These Maya Temples Are About to Open for Free in Izamal
Izamal will officially open previously off-limits Maya temples to the public on Dec. 7.
Izamal revamps its infrastructure while seeking investment
Known as “the yellow city,” Izamal is one of the most picturesque communities in Yucatán. But despite its grand Mesoamerican and colonial architecture and undeniable charm, investment in the city has always been rather limited. Though the city receives a decent amount of tourism, the vast majority of visitors spend no more than a few…
Horse collapses from exhaustion in ‘Magical Town’ of Izamal
The collapse of a horse pulling a tourist carriage in Izamal has reignited the debate surrounding animal welfare in Yucatán.
New benches at ancient archaeological site anger Izamal residents
Modern-looking benches installed at the site of ancient Mayan ruins are out of place, some Izamal residents say. The Kinich Kakmó archaeological zone got the new concrete-slab benches as part of a 54-million-peso Urban Improvement Program from the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development. They were apparently approved by INAH, the federal agency charged…
New archaeological discoveries uncovered near Izamal
After a prolonged hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, archaeologists in Yucatán are getting back to work. One of the projects now underway is an archaeological survey at the site of X’baatún in the municipality of Tekal de Venegas, roughly 10 kilometers from Izamal. Work at the site began back in late 2018 but was…
Fire damages Izamal’s famous Kinich restaurant
A short circuit caused a fire that destroyed a large palapa roof at Izamal’s most famous restaurant, Kinich, officials said. Rescue workers this morning responded quickly and doused the flames, saving the rest of the restaurant from worse damage. The downtown landmark, noted prominently in guidebooks and blogs, was named one of Mexico’s best restaurants…
Yucatán governor extends an invitation to the pope
If the pope accepts, it would be only the second visit by a pontiff to this heavily Catholic region.
Japanese artists debuts new mural in Izamal
Japanese artist Shinzaburo Takeda unveiled his most recent mural in Izamal at the Cecidhy Research Institute.
Court order halts deforestation and new Tren Maya construction
Last week a judge in Yucatán issued a ruling which halted any new construction of the Tren Maya project. The ruling only barrs construction requiring further deforestation in the municipalities of Mérida, Chocholá and Izamal. Elsewhere, such as across state lines in Quintana Roo, large crews and heavy machinery continue to work without hindrance. The…
Public transportation between Izamal and Merida becomes scarce
Several bus companies have began to restrict their trips to Merida. The Autobuses Oriente line, for example, which has a terminal in the Historic Center of Izamal, decided to stop operating for the safety of its employees. The company was also suffering economic losses of moving its units without the usual number of riders. At…
Izamal locks down as coronavirus patient there reportedly dies
A day after announcing the city’s first COVID-19 case, Izamal Mayor Fermín Sosa Lugo announced the city’s first COVID-19 fatality. The death of the 45-year-old victim marks three consecutive days of coronavirus fatalities in the state, and all the victims were women. Later Saturday, the state health department announced a 68-year-old man, who struggled with…
For 2nd consecutive day, COVID-19 patient in Yucatan dies
Merida, Yucatan — A 53-year-old woman died after a coronavirus infection, Yucatan health officials announced today. The unidentified patient, Yucatan’s sixth fatality, follows the death of another woman on Thursday. The woman had a history of chronic degenerative diseases. None of the people who lived with the patient have symptoms, but they are monitored by…
Quarantine ignored on the streets of Izamal
Izamal, Yucatan — Before noon on Sunday, open-air markets, supermarkets and shops were filled with shoppers, indicating a break with the stay-at-home warning from the governor. The heart of this Magical Town looked like any other Sunday, despite the coronavirus health emergency, Diario de Yucatan reported. Some went out with children, despite the recommendation that…
An Izamal market stall recipe: ‘Empanaditas’ de San Jose
David Sterling’s followup to “Yucatan” explores all of Mexico, but starts in Yucatan’s famous magic town, Izamal. Here is one interesting dish, which isn’t at all what it first appears. This recipe is republished with permission from “Mercados: Recipes from the Markets of Mexico” (University of Texas Press, 2019). Read about the book here. By…
Trading fountain for giant letters proves problematic in Izamal
The letters that form the name of this Pueblo Mágico in Parque Zamná are showing signs of deterioration after just 10 months.
Canadian couple hands over cache of Mayan artifacts
A Canadian couple living here has released 179 archaeological pieces — from ancient vessels to stone pedestals — to the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
Yucatecan restaurants named among Mexico’s finest
Not all of Yucatán’s best restaurants are in Mérida. Small-town restaurant Kinich was chosen as one of the best 120 in Mexico by the Mexican Culinary Guide.
Mass wedding to overtake convent in Izamal
Izamal’s historic convent is preparing for a mass wedding Friday, when 1,055 couples couples will exchange vows.
Police guard ceremony to outlaw cruel festival
It’s official, written and signed in ink on paper. Now, is the 100-year tradition of Kots Kaal Pato really a thing of the past?
High-tech light show all around Izamal
The holiday season will conclude with new free new “videomapping” shows in the “Magic Town” of Izamal. Nightly shows continue until Saturday, April 2 with an 8:30 p.m. presentation.
Animals to be spared cruel annual tradition
Kots Kaal Pato, a notorious and gruesome annual Yucatecan animal sacrifice in which small animals were beaten to death or decapitated, has been permanently canceled, Humane Society International announced.
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