The quiet port town of Progreso is only 30 minutes away from Mérida centro by car or bus. Sit under a thatched palapa, on the clean, unspoiled beach, sip an ice-cold Montejo beer and order a plate of octopus or shrimp sautéed with chiles and garlic. An order comes with appetizers that include Lebanese influenced kibbeh, and a nutty green pepita-salsa.