travel42 Port Guide: Merida

travel42 Professional Cruise Port of Call Review

The capital of Yucatan state, Merida, Mexico, is a charming colonial city in a tropical locale and one of the Spanish conquistadores' first strongholds in New Spain. Built over a Mayan settlement, Merida retains a strong Maya influence even today: Many people still speak the language, and women dress in traditional white huipiles—long, loose-fitting dresses with lacy hems and elaborate embroidery.

The cultural center of the Yucatan Peninsula, Merida has an enduring quality that attracts...