Merida Car Rental — Airport & Downtown Pickup, Insurance Included
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About our Merida office
Our Merida office is at Calle 60 #484, on Parque Santa Lucía in the historic center, a short walk from the Plaza Grande and Paseo de Montejo. We also deliver at Merida International Airport (MID) and at hotels in the city. Every rental includes third-party liability insurance, unlimited mileage and 24/7 roadside assistance, with no hidden fees.
How the Merida office works
We are open every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Choose "Merida Airport", "Merida Downtown Office" or "Merida Hotel Pickup" as your pickup location when you search. The airport is about 15 minutes from the center. Bring your driver's license, passport and a credit card in the driver's name for the security deposit.
Pick up at Cancun Airport, drop off in Merida
Flying into Cancun and out of Merida, or the other way around? Pick up at our Cancun Airport office and return the car in Merida (or vice versa). A fixed one-way drop-off fee applies by vehicle category; see the table below. The drive is about 300 km (186 miles) on the 180D toll highway, 3.5 to 4 hours with very few services along the way: fill the tank and carry pesos for the tolls. The free road through Valladolid is slower but passes Chichén Itzá and Izamal, which makes it a good day-long route.
Driving and parking in Merida
Historic center
Streets follow a numbered grid: even numbers run north to south and odd numbers east to west, and most are one way. Street parking in the center is scarce, so use one of the many paid parking lots (estacionamientos) near the Plaza Grande and Santa Lucía; they charge by the hour and close at night, so check the hours if you plan to stay out late.
Rest of the city
Merida is flat, calm and easy to drive. Paseo de Montejo, the Periférico ring road and the roads to Progreso and the airport are wide and well signposted. Most restaurants and malls outside the center have free parking.
Day trips from Merida you can only do by car
- Uxmal and the Ruta Puuc (1 hour 15 minutes): Kabah, Sayil and Labná have no regular public transport; a car is the only practical way to see them in one day.
- Chichén Itzá (1.5 hours): arrive at opening time to avoid the crowds and the heat.
- Cenotes of Homún and Cuzamá (1 hour): dozens of cenotes on dirt tracks south-east of the city.
- Izamal (1 hour): the yellow town and its convent.
- Celestún (1.5 hours): flamingos and mangroves on the Gulf coast.
- Progreso (40 minutes): the nearest beach, with a long malecón.
- Valladolid and Ek Balam (2 hours): a good stop on the way to or from Cancun.
Do you need a Jeep or SUV in Merida?
Not for the sites above: they are all on paved roads and a compact car with good air conditioning is the most comfortable and economical choice in the Yucatán heat. An SUV is worth it if you travel with four or more people and luggage, or if you plan to explore the dirt tracks to the cenotes around Homún.
Practical tips
- Heat: Merida is one of the hottest cities in Mexico. Park in the shade when you can and never leave anything in the car.
- Gas stations: plenty in the city and on the Periférico; fewer on the Ruta Puuc and on the toll road to Cancun. Fill up before long stretches.
- Tolls: the 180D to Cancun and the Kantunil–Valladolid stretch are toll roads, cash in pesos.
- Night driving: rural roads are unlit and have speed bumps at every village. Plan to arrive before dark.
Pick up at Cancun Airport, drop off in Merida
Land at Cancun International Airport (CUN), pick up your car there and return it at our Merida office. The one-way drop-off fee is fixed per vehicle category and is added once to your booking. Round trips from Cancun have no fee.
Quote CUN â Merida| Category | Drop-off fee (one way) |
|---|---|
| Compact | $ 120.00 |
| Full size | $ 130.00 |
| Midsize | $ 130.00 |
| SUV | $ 150.00 |
| Minivan | $ 160.00 |
| Express Van | $ 170.00 |
Fees in USD, paid once per rental. Choose "Cancun Airport" as pickup and "Merida" as return in the search box to see it in your quote.
Cars available today in Merida
Rates for pickup today Fri 25 Sep, 17:00 and return Sat 26 Sep, 17:00 (1 day). Change the dates above to quote your full trip.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Merida
Yes. Choose "Merida Airport" as your pickup location when you search. We also deliver at our downtown office on Parque Santa Lucía and at hotels in the city.
Yes, in both directions. A fixed one-way drop-off fee applies by vehicle category; the amounts are in the table on this page and are shown before you confirm your booking.
About 300 km (186 miles): 3.5 to 4 hours on the 180D toll highway, which has very few services, or 4.5 to 5 hours on the free road through Valladolid, which passes Chichén Itzá and Izamal.
Street parking in the historic center is scarce, but there are many paid parking lots near the Plaza Grande and Parque Santa Lucía that charge by the hour. Outside the center most places have free parking.
No. Uxmal, the Ruta Puuc, Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Celestún and Progreso are all on paved roads. Only the dirt tracks to some cenotes around Homún and Cuzamá are more comfortable in an SUV.
