Let’s get this out of the way first — Kanasín does not have the best reputation, and it never has. There is some truth to the claim that Kanasín is not as safe as other cities in Yucatán, but then again, in the safest state in the country, it’s all relative.
But it is also true that during the past few years, Kanasín has begun to experience somewhat of a revival as the city´s infrastructure continues to improve.
Travel between Kanasín and Mérida has never been particularly difficult, but the introduction of the IE-tram has been a game changer, allowing for much faster commutes.
These days, Kanasín residents are also especially proud that they will be hosting Yucatán’s pro baseball team, likely for a season or two in their revamped stadium. At the same time, Mérida’s Kukulcán Álamo is undergoing some major-league renovations.
Despite the improvements, the reinvented stadium in Kanasín will be much smaller than the Kukulcán Álamo, but once the Léones move back to their main field, the city will be left with a much improved sporting complex, which also includes high-end facilities for sports, such as football and basketball.
Also new to the city is the entirely rebuilt market, with space for 109 merchants.
But the market aside, downtown Kanasín feels like one enormous market with stalls selling just about everything.
Several mobile stands also sell fruits and vegetables grown in backyards at very affordable prices. These shops are especially good for buying produce. Customers often extract their seeds and grow more fruit in their backyards.
Though some still think of Kanasín as a pueblo (village), it is actually the fastest-growing municipality in Yucatán and currently has a population of just under 150,000.
In the Yucatecan imagination, Kanasín is most famous for a couple of things, the first of these being that is the birthplace of one of the Peninsula’s favorite fried snacks, the panucho.
The other thing that Kanasín is most famous for is being the birthplace of the beloved children’s character “el Chel de Kanasín.” El Chel, which in Yucatec-Maya means güero or blond. El Chel is a puppet and sidekick of Yucatán’s most revered children’s entertainer, the clown Pepillin, who, along with his other famous creations like “Jorgito,” delighted children in the region for decades until his passing in 2000.
In addition to the city itself, the municipality of Kanasín is large. It is home to the Mérida-Teya Tren Maya station, and several points of interest, including the archaeological site of Xiol.
Though reliable statistics are hard to come by, Kanasín has also begun attracting an ever larger number of people from other states, as well as foreigners, due to its traditional feel and relatively low cost of housing. Two-bedroom homes in Kanasín can still be purchased for under half a million pesos (roughly US$30,000), though higher-end casonas and even haciendas are also on the market.
Kanasín may or may not be for you, but it is worth a visit with an open mind. Just be careful if driving, as the moto-taxis seem to be everywhere. They are especially aggressive and will cut in front of you with no notice at all.
