1,440km (900 miles) E of Mexico City; 320km (200 miles) W of Cancún Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatán and has been the dominant city in the region since the Spanish Conquest. The colonial historic center is large but easy to navigate, and there are abundant activities for the visitor. Mérida's nightlife is more varied and representative of the region than Cancún's. People here know how to have a good time, and they seem driven to organize concerts, theatrical productions, art exhibits, and such. In recent years the city has been in the midst of a cultural explosion.