Tizimín



The state of Yucatán not only has many Mayan pyramids, various colonial cities and 250 km. of sandy beaches, it also has some 900,000 acres of cattle, horse and grain country. This area of agriculture and animal husbandry, located around the bustling small city of Tizimín is located in the northeast part of the state, 160 km. east of Merida, 50 km. north of Valladolid, 200 km. west of Cancún and 40 km. south of Ria Lagartos. Tizimín is close to Mayan pyramids and numerous cenotes, one named Kikil in particular.

Tizimín, which means "tapir or Danta" (the sacred animal and totemic of the supreme God of the Maya), was founded by the Spanish Franciscan priest conquerors in 1544. It is also known as "The City of Kings.”

Tizimín is a place that has not yet been discovered by most tourists. You will find comfortable hotels, restaurants serving a varied cuisine, and travel agencies promoting tours to the nearby sites. Visiting Tizimín will allow you to observe life in a real Mayan town.

From December 31 to January 10, with January 6th being the climax of activities, Tizimín is alive with fiesta as they celebrate the Three Kings of biblical times: Melcher, Gaspar and Baltazar. The festivities that include masses, pilgrimages, parades, bullfights, cattle shows, and agro-industrial-commercial exhibitions, go on for more than a week. The devotion to the Three Kings is strong throughout the peninsula and pilgrims come from miles away for this celebration.

The nearby Mayan pyramids include Ek-Balam, a beautiful site with ongoing excavations.

Another Mayan site is the fairly unknown Kuluba, located southwest of Tizimín.

The land surrounding Tizimín is flat and fertile, unlike the rest of the peninsula, which has very little soil covering a limestone shelf. This fertile land, and the rainy season from June to October, support the grasses and grains for the cattle and also a busy lumber industry. Precious wood trees, such as cedar, jabin, tzalam, chacte, bojom, zapote and others are lumbered in Tizimín.

To reach Tizimín, take the cuota road to Valladolid, and then follow the signs north.