While Merida may be the cultural heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, and a must for city-lovers, for those who prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside there are numerous benefits in basing oneself to the south of the city.

Staying outside of Merida, specifically to the south, visitors can still easily visit the city on a day trip while the numerous attractions that those in the city venture out to visit are much more easily and speedily accessible.

Depending on just how far south of Merida one opts to stay, it may just about be feasible to also visit the UNESCO World Heritage city of Campeche on the Gulf of Mexico.

For those with an interest in Mayan ruins, there are numerous sites to explore within the nearby Puuc Hills, including Uxmal, one of the most impressive Mayan sites anywhere in the Mundo Maya. Also worth visiting, just to the south-east of Merida, is Mayapan.

From the Spanish colonial period, the Convent Route runs south from the city, taking in towns such as Acanceh, Tecoh, Tekit & Ticul, and can easily take up an entire day.

	Beyond The Ordinary arrange fully bonded, tailor made holidays and tours to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Contact one of our experts on 01580 764796, email travel@beyondtheordinary.co.uk or contact us via our website.

Another legacy of the Spanish colonial era are the old haciendas that can be found throughout the region, with a particular concentration to the south of Merida.

Some, like Hacienda Yaxcopoil, are now atmospheric ruins, whole nearby Hacienda Sotuta de Peon has been converted into a working visitor attraction, the only hacienda in the region that fulfils its original role of growing and processing sisal.

Quite apart from simply visiting a hacienda, one of the highlights of any holiday to the Yucatan Peninsula is the opportunity to stay in one.

The Hacienda Sotuta de Peon offers accommodation as well as tours while other haciendas are exclusively set up as luxurious, atmospheric hotels, properties such as Hacienda Temozon, Hacienda San Rose & Hacienda Chable. More detailed information can be found in our dedicated Accommodation section.

Basing oneself south of Merida, it is also very straightforward to visit the Yucatan’s Gulf Coast, be that to relax by the beach or to enjoy the abundant birdlife at Celestun.

On the subject of relaxation, and as with much of the region, there are numerous beautiful cenotes to visit to the south of Merida. Clients on a Fly Drive holiday can seek out these cenotes on their own little adventure while clients booked on one of our private tours, with a Driver / Guide, can tap into their guide’s expert knowledge of the area.

All Beyond The Ordinary holidays are entirely tailor made to clients’ individual requirements. For some initial inspiration we suggest you head over to our Itineraries page which has just a few, sample examples of what we can arrange.