Located 20 mi/32 km north of Merida, Progreso has been the Yucatan Peninsula's main port of entry since the 1870s, when its sisal crops were its major economic force. That industry since has died down, and Progreso is now a major stop for cruise ships.
It might seem disappointing to some because there are no wide expanses of white-sand beaches, ruins or colonial architecture, and most of its hotels are small, nondescript cement-block affairs. Many families from Merida maintain weekend beach h...