Bound by the lush jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula where the famous remnants of the Mayan world lurk between the boughs, and the shimmering waters of the Caribbean Sea, Merida is a pint-sized mixture of colonial wonder and sleepless Mexican energy.

Many make this pretty town their first stop-off in the region, and there’s little question that it offers something totally different from the usual rigmarole of sand-sea-party. Bubbling local cantinas pepper the roadways and the breezy walkways of El Paseo Montejo hide Spanish statues and elaborate mansions. The Plaza Grande throbs in the midst of it all; crowned by a glorious cathedral, the historical majesty of the Governor's Palace and facades only proud conquistadores could have conceived!

Of course, being the cultural hub of the Yucatan as a whole (think Chichen Itza, Dzibilchaltun, Mayapan and Uxmal) Merida is packed to the brim with museums and galleries. Merida tour guides are also proud of the town’s sleepless vibe and earthy intensity, poking through in frenetic markets at Lucas de Galvéz or between the nightlife hubs that keep the action going well into the early hours!