All about Museo de la Luz in Mérida, Mexico (2025 Guide)

Museo de la Luz (Museum of Light), newly opened November 2023, is located in the third section of the huge Gran Parque La Plancha (also newly opened November 2023). The museum is located on the corner of Calle 43 and Calle 50.

The Museum de la Luz was founded jointly by the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the government of the Yucatan. The exhibition delves into the mysteries of color and light to explore its physical, psychological, technological and cultural nature.

It is a place of convergence of disciplines, from physics to fine arts, from biology to the humanities, and it approaches the phenomenon of light with a multidisciplinary, holistic, playful and didactic perspective.

Exhibition Areas

The Museo de la Luz in Mérida has six permanent exhibition areas and a room for temporary exhibitions. The museum features interactive displays on the physics of light, the history of optical instruments, and the role of light in different cultures.

There is also an experimental science and art laboratory where visitors can engage with creative projects, a workshop area for hands-on learning, and a public service area offering educational programs.

Parque La Plancha

The museum, as mentioned, is located within Parque La Plancha, Mérida's largest and most impressive park, offering a mix of culture, history, and nature.

Built on the site of the city's former main train station, the park features sports areas, two museums, a lake with a promenade, and even a skate park.

Opened in November 2023, it also includes a pet park, playgrounds, and a large amphitheater, making it a great spot for both relaxation and activities.

Yucatán Railroad Museum

The Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán (Yucatán Railroad Museum) with old locomotives and wagons is also located in Gran Parque La Plancha - the site was the former railyard of the Ferrocarriles Unidos de Yucatán (United Railways of Yucatán).

The Railroad Museum houses an impressive collection of over 200 historical artifacts, including locomotives, wagons and tools. There are more than 20 historic locomotives on display that were used during the heyday of the railroad in the Yucatán.