NEW YORK — July 8, 2020 — The city of Mérida, capital of the Mexican State of Yucatán, was named for the fifth year in a row as one of the top cities in Mexico, coming in at number 4 at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, announced this morning by the publication; it also listed in the Top Cities in the World.
Home to a thriving Maya community, culture and gastronomy rooted in the colonial era, and some of Mexico’s finest architecture, Yucatán is a must for anyone looking to emerge themselves in Mexican culture. The state capital, Mérida, also known as the White City, offers a unique duality of both ancient Mayan culture and modern facilities. A popular destination in Mexico, Mérida makes an excellent home base for visiting the rest of the state and its remote destinations, that include the Yucatán Riviera, Cenotes & Haciendas, Puerto Maya, and Mayan World Capital.
Mérida is full of history, music, and color. The city’s Historic Center is the second largest in Mexico and, among its streets, visitors will find large and beautiful French-style buildings that are testament to the luxurious lives their owners led in past centuries. Cenotes, haciendas, cultural cities, virgin beaches, and nature are the perfect cross-section of everything Mexico has to offer and can be found at Yucatán.
“This year has been exceptionally challenging for the tourism industry; airlines, agencies and destinations have been in this together,” said Michelle Fridman, Tourism Secretary for Yucatán State. “Being included in Travel + Leisure’s prestigious World’s Best Awards as one of the Best Cities in Mexico and Latin America, especially in this year is a true honor. T+L’s readers are well-traveled, and, with their votes, they have chosen Mérida for the fifth year in a row as one of the main destinations to visit,” she added.
After being the second Mexican destination to receive the Safe Travels Seal from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), for the adoption of the new protocols to protect the health of travelers, a rebound in the number of airline passenger arrivals has begun. Aeroméxico announced that starting this week, it would nearly double weekly connections between Mexico City and Mérida to 33, resulting in the arrival of 3,267 passengers a week in Yucatán. Mexican carrier Volaris also continues with a gradual increase in operations to and from Mérida, upping service to a total of 45 flights this July, an increase of 60% over last June.
The U.S. edition of Travel + Leisure, which launched in 1971, is the only monthly consumer travel magazine in print in the U.S. The magazine has an authoritative website, TravelandLeisure.com, and an extensive social media following of more than 13 million. Travel + Leisure also encompasses newsletters and media collaborations. Every year, the magazine asks readers to identify their favorite travel destinations and hotels across the world. Readers are asked to share their opinions on top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, and airlines that they have experienced. The hotels recognized in the World’s Best Awards are rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value.
