Hacienda San Ignacio dates to the 19th century during the days of Yucatán’s grand henequen boom.
One of the hacienda’s most distinct features is its enormous neo-Gothic-inspired chapel dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order.
According to legend, the chapel is protected by Saint Ignacio himself, who is said to have been observed in its tower looking towards the ocean and blessing outgoing ships.
The chapel was restored in the 20th century by the Boy Scouts, who set up a villa on the nearby grounds.
Right next to the chapel lay the 200-year-old casona, where the hacendado, or his representative, presumably lived with his family.
San Ignacio’s casona may not be as impressive as others found in Yucatán, but it certainly is charming and, fortunately, has survived the ravages of time fairly well, at least on its exterior.
The largest structure in the hacienda complex is the cuarto de maquina, or machine room, where the processing of the henequen actually took place before export.
Though it’s hard to pinpoint when exactly the hacienda stopped growing and processing henequen, Don Euan, a local man who is said to be in his 80s, says he still remembers the hacienda functioning when he was a teenager.
Though San Ignacio is still a very small community with a population of under 800 people, this is set to change in the near future as large-scale residential developments are now popping up all over the place.
“We like our little town. Nobody came and asked us for permission. We don’t want this to turn into another suburb. There are plenty of those already,” said Don Euan.
Like other nearby communities in the region, San Ignacio also has plenty of open-air cenotes and aguadas that serve as a sanctuary for wildlife, especially during the dry season.
Given its proximity to the coast (about six miles), San Ignacio usually has a pleasant wind running through the community, which its residents say they really appreciate.
If you go
As San Ignacio is located almost halfway between Mérida’s Periferico and the coast, getting there by car is a breeze.
But if you have a good bicycle, it’s possible to make your way to San Ignacio using narrow paths through the vegetation, which is quite enjoyable. Start early to avoid the worst of the sun.