After a few hours flying from Guadalajara, here we are in Merida! The capital of Yucatan! Let's go for new discoveries, and a bit of nature!
Couchsurfing
Andrea and David welcome us to their home for three nights and four days to discover Merida and its surroundings. It's a couple of professors in tourism at the university, still teachers!
During our stay, they advised us very well and guided us so that we do not get lost in the city, to know which transport to take. We had great moments of sharing, whether on guided tours or meals, French cooking class, and games!
Historic Center of Mérida
It becomes a habit, in each new city, the historic city center becomes a must. Merida has not escaped the rule.
And everything starts most often with a cathedral!
Right next to the cathedral you can visit Casa de Montejo. It is a family of conquerors, the Montejo, who built this house between 1542 and 1549. It has been modified over time by different successors. To this day, it remains that the facade of the time of the first inhabitants. This house is open to the public, to discover the way of life of yesteryear.
It's really in the center of Mérida, on the Plaza Grande, that you will find the cathedral, the Casa de Montejo but also other monuments such as the Palace of the Government, the cultural center Olimpo.
This place is very aptly named. It is possible to land on one of the many benches in the shade of beautiful trees. If you come in love, chairs especially for you are waiting for you!
Always on this square and attached to the cathedral, you can walk on the Pasaje de la Revolution. It is a covered walkway, surrounded by various art stores.
Then we headed to the Paseo de Montejo, and we came across small churches and parks or small squares to sit and relax. We saw Parque Santa Lucia, which is much smaller than Plaza Grande. The same evening, there was a Mayan show about their history and their customs of yesteryear.
We ended our discovery of the center by the Paseo de Montejo. In reality, it's not really in the center, you have to walk a little. It is a long, well-developed avenue where old houses are still present as well as shops and restaurants. For comparison, it could be the Canebière in Marseille, the Rue de la République in Avignon or Champs Elyssée for Paris.
El Corchito
Finally a little nature! We dreamed we had it! Well it is not wild nature but sincerely, if you are in the area, go to El Corchito. You will find 3 cenotes where you can cool off among trees, birds and other animals.
Once the tickets are in hand, head for the boat to get to El Corchito! During the crossing, we were treated to a flight of flamingos. It was wonderful! Unfortunately, our devices were in the bags at this very moment ...
This place is really very well organized. Everything is made of wood to respect nature, whether benches, locker rooms, stands to borrow life jackets for people who can not swim.
El Corchito was founded by twenty fishermen 21 years ago at exactly 36 km from Merida. To date, this reserve has been purchased by the government. Since then, the majority of the founders have left and those who remained have become mere employees of El Corchito. Since the purchase, only the reception has been modified but the rest of the park has remained authentic. The huge change brought by the government is the increase in the price of entry. In the past, only 20 or 25 pesos were required for everyone. Today it is 45 pesos for Mexicans with the obligation to prove nationality and 90 pesos for foreigners.
During our visit, we had the immense privilege of meeting one of the 20 founders who stayed to continue to preserve his creation.
Before diving into one of the cenotes, we went around the reserve where the majority of the trees are arbols of Corcho, in other words oak. Andrea explained to me that the water of the cenotes is filtered and purified by the trees and the ground of the reserve. Everything is natural. However, the channels may be cleaned by employees to keep the water clean. During the walk, we saw impressive termite nests!
What better way to get refreshed after this lovely walk! Let's go for the cenotes!
There is also a bath to simply dive your feet so that the fish can come to eat the dead skin.
As I told you earlier in this article, we were surrounded by animals such as birds, sometimes very small in size, raccoons, and coatis. As much to tell you that the food is strictly prohibited in the reserve. Staff carefully examine your bags before entering this territory. Why? Just because these little creatures come to search your stuff while you're in the water to find what to put in their mouths! It does not happen often but it happens .. in any case, it happened to us ... obviously ...
La Playa Progresso
After El Corchito, Andrea and David led us to discover Playa Progresso. Simply beautiful with its white sand and turquoise water.
On the beach you can find umbrellas in raw material, perhaps palm leaves, under which there are tables and chairs to be able to eat quietly. Of course, all this comes at a price. So we decided to enjoy our picnic directly under a palm tree on the sand. It's free and so nice!
Our stay in Merida was short but intense in the discoveries. Thanks again to David and Andrea for hosting us and sharing their knowledge.
Et maintenant...
Cost of the stay in Mérida:
- Airline Tickets Guadalajara - Merida: 95 euros for 2
- Accommodation: free because couchsurfing
- Meals, shopping and delicacies: 19 euros
- Public transport: 1,5 euros for 2 (round trip bus to Merida center)
- El Corchito entrance: 8 euros for 2
- Casa de Montejo entrance: free
that is 123,50 euros spent during the stay.
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