Yucatán
Yucatán is a Mexican state where you can combine colonial Mérida, Maya ruins and swimming cenotes in one trip.
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Yucatán is a Mexican state on the northern Yucatán Peninsula, with the Gulf of Mexico along its northern and western coasts. Its capital, Mérida, holds about half of the state's roughly 2.3 million people. The city was founded in 1542 on the ruins of a Maya city, and its colonial buildings reuse stones from older Maya structures. Grand houses on Paseo de Montejo date from the henequen boom of the late 19th century, when sisal fiber made the state wealthy.
The land is very flat, with the Puuc hills in the south as the main exception. Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Ek' Balam are among the Maya sites in the state, and Uxmal sits in the Puuc hills. Cenotes, natural sinkholes with swimming water, are scattered across the peninsula. Use Mérida as a base for the ruins and cenotes, and check entry rules before you fly.
Yucatán in five
- Be at Chichén Itzá at openingTour buses from Cancún arrive by late morning. Sleep in Valladolid or near the site and walk in when the gates open.
- Base in MéridaThe state capital has the airport, the museums and the best food, and most sights are a day trip away.
- Rent a car for the Puuc RouteUxmal, Kabah and the smaller Puuc sites south of Mérida are easiest by car.
- Avoid the April and May heatHighs in Mérida often reach the high 30s °C before the rains. Plan sites for early morning.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Yucatán, the full guide
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is a Maya ruin in Yucatán, Mexico, known for the stepped pyramid El Castillo, and an early arrival gives you the most time there before the tour groups.
Mérida
Mérida is the capital of Yucatán state in Mexico, known for its white colonial center, Yucatecan food and day trips to the Maya ruins of Uxmal and Chichén Itzá.
Celestún
A Gulf coast fishing town in Yucatán state where travelers go to watch flamingos feed in shallow estuary water, about a day trip west of Mérida.
Progreso
Progreso is a Gulf coast port in Yucatán, about 40 minutes from Mérida. Go for a beach afternoon, a seafood lunch and a walk out on the pier.
Need to know
- Airport
- Mérida (MID), about 20 min to the center
- Getting there
- ADO bus or Tren Maya from Cancún, about 4 hours to Mérida
- Getting around
- Rental car, ADO buses and the Tren Maya
- Best base
- Mérida, plus a night in Valladolid
- Time needed
- 4–6 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Dry, warmJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°DryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh34°Low21°Hot, dryMarchClear
Good
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh36°Low22°Very hotAprilClear
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh37°Low24°HottestMayClear
Mixed
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- JuneRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh35°Low24°Rains startJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 182 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rains start
- JulyRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh36°Low24°Hot, showersJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, showers
- AugustRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh35°Low24°Hot, showersAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, showers
- SeptemberRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low23°Storm riskSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Rain easingOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Dry, pleasantNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Dry, festiveDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, festive
Average daily high and low in Mérida, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Yucatán
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
32
- Feels like
- 34°
- Humidity
- 51%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 82%
Mérida
06:04 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today31°23°82%Monday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Tue31°23°31%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Wed31°23°47%Wednesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Thu31°23°20%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Fri31°22°43%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Sat31°22°27%Saturday: Clear. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 27%.
- Sun31°23°39%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 39%.
Updated 02:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Uxmalabout 1 hour by car from MéridaA Puuc-style Maya city with the Pyramid of the Magician.
- Celestúnabout 1.5 hours by carBoat trips into the mangroves to see flamingos.Read the guide
- Chichén Itzáabout 1.5–2 hours by carThe most visited Maya site in Mexico; go at opening.Read the guide
Before you go to Yucatán
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Rules for Yucatán, checked
- Check the entry rules for your nationality at gob.mx before you fly. Most visitors from visa-exempt countries get a tourist card (FMM) on arrival.Source
- Declare fresh food, plants and animal products on the customs form at arrival. Fines apply to undeclared items.
- Call 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Mexico.
- Check the US State Department advisory for Mexico before you book, since advisory levels change.Source
All Yucatán guides
How toDay trips from Mérida: Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Celestún, cenotesWhere to stayWhere to stay in Mérida: Centro, Santiago, Montejo and moreItineraryMérida in 3 days: plaza, markets, mansions and a ruins day
Head to headValladolid or Mérida: which base for the Yucatán?
ItineraryChichén Itzá day trip from Cancún or Mérida: route and timingHow toChichén Itzá from Valladolid: how to get there earlyHead to headChichén Itzá, Cobá or Tulum: which Maya site should you pick?How toChichén Itzá tickets and hours: fees, timing and crowdsThings to doThings to do in Valladolid: cenotes, the convent and a two-day planPlan around Yucatán
Yucatán FAQ
Should I visit Chichén Itzá from Mérida or Valladolid?
Valladolid is closer, about 45 minutes, so you can be there at opening. From Mérida it is about 1.5–2 hours.
Is Mérida safe for travelers?
Mérida is widely seen as one of Mexico's safer cities. Use normal city care, and check your government's advice for Mexico before you go.
When is the best time to visit Yucatán?
November to February, when it is dry and less hot. April and May are the hottest months.
How many days do you need in Yucatán?
Five days covers Mérida, a ruins day at Uxmal or Chichén Itzá, a cenote and a night in Valladolid. A week lets you add Celestún and the Puuc sites.
Do you need a rental car in Yucatán?
Not for Mérida, Valladolid and Chichén Itzá, which ADO buses and tours cover. A car helps for the Puuc Route, small cenotes and early starts at the ruins.