Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia: It’s no surprise that a state brimming with ancient ruins would have an anthropology museum as outstanding as this one, with fascinating displays on Maya art, astronomy, architecture, and more.

Museo MACAY: History is palpable in Mérida, but that doesn’t mean it’s stuck in the past — the city’s modern art museum has a terrific collection of paintings and sculptures by local and international artists.

Domingo en Mérida: Sunday is the day Mérida celebrates itself. Locals and tourists alike throng to the main plaza to munch on street food, watch dance performances, and share in the joy of simply being there.

Uxmal Archaeological Zone: Soaring structures and graceful design make Uxmal one of the most beautiful of all Maya ruins.

Cenotes de Cuzamá: Ride a horse-drawn trolley through abandoned henequen fields and then climb down through a crack in the earth to swim in the cool, iridescent waters of ancient cenotes.

Flamingo Tours: The world’s largest and pinkest flamingos congregate in the mangrove-fringed estuaries at Celestún and Río Lagartos, where boat tours bring you up close to these most peculiar of birds.

Convento de San Antonio de Padua: Both beautiful and troubling, Izamal’s stately yellow convent was built on top of a sacred Maya temple — some of the pilfered stones are still visible in the church walls.

Chichén Itzá Archaeological Zone: The Yucatán’s most well-known ancient ruins also is the most heavily visited. Arrive early to enjoy the site’s awesome scale and superlative design, including the largest ball court in the Maya world.