Merida City tour and Visit to Traditional Cantinas

This half-day tour combines a walk around the historic first square of Mérida with visits to three traditional cantinas. A local guide tells the stories of the most emblematic buildings and then explains how cantinas have evolved in drinks, mixology and food, including the influence of Afro-descendant, Spanish and Lebanese cultures on the city's identity and flavors. The listing puts the whole outing at about 270 minutes.

The first part is on foot and is built around facades and history. You hear about the founding of the city, its murals and the conquest, then the facade of the Montejo house and its family coats of arms. Further stops cover the history of the Franciscan order, one of the oldest squares in the city where its first hotel was built, and the history of the Holy Inquisition and the Caste War. Another stop looks at construction materials and French-style European architecture. Each of these stops is roughly 10 to 15 minutes.

You then reach a square that is now the base of a gastronomic corridor of restaurants and the home of the traditional Yucatecan trova, presented every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. A short rest follows at an ice cream parlor with typical Yucatecan flavors, where you enjoy a sorbet before heading to the cantinas.

The cantina section takes about 45 minutes at each stop. The first is either Casa Chica or El Lucero del Alba, depending on how busy each is, with a local beer and a clear one. The second is either Pipiripau or La Negrita, each with its own beer and atmosphere. You can taste up to two craft beers per person in each cantina, and one venue is known for live gypsy jazz, flamenco and other shows.

This tour is for adults, and official identification or a passport is required. It is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health, and you should have at least a moderate level of fitness. The tour includes three cantinas, one snack to share in two of them, an air-conditioned vehicle and alcoholic beverages. Lunch, extra snacks and extra drinks are not included. If your hotel is outside the pickup area, pickup can be arranged from the Starbucks on Paseo de Montejo.