visit.
Where Is Merida?
First of all, let’s answer the question you might be wondering about, which is where exactly is Merida?
Merida is a city in the Mexican state of Yucatan. No, it’s not on the coast with amazing beaches like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum, but Merida has a lot going for it.
And while Merida doesn’t have a beach of its own, there are some nearby.
But the real highlight of Merida is its stately colonial architecture, leafy parks and squares, and abundance of art and culture. It’s one of the best cities in Mexico, and unlike some big cities, it’s super safe (much safer than most U.S. cities at that!)
Why Visit Merida
Being the capital of the state of Yucatan (not the be confused with the Yucatan Peninsula, which also includes the states of Quintana Roo and Campeche), Merida is a major cultural hub.
It has elegant architecture and tons of fascinating history.
For example, a little-known fact is that the stones used to build Merida Cathedral (one of the oldest cathedrals in North America) were actually taken from nearby Maya structures.
And speaking of the Maya, you can easily visit some spectacular ruins from Merida.
The popular ruins of Chichen Itza are less than 1.5 hours from Merida, but if you want to beat the crowds, head to Uxmal instead.
These ruins an hour from Merida are also very impressive, but they lack the crowds that you’ll often find at Chichen Itza.
Another cool thing to do in Merida? Check out the cenotes!
Cenotes are natural swimming holes, and there are tons of them around Merida. Since there isn’t a beach in Merida, cenotes are the next best thing.
And speaking of beaches, what if you do want to relax on some white sand and enjoy the cool, clear waters of the Caribbean?
Luckily, the beautiful beach of Progreso is not too far from Merida! This beach town is about 40 minutes from the city, and you can easily hop on the bus and head there for the afternoon.
It’s not quite as pretty as the beaches of Quintana Roo like Cancun and Tulum (just being honest!), but it’s still a nice beach.
How To Get To Merida
Okay, so are you ready to book your trip to Merida ASAP?
If you’re ready to plan a trip to Mexico’s safest city, it’s luckily pretty easy to get to Merida.
Merida has an international airport, and there are nonstop flights from a handful of U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, and Houston.
Another option is flying to Cancun, which has more flights from the U.S. — close to 40 cities have direct routes to Cancun International Airport.
And if you love traveling by train like I do, get excited! Because you can now take the brand-new Maya Train from Cancun to Merida in under 4.5 hours.
Another option is driving or taking the bus, which takes about 3.5 hours from Cancun.
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