Hop on board with Va y Ventures, a spirited offshoot of the IWC Explorers Club! We’re discovering our surroundings one route at a time—by Va y Ven bus, IE-Tram, and even the Tren Maya. Join us for scheduled outings full of exploration, connection, and a little adventure around every corner.
Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just curious, we welcome all IWC members and their occasional guests. Here’s how the Va y Ventures program works:
View the Winter Trip Itineraries below. Then choose a trip, click Reserve Here and fill out a short form.
That’s it. We’ll send you an email confirming your reservation and sharing more details about the trip. (Our maximum for each trip is eight women, so please reserve early.)
For more info, contact: Connie Burk – burk.connie@gmail.com or Wendy Gibbs at wendyegibbs@gmail.com.
If you don’t have a bus card yet, no problem. You can use ours for your first trip. (See “How to…” below to get your own card.)
Winter Trip Itineraries
#1— 2-4-2026 (Wednesday) — Casino Life for Bingo
We will walk 3 blocks to the bus stop. We will take bus 73 or 74 to Casino Life at Galerías Mérida Mall. For Bingo – each card is 5 pesos. After 2 hours we will leave to take the bus back to Centro.
Meeting Time & Location: 4:45 pm at Parque de Santa Lucia
Departure Time: 5:15 pm
#2— This trip has been canceled. 2-16-2026 (Monday) — Plaza La Isla and City 32
We will take the 63 from Parque La Plancha, riding to Plaza La Isla for a look around and some shopping. Then we will reboard and stop at the gorgeous City 32, preferably for something scrumptious from their upscale food court or bakery. Finally, we’ll return to Mérida.
Meeting Time & Location: 11 am at Parque La Plancha’s Mercado Gastronómico.
Departure Time: 11:30 am, after coffee or juice and a short discussion
Return Time (estimated): 4 pm.
How to…
Get a general (green) card (12 peso rides) or a senior (yellow) social card (5 peso rides).
Go to the Va y Ven office or to a government kiosk/office at one of Mérida’s plazas (see below). It will cost 30 pesos. After you receive your card, you need to charge it. (See How to Charge/recharge your card.) You can share this card with a friend/partner.
To receive a yellow discount card, bring copies of both sides of your residency and INAPAM cards, and a comprobante (utility receipt in your name). There is no cost for this card. You cannot share it.
* The Va y Ven official office is at Calle 39 #523, Centro (very close to Av. Reforma).
* The office at Mercado de San Benito is up two floors from the underground parking lot that you enter at Calle 54 x 67.
Charge/recharge your card.
You can recharge your card with the Va y Ven app (if you register your card), or OXXO, Dunosusa, Willy’s, Súper Akí and Six beer stores. There are also machines at the Periférico stops and in various places in town.
Ride the bus.
Choose your route, go to the stop, stand under the sign or in line, and flag down the bus.
Use the bright blue machine. Wait until it resets from the rider before you. If you see a big checkmark, wait. Wave your card at the machine until it beeps happily. You can see your balance for a moment, or check it on the app. if you get a loud beep, look at the driver—they’ll usually wave you on.
Sit wherever you like and, if you don’t know the route well, keep Va y Ven or Google Maps open to track your ride. Hint: If you have to stand, spread your feet apart for better balance, and hang onto something.
Press one of the red buttons when you are close to your stop (two in the center, one in front). Even if you press the front button, you need to exit through the middle doors.
Apps and Maps
Using Google Maps to plan a bus trip and to ride the bus