Site visits, excursions, activities and guest lectures
The Global Good in Mérida program will include a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular site visits, excursions, activities and guest lectures, such as:
- Bike tour through Paseo de Montejo, Mérida's main boulevard named to honor Francisco de Montejo, Yucatan’s conqueror and founder of the city. En route, you will observe buildings and monuments which speak about the colonial past of Mérida.
- Walking tour of the historic city center, providing historical context for your course
- Day trip to Chichén Itzá, the renowned Mayan archaeological site, and Yodkzonot cenote where you will participate in a Mayan/Yucatecan cooking class and learn to prepare regional dishes
- Day trip to Hacienda Sotuta de Peón to explore the 19th century hacienda, learn about its historical, cultural and economic importance, and experience the process for producing henequen fiber.
- Day trip to Valladolid and Izamal to visit important colonial era convents and learn about the process of evangelization and the spread of Catholic religion in Yucatan.
- Day trip to the archaeological site of Uxmal and the Museum of Chocolate
- Overnight excursion to visit the Mayan community of Yaxunah, located within two hours of Mérida. While there, you will participate in a cultural engagement activity, meet with a local youth group, and interview Mayan peers about their lives and experiences.
- Mayan archaeoastronomy activity including a talk on archaeoastronomy followed by stargazing at a private ecological park with archaeological ruins called Sihunchén. Activity led by a local archaeologist who specializes in the vision of the sky by the Yucatecan Maya from both pre-hispanic and contemporary points of view.
- Salsa dance lesson
Activities are subject to change.