A 19th century townhouse-turned-boutique hotel in the historic heart of Mérida.
Hidden on behind an unassuming façade on a quiet street in central Mérida, Casa Lecanda is a beautifully restored Yucatecan townhouse that feels like staying at private home. Seven rooms are arranged around three patios, with original period architecture, tropical planting and a small pool that offers a welcome escape from the sticky Mérida heat.
Many of Merida’s best restaurants, bars and galleries are just a couple of blocks away – yet step through the front door and Casa Lecanda feels wonderfully removed from the city outside.
What we love about Casa Lecanda
- With just seven individually designed rooms, it has a deeply personal feel; the Garden Suites are our pick, with soaring ceilings and enormous stone bathtubs.
- Original 19th-century architectural details, with high ceilings, patterned tile floors and wrought ironwork.
- Interiors are distinctly Mexican, mixing furniture handcrafted by local artisans with bold Yucatecan artwork.
- Excellent breakfasts served in the courtyard by the pool, with fresh fruit juices, wonderful breads, eggs any way, and pastries made in-house.
- The hotel’s wine bar and restaurant, Anata, which offers cocktails and small plates.
Walk Mérida’s grand Paseo de Montejo, lined with elaborate mansions built during the city’s henequen boom.
Step inside Quinta Montes Molina to see how Mérida’s wealthy families lived at the turn of the 20th century. Explore the cathedral, main square, galleries and markets of the historic centre, then retreat to Casa Lecanda for a swim and a few hours in a hammock.
Food is a big part of any stay in Mérida. We can arrange a private Yucatecan cooking class, beginning with a trip to a traditional market with a local chef to pick out ingredients before preparing regional staples such as cochinita pibil and handmade tortillas. There are tastings of mezcal and Yucatecan honey, produced from native flora and long associated with Maya culture. In the evening, the city has an excellent and ever-evolving restaurant scene to dip into.
Beyond the city, Uxmal is our pick of the Maya sites and receives far fewer visitors than the better-known Chichén Itzá. Go early to explore the Pyramid of the Magician and Governor’s Palace, then spend the afternoon swimming in a private cenote. To the west are the mangroves, lagoons and birdlife of Celestún Biosphere Reserve; head out by boat and, at the right time of year, you’ll see huge flocks of flamingos feeding in the shallows.
When to Travel
November through to April brings Mérida’s driest weather, with warm days, lower humidity and cooler evenings. December to February is particularly comfortable for exploring the city on foot. Temperatures rise considerably from March into May, while the rainy season runs from June to October, with heavy showers most common later in the day. The city is lively throughout the year, particularly during January’s Mérida Fest and the cultural events held around Día de Muertos.
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