Puuc Route (full day trip)
The Puuc Route is located in the southwestern part of the Yucatan below Merida. It consists of a number of ruins: Kabah, Sayil, Labná and the famous Uxmal. The Puuc style is recognizable by its sophisticated architecture made up of clean lines, rounded walls, ornate stone frescoes with intricate patterns, rows of columns and high vaulted arches. Many of the buildings are flat, low elongated built on artificial platforms and laid out in quadrangles. They are perhaps the most elegant ruins in the Maya world.
Loltun (stone flower)
Seven kilometres south of Oxcutzcab, and about 66 kilometres south of Hacienda Temozon are the Loltun Caves. These are the largest known caverns in Yucatan. In addition to being a fabulous natural phenomenon, Loltun is an important archaeological site. These caves contain evidence of humans’ earliest presence in Yucatan. Researchers have found a collection of bones belonging to extinct mammals, including mammoths, dated from 9000 - 7500 BC. Early pre classic ceramics (2000 - 1250 B .C.) have also been discovered here. The most important archaeological find is the relief called "the Warrior", which is just outside the entrance. Researchers believe that it was carved in the Izapan style of Kaminaljuyu, the enormous pre classic site near Guatemala City.
Labna (abandoned house)
Once a city of some 1,500 to 2,500 people, inhabited between 750 to 1,000 Ad. Presently 4 buildings are in a restored state. The palace at this site has 70 "Chultunes" (water cisterns) that are not visible. There is also a artistically intricate arch at this site.
X-Lapak (unglued walls)
A site of some 14 mounds and 3 somewhat restored pyramids. This site and the following are less restored and manicured so you can see how this sites were found. Notice the many carved stones just laying around on the ground.
Sayil (the place of the red ants)
This site is home to the interesting palace that included 90 bedrooms for some 350 people… From the top level of the palace you can see the church at Santa Elena and across the way a tiny ruin on the side of a mountain, which is called "The nine masks". Check out the huge stellae. Dating from 800 - 1,000 Ad.
Kabah (man with strong and powerful hands)
Kabah is famous for its "Palace of Chaac Masks" (The rain god). Also here is the arch that is thought to be the center of the city and the entrance to the "sac-be" (white road Mayan highway) that went to Uxmal.
Uxmal (thrice built)
Located 80 kilometres south of Merida in a range of low hills covered with brush, Uxmal is the largest Maya city of the Puuc region. The city is believed to have been the hub of a district that includes the sites of Kabah, Sayil, Labna, and Xlapak. These sites, largely restored, experienced their golden years between AD 800 - 1000. The characteristics of the Puuc architecture are the thin squares of limestone veneer, decorated cornices, boot-shaped vault stones, rows of attached half columns, and upper facades heavily decorated with stone mosaics. The city is characterized by its quadrangles in which large, elongated, multi roomed buildings orm a closed complex around a square courtyard. The nunnery quadrangle is considered the most outstanding example of Puuc architecture in the Maya world.
Little is known of the origins and development of this important political, economic and learning centre. Although the Maya word Uxmal means "Thrice Built", there is strong evidence that it has been rebuilt 5 times.
Light & sound show schedule: Winter 19hrs., Summer 20hrs.
Oxkintoc - Calcehtok (half day trip)
Calcehtok Caves
The Calcehtok caverns also known as "Aktun Spukil", are considered along with the Lol-tun caverns, among the biggest in the Yucatan Peninsula and have a very complicated tunnels system. The meaning of this word derives from the mayan "cal" (neck), "ceh" (deer) and "tok" (flint). It got this name in 1875 when a sculpted stone with the form of a deer was discovered in an open well of the area that lead into it.
The main access to the entrance is a 3 Km. pavimented road, the descent is made on an iron ladder. Once into the main chamber, four different tours can be made, the most interesting has 2 Km. of galleries; natural formations called "the crocodile", "the horse", "the tongue", "the mommy", and "the divine face" can be seen in this largest gallery called cave #4. Abundance of pre-hispanic materials is found in all the cavern; intact vessels, and unexplored chambers are still waiting to be discovered to add more knowledge of the Mayan culture. Arqueologists have found bones of deer and from other animals, ceramics, quartzite hammers, arrowheads, human graves, etc. some vessels that were used by the mayans to collect the filtered water of the ceilings are completely petrified. Into the first two chambers one can watch a kind of small fences as stockades that the mayan rebels used during the "Guerra de Castas" rebellion.
It is not advisable to get into these caverns alone, you may ask the help of the "Cuy family" that offer an expertise touring service into the caves, they live downtown the village.
A big complex of more than 30 caves suspected to be communicated exists in the surroundings, caution is recommended.
Oxkintok
One of the oldest cities in Yucatan, stelas and inscriptions found here have provided valuable information on the Mayan culture. Its architecture is representative of the splendid Puuc style. This arqueological site is located at 5 Km. southeast of Maxcanu village. Its arquitecture belongs the "early puuc" style. It lists four arquitectural groups called Ah-Canul, May, Satunsat and Dzib.
Ah-Canul group: Make stand out the following buildings: The Chi'Ich palace, which belongs the puuc period; this could be deduced for the characteristic type of dome and the ornamentation of mosaic stone that upgrade the west facade. The devils palace, called this way by people of the area due to a found character sculpted in a monolithic column; it's a small building of 3 rooms.
The May group: Stands out the structure May-6, which is a small palace type building. Its main characteristic is the external ornamentation in the small pillars and stone drums in ring form.
The Satunsat group: The called structure labyrinth or "satunsat" is a remarkable sample of the variety of the mayan architecture; this building produces a very pleasant visual impression.
The Dzib group: The less known.
Celestun ("painted stone") & Chunchucmil (half day trip)
Hacienda Chunchucmil
Only 15 km from our Hacienda Santa Rosa. On the way you pass the old haciendas in ruins Santo Domingo and Kochol. At the end of the XVIII century several cattle ranches were founded, among them that of Chunchucmil, overcoming a prehispanic establishment of the same name. Passing times and for inheritance in 1872 the property went into hands of Mr. Rafael Peon Losa who founded the Sisal hacienda. Later the hacienda was fractioned and the annexed Hacienda Coahuila is formed. At the beginning of the century, after a resonant visit of the then president Porfirio Díaz, the Hacienda is inherited by Peon's Losa son, to Mr. Rafael Peon Aranda. Afterwards Mr. Enrique Manero took over and sold it to the family Villanueva that in turn sold it to the society of Hunt and Tourism. The group of the Hacienda is organized around an open space that accesses the architectural group of the Sisal time integrated by the main house, the chapel, the school, the shop and the rope shop. They prevail the expression in all these buildings and the symmetrical outlines; the clear ordination of the buildings also indicates a will of design of the group.
When you stop at this beautiful Hacienda, please ask for Juventino who will be pleased to show you the Main house with its original tiles. If you visit us between February and September do not miss the opportunity to chat and make a tour with the archaeologists who work in the Archaeological Area of Chunchucmil.
Celestun
This fishing community is located 95 kilometers west of Merida, towards the western tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. It is a picturesque coastal traffic port, with a revolving reflector lighthouse, 12 meters high, signaling 4 intermittent flashes. Its inhabitants, still preserve the traditions and folklore of the Mayan fisher folk. Their activities consist out of fishing (octopus, grouper, dogfish and king crab), salt extraction and agriculture (corn and citric).
The "Ría de Celestún", as the estuary is locally called, is 22.5 Km. long and has an average width of 1.25 Km. It displays an exceptional landscape created by the unusual combination of natural resources, flora and fauna that constitute an ecosystem representative of the dry tropics. Its shape is rectangular and stretches out from northeast to southwest. The communication with the Gulf of Mexico is through a narrow mouth, 0.46 Km. wide, in the farthest southern part of the lagoon. Main wintering area for greater flamingos, nesting beaches for endangered sea turtles, endemic plants and birds in coastal dune scrubs; estuary "nurseries" for countless fish and marine species; highly productive mangrove communities; two endangered crocodile species; migrant and wintering waterbirds, shorebirds and songbirds.
Over 300 bird species can be found in Celestun's Special Biosphere Reserve: cardinals, orioles, motmots, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, flycatchers, kingfishers, cormorants, magnificent frigate birds, herons, egrets, white ibises, wood storks, ospreys, hawks, vultures, sandpipers, roadrunners, owls, pelicans, etc.
There are some endemic birds such as the Yucatan Wren, the Black-throated Bobwhite and the Mexican Sheartail Hummingbird. Celestun is considered the fourth largest wintering ground for ducks in the Gulf region. In winter you're likely to observe over 13 migrant duck species. But surely the most popular bird and the most sought after is the Pink Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).
Visit to the State of Campeche (full day trip)
Becal
Only 25 km from Santa Rosa. It is famous because there the fine palm hats are elaborated, well-known as" panamás" or" Jipis". The jipi is the fiber of a very delicate dwarf palm. The industry of the palm hat began in the middle of the XIX century by the family García, and now the whole town is devoted to this handcraft. To conserve the palm flexible to be processed a warm and humid climate is needed. Almost all the houses of the town have in the patio caves where the humidity and the heat are constant. There almost all the members of the family gather to knit the famous hats. The dwarf palm of which the ribbons are taken out to knit is called guano.
Calkini
We recommend you to visit the old Open Chapel, rebuild and that keeps interesting features of the cloister that was the temple and Franciscan monastery, built between 1555 and 1561 dedicated to San Luis of Tolosa. Its characteristic ornamental are not common in the old religious buildings of this area. In May they celebrate the parties of San Isidro.
The city has a bank and ATM machine.
Campeche
115 km from Santa Rosa. Founded 1540 by Francisco of Montejo, it is the oldest Spanish city in the peninsula of Yucatan and was the only export port. Since 1999 the UNESCO declared it World Heritage and it is really a colonial jewel. Located in a flat coast open to the sea, Campeche was exposed to the attacks of the adventurers of the seas which could enter the city from the port or the fields. Surrounded of walls of 8 m of height, protected by bastions and coastal batteries, it was locked in a rigid shell of stone that, starting from the XIX century opened up to allow the city to extend freely. Facing the old perimeter wide lands have been won from the sea and the modern constructions make forget the glorious times. No harbour is left. We recommend you to visit the historical center where you find the Cathedral, the churches of Guadalupe, San Francisco, San Román and of Jesus. Other works of historical importance are the Mercedes' Bridge, the "Puerta del Mar" (Door of Sea), the "Puerta de Tierra" (Door of Earth), the theater Francisco of Paula y Toro. The city also has the museums of the Mayan Statues, the Historical Room of the Fortifications, that of the Crafts, the Regional one and the Botanical garden Xmuch-Haltún. The Southern Fort San Miguel acted as masthead in the hills during the XVIII century and do not miss to visit its beautiful Mayan Museum inside. Further down south the beaches of Campeche are a delight for the visitors. Important arqueological zones are Edzna, Calakmul, Becan, Chicana y Xpujil worthy representatives of the early classic period of the Mayans.
From the Southern Fort San Miguel on the way to Edzna it is only 20 minutes to the Hacienda Uayamon, where you can enjoy the excellent restaurant and with advanced reservation the pool.
Convent’s Route (full day trip)
The convent route is a trip where you can meet with the heart and the roots of Yucatan. Since the arrival of the Franciscan priests in 1524 many of the indigenous buildings were destroyed in order to build on top of them convents or catholic constructions, these was a common symbol of the triumph over Mayan beliefs.
Muna (new water)
Muna is a small town on the road to the Puuc sites (Uxmal is just a few miles to the south). The 16th century Franciscan monastery, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, stands in the large plaza and, like most Yucatecan monasteries, is partly preserved. The church square has been transformed into a public square. The monastery and church were enlarged in the 17th century and other elements added. The furniture and altars were destroyed in 1915.
Tikul
Referred to as the Pearl of the South, this bustling city-town is located 100 kilometers south of Merida. Tikul produces all the wonderful red clay planter pots that you see in the area. It is also known for the fine leather shoes designed and made here in town. Most of these businesses-clay and shoes- are home based workshops where you will find the entire family working.
Oxkutzcab (Place of the Ramon, Tabacco and Honey)
Was founded by a group of Maya Xiu and named after St. Francis of Assisi, the church was built between 1581 and 1699 with a convent beside it. The Franciscan coat-of-arms is carved on the central arch in the facade, at the level of the bell towers.
Mani (Everything ended)
There is a church and a convent on Mani. The first temple was raised in 1547 and in 1559 was built over on stone. The greatest importance of Mani in history is on July 12th, 1562 when Friar Diego de Landa settled a rule of faith against Mayan chiefs. He tortured, humiliated and maimed hundreds of the Maya, burned and destroyed priceless Mayan manuscripts and codices. These codices, the first books believed to have been produced in North America, were hand lettered on a type of bark that had been carefully worked until it was thin and pliable. For this reason, little is known today of Mayan history.
Tipikal (Place where they multiplied or stayed to live)
On Tipikal it's found the church dedicated to the Virgin of Magdalene, its construction is placed on the second half of the XVI century.
Teabo (There where Ek lives)
The temple of Saint Peter the Apostle was built here in Teabo between 1664 and 1696. The convent was established in 1607, which in time marked the beginning of the temple construction. This 17th century bascilican church was built along similar lines to the churches of Oxkutzcab and Tekax. The nave is 60 yards long and 22 yards wide. Frescos recently discovered in the sacristy are clearly of European inspiration and are among the most beautiful found anywhere in Yucatan. The cloister, which like most Yucatecan colonial buildings, was part of a complicated network of massive structures. Fragments of frescos on these structures have survived the eroding effects of the weather.
Chumayel (Mayan trunk or base)
The sacred book of the Mayas, "Chilam Balam" was first found on Chumayel. The temple and convent are believed to be built on the XVI century and are dedicated to the Virgin of Conception.
Mama (Where there is no water)
You can also visit the church of the Ascension on Mama. Built on the XVII century, its facade distinguishes from the rest of the temple by its marvelous Mayan handwork on the stones. The church has a display of paintings and saints on each wall. It has room for five bells and the convent's inner patio contains the remains of four sundials.
Mayapan
This important archaeological site (Mayapan was the last Maya capital) is in the process of being restored. Kukulcan II of Chichen Itza founded Mayapan between 1263 and 1283 AD. After his death an aggressive family named the Cocoom seized power and used Mayapan as a base to subjugate northern Yucatan. They succeeded through wars using by Tabascan mercenaries and intermarrying with other powerful families.
The Cocoom ruled for 250 years until 1441 - 1461 AD when an upstart Uxmal based family named Xiu rebelled and slaughtered the Cocoom.
Tekit (Place where there were rubber trees)
On Tekit you can visit the church of Saint Anthony of Padua, built in 1591, the convent next door has a collection of paintings from the XVI century.
Tecoh (Place of the puma)
Tecoh's the place where the temple of the Candelaria is found. The temple was built in 1751 and is dedicated to the Virgin of the Ascension. This temple is also built on top of a Mayan pyramid.
Acanceh (deer moan)
The main attraction here is "the square of the three cultures" which brings together the pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary eras. In Acanceh it's found the chapel and convent of the Virgin of Guadalupe, both from the XVI century. The 17th century facade has an entrance with twisted columns and an entablature at the dividing point between two parts. Above the entrance, the chancel window is surmounted by a curved pediment. Next to the church are the ruins of a pyramid with four tiers and a central staircase (above) and, about 300 yards further on, the ruins of another, monumental pyramid. The facade of the so-called "Stucco Palace" is decorated with an extremely rare, Late Classic cosmological composition whose main figures are symbolic animals.
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