Mérida

Photo: James and Ellen Fields, Eclectec SA de CV

There is a palpable sense of excitement in the tropical air as haciendas and elegant high-ceilinged city mansions are being transformed into chic bed-and-breakfast hotels.

David Keeps captures the moment beautifully in the December issue of Travel + Leisure magazine: Mérida’s Moment.

In particular, one new B & B worth a mention is the delightful Hotel Marionetas (doubles from US$70 dollars) run by Sofija and Daniel Bosco.

Mérida: Chac got angry and gave everything a good soaking last night and this morning. We headed straight to the small but excellent Museo de Antropología e Historia housed in the distinctly Belle Epoch Palacio Cantón. This masterpiece was found at Chichén Itzá by Franco-American explorer, Augustus Le Plongeon who named it Chac Mool (red claw in the Mayan language). It dates from the Maya-Toltec period – 800-900AD.