Activities in Yucatán State
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Diego Núñez Martínez
A licensed guide with formal training as naturalist, he speaks English, Spanish and Italian and is up to date on the area's fauna and flora, including the staggering number of bird species. Diego offers catch-and-release fly-fishing trips for tarpon and snook, and can help with lodgings reservations.
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Restaurante-Bar Isla Contoy
The best tours are given by the licensed guides operating from Restaurante-Bar Isla Contoy at the waterfront. They offer extensive day tours as well as night excursions. Crocodiles are a common nocturnal sight, and from May through September sea turtles are easily spotted.
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A
Walking Tours
The city tourist office offers free daily guided Walking Tours of the historic center (sometimes in English), focusing on Plaza Grande. Tours depart at 09:30 from in front of the Palacio Municipal.
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Ismael Navarro
A licensed guide and naturalist worth seeking out for a tour of the local flora and fauna. Besides the flamingo expeditions, Ismael takes four-hour shorebird tours along the mudflats in winter.
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Flamingo Tours
The brilliant orange-red flamingos can turn the horizon fiery when they take wing. Depending on your luck, you'll see either hundreds or thousands of them. The best months for viewing them are June to August. The four primary haunts, in increasing distance from town, are Punta Garza, Yoluk, Necopal and Nahochín (all flamingo feeding spots named for nearby mangrove patches).
To see the flamingos, you'll need to rent a boat and driver. You'll see more bird life if you head out at sunrise or around 16:00. Prices vary by boat, group size (maximum six) and destination. Plan on packing something to eat the night before, as most restaurants open long after you'll be on the wate…
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Manglares de Dzinitún
About 1km inland from the beach on Calle 11, there are signs to this new ‘ecotour’ operation where you can kayak, canoe or mountain bike all in one day. A canoe tour runs M$200 per person for two hours, and takes you through a mangrove tunnel and good birding spots, made all the better by the lack of engine noise. You can camp here for M$800 a night (everything included), and there are also very basic cabins for an exorbitant M$600.
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B
Transportadora Turística Carnaval
Transportadora Turística Carnaval conducts two-hour guided tours of Mérida in English and Spanish on its Paseo Turístico bus (M$75) departing from Parque Santa Lucía (on the corner of Calles 55 and 60) at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am and 1pm Sunday. You can buy your tickets ahead of time at Hotel Santa Lucía, among other places.
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Tourist Center
If you want a real jungle experience, ask at the tourist center for Esteban Abán, the jewelry maker, who offers guided trips to Ox-Huadz, an unexcavated ruin. You’ll need to make arrangements at least a day in advance, depending on Abán’s availability, but the trip offers great bird-watching and Indiana Jones-style ruin-hunting.
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Ecoturismo Yucatán
Ecoturismo Yucatán trips focus on archaeology, birding, natural history, biking and kayaking. One-day excursions cost around M$1200; eight-day jungle tours M$20,150.
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C
Turitransmérida
Turitransmérida offers group tours to sites around Mérida, including Celestún, Chichén Iztá, the Ruta Puuc and Izamal. Prices are M$300 to M$500.
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D
Centro de Idiomas del Sureste
Centro de Idiomas del Sureste offers Spanish language courses. You can also find a private language tutor through your hostel.
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