For a good meal in Merida, look no further than La Chaya in the Centro area. While the hostesses dressed in traditional costumes and tortilla making demonstration may seem a little kitschy, it's all part of the fun and buzz of this eatery that is always crowded with tourists and locals alike.

Sample Yucatecan staples such as poc chuc (grilled pork marinated in orange juice), pollo pibil (baked chicken wrapped in banana leaves), and sopa de lima (lime soup with turkey and tortilla). Lastly, do not leave without trying its namesake chaya juice made from the chaya plant, which is a green leafy plant similar to spinach. It was extremely thirst quenching on a hot day!