All about Cementario General in Mérida, Mexico (2025 Guide)

The famous cemeteries I know are usually well known because of the celebrities buried there. But the large cemetery in Mérida stands out for a very different reason. I highly recommend checking it out – but see for yourself!

The Cementerio General of Mérida, located in the southwestern part of the city about 2 km from the historic center, offers a unique and distinctive experience. The two entrances to the cemetery are at Calle 66 and Calle 81a.

It has a long history dating back to 1821, when it was inaugurated. At the time, a government decree required all cemeteries to be located outside the city limits

As a result, the cemetery was established on the site of an old hacienda just outside Mérida. Today, however, the city has grown well beyond its original boundaries.

Before the main cemetery was built, locals were buried in neighborhood cemeteries. In 1859, about 40 years after its founding, the cemetery became state property following the nationalization of church assets.

The Architecture of the Burial Sites

The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were the golden years of Mérida. With the fortunes made from the henequen plantations, the rich landowners started building magnificent houses.

The architecture of the time was strongly influenced by European styles, especially French, Spanish and Italian. The cemetery was also at its peak at this time, because the wealthy inhabitants wanted the same luxury for their final resting place.

What makes this cemetery so special is that many of the graves were built to mirror the architectural style of the homes the deceased once lived in. This was also done so that the deceased did not feel alone and to ease their transition from life to death.

Just as Mérida combines different architectural styles, the tombs in the cemetery also have corresponding styles: neoclassical, Greek, Gothic, French or a mixture of these.

And just like in several of Mérida’s grand old buildings, much of the material for the tombs and mausoleums came from Europe. You’ll see angels of silence, figures pointing skyward, and sorrowful ones with crosses – all full of symbolism.

Growth of the Cemetery

Over time, the cemetery was expanded as the population of Mérida continued to grow. In 1910, the land on the east side was acquired for an extension.

In 1928, twin buildings were added: one for administration, one as a mortuary. The admin building was demolished in 1982, and a cold storage room was added in 1981.

Today, there are

• 23,600 crypts,

• 2,000 ossuaries (for the burial of ashes) and

• 120 mausoleums

across the 150,000 square meters of the cemetery.

Several types of mausoleums can be distinguished:

• Open mausoleums without a chapel,

• closed mausoleums with a chapel (in which burials are made),

• mixed mausoleums (in which burials are made inside as well as outside the chapel),

• and often also mausoleums of the cumulus type - here the base is a coffin followed by a monument with a sculpture on top.

Administrative records indicate that the oldest mausoleum, dating back to 1870, has preserved its original style and belongs to the Medina Rodríguez family.

Famous Historical Figures

Of course, the cemetery is also the resting place of many famous historical figures. At the "Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres" (Rotunda of Illustrious Men) are buried, for example, the remains of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the first socialist governor of Yucatán.

The wall where he was executed by firing squad in 1924 still stands in the cemetery. You can also see the gravesites of many other important figures in Yucatán's history.

Ghosts and Paranormal Activities

Reports keep surfacing that the ghosts of deceased people who were buried in the cemetery are wandering around. One of the most famous of these ghosts is Don Arcadio. Don Arcadio was a wealthy man who lived in 19th century Mérida.

Many say his ghost still roams the cemetery near his grave. Visitors have reported seeing a kindly, elderly figure in elegant old clothes near Don Arcadio’s mausoleum, quietly offering blessings or comfort to the living.

Another tale tells of a weeping nun seen in the cemetery. Believed to be from a 19th-century Mérida convent, her ghost is often heard sobbing softly near an abandoned grave. Why she returns to this spot remains a mystery.

Another unexplained phenomenon is the ringing of bells at night, which has been heard by some visitors to the cemetery, although there was no one ringing the bells at the time.

Some visitors to the cemetery also report unexplained lights dancing around the graves. These lights sometimes appear as glowing orbs or as delicate rays of light.

Guided Tours of the Cemetery

Every Wednesday at 8:00 pm, you can join a fascinating 50-minute guided tour of the cemetery. The tour is conducted only in Spanish, offering a unique insight into its history and legends.

If you speak Spanish, this is a great way to immerse yourself in Mérida’s history and burial traditions, from pre-Hispanic times to the present day. Just be careful, you and your group might not be alone!