Mérida Bed and Breakfast Association

Mérida has nonstop flights to Cancún, Houston, Mexico City and Miami, from which connections around the world are possible.

Aeroméxico flies to Mexico City and Miami; Continental flies to Houston; Mexicana flies to Mexico City; and Alma, a discount airline, flies to Cancún. 

Continental codeshares with Northwest on many flights via Houston.  Aeroméxico codeshares with Delta on flights through Mexico City.  Mexicana codeshares with United on flights through Mexico City.  If you are looking for flights, we have found that Orbitz.com, Expedia.com and Kayak.com offer the best schedules and fares.

Aeromar, Aeroméxico Connect, Aviacsa, Click de Mexicana, Interjet, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris offer regional service.

That said, the truth is that flying into Mérida is relatively expensive, and the schedules are limited.  The reason is that, over the past quarter century, Cancún has emerged as a major tourist destination, and it has almost as many flights as Mexico City.  Many yucatecos miss the days when there were two daily nonstop flights to Miami, and regular nonstop flights to Atlanta, New Orleans, Havana and Guatemala City.  Many miss that great Eastern Airlines flight: LaGuardia (New York) to New Orleans to Merida, and back again.  Old timers remember Pan Am’s decadent flights to Havana and Miami.

The good news, of course, is that Mérida is “off the beaten path,” a place that is an adventure, a destination that is purposeful.  The bad news is that, if you fly from the U.S. or Canada, it can cost around $300 USD more to fly into Mérida than it would to fly to Cancún.  One suggestion we tell our guests: Find the cheapest flight to Cancún and connect with the A.D.O. first-class bus to Mérida.  It may sound counterintuitive, but the three and half hour bus ride from Cancún to Mérida can save you both time and money.  Why?  Because may flights via Houston or Mexico City have layovers that last a few hours, and if you are coming from the Eastern Seaboard, flying to Mexico City means you are flying about 700 miles west of Mérida, so your connection will simply fly you back 700 miles to Mérida.

And the savings can be substantial: Comparing recent flights from New York to Mérida; and San Francisco to Mérida turned up that flying New York to Cancún was $300 USD cheaper than New York to Mérida, and flying San Francisco to Cancún was $325 USD cheaper than flying San Francisco to Mérida.  So it might just be worthwhile to fly to Cancún and then take the bus.  It may also be worth the effort to see if you fly into Cancún, take the bus to Mérida, and fly home from Mérida, or the other way around.

Be patient, shop around for a deal online, and consider various options.  Once you get there, however, you will be glad you came!

Listed below are the websites for all the airlines that serve Mérida:

Aeromar

www.aeromar.com.mx

Aeroméxico

aeromexico.com

Alma

www.alma.com.mx

Aviacsa

www.aviacsa.com

Continental

continental.com

Click de Mexicana

www.click.com.mx

Interjet

www.interjet.com.mx

Mexicana

mexicana.com

Viva Aerobus

www.vivaaerobus.com  

Volaris

www.volaris.com.mx

Mérida by bus from Cancún is easy: ADO operates convenient schedules, and has good fares.  They even have a shuttle bus from Cancún’s airport ($35 pesos, or about $3 USD) that takes you directly from the airport parking lot to their bus terminal downton.  Depending on the time of day, and the class of service (“Servicio de Lujo” on many Mexican bus lines have seats as wide and comfortable as Business Class on most U.S. airlines; movies, videos and complimentary coffee and teas are included!), one-way tickets to Mérida range from $18 – 36 USD. 

Our recommendation?  Find the best fare to Cancún, and then give yourself a couple of hours between arrival time and the departing Express Bus to Mérida.  If you click on the image to the left, you will go to the bus line’s website, which is also in English, and they have a toll-free number for U.S. and Canadian residents.  Remember, if you are staying in the Historic Center, you will want to go to Mérida Terminal (CAME) station, which is downtown Mérida.

Here are general Safety Tips:

#1 – Gas. 

Mexico’s state-owned oil monopoly is Pemex, which operates or franchises all the gas stations throughout the country.  The price of gas is set by the government, as such, there is no need to drive around looking for the cheapest gas: it is the same everywhere.  But because gas stations are Pemex franchises, there are fewer than in the U.S. and Canada: Make sure you fill up before heading for a long trip!  Also, Mexico’s gas stations are staffed with attendants who pump the gas, wipe your windshields (and check your oil upon request).  These attendants should be tipped.  The best way to handle yourself is to say, “$195 pesos, por favor,” while holding a $200 peso note in your hand.

#2 – Green Angels. 

The Secretariat of Tourism (a federal agency) operates “Angeles Verdes,” or “Green Angels.”  This is a public service that helps motorists who are distressed along the road.  As you drive the highways, you will probably see them helping motorists.  They are there to help you with flat tires, drivers who ran out of gas, motorists experiencing general car problems (overheated radiators, dead batteries), and they will even tow you to the nearest gas station or town.  There is no charge for their help, but the young men and women who work for them won’t turn down a tip if offered ($20 or $30 pesos, depending on how much they helped).  If you are in trouble, you can contact them by dialing 078 983-1184.

#3 – Toll Roads. 

The toll road between Mérida and Cancún (Autopista de Cuota) is fast and safe, but not cheap.  The toll between Mérida and Cancún is $319 pesos, one way.  (The toll between Mérida to Chichén Itzá (Kantunil exit) is $67 pesos.  The toll between Mérida to Valladolid (Kantunil exit) is $117 pesos).  There is only one gas station and rest area, about halfway between Mérida and Cancun.  Take a break, stretch your legs, go to the restroom, or buy a soda or water.  If you are hesitant to pay the hefty toll, you may want to consider that the Toll Road avoids 43 towns and villages, so that’s a lot of school crossings and 146 speed bumps (“topes”) along the way.  (Yes, we have counted them!)  If you are making a roundtrip, you might want to consider using the Toll Road one way, and the take the secondary road (marked “Libre,” meaning “Free”), which will add about an hour to your travel time, but then again, it meanders through scenic Maya villages.

#4 – Military Checkpoints. 

It is probably not news to you, but there’s a drug problem in the world out there, and it just so happens that, geographically, Mexico is in the middle of it.  What you probably don’t know, however, is that the U.S. doesn’t control the export of firearms.  As a result, as you drive around the peninsula, you may encounter military checkpoints.  There is nothing to fear, and if they wave you to stop, simply comply.  If you are traveling away from the U.S. (east or south) they are probably looking for firearms.  If you are traveling towards the U.S. (west or north) they are probably looking for drugs.  In either case, the young soldiers are polite and we know of no one who has found them to be anything other than respectful and courteous while doing their jobs.  No matter what you have seen in Hollywood films, nothing untoward is going to happen, and they are there for your protection, since you are a guest in this country.

Going somewhere?

We are a sparsely populated peninsula, with long stretches of road between towns.  Before you head out, head to a gas station.  Fill up the tank, have the attendant check the tires, the oil and clean your windshield.  Make sure you have water, sunscreen and a hat.  Taking a map is a good thing.  Here are the distances:

Distance from Mérida to:

Destination

Campeche City

Cancún

Ceiba Club de Golf

Celestún

Chetumal

Chichén Itzá

Cobá

Dzibilchaltún

Ek Balam

Holbox Island

Isla Mujeres

Izamal

Kabah

Labná

Lol-Tún Caves

Mexico City

Motul

Ochil, Hacienda

Oxkutzcab

Petac, Hacienda

Playa del Carmen

Progreso

Ría Lagartos

Sayil

Sisal

Telchac Puerto

Temozón, Hacienda

Teya, Hacienda

Ticul

Tizimin

Tulum (via Coba)

Uxmal

Valladolid

Xcanatún, Hacienda

Yaxcopoil

Miles

158

199

9

58

285

75

145

10

111

218

206

44

63

74

70

969

28

16

60

13

240

22

165

79

33

39

21

8

53

132

171

50

100

8

14

Conversion Chart

Kilometer-Mile Conversion

1 kilometer = 0.60 miles

So if you multiply kilometers by 0.6, you’ll end up with miles.

10 kilometers (10 x 0.6) is equivalent to 6 miles.

And if you multiply miles by 1.6, you’ll end up with kilometers.

10 miles (10 x 1.6) is equivalent to 16 miles

Although pedestrians have the right of way, many drivers are not aware of that!  With this mind, please also consider that the streets are narrow and the sidewalks, as is the case in centuries-old cities, are uneven, rising and falling, as driveways and modifications have been made.  As a pedestrian, it is necessary to exercise caution when crossing streets around the uneven sidewalks in the historic center.

Bus Service from Mérida.  Once you are here, you’ll find that ADO operates convenient schedules and at good prices.  Unless you are on a tight budget, or simply want to travel in a more adventurous way, go Primera Clase (First Class).  There are fewer stops, the seats are more comfortable, and the service a bit more attentive.  ADO is great if you want to travel to Campeche City, Palenque, Villahermosa, Chetumal, or even venture all the way to Mexico City.  ADO also has Express buses to Cancún and Playa del Carmen.  ADO operates from the main terminal station downtown, as well as from the Fiesta Americana Hotel (Calle 60 and Avenida Cupules).  Please click on the image to the left to go to their website.

The Second Class Bus Terminal Station (Terminal de Autobuses de 2a. Clase) is located at Calle 50 #531 by 67 Street.  If you are traveling to the smaller communities throughout the Yucatán, these are the buses that you might want to consider:

Lineas Unidas del Sur Bus Line.

Telephone number: (999) 924-7565

Service to: Kanasín, Tepich, Tecoh, Telchaquillo, Maní, Oxkutzcab, Sotuta, Cholul, Peto, Homún, Tekit and villages en route to these towns.

Autobuses de Oriente Bus Line.

Telephone number: (999) 928-6230

Service to: Cancún, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá, Playa del Carmen, Coba and Tulum.

Autobuses de Occidente Bus Line.

Telephone number: (999) 928-6230

Service to: Izamal, Tizimín, Celestún, Seye, Sotuta, Cenotillo, Dzitas, Cantemaya, Espita, Hunucmá and villages en route to these towns.

Autobuses del Noreste Bus Line.

Telephone number: (999) 924-6355

Service to: Tizimín, Ría Lagartos, San Felipe, Chicxulub Pueblo, Temax, Cancún, Valladolid, Cholul, Conkal, Motul, Baca, Dzemul, Telchac, San Cristiano, Chabihau and villages en route to these towns.