Food destinations within easy reach of Mérida. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Worth the trip

Izamal (Kinich) ★ 4.6

1 hour by car (75 km)Car or ADO bus from Mérida to Izamal, then walk to Calle 27

Famous for: Yucatecan poc chuc and queso relleno in the yellow town

Izamal is the Yucatán yellow town 75 km east of Mérida; Restaurante Kinich on Calle 27 has run regional Yucatecan poc chuc and queso relleno from 1993.

Izamal (Kinich)

Chocholá (Ixi'im) ★ 4.8

45 min by car (45 km)Drive Mérida-Campeche highway 180 to Chocholá and Chablé Yucatán resort

Famous for: One Michelin star plus Green Star tasting at Chef Luis Ronzón's Mayan-garden-driven kitchen

Ixi'im at Chablé Yucatán in Chocholá is Yucatán's other Michelin one-star (with a Green Star), Luis Ronzón cooks from 100-plus traditional Mayan gardens.

Chocholá (Ixi'im)

Progreso (Crabster Seafood) ★ 4.2

40 min by car (40 km)Drive or ADO bus to Progreso, the malecón is 5 min from the bus station

Famous for: Gulf seafood on the malecón

Crabster Seafood and Grill on the Progreso malecón runs Gulf seafood, ceviche, lobster and grilled catch directly opposite the beach 40 km north of Mérida.

Progreso (Crabster Seafood)

Tixkokob (Pueblo Pibil) ★ 4.5

30 min by car (20 km)Drive Mérida to Tixkokob via Carretera 281

Famous for: Bib Gourmand Yucatecan pibil cooking in an 18th-century mansion

Pueblo Pibil in Tixkokob 20 km east of Mérida is chef Silvio Campos's Bib Gourmand pib-cooking kitchen, slow-roasted pork and Yucatán al pib techniques.

Tixkokob (Pueblo Pibil)

Valladolid ★ 4.4

2 hours by car (160 km east)Drive Mérida-Cancún highway 180D

Famous for: Cochinita pibil, Yucatecan stews and Valladolid lomitos

Valladolid 160 km east of Mérida is the Yucatán colonial midpoint, cochinita stalls in Mercado Municipal and Lomitos de Valladolid at Plaza Principal.

Valladolid

Chichén Itzá (Mayaland Hotel) ★ 4.0

1.5 hours by car (120 km)Drive Mérida-Chichén Itzá via Carretera 180

Famous for: Yucatecan buffet at Hotel Mayaland after Mayan-ruin visit

Hotel Mayaland next to Chichén Itzá runs a Yucatecan buffet, cochinita, poc chuc, salbutes and Hanal Pixán mucbipollo during October-November dates.

Chichén Itzá (Mayaland Hotel)

Cuzamá (cenote circuit + lunch) ★ 4.2

1 hour by car (50 km)Drive Mérida to Cuzamá via Carretera 184

Famous for: Cenote circuit Cuzamá Tres Reyes plus Yucatecan lunch at a local lonchería

The Cuzamá cenote circuit 50 km south of Mérida pairs a horse-cart tour of three cenotes with a Yucatecan lunch at a Cuzamá lonchería, cochinita and poc chuc.

Cuzamá (cenote circuit + lunch)
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