Major city · Mexico
TekaxTekax de Álvaro Obregón
Give Tekax 1 night, 2 if you want the 7 km cave tour: it is a Pueblo Mágico stop 2 h by bus from Mérida, not a base for the Yucatán.Give Tekax 1 night, 2 if you want the 4.3 mi cave tour: it is a Pueblo Mágico stop 2 h by bus from Mérida, not a base for the Yucatán.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MXN
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- avoid Apr–May (hottest), Sep–Oct (wettest)
- Airport
- MID
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
Tekax is a Maya town of about 25,000 in the jungle hills south of Mérida, one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos. The draw is compact: a colonial centre you can walk in an hour, the Chacmultun ruins 6 km out, and a cave system on the edge of town. Buses from Mérida run hourly and cost about M$60, so it works as an overnight between Mérida and the Puuc or Chetumal road.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tekax, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $).Mexico-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities.Mexico-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.Mexico-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.Mexico-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Mexico-wide
- SafetyTekax is a quiet small town and the usual Yucatán advice applies: normal care at night around the bus terminal, use taxis after dark…
- RestroomsPut paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.Mexico-wide
- Emergency numbers911 All emergencies · 078 Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / 078)
- Sundays & holidaysMost museums and many archaeological sites close on Mondays; banks close on public holidays.Mexico-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMID Mérida Manuel Crescencio Rejón (About 120 km north; ADO or Mayab bus from Mérida, or drive MEX-184 about 90 min).MID Mérida Manuel Crescencio Rejón (About 75 mi north; ADO or Mayab bus from Mérida, or drive MEX-184 about 90 min).
- Getting aroundThe Centro is flat and walkable; a bike makes the ruins and cave road easier.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or a soft drink at the marketM$25–50 (≈ US$2–3)
- Beerbottle in a restaurant / shopM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miLocal taxi in townM$40–80 (≈ US$3–5) (check)
- Metro or bus rideBus terminal restroomM$7 (≈ under US$1)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personMX$250 (≈ US$14)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,100 (≈ US$60)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomMX$2,000 (≈ US$110)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$500 (≈ US$30) · Mid MX$900 (≈ US$50) · High MX$1,600 (≈ US$90)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MID Mérida Manuel Crescencio Rejón (About 120 km north; ADO or Mayab bus from Mérida, or drive MEX-184 about 90 min)MID Mérida Manuel Crescencio Rejón (About 75 mi north; ADO or Mayab bus from Mérida, or drive MEX-184 about 90 min)
Weather and climate
Tekax: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C86°F
17°C63°F
4 rd
Feb
31°C88°F
17°C63°F
3 rd
Mar
34°C93°F
19°C66°F
3 rd
Apr
36°C97°F
21°C70°F
4 rd
May
36°C97°F
22°C72°F
7 rd
Jun
34°C93°F
22°C72°F
13 rd
Jul
33°C91°F
21°C70°F
14 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
21°C70°F
14 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
21°C70°F
16 rd
Oct
31°C88°F
20°C68°F
12 rd
Nov
30°C86°F
18°C64°F
6 rd
Dec
29°C84°F
17°C63°F
4 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The Centro is flat and walkable; a bike makes the ruins and cave road easier. Taxis wait at the plaza and at Calle 52/Calle 53. Combis run scheduled services to nearby villages and to Chacmultun.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Chacmultun ruins
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min each way
Combi or taxi from town, about 6 km southwestCombi or taxi from town, about 3.7 mi southwest
Pink-granite Puuc buildings on hilltops; open daily, small entry fee (check).
Grutas Chocantes
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Taxi or drive on the Kanek road, edge of town
Two cave routes, zipline and a hill lookout; the long route is 7 km and departs in the morning.Two cave routes, zipline and a hill lookout; the long route is 4.3 mi and departs in the morning.
Mérida
goDoor to door: About 2 h
ADO or Mayab bus from the terminal on Calle 57
Hourly departures; about M$60 one way (check).
Uxmal
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus or car via MEX-184 and the Puuc route
Possible as a long day, but better done as a separate Puuc overnight.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centro (around Parque Benito Juárez)
Walk to the plaza, market, church and bus terminal on Calle 57; the practical choice for one night.
La Ermita
South side by the San Diego hermitage and its hill; quieter, a 10–15 min walk from the plaza.
Town edge (Calle 51 / Kanek road)
Modern hotels with pools and parking; you need a taxi or car for the centre.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- M$500–900 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- M$900–1,600 (≈ US$50–90) excl. bed
- High
- M$1,600 (≈ US$90)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × MX$1,100 | MX$1,100 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$900 | MX$1,800 |
| ADO or Mayab bus Mérida–Tekax, both ways2 × MX$120 · check | MX$240 |
| Chacmultun entry2 × MX$80 · check | MX$160 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250 | MX$500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MX$380 |
| Trip total≈ MX$2,090 per person per day, bed included | MX$4,180≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate in pesos; long-distance buses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or a soft drink at the market | M$25–50 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Yucatecan plate (poc chuc, panuchos, salbutes) | M$120–220 (≈ US$7–12) |
| Beer: bottle in a restaurant / shop | M$40–70 (≈ US$3–4) / M$20–30 (≈ US$2) |
| Local taxi in town | M$40–80 (≈ US$3–5) (check) |
| Bus terminal restroom | M$7 (≈ under US$1) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 (≈ US$11–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cave tours leave at set times and the long route is 7 km: turn up early or you lose the day.Cave tours leave at set times and the long route is 4.3 mi: turn up early or you lose the day.
- The stone staircase up the hermitage hill gets slick when wet.
- Some hotels have air conditioning but no hot water: ask before you book.
- Bus times to smaller towns are thin; buy your onward ticket when you arrive.
Emergency numbers
- All emergencies
- 911
- Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / 078)
- 078
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
TekaxTekax de Álvaro Obregón
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies911
- Tourist assistance078
Embassy
No embassy in Tekax; the US consulate and most others are in Mérida (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Mérida TAME → Tekax, ADO Mayab: about M$60 (≈ US$4), about 2 h (check)
- Taxi plaza → Chacmultun: M$100–200 (≈ US$6–11) return, agree the price first (check)
- Drive Mérida → Tekax on MEX-184: about 120 km, about 90 minabout 75 mi, about 90 min
Say or show
- Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
- ¿Dónde está la terminal de autobuses? — Where is the bus terminal? (DON-deh es-TAH lah ter-mee-NAL deh ow-toh-BOO-sehs)
- ¿Hay agua caliente? — Is there hot water? (eye AH-gwah kah-LYEN-teh)
Cave tours and the ruins close in the afternoon: do them first, then the Centro on foot.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tekax. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Mar · avoid Apr–May (hottest), Sep–Oct (wettest) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MID: last bus and taxi fallback from Mérida, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster for the Centro with rescue anchors: plaza, market, church, mural alley.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs for Chacmultun and Grutas Chocantes, and eat pages with last orders.
- Arrival fixtures for the Mérida–Chetumal road so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialADO bus lines
- officialYucatán tourism (Pueblos Mágicos)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Tekax, revision 5006311 (CC BY-SA 4.0)