Connecting Tekit and Maní, this 48-hour Yucatán travel route offers an immersive look into indigenous Maya heritage and regional gastronomy. Key highlights include hands-on workshops with the Yaax Tekit cooperative, visits to solar gardens at Tierra Pachpakal Museum, exploration of Xcabachén cenote, and sampling signature Yucatecan dishes like poc-chuc and mukbilpollo.
Two days are enough to reconnect with a different side of Yucatán—specially tailored for those who look beyond what’s "trendy" and are searching for experiences, food, and, of course, photos that only a select few have captured so far. Join us and discover a different side of Yucatán in just two days—or, if you prefer, just one.
Day 1: Tekit and the Tierra Pachpakal Living Museum
Tekit is a town known as the Guayabera Capital, but it offers so much more thanks to a group of women who, proud of their home and traditions, came together to form the Yaax Tekit tourism cooperative. Reachable through the Co’ox Mayab network, this cooperative literally opens the doors of their homes to share different aspects of daily life in their community.
Depending on what interests you most, you can choose between two tours (though whichever you pick, you'll likely enjoy it so much you'll want to take the other, too). The first option, Sabores del Mayab (Flavors of the Mayab), is a traditional Yucatecan cooking workshop where you'll learn to prepare a classic dish just as Doña Martha, a proud Tekit local, typically makes it for her family. This tour also includes visits to several local workshops where you can see how guayaberas and other traditional garments are crafted—and, if you'd like, pick one up to take home.
For a very brief season between October and November, Yaax Tekit offers a special version of this tour featuring underground-cooked mukbilpollos. Also known as pibes, mukbilpollos are the signature dish of Day of the Dead (Finados or Janal Pixan) in Yucatán.
The second tour, Mayas de Ayer, Mayas de Hoy (Mayas of Yesterday, Mayas of Today), takes you into the daily life and work of local community members. You’ll visit a baker, a traditional Maya home and its solar (backyard yard/garden), and—since no trip to Tekit is complete without it—a guayabera factory.
Keep in mind that these tours must be booked in advance; reach out to Co’ox Mayab for details and to schedule your visit.
Both tours kick off after breakfast, giving you the perfect excuse to start your morning with one of the best breakfasts Yucatán has to offer: tacos. Tekit is filled with local taquerías and stands serving tacos and tortas for every taste at very affordable prices, ensuring you won't begin your adventure on an empty stomach.
Once your chosen tour wraps up (both include lunch), it’ll be time to head over to Tierra Pachpakal in Maní. This living museum and community project highlights the traditional Maya solar—a practice of self-sustainability and family life centered around a shared plot of land. Here, alongside exploring their wonderful home garden, you can see several native species of stingless bees that are sure to fascinate you. Be sure to check out their eco-friendly shop and treat yourself to some of their ice cream.
In the late afternoon, take time to stroll around and snap photos in the center of the charming Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Maní, which is especially gorgeous at sunset. Make sure to stop by the Tienda-Museo del Bordado Yucateco (Yucatecan Embroidery Museum and Shop), located right next to the Municipal Palace.
Maní is a town renowned for its food, and while poc-chuc is its flagship dish, dinner options are wide and varied. You’ll find everything from delicious street food to restaurants serving traditional and fusion dishes (such as La Conquista or Las Jícaras), elevated pizzas at Venzze (so popular they’ve opened a location in Mérida), or American comfort food—burgers, hot dogs, and pasta served in generous American-style portions—at Hiccups.
Day 2: Maní: History and color
Don’t leave it to chance: Make sure your chosen Maní activities are available by booking in advance through the Maní Tourism Board, by emailing direccionturismo2022@gmail.com
Under the morning sun, Maní will feel like an entirely different place, even before you start exploring it by daylight. Begin with a guided tour of the former Convent of San Miguel Arcángel (advance reservation required), which will take you through the many layers of history hidden within its walls. When the tour ends, ask your guide to walk with you to the nearby Xcabachén Cave and Cenote so they can share the spine-chilling legend it holds.
Next, pay a visit to Doña Marilú Burgos. This master embroiderer won't just showcase the wide variety of stitching techniques she learned as a child—she'll teach you how to do them yourself, so you can take home a souvenir of Maní made with your own hands.
By midday, you’ll have a great selection of spots to try the town's specialty, poc-chuc: El Príncipe Tutul-Xiu, El Pocchuquero, and Cocina Tradicional de Maní are a few top picks. Alternatively, you can head to Tuch Kaaj, an authentic Yucatecan botanero (a snack bar with a welcome twist) that also serves a variety of traditional dishes.
After lunch, Maní boasts several cafés where you can grab a specialty coffee—perfect to enjoy during a final stroll through town or on your drive back.
First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no. 467, in November 2026.
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