The Camino Real, the historic road connecting Mérida and Campeche, was more than just a route—it was a lifeline that shaped the economic, political, and cultural fabric of the Yucatán Peninsula. Work on the Camino Real, or Royal Road, began in the 16th century and served as a vital artery for trade, communication, and cultural…
Life moves slowly in Tepakán. This small town between Motul and Izamal keeps alive a Yucatán that feels authentic, far from the influence and rhythms of the city. We visited Tepakán on a Saturday and found it exceptionally quiet. The midday heat drives locals away from public spaces, but in the afternoon, families can be…
1966: A Story of Dzilam de Bravo is the first feature film by Yucatecan director Elián Magaña. The film tells the love story of two young people against the backdrop of the arrival of Inés, a devastating category-five hurricane that hit the Yucatan Peninsula in 1966. But as Elian Magaña told Yucatán Magazine, the story…
In a makeshift art studio behind B&G Atelier, Dave Ortiz sits surrounded by wooden shoe lasts—those wooden foot-shaped forms used by cobblers to make shoes. To most people, they’re simply utilitarian objects. To Ortiz, they’re canvases waiting to be transformed. “I sit with them for a while, and then they tell me what they want…
The Yucatán peninsula’s landscape is characterized by thousands of natural sinkholes known as cenotes, formed when the region’s limestone bedrock collapses to reveal underground freshwater pools. These remarkable geological features—estimated to number over 6,000—form an interconnected aquifer system that has sustained life in the region for millennia. To the Maya civilization, cenotes were not merely…
In her recent newsletter, Amy Jones, a native Texan now living in Yucatán, draws a powerful parallel between Texan pride and “Yucateco” identity. Her perspective offers insight into the current friction between locals and swaggering foreigners in Mérida — and she doesn’t mention politics or tariffs. “If you are in the U.S., you are probably…
The history of feminism is deeply intertwined with Yucatán’s social, political, and cultural evolution, especially since the Mexican Revolution. From the early struggles for women’s suffrage to contemporary movements advocating for gender equality and justice, Mexican feminism has been shaped by the contributions of remarkable individuals and pivotal events. Within this national struggle, the state…
SoHo Galleries is preparing to host a cultural event combining music and visual art. Artist Mauricio Gallardo will present his jazz-inspired exhibition, offering visitors an experience that explores the connection between these two art forms. The exhibition, benefiting Cultura Yucatán A.C., opens 7 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at SoHo Galleries, Calle 60 400 A x…
“Juntos,” a dual exhibition by the creative team of Ebersole and Hughes, will explore identity, history and artistic reinvention through painting and photography. Picture it: It’s the summer of 1989, in the coastal town of Sitges, Spain. A 25-year-old Los Angeles native, clutching a copy of the provocative autobiography Tropic of Cancer. A creative urge takes…
Mexico is home to 68 officially recognized Indigenous languages, spoken by nearly 7 million people, including Mayan and Náhuatl. Yet, despite their historical significance, many of these languages are in decline. Urbanization, globalization, and the dominance of Spanish and English are slowly but surely pushing them to the brink. To preserve Mexico’s rich linguistic heritage,…
I’ve long lost count of how often visitors have asked me about human sacrifice while standing in the sweltering sun at ancient Mesoamerican sites. They want to know why ancient peoples would engage in such practices. After years of fielding these questions, I’ve dedicated myself to understanding the complex reality behind the sensationalized accounts. Let…
Paquita la del Barrio, born Francisca Viveros Barradas, was one of Mexico’s most beloved singers and actresses. She was known for her rancheras and boleros, which often dealt with love, betrayal, and female empowerment themes. As a singer, Paquita’s songs tell stories of women who men have wronged. Her lyrics are often humorous and biting,…
Bullfighting at Plaza de Toros Mérida has come to an abrupt halt, shorting the 2024-25 season by two events. Just days before what would have been the fifth event of the series, Toros Yucatan announced in a statement that they were ending the season due to causas de fuerza mayor. Sunday’s event was set to…
Beekeepers in Valladolid are turning to direct sales at weekend markets as they face a double challenge: low Yucatán honey production from this season’s Tajonal flowering and some of the lowest bulk prices in recent memory. With wholesale prices stagnating at 27-28 pesos per kilogram, producers are discovering that bottling and selling their honey directly…
As the sun sets over Lago Muelle Sur at Parque La Plancha, an unusual wedding procession makes its way down the small dock. The bride and groom, adorned in Tyrannosaurus Rex costumes, waddle arm-in-arm to the strains of the Wedding March. You can tell which one is the bride because she has a tiny veil…
An urban art festival featuring Maya and Spanish rap music was announced by Yucatán’s State Center for Crime Prevention and Citizen Participation (Cepredey) and Sedeculta, the state’s cultural agency. The initiative is part of the United for Life government strategy. The festival will span 10 yet-unnamed communities. The Crea initiative, announced at the Gran Museo…
A metropolis brimming with history and culture, Mexico City holds a secret within its urban sprawl –Biblioteca Vasconcelos. More than a library, Biblioteca Vasconcelos is more like a futuristic haven for book lovers, a place where architecture and literature intertwine. Named after José Vasconcelos, one of Mexico’s most influential philosophers of the 20th century who,…
The music is back after local pressure and social media activism won a swift victory in Izamal’s historic Mercado Municipal. The confrontation began when Izamal’s market director attempted to remove the musician, who has provided the soundtrack for diners and tourists in the market’s bustling food court for years. The official claimed the performer was…
Cozumel’s airport is upgrading its main runway and terminal to accommodate larger aircraft capable of long-haul flights from Europe. The island’s airport was originally not much more than a simple landing strip used by the military — but little by little domestic charter airlines began to fly in from major Mexican cities like Monterrey and…
The José Peón Contreras theater will reopen this year, likely in November, according to Yucatán’s culture ministry. The theater, which opened its doors in 1908, has long been a staple of cultural life in Mérida. It is home to Yucatán’s Symphonic Orchestra and the stage for countless operas, ballet performances, and plays. If the José…
The Merida English Library once again presents its annual Artist Studio Tour, offering art enthusiasts an intimate glimpse into the creative spaces of more than 50 local and international artists. The three-day event, running Feb. 14-16, showcases the diverse artistic community thriving here. Visitors can explore more than 30 studios throughout Mérida, with a concentration…
Nothing beats spending time where the locals like to hang out. Check out this list of 18 hot spots to visit in Mérida… and go hang out like a local.
Ride the World, a three-day celebration of indoor cycling, has drawn 44 elite instructors and hundreds of enthusiasts from every corner of the globe to Mérida. With more than 35 classes set to take place, this event promises an exhilarating collision of athleticism, artistry, and community—spotlighting some of the most inspiring figures in the international…
Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño presented a formal plan to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for a two-phase expansion of the Tren Maya into the Central American nation. The plan’s first phase would involve extending the Tren Maya rail network just 7 km to the border between Mexico and Belize. The second and more ambitious part…
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