Where is Merida, Mexico located?

Where is Merida, Mexico, located, and why is it a popular tourist destination? Find here answers to these questions and fun facts about Merida.

Merida is a city in the northwestern part of the Mexican state of Yucatan. It is located within the Yucatan Peninsula. Merida, Mexico, is the largest city, both in the state and in the peninsula.

Manuel Crescencio Rejon International Airport (MID) is the nearest airport in Merida Mexico. It is formerly known as Merida-Rejon Airport.

Merida, Mexico’s exact location is 20.98 latitude and -89.62 longitude.

Read also: Best things to do in Merida

Distance to Other Major Destinations:

	Distance	Estimated travel time by car
Merida to Cancun	192 miles or 309 kilometers	About 3 hours and 28 minutes
Merida to Playa del Carmen	180 miles or 290 kilometers	About 3 hours and 13 minutes
Merida to Tulum	168 miles or 270 kilometers	About 3 hours and 30 minutes
Merida to Cozumel	243 miles or 391 kilometers	About 5 hours

Where is Merida Mexico on the Map

How to get to Merida

Merida Fun Facts

1.  Merida Mexico was founded in 1542 by the Spaniard Francisco de Montejo. The city was built on top of the Mayan City of T’Ho. 

2. The nickname for Merida Mexico is “La Ciudad Blanca” or “The White City.” Some people say it’s because many of the buildings there were made of white limestone. Others would say it’s because Merida excels when it comes to cleanliness.

3. The name Merida is not unique to Mexico. It shares the same moniker to cities in the Philippines, Spain, and Venezuela. All of them were named after the Spanish town of Merida, located in the Extremadura region of Spain.

4. Merida, Mexico, was once one of the richest cities in the world. It was all thanks to the abundance of the henequen plant in the area. The hard fiber cultivated from this plant is used to make twine and rope.

5. Thinkers credit the geographical isolation of Merida, Mexico, for the rich culture it has until today. In fact, it was awarded as the American Capital of Culture in 2017.

Frequently Asked Questions about Merida Mexico