Hello! My girlfriend and I are spending a few days in Merida in late October. We are looking for a good place outside of Merida, but not too far away, to take an overnight trip. We are open to anything! Thanks for your advice!

Jason & Whitney

You could try the ruins in Uxmal and surrounds. Depends on what you plan to do before or after Merida - you may not want Uxmal if you are planning to go to Chichen Itza (although personally I would include both in your schedule)

Valladolid - Isamal, one of the two.

or Isla Mujeres.

Valladolid, or even Campeche.

Thanks for your input - what about Celestun? Is the national park there worth a trip in late October? What differentiates Campeche from Merida?

Thanks for your input - what about Celestun? Is the national park there worth a trip in late October? What differentiates Campeche from Merida?

I've been to Celestun twice, both as "day trips." So, I can't speak to the issue of staying at or near the national park. I think almost everyone visiting the place does so to see the flamingos, and when they've done that they're out of there.

Campeche is another colonial city, with portions of the fort walls that protected the city still standing and well preserved. It's a slower paced place, and smaller, than Merida and is right on the Gulf. There are archeological ruins in the area, also.

Izamal in Yucatan (not far from Merida) might be interesting to you. There's a huge church complex that Pope John Paul II visited that's unusual and there is a ruin right in the middle of town. I don't know if there are places to stay though, but there might be. I believe the Sunday train from Merida to Izamal may still run, and if you're a train buff you might want to take a ride (one of the last passenger trains in operation in Mexico).