Your 2025 Guide to Yucatán’s (Many) Video Mapping Shows, Guía de Video Mappings de Yucatán
Mérida
Diálogos del Conquistador
In the heart of Mérida, every Wednesday night at 8:30 pm, the Casa Montejo Museum invites you to witness a fascinating show that brings to life the encounter between two worlds: 'Encuentro con Francisco de Montejo: Diálogos del Conquistador (Encounter with Francisco de Montejo: Dialogues of the Conquistador)”.
This event is not just a video mapping, although that part is definitely eye-catching. The show lasts a total of 30 minutes and consists of three parts.
First, there’s a video mapping on the façade of the Casa Montejo Museum. This segment meticulously narrates the origin and explains the architectural details of the building. In this section, you'll discover the full history of the Montejo house, while enjoying a family-friendly audiovisual show.
The second part features a theatrical representation of a fictional encounter between Francisco de Montejo and a Maya indigenous person. This story involves dialogue and debate about the belonging of both peoples in the Mayab region; it also touches on points regarding the founding of the city of Mérida and the future of both civilizations, which became intertwined in the integration process we know as mestizaje. It's important to note that all dialogues and narration are in Spanish, so foreign visitors may have difficulties understanding the events in these first two parts of the show.
Finally, the show ends with a regional dance performed by eight members of Ballet Folklórico del Ayuntamiento de Mérida, who wear stunning and authentic traditional costumes.
By the end of the show, you will have enjoyed a unique experience that connects the history, culture, and origins of Mérida. Access to “Diálogos del Conquistador” is free, so no pre-registration is required. However, if you want to secure a good spot, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early to claim it, as the event tends to fill up quickly and seating is limited. Also, keep in mind that the entire show takes place outdoors, so if it rains, it will be postponed until the following week.
Don't miss the chance to be part of this free event. See you there! —G.N.
“Diálogos del Conquistador” video mapping
Museo Casa Montejo
Calle 62 x 60 y 62, Centro
Wednesday, 8:30 pm
Free event
Isla de Luz
If you have ever walked along Paseo de Montejo, you have surely seen Monumento a la Patria, a large circular structure located at the center of a prominent roundabout. It is one of the most iconic sites in Mérida, and now it’s even more captivating thanks to a light show. Every Friday night at 8 pm, the video mapping known as “Isla de Luz (Island of Light)” brings the intricate carvings of the monument to life. From the sidewalk, you can enjoy this artistic projection while listening to regional music played through speakers installed in the median strip. To complete the experience, treat yourself to a delicious marquesita, a traditional Yucatecan dessert that you can buy from a stand on the corner.
The video mapping was designed by artist Luis Ramírez and serves as a visual complement that highlights the historical narrative already present in the monument's engravings. Additionally, there is a guard who assists visitors in safely crossing the roundabout to get a closer look at the monument. The 360-degree façade is adorned with figures that depict significant moments in México's history, such as the beginning of the Mexican Independence and Revolution. The video mapping illuminates only the southern façade, as the northern façade is reserved for special dates and events. However, it's worth taking the time to walk around the monument and appreciate the engravings from different angles, as each façade is full of historical details.
Through light, color, and music, the video mapping not only enriches the visual experience but also offers a deeper appreciation of the rich history and culture depicted in the monument. It’s completely free, so don’t miss it on your next Friday night in Mérida! —M.S.
Video mapping “Isla de Luz”
Monumento a la Patria
Paseo de Montejo x Av. Rómulo Rozo
Fridays, 8 pm
Free event
La Peni
La Peni experience at Parque de la Paz boasts Yucatán’s first and so far only interactive video mapping experience. Located on Avenida Itzáes, in Mérida’s Centro, the projection appears on the façade of the ‘La Peni’ building, which used to serve as the city’s prison (Penitenciaría Juárez) and is now a government building. The extensive music and light show takes place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, at 7, 8, and 9 pm, and lasts one hour.
Visitors interact with the projection in a variety of ways using smartphones. In the opening part of the show, visitors scan QR codes from the projection in order to “sow seeds”, creating images of Yucatán’s most iconic wildlife, including flamingos, opossums, lizards, and many other native birds. Important aspects of Yucatecan culture and history are integrated into the game, with options such as marquesitas and henequén as available textures for the background of the animal images that you, the visitor, get to create.
In another section of the show, visitors must use the flashlight on their phones to reveal hidden famous faces important in the history of México and Yucatán. Later, there is the option to take and project selfies onto the building. At each end of the façade, two portals allow visitors to play and create shapes with the four elements projected in front of them. In reference to the asteroid that hit Chicxulub sixty-six million years ago, on two large screens visitors can use the touchscreen to bring to life a meteor shower which then becomes part of the video mapping in front of them.
As seems fitting for its name, Parque de la Paz (Park of Peace) itself has a very peaceful and family-friendly vibe with benches, a small central fountain, and the hallmark of any Yucatecan park, a marquesita stand.
For young families or visitors exploring Mérida’s Centro on a weekend, the La Peni video mapping is a fun pre or post-dinner option to learn a little about the history, culture, and wildlife of Yucatán in an interactive way, offering an experience that is more hands-on than other video mapping offerings in the state. —K.B.
“La Peni” Immersive Experience
Parque de la Paz
Av. Itzáes x calle 59, Centro
Thu. - Sun., 7, 8 y 9 pm
Free event
Beyond Mérida
Uxmal’s video mapping: Ecos de Uxmal
Uxmal is truly a gem. The exquisiteness of its architecture, the unique oval base of the Pyramid of the Magician, and the incredible views from the Great Pyramid and the Governor’s Palace are just the beginning of what you can experience. Behind this beauty lies the careful rehabilitation work led by the Director of the Archaeological Zone, Archaeologist José Huchín Herrera, who has supervised the authentic restoration of the buildings using construction techniques passed down through generations among the Maya inhabitants of the region, who have also been the ones to carry it out.
The video mapping show “Ecos de Uxmal (Echoes of Uxmal)” truly does justice to this archaeological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ecos de Uxmal includes a nighttime visit that ingeniously combines architecture, history, and legend.
The journey begins at the Pyramid of the Magician, which comes to life illuminated under the stars, gaining surprising depth when the show starts. It then offers a glimpse into the Maya worldview (represented by an imposing ceiba tree) and the lifestyle of the ancient inhabitants at the Temple of the Columns. The fourth stop, at the Ball Game, explains both the rules and the various contexts in which it was played.
In the Quadrangle of the Nuns, the projection of the legend of the Dwarf of Uxmal astonishes with its ability to use the walls as a blank screen while simultaneously creating a three-dimensional space that brings the story to life. It is so monumental that the best way to fully enjoy it is to step back as far as possible from it. The closer you are to the northern building, the better.
Ecos de Uxmal is an excellent excuse to discover and rediscover the beauty of the Puuc jewel. Those who have never been will surely be amazed. Those who have will fall in love again. And those who already held a special place in their hearts for this site will be excited to see it showcased once more in all the splendor it deserves. Whatever your case may be, you won't regret experiencing it.
To make the most of Ecos de Uxmall, we suggest coming equipped with comfortable shoes, insect repellent, and a fully charged phone to use as a flashlight to avoid tripping in the dark. Flash photography is not allowed at any time during the tour. —A.N.
“Ecos de Uxmal” video mapping
Archaeological site of Uxmal
Tue. - Wed., Fri. - Sun., 7:30 and 8:15 pm
Check available dates on the official website
Chichén Itzá
If you need yet another reason to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá has one that you can’t miss. As night falls, this site transforms with its video mapping show “Noches de Kukulkán (Nights of Kukulkán)”, an experience that connects you with the essence of Maya culture and worldview. This nighttime event merges the grandeur of ancient Maya structures with visual and sound technology, revealing details that come to life before your eyes.
The experience kicks off at 7 pm, when you can enter the site for a free nighttime stroll where El Castillo, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Grand Ball Court are illuminated in vibrant colors that highlight their architectural details. This evening walk is a great way to ease into the experience since Chichén Itzá has a whole different feel after dark. With the usual daytime crowds gone, the site feels even more powerful, so be prepared to feel a unique vibe.
The highlight of the night arrives with the half-hour video mapping projected onto the Castle. From chairs set up in front of the pyramid, you can enjoy a narration (in Spanish) that explores themes of Maya worldview and mythology, while giving a glimpse into the history of this archaeological site. The projection brings Kukulkán, the feathered serpent, to life, reflecting the Maya’s deep connection to the universe and nature. The show is not only visually stunning but also connects you with the mystical essence of this World Heritage site.
You have several options to purchase your ticket for this show. You can buy them directly at Chichén Itzá starting at 1:30 pm, at Pasaje Picheta in Mérida’s Centro, or online through the website www.nochesdekukulkan.com. Performances take place from Wednesday to Sunday, with prices of $735 pesos from Wednesday to Saturday and $335 pesos on Sundays for national visitors.
Noches de Kukulkán is a special opportunity to see Chichén Itzá from a different perspective: an intimate encounter with its history that will stay with you long after you leave the site. —S.A.
“Noches de Kukulkán” video mapping
Archaeological site of Chichén Itzá
Wed. - Sun., 7 pm
Check available dates on the official website
Izamal
If you find yourself in the Yellow City, the Magical Town of Izamal, over a weekend (Thursday to Sunday), you might want to spend some time exploring its moving video mapping experience, called “Senderos de Luz (Paths of Light)”. This experience starts at Parque de los Cañones and follows a relaxed route to the former Convent of San Antonio de Padua. At each of the five stops, a façade of the city is illuminated with motifs that refer to some aspect of its history and culture; between stops, a local guide provides context and answers participants' questions.
A truly outstanding aspect of the experience is a visit to Museo Comunitario Itzmal Kauil, which features a miniature fair created by Don Guadalupe Santos Cortés. Although the stop is brief, it offers a wonderful display of folk art and ingenuity, serving as a loving tribute to the fairs that have been part of Yucatecan and Mexican culture for decades. Admission is free, but Don Guadalupe, the artisan behind the museum, accepts tips to help with its maintenance.
The first five stops of the Izamal video mapping along the city's streets are free; an admission fee is charged upon entering the sixth and final stop, the Convent.
The “Senderos de Luz” video mapping is available only in Spanish; wearing comfortable shoes for walking and using insect repellent is recommended. There are no seats during the projections, but you can sit on the street. The total duration of the video mapping largely depends on the group's walking pace, but expect it to last anywhere between 50 and 75 minutes. —A.N
“Senderos de Luz” video mapping
Parque de los Cañones
Calle 31 x 40, Izamal
Thu. - Sun., 8 pm
Noches de la Heroica Valladolid
Judging by its quiet streets and friendly people, it seems impossible to think that the Yucatecan city and Magical Town of Valladolid has been the scene of some of the bloodiest passages in the history of the Península. But it has, more than once.
That is why Valladolid is nicknamed “the heroic,” and it’s the thematic thread of the video mapping projected on the façade of the Convent of Saint Bernardino of Siena in the Sisal barrio. Starting with the foundation of the city and then the convent, moving through the Maya Social War (better known as Guerra de Castas) and the First Spark of the Mexican Revolution, the history comes to life on the walls of the imposing convent.
The video mapping “Noches de la Heroica Valladolid (Nights of the Heroic Valladolid)” can’t be described in much more detail without giving away spoilers about its content. However, let me tell you that this show is one of the largest in Yucatán and remains free of charge. It’s also one of the few that is first broadcast in Spanish and then entirely in English.
To make the most of your visit to Noches de la Heroica Valladolid, it’s a good idea to arrive early and find a good place to sit; the projection lasts nearly 20 minutes (in each language). Additionally, the park in the Sisal barrio, in front of the Convent, is spacious and pleasant to stroll through, especially if you’re traveling with children. Around the area, there are several cafes and restaurants, as well as carts where you’ll find traditional snacks like tamales, marquesitas, elotes, and esquites, among others.
Round out your visit with a walk along Calzada de los Frailes, a charming cobblestone street that features a multitude of establishments that will surely catch your attention. Walk carefully, though: while it may look like it, Calzada de los Frailes is not exclusively pedestrian. —A.N.
“Noches de la Heroica Valladolid” video mapping
Former convent of Saint Bernardino of Siena
Tue. - Sun., 9 pm
Free event
By Sara Alba, Kate Buckle, Gonzalo N. González, Alicia Navarrete, Monica Starling.
Photography by Arturo Sanchez, Gonzalo N. González, Maggie Rosado, Olivia Camarena, Mérida es Cultura, Visit Mérida MX and Yucatán Today, for its use in Yucatán Today.
First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no. 444, in December 2024.
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