Yucatán’s Old Henequén Railway Becomes a Hacienda Trail

Camino del Mayab connects living vestiges of Yucatán's heritage

The old henequén railway routes that once transported green gold from Yucatán’s haciendas to Mérida today serve a new purpose. Today, hikers traverse these historic paths on the Camino del Mayab, a 130-kilometer (81-mile) Hacienda Trail connecting 17 communities.

“The nucleus of the community used to be the factory that was the hacienda,” explains Andrés Gutiérrez, co-founder of Eco Guerreros, the cooperative behind the trail. “It was the space of work for the people.” Some residents still remember working in these haciendas as teenagers, creating a living link to an era that ended only seven decades ago.

A New Generation Preserves Rural Heritage

Gutiérrez was just 18 when he helped launch the project nine years ago alongside his brother, friends, and family. Despite growing up in urban Mérida, the young team felt drawn to preserve the rural Maya territory and create sustainable opportunities for communities throughout the region. “The culture is there, so it’s not something we’re going to rescue,” Gutiérrez emphasizes. “The idea is to promote it.”

The trail follows the former railway corridors that connected haciendas to Mérida during the henequén boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These routes, once vital arteries of Yucatán’s economy, now offer hikers a journey through layers of history—from pre-Hispanic Maya settlements to colonial-era haciendas and the industrial infrastructure that transformed the region.

A Trail of Contrasts

The haciendas along the trail exist in varying states. Some, like Hacienda Yaxcopoil, remain unrestored but accessible, with caretakers allowing visitors to explore the grounds where the community church still stands. Others, such as Hacienda Yunkú, have been transformed into boutique hotels offering pools, cenotes, and overnight stays. A few remain firmly closed, their owners protective of private property despite the cooperative’s trail promotion.

Each hacienda represents a different chapter in the region’s story. The trail passes through communities where residents maintain traditional practices—beekeeping, milpa agriculture, and handicrafts—while adapting to new economic opportunities through sustainable tourism. This blend of preservation and innovation reflects the cooperative’s broader vision for the region.

Conservation Meets Community

What makes the Camino del Mayab unique is its integration of hiking, history, and conservation. The trail isn’t just a tourism project—it’s part of a broader vision to create a corridor of natural reserves managed by communities. “We want it to be not only a conservation area, but a sustainable use area,” Gutiérrez explains, describing how beekeeping, sustainable cattle ranching, and traditional agriculture coexist with preservation.

The route connects patches of native forest, seasonal wetlands, and cenotes, creating wildlife corridors that benefit both biodiversity and local economies. By generating income through ecotourism, the cooperative helps communities see conservation as economically viable rather than a restriction on land use.

Accessible Adventures

Visitors don’t need to commit to the full distance. Shorter circuits at Hacienda Mucuyché (11 kilometers/seven miles) and Yunkú (six kilometers/four miles) offer accessible options for day-trippers. The Mucuyché circuit connects three cenotes and can be hiked with local guide Marilee, who shares her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants. Community kitchens, established in renovated hacienda buildings, allow visitors to enjoy authentic meals prepared by local cooks.

The trail operates on two models: fully guided experiences with transportation, equipment, and meals included, and autonomous hiking for adventurous souls willing to navigate on their own using the project’s app. Most participants are Mexican tourists from central and northern states, typically in their 40s and beyond, with the time and resources for multi-day journeys.

The full Camino del Mayab can be completed in sections over multiple visits, allowing hikers to explore the trail at their own pace while staying in different communities along the route. Each segment offers distinct landscapes and cultural experiences, from the dense forest paths near Abalá to the open scrubland approaching the coast.

The henequén industry transformed Yucatán’s economy in the late 1800s and early 1900s before synthetic fibers reduced demand. These estates employed hundreds of workers to cultivate agave plants and process their fibers into rope.

A 6-Part Trail

Here’s an example of a henequén heritage trail, including a stop for lunch. Visitors can drive the entire route in a day, though most spend at least an hour at each location. The trail connects to the Mérida-Ticul highway, with clear signage at major turns.

• The route begins at Hacienda Dzoyaxché in southern Mérida, part of the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve. The 19th-century estate sits just 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the capital and offers visitors access to a cenote, swimming facilities, and original henequén processing machinery. The hacienda operates as a public recreation area with modest entrance fees.
• From there, the trail leads to Hacienda Uayalceh in Abalá, 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of Mérida. The property has belonged to the Peón family since the mid-1700s and remains one of the few working henequén operations in Yucatán. The estate acquired 24,710 acres (10,000 hectares) in 1763 and maintained that size until 1935. Its processing plant features a 20-horsepower motor installed between 1868 and 1871, making it one of the largest steam-driven operations of its time. Free admission.
• For lunch, stop at a simple community restaurant called Ko’otenex Hanal in Mucuyché. The name translates from Yucatec-Mayan as “let’s eat” or “food for eating.”
• Hacienda Mucuyché sits at the heart of the trail, 28 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of Mérida in the town of the same name. Founded in the 17th century, the estate earned its place in history when Empress Carlota of Belgium visited in 1865 during the Second Mexican Empire. The hacienda belonged to Don Manuel José Peón and his wife Doña Loreto at the time. Current admission runs 650 pesos ($34) for foreign adults, with reduced rates for residents and children. The site includes an poolside restaurant serving regional dishes. Owned by theme-park operator Grupo Xcaret, the place has a slightly more resort vibe, but is stunningly beautiful and professionally run.
• Adjacent to the hacienda, community-owned Cenote Yaal Utsil offers a more rustic swimming and diving experience. The open-air cenote reaches depths of 62 feet (19 meters) and charges around 100 pesos ($5) for entry. Visitors can jump from platforms into the clear water or use wooden staircases to enter. The cenote’s name means “good son” in Maya.
• The trail concludes at Hacienda Yunkú, roughly 37 miles (60 kilometers) from Mérida near Sacalum. Originally a cattle station that later converted to henequén production, the property now operates as Hacienda Santo Domingo de Yunkú, offering hotel rooms, restaurant service, and access to Cenote Thó. The estate’s architectural complex includes three main buildings arranged around a central plaza—the main house with colonial arches, the machine house, and the administrator’s residence. The property’s machinery house demonstrates an unusual design that placed noisy processing equipment away from the main plaza.

Planning Your Visit

• Getting There: All locations are accessible via the Mérida-Ticul and Mérida-Uxmal highways
• Best Time: Morning visits (9-11 AM) offer cooler temperatures and smaller crowds
• What to Bring: Swimsuits, biodegradable sunscreen, water shoes, cash for entrance fees
• Estimated Cost: Budget 1,000-1,500 pesos per person for all locations including meals
• Note: Hacienda Mucuyché requires advance reservations; call (999) 547-6087

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Visit caminodelmayab.com | Restaurante Comunitario Ko’otenex Hanal: +52 999 134 9721