Here’s why you should visit the Yucatán Peninsula

Mexico is the seventh-most visited country in the world. Every year, more than 40 million people head to the country for sun, sea, culture – and great food.

Throughout the pandemic, Mexico has consistently had some of the most relaxed travel restrictions.

But that doesn’t mean Mexico hasn’t been taking COVID-19 extremely seriously. More so than most European places I’ve been to recently, the country has some of the most rigorous hygiene practices everywhere you go – helping keep infection rates as low as possible.

So, if you want a restriction-free holiday, somewhere that’s hot on hygiene – look no further than Mexico’s beautiful state of Yucatán.

If you want culture…
The Maya population across the wider Yucatán Peninsula, which includes the states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo, is the largest concentration of Indigenous peoples in Mexico.

This means Yucatán can in some ways feel like a completely separate country from the rest of Mexico, as everything from the food to the buildings to the language is shaped by Maya traditions. But we’ll come onto food and architecture in a moment.

One of the best things to do is a walking tour of Mérida, Yucatán’s largest city. It’s a stunning, bustling metropolis with so much to take in.

I spent an evening on a tour, beginning with a walk down Paseo de Montejo – Yucatán’s answer to the Champs-Élysées – a historic boulevard, lined with grand mansions and excellent cafes.

We started at the Monumento a la Patria (Monument to the Fatherland), sculpted by Colombian artist Rómulo Rozo, before wandering down the wide avenue into the centre of the city.

I was so struck by the architecture and how beautiful Mérida was, I took myself off for my own walking tour the next day – exploring every nook and cranny I could find.

Highlights for me were the Teatro Armando Manzanero, a stunning art-deco performance space in the city centre; the amazing Plaza Principal, the main square surrounded by little museums and amazing bookstores; and the many galleries and workshop spaces where Maya craftspeople and artisans sell their goods.

Outside of Mérida, there are a wealth of beautiful places worth visiting for cultural experiences. From Valladolid to Izamal, there are four ‘Pueblos Mágicos’ (literally: Magical Towns) that are part of a nationwide initiative to highlight towns and cities rich with natural beauty, cultural relevance, or traditional importance.