The 6 BEST Beach Towns Near Merida Mexico
- Maria DiCicco
- Jun 30
- 6 min read
Merida, Mexico is an underrated gem of a colonial city in the Yucatan. Often overlooked in exchange for the big tourism ports of Cozumel and Cancun, Merida doesn't see as many foreign visitors.
If you are looking for a beach vacation away from the overcrowded resorts and all-inclusive offers, then the beach towns near Merida will not disappoint.
Below I will introduce you to several towns all just an hour or less from Merida (give or take), and what to expect in each place. Discover the secrets of the area, including salt flats, dinosaur themed attractions, ancient ruins, and then some.
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Progreso
This is the biggest beach town near Merida, and it's barely 30 minutes from Merida, making it an awesome home base for commutes to the city shopping malls and further on to places like the Puuc Route, where you can visit the impressive Uxmal ruins.
Progreso is also a popular cruise ship port, so expect regular Carnival Cruise Line passengers coming in for morning beach time and afternoon palapa meals.
The town is full of things to do from dining, shopping, wandering the boardwalk, and there is even a meteorite museum that is very fun.
If you stay awhile, there are large grocery stores here like this one, below, which was amazing! You will hear a lot of English here, as expats and tourists are quite common.
If you are looking for a beach vacation a little more rustic and away from the English-speakers, then I recommend the next one on this list, Chelem.
Chelem
First things first, Chelem is a one horse town, so to speak, so don't expect grandeur. Instead, swap resorts and tourism for a laid back expat style vibe, with mostly locals around.
We stayed in Chelem for three nights, and our first exciting discovery was that there was no major grocery store nearby. We had to visit the carniceria for our meat and vegetables, and then on to the shelf-stable grocery store for add-ons like rice or pasta.
Then, we continued over to another store to grab a bottle of wine for the evening. It's not roughing it, but it's definitely a different vibe - one I highly recommend for those looking to get into the chilled out Mexican beach mindset.
In Chelem you will also find a main square that looks active on the weekends, with a few carnival-esque rides that weren't in operation when we visited.
Stores are virtually non-existent, aside from the previously mentioned ones and a couple of junk shops selling odds and ends from brooms to kids pool toys.
But don't let any of this sway you - for what you do gain in lack of amenities is a truly quiet and serene vacation. Find yourself a home away for the week and dig in. The other neighboring towns have plenty to offer for fun, so this makes for an excellent home base.
Pro tip: be aware of regular power outages across town. They are still reviving themselves from past hurricane damage. It just adds more to the fun!
If thinking of dining out - most mornings we saw places open, but rarely in the evening. I guess it depends on the season. Be prepared to cook at home and go out for meals outside of town.
I recommend Las Brujitas for breakfast - it was full of expats and the chilaquiles were outstanding! Gringos can also get eggs, bacon, pancakes and other typical Americana fare.
Other standouts include Qué Onda? Café or Cafe France for breakfast, or Tomato Italian Bistro, D'Suemy, Tacomaya or the Coastal Cafe for later in the day.
Sisal
In truth, I had the cutest place booked in Sisal for a few nights in a private house with a pool. It was affordable and perfect.
Then, I realized just how secluded Sisal is. There is no connecting coast road to get from Sisal to Celestun or Sisal to Progreso, making day trips more difficult with Merida as a connecting point.
If you are looking to stay put and have a quiet beach vacay, Sisal may be a good choice. Otherwise, stick to your fave scene in Chelem or Progreso.
Celestun
People go to Celestun, west of Merida, for the nature preserve. They go to see flamingos, maybe some crocodiles, and lots of flora and fauna. Similar excursions can be found in Progreso through an outfit called El Corchito, so you decide.
Celestun is a larger beach town near Merida, so it would make for a great home base as well, but only if you plan on heading to some of the more Southern attractions like the town of Campeche.
I didn't have time for this area myself in my last two Merida visits, but found online that there were many boat operations in the area for your mangroves tour. Some suggest paying at the dock while others look for organized tours like this one, below.
Chicxulub
Chicxulub is the spot on the globe where the dinosaur-ending asteroid hit. How cool, right?
That's why the area is home to many little dino attractions, including the Sendero Jurasico, which is a super kitschy but totally fun walk through a Jurassic Park style entrance down a road to see dino statues. Only offered at night, this is great for families after a day at the beach.
Also in town, visit the town pier and the adjacent Vistamar Beach Club and Restaurant.
Get whole fried fish or ceviche and some cocktails and just enjoy the beachy vibes.
There is a swimming pool onsite for a dip, and kids can play in the sand next to your table.
Despite the inviting photos, this is about all there is to do in Chicxulub so I don't recommend staying longer than an afternoon.
Telchac
A town clearly on the cusp of building some major tourism draws (we saw lots of condos going up), Telchac has a nice main plaza with a boardwalk and pier that is worth a stop.
Several restaurants lined the areas near the beachfront and if the wind hadn't been so whipping the day we visited, it would have been a great beach for swimming.
The town is nearby to the Salinera Xtampu salt flats and also the Xcambo ruins, making for a perfect little day trip paired together.
If you've ventured this far out from Progreso in the evening hours, be sure to stop in at Pizza Paradiso, which basically feels like a Jack Johnson song. Sit toes in sand on the side of the highway, eat delicious and piping hot brick-oven pizza and pair it with a margarita under the twinkle lights.
Only open at night, this spot is a big winner before or after the Sendero Jurasico, but the drive in the dark will feel harrowing since it's on a one-way dark road!
Beach Towns Near Merida: Where to Stay
Opt for quiet beachy vacation rentals or low-key hotels walking distance to restaurants and shops.
Where to Stay in ChelemMy pick: get an apartment or house all to yourself on or near the beach like this one on VRBO. Stunners like these are reason enough to stay a few days. We stayed at a local Casita and it was lovely! Where to Stay in ProgresoMy pick: Go for an easy and colorful stay at Hotel Maria's Nicte Ha, where you can be catered to comfortably and still have a kitchenette, depending on the room you pick! Where to Stay in CelestunI haven't been myself, so my advice is to find a quiet place on the beach. You can start with these suggestions from Tripadvisor. |
If You Go
Be sure to plan for many day trips because the beach towns near Merida are fitting for a few days at most.
For some ideas, venture towards the Ruta Puuc for their amazing ruins and exhibits like Chocostory.
Make time to stay overnight at least one night in a historic Hacienda hotel. More on hacienda hotels near Merida here.
Take a road trip and venture to towns like Izamal, Valladolid and more. I've got the best itinerary for this Yucatan adventure here.
Consider Cancun off-the-beaten-path, and then make sure you add hidden gems like Coba and Ek Balam to your venturing about the Yucatan as well.
There is SO much to do in this area, so making Merida and it's lovely beach towns a home base for your travels is a great place to start. Viva Airlines offers direct, nonstop service in and out of Merida so this is a great way to discover a new place in Mexico. I am sure you will love it!
Consult my guide on what to pack for Mexico with kids before you go!
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