La Casa del Tio Dach may be advertised as a hostel and a bed and breakfast, but it’s really an exquisitely restored historic house filled with artwork and antiques that just happens to welcome guests. The house was built in 1890 by the Paz Ferraez brothers, who were well-known grocers in Merida, capital the State of Yucatan in Mexico. When the last of the original brothers passed on, the property was handed down to nephews who decided to restore the home to its former glory and convert it to a bed and breakfast.

Historic Hostal La Casa del Tio Dach in Merida

Named in honor of one of the uncles who built the home, La Casa del Tio Dach has five rooms that offer configurations ranging from two and four beds to an eight bed dorm. Each of the sparkling clean rooms has an ensuite bathroom and is furnished with modern, quality furniture and upscale linens. The $120 peso per night rate (less than $10 USD) includes towels, in-room wireless Internet, fan, 24-hour hot water and reception, as well as a delicious continental breakfast of fresh fruit, pound cake, and coffee.

TV with comfortable seating in front lobby

The rooms are lovely but the common areas are fabulous; the owners have filled the B&B with Mayan artifacts, statuary, and paintings by Yucatecan artists such as Manuel Lizama Salazar, Victor Argaez, Fernando Palama Burgos, Oscar Montore, Pedro Espadas in an effort to create a homey feeling for their guests – more than anything they want visitors to feel that La Casa del Tio Dach is their home away from home.

Shared kitchen

The hostel/B&B is located just four blocks from the Zocalo – the main plaza of the city of Merida – and the owners are a wealth of information about free events scheduled each day in and around the plaza. Additionally, because they are art and antique fans the owners well informed about area museums and cultural activities and can arrange for day tours to nearby Mayan ruins such as Uxmal and Chichen Itza. Without a doubt, the owners have accomplished their goal; not only is Tio Dach is more like a second home than a hostel, by the time guests depart they feel like members of an extended family.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut