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Mérida MÉRIDA AIRPORT. If you arrive in Merida airport change money to get the taxi; change $20 to get 240+ pesos. The Taxi ride should not be more than 180 pesos to get to the center of town. The public bus would be 4 pesos (you may have to wait 20-30 for the public bus, but entails significant savings). In Mérida there are casas de cambio on 59 entre [between] 60 and 61. These are easy access, good rates, and quick. The best exchange rates in town are at one of two stalls in the Hotel Fiesta Americana. Sometimes the AmEx is superior rate, sometimes not, but AmEx has limited hours and lines whereas the others are almost always rapid service and open till 9pm. CANCUN AIRPORT AND BUSES. If you are not loaded with luggage and can walk easily then we suggest trying to find the local bus transportation. Ask a police officer for this information or someone who works in a bar, restaurant etc. Anyone else walking around, like taxi drivers!, will tell you that there is no bus and you have to take a shuttle or taxi. Do not hesitate to ask several different persons. When you step out of the airport you walk past the throng of taxi and shuttle drivers and luggage men, walk to the road. Turn right, walk to next building (10 seconds). This is the building for departures. Walk the length of it to the other side -- if too hot you might walk inside the lobby. At the far, end the airport circle drive turns away and back out. Along this edge is the local bus stop. Ask around near here as well to verify info. Transportation in general Buses and Taxis in Mérida and Yucatán Travel Agencies and Airlines in Mérida Maps (including a map of Mérida) Lodging Students arriving before the start date of the OSEA program may find the Yucatán Today’s listing of Merida lodging useful: Three star and higher lodging The Nest Backpacker’s Hostel In addition to those listed, there are two youth hostels in Mérida and many other hotels that are in the 200-300 peso a night range. Check several different tourist guidebooks for details. The Mérida Street System Most of the streets are numbered with the exception of big avenues and boulevards All streets are one way – except the avenues and boulevards. Even numbered streets are North-South Odd numbered streets are East-West The CENTER of town is a square formed by Calles 60 and 62 and 61 and 63 Calle 60 is on the EAST side of the Square. 62 on the WEST Calle 60 goes north, Calle 62 goes south. Calle 61 is on the NORTH side of the square. 63 is on the SOUTH Calle 61 goes west and Calle 63 goes east. The center of a town or town square is called zocalo in Spanish, kiwik in Maya. Mérida is divided into colonias and fraccionamentos. Each neighborhood has streets with the same numbers and addresses. An address with just house and street name could be anywhere in the city!!! Some colonias have the same name and are differentiated as I, II, III. Colonias and fraccionamientos can also have the same name: For example there is Colonia Miraflores and Frac. Miraflores. Thus, remember the name of colonia and fraccionamento to avoid getting lost. |