Getting Around Mérida: Airport, Uber, Buses & Rental Cars

Mérida is relatively easy to navigate once you understand how transportation works here. Uber and DiDi make getting around the city simple, the newer Va-y-Ven buses have improved public transportation considerably, and having a rental car opens up an entirely different side of Yucatán.

There are, however, a few things worth knowing before you arrive—especially when it comes to leaving the airport, walking around Centro in the middle of the day and planning day trips to archaeological sites.

Here’s what I would tell a friend coming to Mérida for the first time.

How Do I Get From Mérida Airport to Centro?

The easiest option is an authorized airport taxi.

Once you leave baggage claim, you’ll see the taxi counters before heading outside. Mérida’s airport is relatively small, so you’re not going to wander around looking for them. Pay at the counter and they’ll direct you to your taxi outside.

Expect the price to Centro to be considerably higher than a regular Uber in the city—I usually tell visitors to budget roughly US$20–$25, although fares vary depending on where you’re staying.

And sometimes paying the extra money is worth it. You have just gotten off a flight, you’re carrying luggage and you probably haven’t yet appreciated exactly what Mérida heat feels like.

Can I Take Uber From Mérida Airport?

This one is a little complicated.

Mexico’s federal transportation authority has stated that app-based transportation companies such as Uber are not authorized to provide passenger transportation inside federal airport zones, even though Uber’s own app may show airport pickup options.

For years, the workaround in Mérida has been to walk out toward the main road and request your Uber from outside the airport grounds. I’ve done this many times, and the ride to Centro can be substantially cheaper than an authorized airport taxi.

But there’s a catch: you’re dragging your luggage roughly 500 meters.

Five hundred meters doesn’t sound particularly dramatic until you’re pulling a suitcase through Mérida at 2 p.m. with the sun beating down on you. If you’re arriving during the day, this may be one of those moments when it’s worth paying the airport taxi their fare and starting your vacation comfortably.

If you’re traveling light, on a budget or simply don’t mind a sweaty introduction to Yucatán, walking out and requesting a ride is another option.

There’s Now an Airport Bus Too

This has become a much better option.

The R907 IE-TRAM Airport Route connects Mérida International Airport with Centro, including stops near Plaza Grande, Santa Ana, Paseo 60, the ADO terminals and La Plancha. Service currently operates from approximately 4 a.m. until 10:50 p.m.

The general fare is $45 MXN, and here’s the important part for visitors: you do not need to arrive in Mérida already carrying a Va-y-Ven transportation card. The airport route accepts the Va-y-Ven card, contactless debit or credit cards and single-use e-tickets.

For around US$2.50, that’s by far the least expensive comfortable option into Centro.

Do I Need a Rental Car in Mérida?

This completely depends on what you want to do.

If you’re spending four days eating, exploring museums, walking Paseo de Montejo and wandering around Centro, I wouldn’t bother. Uber, DiDi and taxis are inexpensive compared with many cities in the United States, and you won’t have to think about parking.

If you plan to explore Yucatán independently, however, I love having a car.

Cenotes, haciendas, archaeological sites and small towns are scattered throughout the state, and a car gives you the freedom to leave early, stop when something catches your eye and combine several places in one day.

If you’re not comfortable driving in Mexico, hiring a private driver or booking a tour is another very good option.

Is Mérida Walkable?

Parts of Centro absolutely are, especially if you genuinely enjoy walking.

I frequently walk between Santa Ana, Paseo de Montejo, Santa Lucía, Santiago and Plaza Grande. It’s one of my favorite ways to experience the city because you notice the small things you miss from a car: an old doorway, a restored façade, a tiny restaurant you didn’t know was there or a courtyard glimpsed through an open door.

But time of day matters enormously.

You won’t see many locals voluntarily walking long distances between roughly 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., particularly during the hottest months. There’s a reason for that.

Get out early, stop for lunch somewhere with air-conditioning during the hottest part of the afternoon and head back outside toward sunset. Mérida is much more enjoyable on foot when the sidewalks aren’t radiating heat back at you.

How Is Mérida for Travelers With Mobility Issues?

Mérida can be challenging for travelers with mobility issues.

The historic sidewalks are often narrow, uneven and interrupted by steps, utility poles, driveways and changes in elevation. At night, these obstacles can be even harder to see.

The good news is that moving around the city by Uber, DiDi or taxi is relatively easy, so you can substantially reduce the amount of walking required.

If you’re renting a vehicle and have an official disability parking placard that can legally be used while traveling, bring it with you and check locally about its recognition and use.

I would also contact hotels, restaurants and attractions individually about accessibility rather than assuming that “accessible” means the same thing everywhere. Historic buildings in Centro can present particular challenges.

How Does Public Transportation Work in Mérida?

Mérida’s public transportation has changed quite a bit over the past few years.

You’ll still encounter older buses and combis—small vans running established routes—but figuring them out can require asking where a particular vehicle leaves from and confirming where it will actually take you. Some are crowded and don’t have air-conditioning.

Then there is Va-y-Ven, the newer public transportation system.

These buses are much easier for visitors: many are air-conditioned, routes cover large sections of Mérida and the Va-y-Ven app can help you figure out where you’re going.

The standard general fare on regular Va-y-Ven routes is currently $12 MXN. The rechargeable general transportation card can be purchased at OXXO, Dunosusa and Willys stores.

If you’re staying in Mérida for several weeks or months, it’s worth figuring out. At around 12 pesos a ride, public transportation is extraordinarily inexpensive.

For a short vacation, however, I would probably use a combination of walking and Uber or DiDi unless a Va-y-Ven route happens to work perfectly for where you’re going.

How Do I Get From Mérida to Uxmal or Chichén Itzá?

You basically have three choices: drive, take a tour or take a bus.

Option 1: Rent a Car

This gives you the most freedom.

Both Uxmal and Chichén Itzá are straightforward to reach using Google Maps, and having your own vehicle means you can leave early—which I highly recommend.

Yucatán’s archaeological sites are far more pleasant before the strongest midday heat arrives.

A car also lets you turn the trip into a full day rather than simply driving there and back. Stop at a cenote, have lunch in a small town or explore somewhere you hadn’t originally planned.

Option 2: Go With a Guide

For archaeological sites, this is often my personal recommendation.

You can certainly walk around Uxmal or Chichén Itzá alone and admire the architecture, but understanding what you’re actually looking at completely changes the experience.

A knowledgeable local guide can explain the history, architecture, Maya cosmology and details you would probably walk straight past otherwise.

You’re also putting money directly into the local economy, which is something I strongly believe in.

Tours in Yucatán don’t necessarily mean climbing onto a giant tour bus. There are excellent private guides and small-group experiences that feel very personal.

If you’d like recommendations, message us at MID CityBeat and we can point you toward a few options.

Option 3: Take the Bus

This is usually the cheapest option, but it requires more planning.

Mérida’s main ADO Centro Histórico terminal is on Calle 69, and ADO operates an extensive network throughout the peninsula. Other archaeological destinations may involve second-class buses, local routes, colectivos or an additional connection.

This is where I wouldn’t plan too rigidly around prices or departure times you found months before your trip. Routes and schedules change.

As a general planning guide:

*Prices and routes can change. Always confirm the current departure point, schedule and—most importantly—the return trip before leaving Mérida.

That last part matters.

Getting to a town or archaeological site is often easy. Getting back to Mérida at exactly the time you want can involve waiting, asking questions and occasionally improvising.

But sometimes that’s half the fun of traveling in Yucatán.

And if you find yourself sitting at a roadside bus stop wondering when the next bus is coming, congratulations—you’ve graduated from simply visiting Yucatán to actually traveling through it.

How Do I Get From the Tren Maya Station to Mérida?

This is important to know before you arrive because Mérida’s Tren Maya station is not in Centro. The station, called Mérida Teya, is east of the city near Teya, so you’ll need transportation from the station to wherever you’re staying in Mérida.

The easiest option is to take the IE-TRAM, which connects the Tren Maya station at Teya with Mérida. It’s air-conditioned, comfortable and designed specifically to connect passengers with important points around the city, including La Plancha, which is very close to Centro.

If you’re staying in Centro, taking the IE-TRAM to La Plancha and then grabbing an Uber, DiDi or taxi to your hotel or Airbnb is usually an easy combination.

One thing to keep in mind: The Tren Maya station is about a 35 minute drive from Merida. The IE-TRAM leaves 30 minutes after the train arrives and you need to buy a ticket from the automatic machine on your way out of the station. To get to La Plancha it’s another 35-45 minute drive because they make several stops like a bus. 

You can also take a taxi directly from the Tren Maya station. If you’re traveling with several people or have a lot of luggage, this may be worth the extra expense since you can go straight to your accommodation rather than transferring.

MID CityBeat Tip: If you’re arriving during the day and aren’t in a hurry, take the IE-TRAM. It’s an inexpensive and comfortable way to get into Mérida, and La Plancha puts you within easy reach of Centro.