All about Paseo de Montejo in Mérida, Mexico

The magnificant Paseo de Montejo is probably the most famous and emblematic street in Mérida. Paseo de Montejo is named after Francisco de Montejo, the Spanish conquistador who founded the city in 1542.

The Paseo de Montejo starts downtown at the remate del Paseo de Montejo and ends after 1.6km at the Monumento a la Patria (in 1926 the road was extended by 371m to its present length.). It runs parallel to the streets number 56 and 58 and is therefore also known as calle (street) 56A.

The wide avenue, lined with magnificent colonial buildings, was created at the end of the 19th century (between 1888 and 1904) during the henequén boom, when the Yucatán Peninsula achieved great prosperity due to the cultivation and processing of henequén.

In 1926 the road was extended by about 400m to its present length. The Paseo Montejo was inspired by the great famous boulevards such as the Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City or the Avenue Champs-Élysées in Paris and was intended to be reminiscent of them.

Paseo de Montejo

Iconic colonial buildings

The buildings along Paseo de Montejo still reflect this wealth. The architecture of the time was strongly influenced by European styles, especially French, Spanish and Italian. The wealthy owners - mostly plantation landlords - even had their furniture imported from Europe.

Today, some of the great old buildings have been converted into a museum and can be visited or booked for events. And while some houses are now in operation as museums or banks, others are still used as normal residential buildings.

On a length of about a mile you can find some of most beautiful and iconic colonial buildings in the city. But there are also several restaurants, bars, karaokes, clubs, cafes or pastry shops. Be sure to check out the special article about the Paseo de Montejo, which summarizes all the sights along this great street.

Casas Gemelas on Paseo de Montejo

Prolongacion Montejo

North of the monument, the Paseo de Montejo becomes the Prolongacion Paseo de Montejo, which continues north for almost 5km.

This part of the road was extended much later, in 1973 and 1998, and there are no special sights there. Prolongacion Montejo then turns into highway 261 at approximately the Gran Plaza Mérida shopping center.

Places of interest

Some of the most famous buildings (going north from downtown) are:

• Casas Gemelas (one house was turned into a museum)

• Palacio Cantón (now home to Yucatán Anthropology Regional Museum)

• El Minaret (houses Yerba Santa Mérida and can be rented e.g. for events)

• Quinta Montes Molina (operates now as a museum)

• Casa Duarte Molina (for a long time abandoned)

• Casa Vales (today home of Santander Bank)

• Casa Peón de Regil (today headquarter of Inbursa Financial Group)

Along the Paseo de Montejo there are also famous monuments, such as

• Monumento a la Patria (Monument to the Homeland)

• Monumenta a los Montejos (to honor the Montejo family)

• Monument of Gonzalo Guerrero

• Monument of Justo Sierra (the oldest monument on the street)

• Monument to Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Other locations worth visiting include (going north from downtown):

• Cafeteria Impala (a famous cafe)

• Casa T´HŌ Concept House (some nice galleries and a cafe)

• Cielo Hamacas (a well-known hammock store)

• Rosas & Xocolate (a hotel & spa)

• Marago Coffee (a great cafe)

• Dulceria y Sorbeteria Colon (a famous ice cream parlor)