Viva México: Arriba la aventura!

Your bags? Packed! Your level of excitement? Off the charts! Your thirst for adventure? Boundless! So you hop on the plane and head for the sun. You lean back, close your eyes and could swear you already smell the salty Caribbean breeze. When you open them again, Mexico appears beneath you, then – bang – you've landed. And thanks to the time difference, it's still the same day it was when you left – wild, isn't it? Welcome to Cancún! Your hotel is just a stone's throw away, so you make your way there, settle in, kick back, grab a nice cold drink and raise a toast to your trip before the day ends and tomorrow's adventures begin.

Ready to kick off your adventure and full of excitement, you jump on the bus, grab a window seat and watch the landscape fly by on the way to your next destination. Viva México, viva you! Colourful, vibrant and lively – that's Mérida in three words. You drop off your bags and dive right into the city for a total sensory overload. First, you head to Mercado Lucas de Gálvez and tuck into Mexican street food classics that are just perfect for your Insta story. Then it's time to chill out in a cosy café on the city's magnificent boulevard, the Paseo de Montejo. Historic villas, buzzing street life and pure vibes – 'Mérida, what an experience you are!'

The locals of Mérida are both warm and approachable. And so it's fitting that free walking tours through the city are offered every morning. Sign up at the Palacio Municipal on the western Plaza Grande and experience the city through the eyes of a local. Get tips and insider suggestions and follow the trail of the Maya, whose ancient symbols can be found everywhere. You can find Mérida's must-sees around the sprawling Plaza Grande, such as the Catedral de San Ildefonso, the oldest church in the country and a shining example of how strongly intertwined faith and culture are in Mexico. And the pink town hall is a sight that's definitely hard to miss. If you're in the city on a Monday, be sure to come back in the evening when dancers and musicians come together for the Vaqueria, a traditional Mexican dance event.

You're off to your newfound favourite places in the city. And the Plaza Grande is definitely one of them! Not only is it home to architectural highlights but also to several museums – some of which are even free of charge. So why not check out the Museum of Modern Art or learn all about the history and culture of the Maya at the Gtan Museo de Mundo Maya? At the Casa de Montejo, you can take a look inside a typical hacienda from Mérida's golden years, and the murals, large inner courtyard and striking green facade of the Palacio de Gobierno make it your must-see of the day.