The tiny village of Xocén brought Yucatán’s fall arts festival to life with a powerful story about acceptance and identity. More than 30 Maya-speaking actors packed an outdoor theater in Valladolid for the debut of “Juan Balam” to kick off this year’s Otoño Cultural. The play transformed a natural jungle setting into a stage for…
Federal authorities have opened a public comment period on plans to build a tourist service center at Uxmal that would require clearing five acres of forest land near the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site. The National Institute of Anthropology and History plans to construct the Centro de Atención a Turistas y Visitantes Uxmal about one…
A new National Geographic report has documented extensive damage to cenotes across Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula caused by construction of the Maya Train, highlighting deep divisions among scientists and activists over the $30 billion infrastructure project. The investigation, published this week in the magazine’s September issue, chronicles the installation of more than 15,000 steel pillars across…
A Maya Train (Tren Maya) passenger train derailed Tuesday afternoon at Izamal station in Yucatán, disrupting service and raising fresh questions about the controversial railway’s safety record just as neighboring Belize accelerates plans to join the network. Train 304, traveling from Cancún to Mérida, left the tracks around 1:48 PM while entering the station at…
Mexico and Guatemala have officially confirmed plans to extend the Maya Train beyond Mexican borders, with the ambitious rail project set to add approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) of new track through Central America. The announcement came after talks between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, building on discussions that began under…
State officials unveiled a sweeping tourism initiative in Mexico City: a “Santuario Maya” (Maya Sanctuary) campaign designed to attract more visitors to Yucatán and encourage longer stays. The campaign moves beyond promoting individual attractions to position Yucatán as a comprehensive destination offering cultural immersion, natural wonders, and authentic experiences. “This campaign is something more than…
Canadian students in Yucatán study Maya language and culture through an innovative three-week exchange program connecting indigenous communities across North America. The Global Maya Language and Culture Seminar brings students from the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It joins several other North American university programs taking place in the region…
The multi-generational conflict between the Mayan cities of Tikal and Calakmul, referred to as the “Star Wars,” was a series of intense political and military struggles during the later centuries of the Classic Period (250–900 CE). These wars were not just between Calakmul and Tikal but involved a network of alliances and proxy conflicts with…
Technology is constantly evolving — but some of its biggest changes are happening quietly in the background. From digital payments to remote healthcare, new tools are transforming how we work, play, and connect without many of us realizing it. Even something as familiar as online entertainment is shifting, with more people turning to platforms that…
Loché’s history is deeply intertwined with the ancient Maya civilization. The comisaría (administrative subdivision) of Panabá sits atop layers of Maya ruins. Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have uncovered numerous ceramic artifacts and three burial sites containing skeletal remains dating between 300 BCE and 250 CE. These findings are interesting…
At a forum held in Chacsinkín, testimony wasn’t just emotional — it were backed by hard data on Yucatán bees.
Tourism officials brought YouTube superstar Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, to Yucatán. And yes, he delivered a ton of media attention following his recent expedition to Mexico’s ancient Maya ruins. With that attention has come substantial backlash, from ordinary citizens all the way to the presidential palace. The May 10 video, “I Explored 2,000…
The Maya Community Center initiative began with a simple vision of bringing nutritious meals to families in need. What started as a modest community kitchen project quickly blossomed into a thriving hub of activity in Cholul. The center, located on Calle 21 behind the Cholul Municipal Palace, established itself as the central point for food…
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…
The long-running conflict over the Mayaland Hotel within the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá has led to serious allegations of corruption, legal irregularities, and abuse of authority. The dispute began in 2020 when hotel owner, entrepreneur Fernando Barbachano Herrero, agreed to sell the Mayaland hotel to businessman Rodolfo Rosas Moya for nearly US$20 million. According…
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, while inaugurating Jaguar Park and the Museum of the Eastern Coast in Tulum urged the public and authorities to protect the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. He emphasized the importance of preserving nature, citing experiences of watching turtles, including loggerheads, nesting on the beaches. He also stressed the need…
After years of restoration, the Puuc region is looking more glorious than ever.
Mérida’s Animaya Zoo has begun offering safari-like tours in a bid to increase the number of visitors.
There is no denying the idea of the Maya Train is alluring, but will it every truly be a reality?
A trilateral commission established by the U.S., Mexico and Canada has recommended opening an investigation into the Maya Train. Environmentalists filed a complaint saying the Maya Train project threatens jungles and cenotes, according to the Associated Press. The cenotes have also yielded some of the oldest human remains found in North America. The train is…
INAH announced the discovery of several previously unknown structures and a ceremonial urn depicting the deity K’awill
Our most popular stories and some observations on the year.
The federal agency in charge of protecting Mexico’s cultural heritage strongly denied reports that it was allowing the Mayan Train project to destroy underground archaeological sites.
Environmentalists are expressing concern over plans to run tracks for the Mayan Train above caves and cenotes in Quintana Roo.
That’s all for now
That’s all for now