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Convent Route
More enticing than ever, The Convent Route is a day trip that will
take you somewhat off the beaten path and into the heart of the
Yucatan. Meandering through the country side of the west-central
part of the state, you will visit Mayan villages and ruins, colonial
churches, cathedrals and convents, courtyards and cenotes, all dating
back centuries.
The best way to do this route is by car. Gas up before leaving (one
full tank will more than suffice). You should try to be on the road
by 8:00 AM. See our map to help you get started. Start on the "Periferico" and
go to Route 18. (Signs will say Kanasin, not "Route 18".)
Follow the signs to Acanceh and on from there. The amount of time
spent at each stop will vary from ten minutes to forty-five minutes.
Fourteen miles from Kanasin is Acanceh (ah-con-KAY which means "moan
of the deer"), where you will see an interesting combination
of a Mayan Pyramid (the Grand Pyramid currently being restored),
a colonial church and a modern day church all on the same plaza.
Several blocks away are more ruins with hieroglyphs. Ask around
for the Temple of the Stuccoes which is about four blocks away.
Some gentle soul will point you in the right way. If they actually
take you there, you should tip him or her five or ten pesos.
Tecoh (tay-KO), five miles down the road has a gas station, a market
and a very ornate church and convent dedicated to the Virgin of
the Assumption. The carved stones and altar along with the statues
and painting are impressive. While you are there, you might notice
that this complex is built on what appears to be a hill, but is
really the base of a very large Mayan Pyramid.
Next on the route is Telchaquillo
(tel-chah-KEY-yoh), a small village (don´t blink- you may
miss it!) that has a small, austere chapel and a wonderful cenote
in the plaza that you can visit. Stairs have been carved for your
convenience.
Above: The pyramid at Mayapan.
Several kilometers out of Telchaquillo off to the right you will
find the fantastic Mayan ruins of Mayapan. This walled city has
4,000 mounds of which six are in different stages of advanced restoration.
Mayapan is the size of Chichen Itza,
and you will find the buildings are replicas of the ones in Chichen.
Visiting this site allows you to observe many mounds in their original
state (covered with trees, shrubs, etc..) and to see others in transformation
with the archeologists actually working on them. You will be viewing
a real archaeological "dig".
Continue on eighteen miles to Tekit (teh-KEET), a large prosperous
looking village. There you will find the parish of "San Antonio
De Padua", with a large temple that houses many ornate statues
of saints in their individual niches. The altar itself is very simple.
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Above: Church in Mama, south of Merida.
The next village is a little over four miles away, and it is a small
one named Mama (mah-MAH). Mama is famous for its large beautiful
bell-globed church containing a large garden, a well and a closed
atrium along with frescos on the wall, statues of saints in the
niches and a very ornate altar. It is believed this is the oldest
church on the route.
Following the route for six more miles, you will next come to Chumayel
(chu-my-EL) where the famous Mayan document "Chilam Balam"
was found. Two and a half miles ahead is Teabo (tay-AH-bow), famous
for its embroidered dresses and its impressive 17th century temple.
Then on to Tipikal (tee-pee-CAHL), a small village with an austere
looking church.
The final and perhaps most important stop on the Convent Route is
Mani (mah-NEE) (seven and a half miles farther) where you will find
a large church, convent and museum with explanations in English,
Spanish, French and Mayan. Mani is a good place to have lunch or
you can head on to Ticul to have lunch
at Los Almendros.
To get back to Merida, head to Ticul,
then Muna, then to Uman, then onto Merida.
If you want to stop here to do the Ruta
Puuc the next day, you can stay in Ticul where there are several
small hotels. This is a good departure point for the Loltun
Caves on the Puuc Route.
More interesting articles
 Cenotes, wonderful undeground caves.
The sacred Mayan Caves.
Day Trips.
Transportation in the Yucatan
Visit our map
Map of Yucatan Peninsula
Map of the Convent Route
Events & Activities Calendar
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