Merida, Mexico

Capital City

The population of 777,615 makes Mérida the largest city in southern Mexico, but its tropical climate and bureaucratic headaches are hardly a dream for all. As the capital of the Yucatán, Mérida is a cultural hub with a rich colonial heritage, yet the heat and humidity can be oppressive, and the city's reputation as one of the safest in the Americas is no guarantee against the frustrations of Mexican red tape. For those seeking an authentic taste of the Yucatán's Maya-Spanish fusion, Mérida may be worth the tradeoffs, but it's no tropical paradise.