Is Merida Safe? 2024 The Definitive Safety Guide

Welcome to our Merida safety guide.

This epic city is a must-visit when in the Yucatán region, known for both its beautiful buildings and ancient Mayan culture.

You could easily spend weeks at a time here seeing both the city highlights, and also heading on numerous days trips to both the nearby cenotes and ancient ruins.

If you’re looking to learn Spanish, you’ll also be in the perfect place here with the abundance of local schools.

Merida Quick Summary:

📍 Where is it: Southern Mexico
🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Easy
⏱ Time needed: 5+ Days
☀️ Best Time to Visit: November/February

Is Merida Safe?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Merida as a backpacker or traveler.

We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.

July 2023 Update: As a whole, Merida continues to be free from regular crime or other incidents, mostly due to a strong community and organized police efforts. There are some areas in the south of the city (including suburbs outside) which can be more seedy, so if heading here then be sure to leave valuables back in your accommodation.

As always, we would advise any travelers who are thinking of heading to Merida to prepare properly before arriving, and to get in touch with us where we can offer more guidance.

Is Merida Safe Right Now?

Quick Answer: Merida is (and has been for decades) one of the safest cities you can visit in all of Mexico. You can easily walk around alone during both the day and night with little issues, and even petty crime like pickpocketing is less of a risk here.

The only thing we’d recommend travelers to keep an eye on is staying hydrated! Given Merida has really hot temperatures throughout the year, you’ll want to drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated. Make sure you only drink from sealed bottles of water too, since tap water can carry parasites or other nasties.

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Where to Stay in Merida

You can’t beat the historic center of Merida, which is the beating heart of the city. Here you’ll find many things to do, as well as lots of beautiful architecture surrounding you from all sides.

Those staying on a budget will want to stay at the Hostal Zócalo, which is located right in the heart of the city. You’ll be staying in a dorm room within an old colonial building, and also have breakfast included too.

If you’re after a more luxurious experience, then the Hotel Reforma is a great option to choose. Also in the historic center, here you’ll be staying in a comfortable private room, where you can also enjoy the on-site swimming pool.

Things to do in Merida

Starting within the city itself, the best first thing to do is to grab your camera and start walking around the historic center. The streets here are filled with impressive colonial buildings in all kinds of bright colors.

It’s worth making stops at the Museo Casa Montejo, Quinta Montes Molina as well as the main Zócalo. The city is also well-known for its rich cuisine, which you can get to know on this intimate food tour.

Merida is also perfectly located within a diverse and vibrant region, which is easy to explore with day trips from the city. The cenotes are a must-visit for their turquoise waters, where you can also jump into the once-sacred sites (these caves were used by the ancient Mayans for various offerings and rituals). Some of the best include Ik Kil and Xkeken.

There are many incredible archaeological sites worth visiting too. Chichén Itzá is of course the main highlight, however there’s many others that are worth the visit such as Dzibilchaltún and Uxmal. We highly recommend this day trip from Merida to Uxmal which includes all transport, lunch as well as a tour around the Hacienda de Sotuta de Peón.

Is Merida Safe to Visit?

Merida Travel Warnings

Whilst the majority of the city is safe to wander around, there have been increasing reports of pickpocketing.

These usually occur in the southern parts of the city, which are not so popular for tourists (more local areas). If you’ll head here for whatever reason, be sure to follow our tips outlined in this article.

Before heading out it’s also worth checking out what immunisations you may need (such as Typhoid, Hepatitis A etc), since there’s an increased risk of getting sick in Mexico. Please consult your doctor to find out exactly what you’ll need.

Crime in Merida

As mentioned, crime levels are really low in Merida. This is mainly due to the local Yucateco people and their cultural values of safety above all else. As well as looking after their community, they’ve even gone as far as preventing drug cartels from being able to set up here!

Pickpocketing will be something to keep an eye on, so be sure to keep things like your wallet and phone in your front pockets when in busy markets. It’s still worth dressing down here, since any extra attention could always bring extra risks too.

More serious crimes like rape or assault are extremely uncommon, however there’s always a risk of them happening. Always lower your odds by staying in safer areas, and not getting blind-drunk walking around by yourself.

Safety in Merida during the day

If you’re arriving in Merida after spending time elsewhere in Mexico, you’ll probably be shocked as to how safe the streets and overall vibe here is.

You can walk pretty much anywhere by yourself and not be in danger. This makes it a great destination to add onto any backpacking trip through Mexico.

Your biggest foe will be the sun, given how hot it can get and the risk of dehydration that this brings. Always leave with a bottle of water handy, and also top-up with high quality sunscreen like this one several times a day to avoid getting burnt.

Merida Safety at Night

Heading out during the night is a must given the extra ambience and nightlife to enjoy here in Merida.

Whilst the city is really safe, sometimes there is the odd accident or issue which happens, and it’s generally at night too. Whilst targeted pickpocketing is a usual culprit, there have also been issues of assault (although the victims are usually very drunk or have wandered into unknown streets further south in the city).

Like anywhere else in the world, enjoy yourself but also keep an eye out for any situations that feel off. We’ve followed this advice ourselves for years and have rarely had any issues.

7 Safety Tips for Merida

Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when traveling to Merida.

1. Only Drink Bottled Water

Despite Merida being a super safe city to visit, the water systems can’t be relied upon for safe, drinkable water. The best thing to do is to buy big bottles of water from an Oxxo, and then refill your own water bottle several times a day when heading out. As an extra precaution, you can also carry a Grayl bottle as well, which we highly recommend you carry with you when doing day trip and visiting new landmarks during the day.

2. Keep Valuables in Front Pockets

It’s still worth following this tip even if there’s little risk of getting robbed. Firstly because there are areas of Merida which are worth being cautious in (markets and southern districts). Secondly as you won’t lower your guard too much, and get a fright when you move on elsewhere in Mexico.

3. Get Good Travel Insurance

Regardless of where you’re going, insurance will always be one of the best travel investments you can make. If you were to get sick eating food in Merida, this would cover all costs and prevent you having to pay the bill yourself. I (George) got really sick in Mexico once, and my insurance spared me hundreds of dollars! World Nomads travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers. If you leave home without travel insurance or your policy runs out, you can buy or extend while on the road.

4. Dress Down

We always repeat this one piece of advice, and for good reason too. By dressing down you’ll firstly attract less attention from criminals, meaning there’s less chance of your phone or wallet getting stolen. You’ll also feel more comfortable walking around in markets and other local places too.

5. Eat at Reputable Restaurants

This goes with both local shacks as well as more exclusive restaurants. Unfortunately food illness is still a big occurrence for travelers heading to Mexico, caused by poor hygiene or undercooked foods. Always pick places with a long queue, given they will have a better local reputation.

6. Head on Official Tours into the Region

Whilst this part of Mexico is really good for this, it’s still better to go with highly-rated tours. This way you’ll be guaranteed the best experiences, and also travel with a guide that takes safety protocols seriously. A good choice for example would be this day trip to Las Coloradas from Merida.

7. Regularly Reapply Sunscreen

Merida can get really hot during the day, with temperatures occasionally exceeding 90°F. This means there’s a real risk of getting burnt, especially if you’re not yet used to Mexican weather. It’s a good idea to reapply your high quality sunscreen several times a day to avoid this issue altogether.

Merida Safety FAQ Guide:

What makes Merida so safe?

There are two main reasons that Merida remains so safe. Firstly is because of the local Yucateco people who value safety above all else. Secondly is because of the organized police efforts which help to prevent criminal activities.

Is there cartel activity in Merida?

There is virtually no cartel activity in Merida, again owed to the locals who have repeatedly driven out any attempts of setting up here with great success. There are reports of houses in the south being used as hotspots, however this is still at a minimal scale that doesn’t affect daily life.

Is it safe to drink the water in Merida?

As with anywhere else in Mexico, drinking the tap water is something you’ll want to avoid (even if you’re staying in hotels). As water systems are not filtered or looked after, it can be easy to get ill with nasty parasites or bacteria. Only drink from sealed bottles of water instead.

Is Uber safe in Merida?

Taxis in Merida are pretty safe, and Uber is even more so (given that the drivers details and sensitive information are recorded). The other advantage of using Uber is that you can’t be ripped off, which can sometimes be an issue with traditional taxis.

Is Merida Safe? Final Words

And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in Merida, Mexico.

This ever-popular city is a must for travelers heading through Southern Mexico. Here we’ll find beautiful buildings of all colors, many ancient ruins and also the infamous cenotes within the surrounding region.

Whilst most are surprised to hear how safe the city is, you’ll be reassured once you actually arrive here. You can easily walk alone both during the day and night, and with just a little bit of preparation (as we’ve outlined in this article) you’ll have a safe and memorable stay.

In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in Merida, which includes the areas to avoid, as well as any current travel advisories. As well as looking at the best things to do in Merida, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.

While you’re here, check out our Yucatán Itinerary for more tips and travel inspiration.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

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Is Merida safe? 2024 Travel Guide