Mérida Travel Forum

I am thinking about taking my family-six adults and five kids (6-13) for a one week trip to Mexico and wanted them to see Merida and some of the nearby Mayan sites. However, I am concerned about things for the kids to do. Are there family type activities in the area? I have not been able to find them. Your help would be appreciated. We hope to go in February.

Stan Diamond
travelshow@aol.com

Lets face it if you're going there then the kids all travel as well yeah?This being the case then there are at least 10 sites within a days travel and if you put 2 or 3 together then by the time you get back to Merida then the kids will be pooped.Heat and humidity should see to that.Other than that get a nice hotel with a pool.Great for cooling off after a day of travelling around.Some nice fish restaurants just up on the coast and watch the pelicans at the same time.

1.There is a Zoo, you can get there by local bus near the main square. The younger ones will enjoy the little train that goes around it and the great sandy playground with a slide made from an old airplane.
2. Hanging out in the square to see the flag lowering ceremonies at dusk.
3. Going to the VIP room at Gran Plaza to see the movies. Think cosy recliners and waiter service - 80 pesos. Hang out spot for teenages, great food and fun shopping, nice store with educational toys and book shop, pet store with fish, something for everyone there.
4. Sitting out at night, especially on Saturday listening to salsa
5. Getting a hotel with a pool to cool off.
6. It is very hot at the ruins so I would only attempt once or spread out somewhat over the week. Uxmal is less crowded so if the kids don't like the crowds then this is the better option.
7. There are lots of play areas scattered over the city with swings etc.
8. Taking a trip to the market to look at all the new foods.
9. Hopping on the bus and going to Chelem or Progresso for the day - beach

I guess it all depends on the family. It is very warm to to honest don't try and do too much. Swinging in a hammock sounds good to me!

Oh yes, and February is Carnival time so the kids will have a kick out of seeing the parades. Scout out online and see if they can participate. That should be fun alright.

There's a good/informative message board/web site specifically dealing with Merida and that area of the Yucatan. If you haven't yet seen it, you might find it helpful (and a helpful source of current information):

http://www.meridainsider.com//modules.php?name=Forums

I really appreciate all the good suggestions that folks have posted to my inquiry. It fortified my desire to take the family down that way. Thanks to all.

Stan Diamond

Hmmm, I don't know. Maybe I define kid-friendly activities too narrowly, but I would not take kids 6-13 to Merida. Sure, they will enjoy swimming at a pool, but you do not have to leave the USA to do that. When we traveled with our kids, we picked areas where there were things that kids like to do - amusement parks, kid-friendly hikes, small doses of historic things that the kids might have heard of, snorkelling, etc. Merida does not offer any of that.

Unless you have some future archeologists in the mix, ruins get boring fast for kids. Wandering around downtown Merida on the weekend (which should not be missed as an adult), would not hold the interest of kids. Even going to Celestun to the bird santuary is a lot of travel (basically a two-hour bus ride each way), just to see a few fricking flamingos. As an adult, I appreciated the trip, but my kids would have been hostile at such a trip. Even carnival is a pain with kids. Unless you buy reserved seats, there is a 90 minute wait before the parade comes where you are standing in one spot to reserve your place in the first 4 or 5 rows.

Personally, I would not bring kids to Merida. Each to their own, I guess.

Redlats

If your kids have a brain, they'll enjoy Merida, IMO. And, they'll enjoy the beach which is realteively close by, too. Kids love culture, archeological zones, seeing different things - don't sell them short. Merida's one of Mexico's best destinations.

Valladolid - not far from Chichen Itza, is a good overnight or day stop - and there's a cenote to swim in, also. Oh, and Izamal, too - an interesting stop - someplace the last Pope liked to visit.