Ultimate Slow Travel Guide to Las Américas, Mérida: Real Hidden Gems, Food, Fitness, and Local Tips
📸 All photos in this post are original and taken during my travels - Alan
Planning an extended stay (long-term slow travel) in Las Américas, Mérida? Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your time in this charming neighborhood.
Las Américas in Mérida might just be the perfect spot for you if you value living in a quiet, safe, and affordable area with easy access to beaches, the main city, delicious food, friendly people, and a good cost of living.
In this post, I’ll share some hidden gems I discovered in Las Américas, including food carts, local fruit stands, gyms, trails, ATMs, and practical advice on laundry, affordable groceries, and more. This guide is based on my own experiences and recommendations from locals and expats. Whether you’re moving to Las Américas or just visiting, you won’t want to miss this!
Exploring Las Américas: Location and Layout
Las Américas is located north of Mérida, nestled between Progreso and downtown. The area is divided into several subsections: Las Américas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. For this guide, I’ll focus mostly on Las Américas 1 and touch on some aspects of Las Américas 2, where most of the area’s hotspots are located and where I lived. From here on out, when I refer to Las Américas, I’m talking specifically about Las Américas 1 and 2.
You can find most of the places I mention on two main streets: Calle 59 and Calle 74. Grocery stores, coffee shops, gyms, small fruit stands, and laundromats are all conveniently located on these streets.
Delicious Food in Las Américas
While Las Américas may not be as widely known for its culinary scene as some other Mexican cities, I’ve discovered some fantastic eats here. My absolute favorites are the barbacoa tacos and tacos de canastas.
Barbacoa Tacos: I was introduced to these amazing tacos by a local. They cost 30 pesos each and are unlike anything you’d find at Chipotle. The meat is slow-cooked in beef broth, chipotle chilies, vegetables, and seasonings, resulting in tender, flavorful tacos that practically melt in your mouth. Don’t miss these tacos if you’re in the area! This place doesn’t show up on Google Maps, so I’ll do my best to explain how to get there.
As shown on the map, it’s located at the corner of Calle 100-1 and Calle 53. I’ve also marked the two main streets I mentioned earlier to help you get a better understanding of the area. You can also try searching for nearby stores to help you locate the place.
Tacos de Canastas: Another favorite is the taco de canastas, costing 14 pesos each. These are served in a basket and come with various fillings like potato, pork rinds, beans, and adobo. They’re lightly steamed and wrapped tightly, resulting in a soft, flavorful taco.
There are two carts I recommend: one in Las Américas 2 with extra vegetables (Deloya Los Alcatraces Tacos De Canasta) and another in front of InterLife gym. Both are fantastic!
Bonus Restaurant: For authentic Yucatán food, try Lonchería Doña Lore.
They offer a variety of traditional dishes like tostadas, empanadas, caldos, tamales, and more. Check out the empanadas and tamales we enjoyed there!
Coffee Shops
Las Américas has a few great coffee shops. Tostado Coffee & Brunch is near Cinépolis, and Mimaru Cafetería is my favorite.
Mimaru stands out for its relaxed atmosphere, good coffee, and reliable Wi-Fi. It’s a great spot for working or enjoying a meal.
Supermarkets
If you’re staying long-term, you’ll need easy access to supermarkets. In Las Américas, there are two main options:
Bodega Aurrera: This is my go-to for groceries. It’s close to where I live, affordable, and has everything I need.
Super Aki: A bit more upscale and smaller than Bodega, Super Aki offers a different selection of products. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something specific.
Gyms
For fitness enthusiasts, Las Américas has two gyms:
InterLife: I enjoyed working out here. It’s close to my Airbnb and well-equipped, with a good number of treadmills and a wide selection of strength training equipment. I made some great friends, and all of the employees at InterLife were incredibly friendly and welcoming to foreigners.
My membership cost 499 pesos per month, with special deals available. If you’re a runner or into strength training, you’ll find what you need here.
Anytime Fitness: This gym is open 24 hours and might have a wider selection of equipment, though I don’t know much about it. It may be a bit pricier than InterLife.
Nightlife (Sort Of)
If you’re looking for an active nightlife, Las Américas might not be ideal. However, Absenta Pub is a local favorite for a relaxed night out with occasional live bands.
Small Local Markets
Supporting local businesses is always a great idea. Here are a few small markets I recommend:
Frutería Select Américas: This market offers local fruits, vegetables, and delicious fruit juices. Steven, who works there, is super friendly and speaks perfect English.
La Mexicana Abarrotes: A well-stocked market with affordable prices and high-quality products. They have everything from fruits and vegetables to cleaning supplies.
Tortillería Ancira: Here is where I get my freshly made tortillas, sold for 14 pesos per half kilo.
Laundry
I tried two laundry places:
Prime Lavandería: My favorite for its convenience. It’s a small, hole-in-the-wall place where you drop off your clothes, they weigh them, and you pick them up later, freshly washed and neatly packaged in a plastic bag. A load costs around 104.70 pesos.
The friendly staff makes the experience even better.
Outdoor Activities
If you enjoy walking, running, or biking, there’s a nice, though short, trail on Calle 98. It’s safe, and you can extend your exercise around the residential area.
Plus, you’re close to delicious food spots like the barbacoa and tacos de canasta places I mentioned earlier, perfect for refueling!
Park with FREE Internet
For free Wi-Fi, check out Internet Américas Park. It’s a handy spot if you need internet access in a pinch. Whether you’ve just arrived and need to connect or have run out of data, you can rely on this park for an emergency internet connection.
ATMs
You'll need money, and one of the best ways to get it is from an ATM. Quick tip: I recommend using Charles Schwab for ATM fee rebates worldwide, as they don’t charge foreign transaction fees. ATMs are located near Cinépolis AKROPOLIS. I personally used the Citibanamex and HSBC ATMs, and both provided the ATM fee rebate.
Water
You can get drinking water from OXXO stores, dispensers, or delivery services. I prefer delivery to avoid carrying heavy jugs (garrafones). If you don’t speak Spanish, ordering water over the phone can be challenging, so if you’re staying in an Airbnb, ask your host about water options. You can also try using Google Translate and sending messages through WhatsApp. There are plenty of water delivery services in Las Américas, so you can search for one that suits you or ask locals for recommendations.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of my favorite spots in Las Américas. There’s plenty more to discover, so use this guide as a starting point.
All in all, I love living in Las Américas for its laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. It was perfect for me because I was seeking a quiet, safe, and affordable place to focus on myself and my projects.
Additionally, I really enjoy the fact that Las Américas is conveniently located between Progreso Beach and downtown Mérida. It’s just a short 30-minute drive to either destination. If you’d like a deeper dive into what you can do outside of Las Américas, let me know in the comments!
Here are some places I’ve explored in and around Las Américas:
Progreso: A coastal town with beautiful beaches, just a short drive away.
Downtown Mérida: Rich in history and culture, with plenty to explore.
Kampenpen Cenotes: A great spot for cenote swimming, not far from Las Américas.
Eknakan: A charming village known for its hacienda and a unique German Gothic-style church.
El Corchito: An ecological reserve where you can take a small boat through mangroves to reach three cenotes. Enjoy swimming and a natural pedicure with fish that clean your feet.
Dzibilchaltun: An ancient Mayan archaeological site, accessible from Las Américas.
Paseo de Montejo: A historic avenue with beautiful architecture.
Market San Benito: A lively market for local food and goods.
Animaya Zoo: A free zoo with a variety of animals.
Misnébalam: An abandoned ghost town near Mérida.
Izamal (Yellow City): Known for its striking yellow buildings and rich history.
Las Américas Park: A local park perfect for relaxation and enjoying the outdoors. It’s a great spot to unwind and take a break from your routine.
Hello, I’m Alan!
I’m from California, slow traveling (slowmadding), staying productive, and exploring beyond the tourist spots—all on a budget.