For gourmets and historians looking for traditional food in Mérida, the Yucatan's world-class gastronomy holds great appeal. Linked to history and landscape, to legend and magic, the cuisine in this region of Mexico evokes the influences of its inhabitants' Mayan ancestors.

Exotic meats, including pheasant, deer, and wild boar seasoned with regional spices like achiote or recado colorado (red annatto spice mixture), are a great introduction to Mérida food.

To taste a meal from this cuisine is an experience that interweaves Mayan mystery with Castilian influences in a surprising array of unexpected flavors.

Some of the most traditional dishes include cochinita pibil (seasoned suckling pig), lime soup, motuleño eggs, chicken pibil, poc-chuc (Mayan roast pork), papadzules (egg-stuffed tortillas with pumpkin seed sauce), and beans with pork and salbutes (soft tortillas with toppings), among others.

Put the final touch on your dinner by raising a glass of xtabentún, a sweet honey and anise liqueur, to Mérida’s charms.